Windows 7 will, just like Windows Vista, be available in a bunch of different versions. The first information that leaked out spoke of five different version, but that now seems to have been a bit too few. It’s actually worse. Windows 7 will launch in no less than six different flavors where the newest addition is Windows 7 Enterprise. A business version that will only be sold in large volumes. Microsoft’s complete Windows 7 armada will look as follows;
- Windows 7 Starter (limited to three active applications)
- Windows 7 Home Basic (unlimited active applications.)
- Windows 7 Home Premium (Aero Glass, Media Center and Touch features)
- Windows 7 Professional (Remote Desktop control, network backups and file encryption)
- Windows 7 Enterprise (Only volume license, BitLocker data protection for harddrives)
- Windows 7 Ultimate (Everything)
Microsoft will put focus on Home Premium and Professional, just like it did with Windows Vista. Even if it is hardly optimal with six different versions of Windows 7 the end consumer can dismiss at least Starter and Enterprise to thin out the numbers a bit.
The first will most likely only be used by OEMs with limited systems, while the company version for obvious reasons won’t be available for regular consumers.
