Windows 8 to come in four versions

Edward N. Albro

13 years ago

After years of confusing consumers with multiple, slightly different versions of the same operating system, Microsoft Corp. announced Tuesday that Windows 8 will come in only four versions: One for home use, one for business, one for devices running ARM chips, and one for large enterprises who buy in bulk.

For most people buying an operating system for a traditional desktop or laptop, the choice will be between just two versions. The version called simply “Windows 8” is designed for home users. “Windows 8 Pro” is for business users and includes features for encrypting a file system, virtualization, and domain management.

“Windows RT” is the new name for what had been called Windows on ARM. You won’t be able to purchase it on its own; it’ll come preinstalled on PCs and tablets that run ARM processors. Windows RT won’t be able to run traditional X86/64 desktop software. Instead, it’ll run touch-oriented apps based on Windows Runtime (or WinRT), Microsoft’s programming model for mobile apps. Apps for the touch-oriented Metro interface are built using Windows Runtime.

Windows RT will come with special touch-oriented versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

No Word on Pricing or Availability

In a blog post announcing the versions, Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc didn’t say how much the versions would cost, or when they’d be available. But he did make official what everyone assumed was true anyway: that the new OS will be called “Windows 8.”

The final version of Windows 8 won’t be available for most consumers. “As with previous versions of Windows, we will also have an edition of Windows 8 specifically for those enterprise customers with Software Assurance agreements,” LeBlanc wrote in a postscript. “Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus features for IT organization that enable PC management and deployment, advanced security, virtualization, new mobility scenarios, and much more.”

Admirable Restraint

Reducing their OS to four editions shows, for Microsoft, considerable restraint. Windows 7, for instance, comes in six flavours: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. In fairness, the Starter version is found mostly only in developing countries and the Enterprise version is available only to large corporations.

But that still left home buyers choosing among three options: Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate. With Windows 8, the choice should be much clearer; most home users will choose the Windows 8 version. Only home “enthusiasts” might be interested in Windows 8 Pro, LeBlanc said.