Windows 8 will only have four different versions

After years of complaints, Microsoft has listened to its consumers and will be releasing only four different versions of its upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

There will be one version for home use, one for business users, one for devices running ARM chips and finally one for large enterprises who buy in bulk.

"Windows 8" is for home use while "Windows 8 Pro" is for business users, "Windows 8 Enterprise" is for bulk buyers and "Windows RT" is the final name for Windows on ARM. Windows RT cannot be purchased individually as it will come preinstalled on PCs and tablets that run ARM processors. The operating system will run touch-based apps on Windows Runtime, including touch version of Microsoft Office suite apps like Word and Excel.

There was no word yet on pricing or availability.

Microsoft's decision should be a welcome move to many consumers who were confused with all the options of, for example, Windows 7 which came with three different "Home" versions and 6 versions total.

Chart of the features of the new versions of Windows:

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Apr 2012 23:24

WW3

Seems like a smart move indeed, I hated having to choose between pro and ultimate, needed everything from pro but only needed the language feature from ult... got pro from school for free so w/e. can't wait for 8!

Custom Computer rebuild 2.80GHZ@6cores/8GBRAM|3DS | WII|360|PS3|

17.4.2012 01:53 #1

Frogfart

It's awful and I can't stand it. Going to stick with Win 7 for a few more years. Have to say it again...... Its f****** dreadful! It's worse than MS Flight!

17.4.2012 06:40 #2

LordRuss

At least their making a smarter go with this release than with all the other releases; but I still feel like I'm wading in a swamp loaded with leeches about installing it on any of my computers with this introductory bid.

I'm pretty sure one of the blood suckers is going to nab me by the nuts & start draining me, but I'm not going to die, I'm just going to think I am until I get it off. Then do nothing but worry about it for days even after it's gone.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

17.4.2012 10:15 #3

bigdan45

So not "upgrading" to Windows 8. Hate the Metro style. I'll happily stick with Windows 7.

17.4.2012 13:02 #4

xnonsuchx

In many places, "metro" means crappy public transportation. I guess MS did give it the right name.

Won't be upgrading Windows anytime soon until they either fix Win8, make a better Win9 w/o Win8's annoyances, or drop support for Win7. Well, maybe also if there are workarounds for Win8's crappiness that don't make it less stable.

17.4.2012 16:09 #5

xaznboitx

Not smart move if Pro will cost the same as w7 ultimate

17.4.2012 16:58 #6

LordRuss

Originally posted by xaznboitx: Not smart move if Pro will cost the same as w7 ultimate Now, now... you 'know' they're going to maximize the minimum at every given turn. Nothing has changed here, just the packaging.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

17.4.2012 18:32 #7

bobiroc

I hope they rethink their position to eliminate Windows Media Center capabilities from the Home/Base edition. From what I read it is eliminated completely and you can only have the option to add it in if you get the Pro version.

I can see not making it a standard feature and putting it up as an optional download because not everyone needs or wants to use it but it should be an optional download for both the Home/Base edition and Professional edition.

AMD Phenom II 965 @ 3.67Ghz, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon 5770HD, 300GB 10,000RPM Raptor, 2TB Additional HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate.

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17.4.2012 20:48 #8

bobiroc

Originally posted by xnonsuchx: In many places, "metro" means crappy public transportation. I guess MS did give it the right name.

Won't be upgrading Windows anytime soon until they either fix Win8, make a better Win9 w/o Win8's annoyances, or drop support for Win7. Well, maybe also if there are workarounds for Win8's crappiness that don't make it less stable. See now if only you could provide constructive feedback then maybe you would be taken seriously. I read a lot of complainers of Windows 8 and most of them sound like you. Can only call it crappy and garbage and not provide an ounce of useful information.

You know once you get past the Metro Start Screen it is actually a very nice OS. Works great on a touch screen device and if you are fortunate to have a laptop with a Multi-Touch capable touchpad or a desktop with a multi-touch mouse/touchpad it works awesome. My only complaint aside from the recent news that Media Center is being Dropped with the only Option to get it in the Professional Edition is that I would like to see better grouping options in the Metro Start Menu. Would love to install a suite of programs like Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite and have them consolidated into one tile that would open up with all the programs instead of sorting the programs groups into their own Metro Page.

AMD Phenom II 965 @ 3.67Ghz, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon 5770HD, 300GB 10,000RPM Raptor, 2TB Additional HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate.

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17.4.2012 21:03 #9

Bozobub

Frankly, the Metro interface reminds me strongly of the old Windows "Program group" concept. Bleh.

No one is saying there won't be improvements in Win8; if ALL they changed was the interface, well, what's the point? But complaints about the interface of a GUI OS are quite pertinent; that's how you USE it!

17.4.2012 21:35 #10

xnonsuchx

Originally posted by bobiroc: ...now if only you could provide constructive feedback then maybe you would be taken seriously.
"Metro TOTALLY SUCKS and you should be able to totally disable it" = constructive criticism.

17.4.2012 23:21 #11

ivymike

Kinda stupid on M$ part not making Windows 8 RT available on CD for the masses.....Suppose I wanted to install it on a Raspberry Pi? SoL, I guess.

18.4.2012 15:04 #12

LordRuss

Originally posted by ivymike: ...Suppose I wanted to install it on a Raspberry Pi? SoL, I guess. That might be cool actually... Not that I'm too predisposed to doing it... but pretty cool none the less. But you just know someone out there will figure out how to strip it out of or leak it out onto the net.

It'll be just a matter of time & the dabbling will begin.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

19.4.2012 11:27 #13

aldan

Originally posted by bobiroc: Originally posted by xnonsuchx: In many places, "metro" means crappy public transportation. I guess MS did give it the right name.

Won't be upgrading Windows anytime soon until they either fix Win8, make a better Win9 w/o Win8's annoyances, or drop support for Win7. Well, maybe also if there are workarounds for Win8's crappiness that don't make it less stable. See now if only you could provide constructive feedback then maybe you would be taken seriously. I read a lot of complainers of Windows 8 and most of them sound like you. Can only call it crappy and garbage and not provide an ounce of useful information.

You know once you get past the Metro Start Screen it is actually a very nice OS. Works great on a touch screen device and if you are fortunate to have a laptop with a Multi-Touch capable touchpad or a desktop with a multi-touch mouse/touchpad it works awesome. My only complaint aside from the recent news that Media Center is being Dropped with the only Option to get it in the Professional Edition is that I would like to see better grouping options in the Metro Start Menu. Would love to install a suite of programs like Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite and have them consolidated into one tile that would open up with all the programs instead of sorting the programs groups into their own Metro Page. you also liked millenium edition didnt you?

19.4.2012 17:07 #14

Wcanywayz

I like the fact they wont release so many versions.
i am worried about price though.....

Im not sure if most are aware, but we here in Australia were expected to pay upto $450 for win7 pro.
while it was only $140-150 on Usa servers,
they refused australian credit cards.

Ofcourse those of us with american friends saved couple hundred dollars.
but how will Australia be stung by this with win8 this time.

Any australians read this, or if you know someone in australia who would benefit from this, tell them straight up,
buy the american version. dont pay extra $200-$400
for a copy that shouldnt be at those prices.

If it's broken..... fix it or .... nah just fix it.

20.4.2012 09:46 #15

robertmro

Three versions:
1. Not very good
2. Bad
3. Terrible

20.4.2012 10:42 #16

Mr-Movies

It was smart to have less versions as they got way too carried away with Vista-Seven so they have learned there in the short term to bad they are getting so carried away with the forced tablet approach for a desktop PC.

There dumb at the same time as waking up in other areas.

So it looks like everyone will want Pro this time around as that will be the Ultimate/Enterprise version this time around.

20.4.2012 13:51 #17

LordRuss

Originally posted by aldan: you also liked millenium edition didnt you? I was OK with it... It didn't knock me over, but I definitely made it work just fine.

Originally posted by Wcanywayz: Im not sure if most are aware, but we here in Australia were expected to pay upto $450 for win7 pro.
while it was only $140-150 on Usa servers,
they refused australian credit cards. GOOD GOD!!! At first I find it more than shocking & in fact I wanted to argue that that couldn't possibly be right. I mean, no one in their right mind could buy a computer over there. M$ would have to be out of their collective minds to ask for that kind of money. Are you certain your retail vendor isn't just gouging the shit of you?

I mean, I know Australia was originally populated by England's criminals (oh so long ago), but to keep treating you folks like that? Talk about a reason for piracy!

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

20.4.2012 16:41 #18

aldan

20.4.2012 18:02 #19

Mr-Movies

ME sucked and was a self bloating OS, one of MS's worst OS's of all time which is why it had such a short shelf life much like Vista now.

If you're an Ossie don't buy Seven from MS direct, if they are truly using those tactics. Buy from NewEgg or some other re-seller as they won't gouge you and will be happy for the sale.

20.4.2012 18:47 #20

Wcanywayz

Originally posted by LordRuss: Originally posted by aldan: you also liked millenium edition didnt you? I was OK with it... It didn't knock me over, but I definitely made it work just fine.

Originally posted by Wcanywayz: Im not sure if most are aware, but we here in Australia were expected to pay upto $450 for win7 pro.
while it was only $140-150 on Usa servers,
they refused australian credit cards. GOOD GOD!!! At first I find it more than shocking & in fact I wanted to argue that that couldn't possibly be right. I mean, no one in their right mind could buy a computer over there. M$ would have to be out of their collective minds to ask for that kind of money. Are you certain your retail vendor isn't just gouging the shit of you?

I mean, I know Australia was originally populated by England's criminals (oh so long ago), but to keep treating you folks like that? Talk about a reason for piracy! yeah, couldnt buy it for download from any more of the source than the australia "microsoft website".
obviously it wasnt about expense of shipping for D/l'ing it.

Thats why i tried the US site but it wouldnt let me purchase with my australian credit card....
It was just unfair to this country with those costs last time...
I look at it, the aus $$ is pretty high on the exchange board,
but we're still being ripped off....

Anywayz, i just hope the next installation wont cost so much again.
I will buy one from the USA if i have too :P

20.4.2012 19:17 #21

Askar

It doesn't really matter to me how many versions they put out. I can't imagine any reason I would ever buy any version of it. The whole Metro design is terrible. I would never intentionally put that thing on a PC. I hate the look on the Xbox 360 dashboard and certainly don't want it on my computer. Windows 7 is so close to perfect as it is. I have yet to see even one feature of Windows 8 that would be anything but a downgrade from Windows 7. Windows 8 should be strictly a phone and tablet OS and they should do something about the horrible Metro look. Let's hope they support Win7 for as many years as they have supported XP.

22.4.2012 05:33 #22

ivymike

IIRC, The Metro desktop can be switched off to standard Windows 7 appearance in W8 on standard computers.....HOWEVER, this isn't an option, IIRC for tablets and other ARM-based CPU machines.

22.4.2012 05:36 #23

Askar

I know on a PC it can be switched off, but don't see why you would buy a new OS and then switch it off to be just like the perfectly good OS you already have. Win7 hasn't even been out very long itself. Other than tablets or phones, I don't see why Win8 would even exist.

22.4.2012 05:43 #24

Bozobub

You can't "switch off" the Metro interface, but you CAN go to a relatively "normal" Windows desktop (minus a Start button). But you need to do this every boot, it's not a toggle.

22.4.2012 11:22 #25

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