SKUs Galore for Windows 7 - Leaked Screenshot Reveals Multi-Edition Design (again!)
Posted 01/26/09 at 04:33:52 PM by Mark Edward Soper
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"5" may be good for bargain lunch hunters or fans of loaded chili mac, but most Windows users would agree that "5" is way too many editions of Windows. Unfortunately, a leaked screenshot of Windows 7 Build 7025 suggests that Redmond is again going to offer five versions of Windows 7 when it ships: Starter (developing computer markets only), Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate editions, just as with Windows Vista.
Depending on who you ask, that's probably two or three versions too many. Unfortunately, unless Redmond changes its mind between now and Windows 7 release, it looks likely that the same "too many versions" problem that haunted Windows Vista will be back for Windows 7. There's one bit of good news, though. It looks as if an easy-to-use version of Windows Anytime Upgrade will be included in non-Ultimate releases so you can move up.
Which Windows editions should live on in Windows 7, and which ones deserve to be nailed to their perches? Hit Comment and sound off.
Photoshop by Mark Edward Soper.
ONE!
Submitted by concernedITpro on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 10:34am
For crying out loud, I wonder how much cost is added to a product for these wizards to figure out which version gets what features.
Just have one version. Or two if you must have a distinct, separate version each for 32 and 64 bit.
The Concerned IT Professional
all this is crap
Submitted by jihnn on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 11:36am
what makes anyone think that there will be a real reason to change from xp, be there 1 or 20 versions of this new pile of steaming hot crap.
i for 1 am sick and tired of corp's like microsoft trying to come up with something new and shiny just to take my hard earned cash.
ms has never proved to me that they can make anykind of software that actually works, instead they use the "sell it to the consumer for the beta test program."
there will always be fanboy's that have a need to be first. hahahha good for them, let them pay to be in the extended beta.
as with the epic fail of vista there will be fanboy's touting it as the newest and best, only because they own it.
i for 1 will wait and judge the new os and if and only if it offers a true step ahead will i purchase it
Submitted by majorsuave on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 9:47am
Pro and home, like on XP.
And sell Windows as yearly licenses. say, 50$ a year grants 3 separate home PC installs or a single pro install.
Sell it as a single SKU and decide what license you choose upon install.
Submitted by steve771 on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 2:58pm
I really like most of the mag and think there is very good info, but these guys (like a lot of writers elsewhere) have been touting M$ Win 7 like the second coming. Seems like the same song when Vista was just starting out, and we know what crapware that is! M$ doesn't care that multiple versions are confusing... it's all about squeezing the maximum buck out of another crapware product.
An operating system is just that... AN OPERATING SYSTEM! It allows me to use my other programs. All these 'bells & whistles' are just in the way. These guys drool over it like it is THE program. If someone ever comes up with a way to run Windows coded programs on Linux, M$ will die very quickly (and good riddance).
"If someone ever comes up
Submitted by n0ctis on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 8:17pm
"If someone ever comes up with a way to run Windows coded programs on Linux, M$ will die very quickly (and good riddance)."
It's called WinE. It works wonderfully. Its been around since 1993 and Microsoft is not dead yet.
There is nothing wrong with getting excited for a promising piece of new software. It may end up horrible or it may be great. Until then, anticipation is fine. Especially when the beta runs so smoothly (much like many of us wish Vista ran).
Submitted by DoctorX on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 1:29pm
I got suckered to buying Ultimate.... I am still waiting on being able to use bitlocker. BTW, unless you have a encryption chip on your mb, you cannot use it at all.
Also, if they price this the same as Vista, there will be the same sorry uptake.
Bitlocker can be run without a TPM chip. Here's how.
Submitted by Marcus_Soperus on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 7:49pm
Although the BitLocker setup makes it seem as if you must have a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) encryption chip to use this feature, you can change your computer's group policy settings to use BitLocker, even if your PC doesn't have an onboard TPM chip. I discussed this method for using BitLocker in my book Maximum PC Microsoft Windows Vista Exposed: An Insider's Guide to Supercharging Windows Vista, and used it successfully on several systems.
BitLocker has also been improved in several ways in Vista SP1.
-----------------------------------------------------
It's amazing how illogical a business built on binary logic can be.
Submitted by aarcane on Sun, 02/01/2009 - 6:58pm
There should be exactly 3 editions, Windows Basic, Windows (Premium/Professional)(which should combine home premium and basic functionality, similar to windows XP PRO) and an Ultimate, which should include absolutely everything with no exceptions.
While I'm on the subject, windows server licensing is rediculous. Having multiple editions of an operating system is rediculous. Offer one (count them, one) base operating system, and then add premium/professional/server functionality as a one-time add on purchase.
One more thing
Submitted by mdkplus on Sun, 02/01/2009 - 11:21am
P.S. been sending feedback via the win 7 beta. I think they must need that to test out the junk folder it probably goes right into!
Submitted by mdkplus on Sun, 02/01/2009 - 11:03am
I agree with only having 2 versions- 32 bit and 64.
Why do we need less featured windows, Who wants a 3 legged horse?
A Different version for developing countries? What is that- like they need computer training bras or something? O.k. Apuh, when you learn how to make fire then you can have a better O.S. Better yet, demonstrate your ability to blow smoke rings while rubbing your tummy and we will give you the Ultimate windows you deserve.
I know, I know. You don't pay for the features you don't/won't need or use. Wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper for Redmond to ship just one O.S.?
What is Home basic really, just another feature limited shareware that ain't free? You betcha.
The Versions of Windows 7
Submitted by winmaster on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 8:01pm
This is what it should be:
1.Windows Classic: Windows 7 kernal, Windows 98 GUI. For any low-powered computer or somebody who still uses 98 just to bring back memories.
2.Windows Home: Comes with Aero and everything your mom would use. For most people. "Advanced" mode enables all of the stuff a power user uses, like msconfig.
3.Windows Business: Pretty much the same as Home, except default settings are optimized for businesses. Same price too.
4.Windows Enterprise: For large corporations. Same as Business, but with custom licensing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Submitted by colinjm0517 on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 12:46am
Windows 7 should be a double layer disc to hold extras and the x86 and x64 editions
Submitted by colinjm0517 on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 12:44am
For developing countries/ computer idiots: Windows 7 Basic
For netbooks and nettops: Windows 7 Net or Windows 7 Lite
for the average person or buisness person: Windows 7 Home Premium
For the Gamer/ Pro Windows 7 Ultimate
Submitted by colinjm0517 on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 12:35am
Windows 7 should havea Starter/basic, a mid range, and a complete version, to prevent confusion and hatred of Windows 7.
Submitted by n0ctis on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 1:55pm
This is going to bite them in the ass. Windows 7 should have two SKUs: x86 and x64. That's it. This is really going to hurt them.
Submitted by dstevens on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 11:28am
hope that MS had got it right this time,
what the frik is wrong with Ultimate, home, and business -- AT THE MOST....
hope they aernt mucking this up like Vista now.....
Why are they doing five
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:52pm
Why are they doing five versions.. You see the problem is that the extra stuff like Email and stuff is a free download. So everyone gets the same OS and you download what you need for the buisness edition or the home edition and stuff like that. MS could charge an extra fee for the downloads and people like me that know better will use Open source for an email client and stuff like that. No need for five different OS's. Just one is all that is needed.
NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Submitted by yogurt80 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:51pm
NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Submitted by hogkill on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 5:56pm
I have some better names
Windows Cholera (developing nations only)
Windows Turd Basic
Windows Turd Premium
Windows Crap, and finally
Windows Guano
Seriously though. Should be Windows Home, Windows Gamer and Windows Business. One for the 3 markets they are gunning for.
Submitted by hogkill on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 5:49pm
questions aren't answers
Submitted by worm8199 on Tue, 02/03/2009 - 9:43am
That's good, you're thinking. But this is the "Comments" section not the "Answers" section.
Submitted by hogkill on Tue, 02/10/2009 - 6:45am
Submitted by anrichardson on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 4:51pm
If were lucky, you have a choice at the begining depending on what you want. Maybe they will be the same price for all verison. You just get to choose what you want for your purpose. I for one would like the business. I don't need Media Center. So why not cut what ever I can out of the O.S. I know there are programs like nlite and vlite. So hopefully 5 version but at one great low price. Besides, could Microsoft do this again after what they did with Vista?
Submitted by gibsurfer84 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 4:16pm
How about letting all the extras nobody cares about be put in the "Extra packs" ala windows 95 and 98. If a user wants to waste oney paying for something that they can get for free, fine. So this is what they should have:
Windows 7 Home
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Extras Pack
Done. You pay for what you want, get what you need, and if you an idiot, buy the extras pack in addtion to your windows purchase.
*** as a side note***
Since MS is of course worried about copyright and being ripped off. Why not institute a usb drive or custom memory stick with the OS as a HARDWARE KEY. Mobo makers would quickly be able to put a usb port inerally or custom interface for MS on their boards, and the casuall copy cat will probably go away. I mean, it won't stop EVERYONE but thats not the point, it stops you from putting your copy of XP on everybodies pc you come in contact with.
Submitted by mini6090 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 2:38pm
if you want to have 5 versions:
Windows 7 Lite -Netbooks\Small Windows CE devices
Windows 7 Basic -Your average idiot user OS
Windows 7 Gamer -A cut down gamer oriented version
Windows 7 Business -One that prevents you from doing anything :-)
Windows 7 Spicey -Because i couldn't think of a fifth, and they should mix it up
Altek
Asus P6T
Core i7 920
9gb Corsair Dominator 8-8-8-24
4x10,000RMP raptors (2xStriped Arrays)
EVGA GTX260
Fatl1ty X-Fi
2
Submitted by icebird on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 6:43am
- Ultimate Home
- Ultimate Business
They should be the exact same product, but business licenses cost more, just like many reasonable products are offered "free for home/personal use" there's no reason why Windows 7 can't be discounted for home/personal use. This strategy would win them big points in this economy. Home users are going to feel like they can't afford to upgrade otherwise. Windows XP is old enough now that medium to large businesses will want to move past Vista to this upgrade and aren't terribly concerned about cost.
Submitted by stige on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 1:41am
starter - covers develpoing countries, netbooks and intels igp
home - for people at home
proffesional - for everyone else
it might make MS a little bit more money (okay, probably millions) to have 5-teen SKU's but what they burn up in customer satisfaction/goodwill/perception isn't worth it. ever.
Submitted by dc10ten on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 8:28pm
I'm more upset by the fact that they are still doing 32bit.
Submitted by TheZomb on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 9:47pm
I love how people haven't realized that windows 7 is mainly shipping in 64 bit. The only way your getting 32 bit windows 7 is if you:
A. buy a 32 bit computer that comes with windows 7 installed. (unlikely due to fact the 90% of computers made today are 64-bit)
B. Specifically buy windows and force 32-bit upon yourself.
The 32 bit version is available so people with older computers and netbooks/ UMPCs can enjoy windows 7 not because microsoft isn't pushing 64 bit.
Microsoft will even give you a 64 bit installation disc for free if you go to their web site and enter in your current vista key.(unless its OEM then you have to either borrow and installation disc or resort to torrents, but you can still use your key and thus you aren't violating any laws.)
As for the versions.. Meh. Starter doesn't matter because most people will never see it. Home premium is for your average home user, business is for... businesses and ultimate is for people who use their computer for entertainment and business. Explain it to someone who doesn't understand like that and you will be fine. As for the whole two thing I challenge you take one of those 3 out and not leave a group of customers pissed (I am ignoring Home basic because it stupid and should disappear). Many of you talk about wanting a home and business version, but what if someone wants both feature sets. If you had Home and ultimate then a business would be pissed because their paying a ton of money for extra features they don't want people using. Three is the perfect number of SKUs (Starter isn't applicable and Basic is stupid).
Whats even funnier is the people who want the different mods so you could buy features you want seperately and then go on to say there are too many SKUs
PST. If your confused by 4 SKUs mods will drive you insane
Submitted by n0ctis on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 8:23pm
90%? What computers are being made that are 32bit?
Submitted by mini6090 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 2:40pm
The only reason they are switching to 64bit is because the memory has been jacked up pass 4gb, and 32bit doesn't see more than 3gb... they aren't doing it for any other reason really, however i do agree that the only way it's gonna be used, is if people have it
Altek
Asus P6T
Core i7 920
9gb Corsair Dominator 8-8-8-24
4x10,000RMP raptors (2xStriped Arrays)
EVGA GTX260
Fatl1ty X-Fi
What I'm more confused about
Submitted by I Jedi on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 7:18pm
What I'm more confused about is the starter version and the home version? Ha. Ha.
Submitted by strykyr on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 4:50pm
Geez peops...RTFM. If you don't know what you want then don't get it.
Submitted by zodi on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 4:31pm
The starter version, (probably being exported).
A regular version for all the normal computer users like my Dad, and Aunt Fanny
A Pro/Business/Ultimate version for everyone who wants/needs/has to have all the features.
Hmm worked for XP, yeah there was windows NT but its all combined as one now.
Oh yeah and here's an idea, give the user the option to install 32 bit or 64 bit with there KEY.
Oh wait, thats right you would probably lose all that money you get when people decide they bought the wrong one.
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 4:19pm
Thanks Mark for this unhappy information.
If you are running Windows7 Beta please send a message to Redmond with me. From the desktop sent a feedback message telling MS that you do not want 5 versions of Win7 and that with this news you will no longer be beta testing their OS for them.
Who will join me in this effort to change their minds on this? Send a feedback and uninstall Windows 7Beta.
Sorry Keith,
Submitted by Havok on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 5:20pm
But I can hear crickets already.....
OMGWTFBBQ
Submitted by mikemckay on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 3:55pm
With vista:
do you want media center? - get premium
do you want backup software? - get business
do you want both? - get ultimate
dont want either, or aero? - get basic
they may have had many versions but was it ever a difficult choice?
Personally, I didnt find the decision to be very difficult or complicated.
Can any of you really say otherwise?
(obviously excluding noobs)
Submitted by arkweld on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 6:22pm
Windows is for noobs.
It's the most widespread computing platform in the world which means everyone from your granny to sister use it.
When consumers walk into Best Buy and see 350 versions of the same product it just makes for an uphill battle before you even open the box.
Want media center?
Answer: What's media center do? Will I need it in the future? Does premium need a premium computer like gas for your car?
Want backup software?
Answer: Can I not buy that separately? Can you not backup from Vista Premium?
Want both?
Answer: Do I need both? I'd like to backup software but I don't want to use a media center and I don't have a business. Can you make photo albums for your kids with the business version?
Don't want either?
Why doesn't this look as good as the other versions? Will it still do things like email and make photo albums or do you need to get premium for those features? How many versions does that Mac have over there. That looks simple ...
Without much effort, what's obvious to you has just become an MIT course for parents. Personally you are irrelevant. You don't represent the world, but a mass market consumer product should be able to.
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 4:12pm
Yes I can, it can be said that there should be a backup routine built into every version of Windows, Actually every OS should have a backup feature. Hell Linux has hundreds.
And it's not an easy choice to make. Depending on your income the OS is a fairly expensive and one of the most important purchases you can make for your PC. What you get your stuck with. Who the fuck wants that anytime upgrade?
It's my oppinion that life was way fucking simpler back when Windows came in two versions. You get the home version for around $150bucks and the Pro version for around $200dollars. You know what your getting with these two versions. You buy either one and you will live life a bit easier not wondering what your missing from the other version.
I bought WinXP home because the only thing from the pro that I needed was the backup software that MS had placed on the XPhome CD as a seperate install. Life was fucking easy. I was happy with my purchase. I knew I got a good deal. With Vista you have to buy the Ultimate version to be happy and even then you can't be happy because you just shelled out $400 fucking dollars for fucking Vista Ultimate extras?
It left me feeling ill. I was pretty pissed off. I felt lied to. I felt like I had been ripped off.
So to answer your last question is Yes I can say otherwise and I aint a noob.
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 3:54pm
Windows Vista wouldn't have gotten so much bad press if it had been a 2version release. MS has not learned from their mistakes as much as they claim to have. All this is going to accomplish is more OS pirating like it did with Vista. Hell if MS Vista is so hated why is it one of the most pirated Windows on Bittorrent sites then? But I say the reason why it's pirated so often is because of the cost of the Ultimate version. Nobody wants to pay $400bucks for an OS and who wants a cut back version for a lower price.. Fuck that. It's a fucking lose/lose situation for the consumer, so many consumers just wont pay for it at all. They pirate the damn OS off of PirateBay.
Microsoft you talked about listening to the consumer and doing everything you can to give us what we want. Well this is one of them. Listen to me. This is what we want, We want 2 fucking versions of Windows 7. We want a business version and a home/enthusiast version like before. The home version and the pro version and some will still pirate but not as many because they won't have to. They won't need to. You said you want to give your customers what we want then give us just 2 versions. Open your ears. Listen to the screams of terror with the thought of 5version Windows 7.
It doesnt need to ship with
Submitted by Gailim on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 3:54pm
It doesnt need to ship with XP.
windows 7 should ditch the compatibility mode and be able to run both XP and win98SE in a virtualization layer.
solves everybodies problems.
Submitted by Havok on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 3:38pm
That may not be a good idea CTskifreak, "counter-productive" you might say. Offering XP pro "free" as a 32 bit alternative may seem appealing but remember, some Vista (or VEESTA what have you)machines shipped with downgrade upgrades to XP pro as a solution and people were still ripping about why they had to still have Vista and pay for it or the "upgrade" to XP pro.
A possibly better alternative would be for '7' to have a "revert to XP pro 32 bit edition" buttn in the control panel where they can click that, lose windows 7 features and resume an XP look. ;)
Just saying.
OMGWTFBBQ
I agree...
Submitted by CTskifreak on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 3:19pm
...but in a different way. 64 bit only. Two versions - Home/Ultimate and Business. Home/Ultimate has everything, and you can choose what you do and don't need upon install. Business has less of the multimedia capabilities. If you need a program to run in 32 bit that isn't compatible, include a copy of XP Pro 32bit.
Submitted by skhills on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 3:16pm
To me the Home Basic edition exists for the sole purpose of making the other versions look like a good value. Hmm... I can pay $200 for this stripped naked Basic edition, or get Premium for only $60 more. What a bargain!
The features differences between Business and Premium have been carefully crafted so that power users will have to opt for Ultimate to get the extra 1 or 2 features they need.
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 4:00pm
No the Home Basic edition exsists because Intel wanted there lowest performing IGP to become a Qualified Windows Vista Ready part. Intel paid MS to have that label placed on it's IGP chipset and MS had to make Home Basic edition because the other versions of Windows Vista would not run. This is why MS is in court right now over the scandel..
Submitted by Mongoitus on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 3:11pm
32 & 64 bit.
I wonder if the person who thinks 5 different versions of the same OS is the same marketing "guru" who thought up the 360 price points system.
Submitted by arkweld on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 6:30pm
but 32 and 64 should be in the same box and ideally on the same disc in both the Home and Business versions.
It's about time those multiple SKU versions were killed. Make it an auto install or an advanced feature to make your own choice.
Submitted by N25PHILLY on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 2:52pm
is that there are so many different versions, but rather the confusion over what is in each version. I would work if there were just preset configurations. Making it so you can install features that you need that aren't included in a specific version after the install is finished would be a lot better than to have to buy an upgrade later.
Submitted by muzkman on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 2:50pm
I think they should have two versions - Home (which is what Microsoft calls as Ultimate) and Business. Ultimate was a flop in Windows Vista and didn't have any features worth paying that kind of money, and the motion desktops should have been included in Home Premium anyway. If they need to leave off the "join to domain" option in Ultimate for the home version and just put that feature in Business and take out a few multimedia features, I could justify that.
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