jihnn

February 05, 2009 at 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

 

majorsuave

February 04, 2009 at 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. 

 

steve771

February 03, 2009 at 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).

DoctorX

February 03, 2009 at 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.

aarcane

February 01, 2009 at 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.

mdkplus

February 01, 2009 at 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!

mdkplus

February 01, 2009 at 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.

winmaster

January 31, 2009 at 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.

colinjm0517

January 31, 2009 at 12:46am

Windows 7 should be a double layer disc to hold extras and the x86 and x64 editions

colinjm0517

January 31, 2009 at 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

colinjm0517

January 31, 2009 at 12:35am

Windows 7 should havea Starter/basic, a mid range, and a complete version, to prevent confusion and hatred of Windows 7.

n0ctis

January 30, 2009 at 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.

dstevens

January 30, 2009 at 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..... 

Keith E. Whisman

January 27, 2009 at 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. 

yogurt80

January 27, 2009 at 11:51pm

NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

hogkill

January 27, 2009 at 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.

hogkill

January 27, 2009 at 5:49pm

questions aren't answers

anrichardson

January 27, 2009 at 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?

gibsurfer84

January 27, 2009 at 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. 

mini6090

January 27, 2009 at 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

icebird

January 27, 2009 at 6:43am

1. Ultimate Home
2. 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.

stige

January 27, 2009 at 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.

dc10ten

January 26, 2009 at 8:28pm

I'm more upset by the fact that they are still doing 32bit.

I Jedi

January 26, 2009 at 7:18pm

What I'm more confused about is the starter version and the home version? Ha. Ha. 

strykyr

January 26, 2009 at 4:50pm

Geez peops...RTFM.  If you don't know what you want then don't get it.

zodi

January 26, 2009 at 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. 

Keith E. Whisman

January 26, 2009 at 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. 

mikemckay

January 26, 2009 at 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)

 

Keith E. Whisman

January 26, 2009 at 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.

 

Gailim

January 26, 2009 at 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.

Havok

January 26, 2009 at 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

CTskifreak

January 26, 2009 at 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.

 

 

skhills

January 26, 2009 at 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.

Mongoitus

January 26, 2009 at 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.

muzkman

January 26, 2009 at 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.