Windows 8 editions
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Windows 8 has four editions, each with varying feature sets.[1]
Editions
- Windows 8
- Windows 8 is the basic edition of Windows for the x86 and x86-64 architectures. This edition contains features aimed at the home market segment and provides all of the basic new Windows 8 features including the Start screen with semantic zoom, live tiles, Windows Store, Internet Explorer 10, connected standby, Microsoft account integration, the Windows desktop and more.
- Windows 8 Pro
- Windows 8 Pro is comparable to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate[2][3] and is targeted towards enthusiasts and business users; it includes all the features of Windows 8. Additional features include connecting to your computer remotely through a Remote Desktop connection[4], the ability to participate in a Windows Server domain, Encrypting File System, Client Hyper-V[5], and Virtual Hard Disk Booting, Group Policy as well as BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. Windows Media Center functionality will be available only for Windows 8 Pro as a paid "add-on."[6]
- Windows 8 Enterprise
- Windows 8 Enterprise provides all the features in Windows 8 Pro (except the ability to install the Windows Media Center add-on), with additional features to assist with IT organization (see table below).[2] This edition is available to Software Assurance customers, as well as MSDN and Technet Professional subscribers, and was released on August 16, 2012.[7]
- Windows RT
- Windows RT will only be available pre-installed on ARM-based devices such as tablet PCs.[8] It will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the basic set of Office 2013 applications to users—Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, and support device encryption capabilities. Several business-focused features such as Group Policy and domain support are not included.
Unlike Windows Vista and Windows 7, there are no Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, or Ultimate editions.[9]
Regional restrictions and variations
All editions have the ability to use language packs, enabling multiple user interface languages.[3] (This functionality was previously only available in Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise.) However, in China and a small number of other emerging markets, an edition of Windows 8 without this capability will be offered.[2] In China, a region-specific edition, Windows 8 for China, will be released, as confirmed by Steve Guggenheimer, Corporate Vice President.[10] It will be offered at relatively low price in an attempt to curb rampant software piracy in China.
Additional Windows 8 editions specially destined for European markets have the letter "N" suffixed to their names and do not include a bundled copy of Windows Media Player. Microsoft was required to create the "N" editions of Windows after the European Commission ruled in 2004 that it needed to provide a copy of Windows without Windows Media Player tied in.
Upgrade compatibility
The following in-place upgrade paths are supported from Windows 7.[2] Note that it is only possible to upgrade from a IA-32 version of Windows 7 to an IA-32 version of Windows 8; an x64 version of Windows 7 can only be upgraded to an x64 version of Windows 8. Windows RT cannot be installed on the same hardware that accepts Windows 7, as Windows RT is designed exclusively for ARM architecture's only which Windows Vista and 7 do not support. In addition, it is possible to upgrade Windows XP and Windows Vista to Windows 8 Pro.[11]
Windows 7 edition | Can upgrade to Windows RT? |
Can upgrade to Windows 8? |
Can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro? |
Can upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Enterprise | No | No | No | Yes |
Ultimate | Yes | No | ||
Professional | Yes | |||
Home Premium | Yes | No | ||
Home Basic | ||||
Starter |
Comparison chart
Features | Windows RT | Windows 8 | Windows 8 Pro | Windows 8 Enterprise |
---|---|---|---|---|
Availability[14] | Pre-installed on devices[8] | Most channels | Most channels | Volume License customers |
Architecture | ARM (32-bit) | IA-32 (32-bit) or x86-64 (64-bit) | IA-32 (32-bit) or x86-64 (64-bit) | IA-32 (32-bit) or x86-64 (64-bit) |
Trusted boot | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Picture password | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Touch and Thumb keyboard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Language packs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Updated File Explorer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Standard apps[a] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
File History | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Refresh and reset of OS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Play To | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Connected standby | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Update | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Defender | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Better multi-monitor support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
New Windows Task Manager | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
ISO image and VHD mounting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mobile broadband features | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Microsoft account integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Internet Explorer 10 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
SmartScreen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Store | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Xbox Live app (including Xbox Live Arcade)[15][16] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Exchange ActiveSync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Snap | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Can connect to a VPN? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Desktop | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Supported third-party apps[2][17] | Windows Store apps only | Windows Store and desktop | Windows Store and desktop | Windows Store and desktop |
Remote Desktop | Client only | Client only | Client and host | Client and host |
Storage Spaces | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Media Player | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Encryption features | Device encryption[b] | Unavailable | BitLocker and EFS | BitLocker and EFS |
Sideload Windows Store apps | Yes[19] | No[13] | Yes[20] | Yes[13] |
Boot from VHD | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Can join a Windows domain? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Group Policy | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Hyper-V[21] | No | No | On 64-bit versions only with SLAT capable CPU | |
AppLocker[c] | No | No | No | Yes |
Windows To Go | No | No | No | Yes |
DirectAccess | No | No | No | Yes |
BranchCache[d] | No | No | No | Yes |
Can be virtualized by RemoteFX? | No | No | No | Yes |
Microsoft Office apps bundled with OS[e] | Yes | No | No | No |
Windows Media Center | No | No | Via an add-in[24] | No |
Windows RT | Windows 8 | Windows 8 Pro | Windows 8 Enterprise |
Notes
- ^ Includes Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, Reader, Music, Video, Bing, Weather, Sports, News, Finance, Camera, Travel, Maps and SkyDrive app
- ^ Device encryption, a feature introduced in Windows Mobile 6.5, encrypts the contents of a mobile device to enhance their security.[18]
- ^ AppLocker enforces application whitelisting or blacklisting in a corporate environment. In other words, it can be used to allow or prevent execution of software based on name, version number or publisher.[22]
- ^ BranchCache, a feature of Windows 7 and later, locally caches contents received from a file server or web server to enable faster subsequent uses.[23]
- ^ Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote RT
References
- ^ Bradley, Tom (17 April 2012). "Windows 8: Which Version Should You Choose?". PCWorld. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f LeBlanc, Brandon (2012). "Announcing the Windows 8 Editions". Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b Foley, Mary Jo (2012). "Microsoft: Here are the four editions of Windows 8". Retrieved 17 April 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Text "ZDNet"" ignored (help) - ^ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/compare
- ^ http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/04/16/announcing-the-windows-8-editions.aspx
- ^ LeBlanc, Brandon. "Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99". Blogging Windows. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ Rose, Stephen (16 August 2012). "Windows 8 Is Ready For Your Enterprise". Microsoft. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ a b Mackie, Kurt (17 April 2012). "Microsoft Names Windows 8 Editions, Unveils ARM-Based 'Windows RT'". Redmonad Channel Partner. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Bill (17 April 2012). "Microsoft Announces Revamped Windows 8 Editions". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Zac (10 April 2012) Windows 8 China edition confirmed by Microsoft employee? Winbeta.org. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ^ Leblanc, Brandon. "Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99". Blogging Windows. Microsoft. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
You can add Windows Media Center for free through the "add features" option within Windows 8 Pro after your upgrade.
- ^ "Windows 8 Upgrade Paths". Microsoft TechNet. Microsoft. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ a b c Thurott, Paul (18 April 2012). "Microsoft Details Windows 8 Enterprise". Penton Media. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- ^ Thurott, Paul (16 April 2012). "News Flash! Microsoft Stops SKUing Customers with Windows 8". Penton Media. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ "Windows 8 To Integrate Xbox Live Support". Maximum PC. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
- ^ "Windows 8 Feature Focus: Xbox LIVE Games". Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ^ "Windows 8 vs Windows RT: what's the difference?". TechRadar. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Device Encryption". MSDN Library. Microsoft. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ Sinofsky, Steven. "Managing "BYO" PCs in the enterprise (including WOA)". Building Windows 8. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "How to Add and Remove Apps". Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- ^ Sinofsky, Steven (9 July 2011). "Bringing Hyper-V to "Windows 8"". Building Windows 8. Microsoft. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ "AppLocker". Microsoft TechNet. Microsoft. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "BranchCache". Windows Server 2008 R2 homepage. Microsoft. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ Leblanc, Brandon. "Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99". Blogging Windows. Microsoft. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
If you install the Windows 8 Pro System Builder product, you will be able to add Windows Media Center via the "add features" option within the product for free during the promotion.