Windows Vista Shipping in 6 Flavors

[The Continental]

Confirming many of the suspicions of last week's leaked product page, Microsoft has formally announced today that Windows Vista will indeed be shipping in six different versions.

Windows Vista Home Basic: For consumers that want to simply use the PC to browse the Internet, correspond with friends and family over email or perform basic document creation and editing tasks, Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a safer, more reliable and more productive computing environment.

Windows Vista Home Premium: Will help consumers utilize mobile or desktop PC functionality more effectively while enabling the enjoyment of new, exciting digital entertainment experiences – all with the benefit of added security and reliability. Windows Vista Home Premium includes everything in Windows Vista Home Basic, plus the Windows Vista Aero™ and Media Center and Tablet PC capabilities.

Windows Vista Ultimate: Windows Vista Ultimate is the edition of Windows Vista that has it all. It is the first operating system that brings together all of the consumer-oriented features available in Windows Vista Home Premium with all of the business-oriented features available in Windows Vista Business.

Two versions will cater to businesses:

Windows Vista Business: For small to medium size businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and securely so they are less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business will provide dramatic new infrastructure improvements that will enable IT staff to spend less time focused on day to day maintenance of PCs and more time adding strategic value to the organization.

Windows Vista Enterprise: To better address the needs of large, global organizations and those with highly complex IT infrastructures, Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to significantly lower IT costs and risk. In addition to all of the features available in Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise is designed to provide higher levels of data protection using hardware-based encryption technology.

And one version will target particularly price-sensitive parts of the world:

Windows Vista Starter: Helps users in emerging technology countries be more successful by providing an affordable, easy to learn and use computing experience. It is compatible with latest applications and devices, and more reliable and secure because it is part of the Windows Vista family of products.

http://www.pcworld.com has the full story (http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/001513.html), as well as a good deal of commentary on the matter.

[Rakael]

Seems to me that a Gamer edition would be a nice inclusion as well. Hell, why not throw one together to target gamers?

[JediSanf]

Microsoft sure has fallen in love with multiple SKUs. Just give the price for Ultimate as I'm sure that's what I'll end up using.

[farley2k]

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Here is what consumers need to know - which version will be installed on the new PC I get at Best Buy? That is all. They won't understand anything else, they won't care.

[ghost]

Is it really that hard for them to make a single operating system that suits everyone's needs, rather than cutting it up for a dozen specialty markets? This just irritates the heck out of me. What could be the point of Windows Flavors? It's just giving them more work and confusing a large portion of their customer base.

[Evil Avatar]

Remind me two years after this comes out to give a few minutes of consideration to the idea of upgrading.

[Megalith]

I'll get whatever has the system restore feature. It has saved my PC many, many times.

But then again, I don't even see any point of updating, unless you are a freak that has to play the latest PC games. The Vista UI also looks awful.

[Kagger]

Here in Texas, the public colleges (UT, TAMU), cut a deal with MS and the students can get a copy of the OS for $5, and the office for $15. When my brother was in college, it was professional, so I figure in 2 years when I'm there it will be ultimate.

[ElectricMonk]

they should just sell the additional components as extras

like was stated, the ONLY people that this is applicable to is DIYers, which isn't a large part of the market.

[thegameguru]

Is it really that hard for them to make a single operating system that suits everyone's needs, rather than cutting it up for a dozen specialty markets? This just irritates the heck out of me. What could be the point of Windows Flavors? It's just giving them more work and confusing a large portion of their customer base.

it actually bothers you? like... keeps you up at night?

Most consumers wont care one bit or even notice.. as depending on how and what they purchase they will likely be exposed to 2 choices at most...or never even notice since most PC's will be preloaded with the OS.

I think your thinking that all consumers are the exact same....or perhaps that Fortune 500 companies want to purchase exactly what a home user would want to purchase.

[Varsity]

Is it really that hard for them to make a single operating system that suits everyone's needs?The answer here is a resounding yes. It's practically impossible, unless you ship everything together and disable the stuff people don't need, which is a hacky way of doing what they are now (unless you're charging corporate users the same as people in the third world, you heartless bastard).

[Citizen Philip]

The answer here is a resounding yes. It's practically impossible, unless you ship everything together and disable the stuff people don't need, which is a hacky way of doing what they are now (unless you're charging corporate users the same as people in the third world, you heartless bastard).

I would think, considering Microsoft alreays requires to REGISTER online, the ready avalibabilty of cheap media, even Microsoft could figure out how to make an all-in-one OS. Depending on the authentication code used, the correct features would be unlocked.

Of course we know why they don't do this.

They want to force software pirates to download and burn 2-3 copies instead of just one. And naturally, it's at the expense of the regular consumer.

Linuxs distro + firefox + open office = no $ 4MS.

[Knite]

Is it really that hard for them to make a single operating system that suits everyone's needs, rather than cutting it up for a dozen specialty markets? This just irritates the heck out of me. What could be the point of Windows Flavors? It's just giving them more work and confusing a large portion of their customer base.

I'm not an expert, but my basic feeling is the reason they do this is flat out Money.

For example, if they can sell a stripped down version that allows game playing, internet surfing, and little else to Dell and the standard user at a very cheap price, they might just get a few more people purchasing who otherwise might ask thier IT friend for a copy.

The Business version they can jack the price up for businessess, who want a much less "fluffy" copy of the operating system, with more robust networking configuration abilities, and more security control. So MS makes more money from them for tayloring to suit thier needs.

I actually understand why they are doing this. I just wish they'd make things more straightforward, and less "multi-version".

[thecrazyd]

they should just sell the additional components as extras

like was stated, the ONLY people that this is applicable to is DIYers, which isn't a large part of the market.
DIYers that do not pirate their OS, which is an even smaller part of the market.

[Serapth]

If countries would stop suing Microsoft over shit that actually helps the consumer ( bundled web browser, bundled media player, etc... ) then maybe just fricking maybe, we wouldnt see this many sku's.

[Serapth]

DIYers that do not pirate their OS, which is an even smaller part of the market.

I gotta call bullshit here... almost everyone I know or have known in the past 10 years that built there own computer from pieces has either pirated the OS or installed linux.

Hell, often times the only difference between say a dell and a DIY PC in cost, is the overhead for OS and software licensing. Then again, for years now, it hasnt really been the adventagous to build your own, unless your a parts control freak, and even then you can normally get it built to spec for a comprable cost.

[Derwin]

too bad it isn't 7 flavors, otherwise i would have been able to slip in a really clever "Seven Layers of Hell" joke...

[Neosho]

Windows Vista Starter: Helps users in emerging technology countries be more successful by providing an affordable, easy to learn and use computing experience. It is compatible with latest applications and devices, and more reliable and secure because it is part of the Windows Vista family of products.

Am i the only one that found the last sentence amusing? It's secure because it's part of the windows vista family of products...not cause they've upgraded anything...or because it's a repack of XP...

Nobody? Damn.

[Goronmon]

I've been lucky enough to get MS products for $5 at school for the past 5 years. I have 2 legit copies of Windows XP as well as the 64-bit version for a grand total of $10. Too bad I'll be out of college by the time Vista comes along. :(

[Citizen Philip]

too bad it isn't 7 flavors, otherwise i would have been able to slip in a really clever "Seven Layers of Hell" joke...

There are 7. It's kind of like the Lord of the Rings. Microsoft, companies that use DRM, and the NSA have access to Windows Vista AYVBTU Edition (All your versions belong to us). Like that one ring that binds them, kind of thing.

It's for the safety of the children. You understand.

[Citizen Philip]

If countries would stop suing Microsoft over shit that actually helps the consumer ( bundled web browser, bundled media player, etc... ) then maybe just fricking maybe, we wouldnt see this many sku's.

Most countries have anti-monopoly laws that are at least partially functional. Taking away choice does not help the consumer, it helps to line pockets.

[thecrazyd]

I gotta call bullshit here... almost everyone I know or have known in the past 10 years that built there own computer from pieces has either pirated the OS or installed linux.

Hell, often times the only difference between say a dell and a DIY PC in cost, is the overhead for OS and software licensing. Then again, for years now, it hasnt really been the adventagous to build your own, unless your a parts control freak, and even then you can normally get it built to spec for a comprable cost.
You call bullshit because you agree with me?

[Serapth]

You call bullshit because you agree with me?

LOL OK then... I call bullshit cause your wording sucked!!! :D

[Serapth]

Most countries have anti-monopoly laws that are at least partially functional. Taking away choice does not help the consumer, it helps to line pockets.

Grr this is an irritating piece of FUD. They didnt take away choice, they didnt make it so that a) you couldnt install other web browsers or b) you couldnt install other media players. ( I say as I write this response using Opera while listening to mp3's on iTunes ). They just gave each consumer a default application to start with. Had they broken Firefox and Quicktime, hey, id agree with you. But they gave the consumers *MORE*. Consumers arent hurt by Microsofts practices ( actually there is alot of evidence to support how MS has been pro-consumer, such as comparing office app costs from 15 years ago, to the price now ).

[Venkman]

Most consumers wont care one bit or even notice.. as depending on how and what they purchase they will likely be exposed to 2 choices at most...or never even notice since most PC's will be preloaded with the OS.



People sure noticed when there were two SKUs for the Xbox 360. it pissed many people off, and immediately people said- what about the first game that REQUIRES a hard drive?

Well, what about the first game that requires a more expensive OS? And Joe Smith goes to the store and buys a PC game, and finds that it only runs on 2 or the six flavors of windows, both of which cost more than on the cheap ass Dell he bought online.

[Serapth]

People sure noticed when there were two SKUs for the Xbox 360. it pissed many people off, and immediately people said- what about the first game that REQUIRES a hard drive?

Well, what about the first game that requires a more expensive OS? And Joe Smith goes to the store and buys a PC game, and finds that it only runs on 2 or the six flavors of windows, both of which cost more than on the cheap ass Dell he bought online.

My money says gaming will be complete in the core now. Think of the lowest price version as being the same as it is today. Does Joe Smith get pissed that he bought Home instead of Pro? Not normally... I think MS is smart enough to know not to break gaming.

The functionality you will see go into "better" versions is most likely going to be stuff like media center functionality, better networking (this is the biggest difference between Home and Pro today ), fault tolerance, etc.

If you look at things today, if Vista is a replacement for Win2k3 server the sku count really isnt that different. Look at how many XP versions exist today... XP Home, Pro, Tablet, Media Center ( its just XP ), CE, then on the 2k3 side 2k3 server, advanced server, web, data center. MS isnt exactly new to handling multiple SKUs. I have read somewhere that have more then 10,000 active SKU's today, which I dont doubt.

[Demize99]

Mangling the word's their and there happily since 1975.

/hijack You mangled the word "words" there too...

10,000 SKU? Sounds like an order of 10 too high. I'd buy 1000.

[Goronmon]

Does anyone else get the feeling they will have to wait to upgrade to Vista so that can figure which one is the actual version that will contain all the functionality they will end up needing?

[Kayler]

I believe the original vision was to make a subscription based product, but that would require people on broadband. Not a lot of people will stay online enough on their 56k modem to download a 500 mb update. The different versions make sense to me right now. Buy what you want. But I'll get the Ultimate sense it seems to sound most like the professional version. Since MS has never changed their prices for an OS, I'll take the route of:
$99 Home
$149 Premium
$199 Ultimate
-----
I don't really care about the business versions.

[Kayler]

I'm not an expert, but my basic feeling is the reason they do this is flat out Money.

For example, if they can sell a stripped down version that allows game playing, internet surfing, and little else to Dell and the standard user at a very cheap price, they might just get a few more people purchasing who otherwise might ask thier IT friend for a copy.

The Business version they can jack the price up for businessess, who want a much less "fluffy" copy of the operating system, with more robust networking configuration abilities, and more security control. So MS makes more money from them for tayloring to suit thier needs.

I actually understand why they are doing this. I just wish they'd make things more straightforward, and less "multi-version".

You can also look to the fact that MS is really pushing cheap PC's (the $100 PC). Wouldn't you want your OS on it if they are being sold?

[TheKeck]

You call bullshit because you agree with me?
That's what I was thinking. :confused:

[Kayler]

Am i the only one that found the last sentence amusing? It's secure because it's part of the windows vista family of products...not cause they've upgraded anything...or because it's a repack of XP...

Nobody? Damn.
How can you call this a repack of XP? They have redeveloped Active Accessiblity. Redeved IE, which looks very different now (not just the UI). They have redeved the rendering engine (Trident is being phased out). This is really a new OS. It was supposed to be a go between version before they released (the next version after vista, I've signed an NDA I don't know if that codename has leaked out yet) Now it's a full blown OS.

[Serapth]

/hijack You mangled the word "words" there too...

10,000 SKU? Sounds like an order of 10 too high. I'd buy 1000.

You have any idea how many languages MS products are shipped in? Our volume license agreement at work for some odd reason ships us products in every language MS supports. They must be localized to atleast 30 languages.

So do the math, 30x number of products x number of versions of each product. Frankly, I wouldnt be suprised if 10K is too low.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

How can you call this a repack of XP? They have redeveloped Active Accessiblity. Redeved IE, which looks very different now (not just the UI). They have redeved the rendering engine (Trident is being phased out). This is really a new OS. It was supposed to be a go between version before they released (the next version after vista, I've signed an NDA I don't know if that codename has leaked out yet) Now it's a full blown OS.


I think he was pointing out the irony in having the words "secure" and "windows" in the same sentence without the words "never gonna be" between them.



So does anyone remember when they were going to be charging monthly for this and the shitstorm that that announcement caused?

[Kayler]

I think he was pointing out the irony in having the words "secure" and "windows" in the same sentence without the words "never gonna be" between them.



So does anyone remember when they were going to be charging monthly for this and the shitstorm that that announcement caused?

Ya, it comes back to the subscription based service. It was really whats the difference between paying $199 for an OS every 2 years or so, or just paying $9.99 a month.

Think about it, you get your stripped down OS, and then can download the features you want. It actually makes a lot of sense to me, but it comes back that the US specifically only has what 30% of people on broadband.

[ElectricMonk]

well kayler, i would rather pay an extra $40 just to not have to keep track of one more monthly bill.

i hope the pricing is similar to xp. it seems like they've increased the price of other things like their development environments substantially.

[MasterKwan]

It's the difference between owning a house and renting one. I'm not convinced all these license agreements that claim you don't own your OS are worth the lawyers it took to write them. I paid money, I got a disk, I installed the software that sounds like a "Purchase" to me. I even have the right to sell it to someone else.

I'm still up in the air with Vista. It's not bringing anything to the table I really need.

[Neosho]

Kayler, i was kidding. A joke. I'm aware it's a new OS.

[Bumbuliuz]

Im getting the Ultimate Ed. Unless it costs way too much ;)

[Voodoo]

I'd really really like to see DirectX to become OS portable.

For those that do not think a base OS with additive installs exists, please look up Debian. It is a free linux based distribution which comes on DVD, multiple CDs or even a small boot CD that you can directly download components via internet connection.

Me, I'd run Linux if it weren't for DirectX and Exchange Server.

[Mason]

Consumers arent hurt by Microsofts practices.
MS has done some rather nasty things in the past, like threaten computer makers who offer non-Windows OSes. The IE case was total crap, but that doesn't mean MS has always been a sweet little angel either.

[dead]

i'll have mine in lime flavour thank you.

Auctually this reminds me of Micahel Jackson's last non-compilation album. The one that he released before he went though all that paedophilia court case stuff. That came in 4-6 flavours if memory serves me correctly. They were like lime, strawberry, orange, grape and the like. Although the only differences the albums had from each other were the colours that they were printed in.

[A Lusty Alien]

This is going to be an administrative nightmare. First of all, I have a hard time believing that they are going to release all 6 (7?) flavors of Vista at once. Which means the first company Dell computers I purchase with Vista will not be the same version as what is available six months later.

I can't help but think that this is exactly the boost Linux needs to get established on the desktop.

[Varsity]

I would think, considering Microsoft alreays requires to REGISTER online, the ready avalibabilty of cheap media, even Microsoft could figure out how to make an all-in-one OS. Depending on the authentication code used, the correct features would be unlocked.
Yeah, I'm sure that would be really popular...and would you mind deciphering the gibberish in the rest of your post?

Edit: on seconds thoughts, It's probably best that you don't. The amount of crap I see people spew about anything these really is disheartening. On the one hand it's irrelevant and wrong, but on the other I've never been able to sit by and watch people running around in that state without trying to help...

[overdrivechao]

I'll get whatever has the system restore feature. It has saved my PC many, many times.

But then again, I don't even see any point of updating, unless you are a freak that has to play the latest PC games. The Vista UI also looks awful.

Security BAAAAAAD
<This has been an automated repose to all dumbass posts by Megalith>

[Undertakr]

So now, instead of doing QA on one OS, I have to do QA on 6 OSes. That's just stupid.

[mfpantst]

This is going to be an administrative nightmare. First of all, I have a hard time believing that they are going to release all 6 (7?) flavors of Vista at once. Which means the first company Dell computers I purchase with Vista will not be the same version as what is available six months later.

I can't help but think that this is exactly the boost Linux needs to get established on the desktop.

This complaining about multple SKU's may be well grounded, but people shouldn't be suprised. A listing of XP SKU's:

XP Home
XP Professional 32-Bit
XP Professional 64-Bit
XP Media Center Edition
XP Tablet PC Edition
XP Plus!
That doesn't count the mobile and embedded versions of Windows, which could technically be called alternate SKU's for Windows XP. Now yes, there does seem to be reason to complain that there are so many choices and versions. It would make sense for Microsoft to create one all-encompasing version (perhaps). BUT, acting suprised about it, like Vista will somehow be different than XP in the variety is goofy. Think about MS office. How many versions of that have there been wth each version? Office 2000 had at least 3 different releases. Like it or not, Microsoft likes to release their products with variety and there's no suprise there. All this groaning is nonsense unless you all groaned at every product microsoft has released with multiple SKU's.

[Citizen Philip]

Yeah, I'm sure that would be really popular...and would you mind deciphering the gibberish in the rest of your post?

Edit: on seconds thoughts, It's probably best that you don't. The amount of crap I see people spew about anything these really is disheartening. On the one hand it's irrelevant and wrong, but on the other I've never been able to sit by and watch people running around in that state without trying to help...

I'll make it very simple.

An OS sold on DVD with a suppliment of CDs for those DVD deficient. That's it. When you purchase your OS an authentication code is given. When the authentication code is used on the MS website it unlocks the features you have paid for. Someone else can use the same DVD, a different code and unlock the different features they paid for. Want to upgrade, pony up the money, get a new code that unlocks the new features you've paid for. All from the original package you purchased with your PC. Can you figure that out, dumbass?

The only reason to not sell Windows in one convient package is that the format would also be easy for pirates: which is to say, they would only need to download the OS instead of 3 different versions of the OS. We already know how incredibly expensive bandwidth and technically complex multiple downloading is. 6 Different retail packages is convient for the company not the consumer. But don't worry your new Vista OS is locked to one HDD and mobo, and has plenty of highly protected DRM sections in the resident memory to make sure you are an honest consumer.

[Citizen Philip]

Grr this is an irritating piece of FUD. They didnt take away choice, they didnt make it so that a) you couldnt install other web browsers or b) you couldnt install other media players. ( I say as I write this response using Opera while listening to mp3's on iTunes ). They just gave each consumer a default application to start with. Had they broken Firefox and Quicktime, hey, id agree with you. But they gave the consumers *MORE*. Consumers arent hurt by Microsofts practices ( actually there is alot of evidence to support how MS has been pro-consumer, such as comparing office app costs from 15 years ago, to the price now ).

Microsoft is a monopoly. They are a monopoly because of their business practices. The definition of an operating system is pretty clear, make your hardware work. If you want to check e-mail, use media, etc. that is not part of an OS: those are additional services that any company should be able to provide. When you pre-bundle additional software to perform functions beyond the requirements of being an OS you are removing choices.

If you bought a new PC that had a Windows OS, and a handful of additional CDs with software: each additional piece of software designed to be better for you to run your e-mail/media/etc. how is that hurting you or proving that what is currently happening (all of it bundled) is better for you?

[Varsity]

An OS sold on DVD with a suppliment of CDs for those DVD deficient. That's it. When you purchase your OS an authentication code is given. When the authentication code is used on the MS website it unlocks the features you have paid for. Someone else can use the same DVD, a different code and unlock the different features they paid for. Want to upgrade, pony up the money, get a new code that unlocks the new features you've paid for. All from the original package you purchased with your PC.The only difference between this and having different releases is that it's more DRM and something that would confuse the consumer.

The only reason to not sell Windows in one convient package is that the format would also be easy for pirates: which is to say, they would only need to download the OS instead of 3 different versions of the OS.I somehow doubt that they'd have much problem bundling them all together whatever MS do. And anyway, what sort of difference in size do you think a bunch of binaries is going to be? A few hundred megs is nothing these days, especially if you're downloading an OS in the first place.

You seem to be underestimating pirates' resourcefulness and overestimating MS' customers' understanding of technology here.

[Citizen Philip]

The only difference between this and having different releases is that it's more DRM and something that would confuse the consumer.

I somehow doubt that they'd have much problem bundling them all together whatever MS do. And anyway, what sort of difference in size do you think a bunch of binaries is going to be? A few hundred megs is nothing these days, especially if you're downloading an OS in the first place.

You seem to be underestimating pirates' resourcefulness and overestimating MS' customers' understanding of technology here.

Different codes unlocking features is not DRM. If you want to use something and find that the feature is locked: you know you need to pay for the code to unlock it. To pay, you contact MS.

I said: Put everything on one disc(s), depending on what you buy you unlock what you want. If you pay more you can unlock more: using the original CDs. Multiple retail packages are convient for the company, and don't stop piracy or slow it down: punishing the honest consumer. What are you saying?

[Neosho]

This complaining about multple SKU's may be well grounded, but people shouldn't be suprised. A listing of XP SKU's:

XP Home
XP Professional 32-Bit
XP Professional 64-Bit
XP Media Center Edition
XP Tablet PC Edition
XP Plus!
That doesn't count the mobile and embedded versions of Windows, which could technically be called alternate SKU's for Windows XP. Now yes, there does seem to be reason to complain that there are so many choices and versions. It would make sense for Microsoft to create one all-encompasing version (perhaps). BUT, acting suprised about it, like Vista will somehow be different than XP in the variety is goofy. Think about MS office. How many versions of that have there been wth each version? Office 2000 had at least 3 different releases. Like it or not, Microsoft likes to release their products with variety and there's no suprise there. All this groaning is nonsense unless you all groaned at every product microsoft has released with multiple SKU's.

That's true, but all of those have distinct different ideas behind them, and are specified to different hardware sets. This is one OS, with a bunch of software based varients rather than hardware based ones. (I don't know what XP Plus! is though...and i'm aware that home/professional are the same)

Basically, the new one is just 6 copies of home and professional, rather than having differences to take advantage of tablet PC's, 64 bit processors, whatever. If they were releasing vista 64, vista for tablet, vista 32, and all the other varients, i don't think it'd be a problem.

The reason this is an issue to me is because i look at that and i see one OS that's crippled and when we want to do tech support(I work for uni. tech support), we can't do certain things on it, or modify certain settings, or whatever, simply because the version that dell ships by default is too stripped down and our users are too stupid to buy the right one. Going to be headaches, for sure.

[MasterKwan]

If you have "Digital Restrictions Management" (DRM - what it REALLY is) in the OS and it's good enough to protect media, why not use it to validate what features of the OS you can use? I think Varsity hit it on the head. IF microsoft went this, or the rental route then DRM's the way to do it.