Which Windows Vista will you run? You have 8 choices.

Wow, ok, Bill, since you're reading this and all, we've got to tell you a little something about product branding. Ever hear the adage "do one thing, do it well?" We think that be useful to remember about right now, because the consumer confusion the Windows Vista team is about to cause by offering up 8 different platters might be a little much. Here's the rundown for the rest of you:

Windows Starter 2007 - Vista without Aero, probably meant for developing nations.

Windows Vista Home Basic - Basic Windows Vista for your single PC fam, doesn't sound like much going on here. Analagous to XP Home.

Windows Vista Home Basic N - European version of the same, but without Media Player (because of antitrust rulings against MS in the EU).

Windows Vista Home Premium - This is the one we're all probably gonna own. It's got Media Center functionality, Cable Card support, the whole home-media shebang.

Windows Vista Business - Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista.

Windows Vista Business N - Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista, but Euro.

Windows Vista Enterprise - Business version of Vista with numerous enterprise features, like Virtual PC, volume encryption, etc.

Windows Vista Ultimate - Love that name. This one does all of the above (and more); what else do you need to know? It's ultimate Windows..

[Via MCPCW]

[wizard @ Feb 19th 2006 5:29PM]

Windows Vista Home Premium or Business.

[Captain Obvious @ Feb 19th 2006 5:29PM]

Crap. This is such a pain for businesses, I can't even begin to tell you. As it was, I was telling people in droves to never buy XP Home. It's such a pain to have to support. And has anyone tried setting up a Media Center 2005 system on a network? FUN. Can't Microsoft come out with ONE version for all?!

[angrykeyboarder @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:17PM]

They did. Windows Vista Ultimate. Take Windows Vista Business add Windows Vista Home Premium and a few extras and Voila!

[strider_mt2k @ Feb 19th 2006 5:32PM]

This should be interesting.

Like, "May you live in interesting times." interesting.

[proc @ Feb 19th 2006 5:34PM]

None if its true what they say about Vista and DRM.

[happy gilmore @ Feb 19th 2006 5:36PM]

yeah, and like how much are they gonna cost? somewhere between $99-$299 each! sheesh!

can't wait for the pirated 8-in-1 bootable iso.

[Revrant @ Feb 19th 2006 5:39PM]

Vista and DRM go hand'n'hand, I won't be converting, or I'll try to keep a copy on another computer, for Halo 2 PC. =D

Ultimate Windows, golly, I've been so spoiled by the Ultimate Marvel comics that the geek in me gets all giddy.

[Julian @ Feb 19th 2006 5:39PM]

After screening all the options, trawling through the respective offerings metered out per version and what they will offer my enterprise, nitpicking over cost-effectiveness vs productivity gain, and taking plenty of notes, I've decided to go with Ubuntu Linux.

[Ron @ Feb 19th 2006 5:40PM]

I'll go with ultimate!

Thank god for academic pricing. :)

[Matt Chesters @ Feb 19th 2006 5:41PM]

WTF! The Starter must be like $5.
And the "Ultimate" should be like $100

[kal @ Feb 19th 2006 5:44PM]

I'll be running the Ultimate

[Chad Smith @ Feb 19th 2006 5:47PM]

What? No Ultimate N??? EU is gonna SUE!

[Ben @ Feb 19th 2006 5:49PM]

Guess i'll be getting either Vista Buisness or Home Premium

[Alan Hartung @ Feb 19th 2006 5:50PM]

Everyone should switch to OS X now, and keep it simple :D

I was saved from Microsoft OS's Jan. 1, 2004, and I've never looked back... except when I have to check websites I develop with an old Vaio laptop

[Chad Smith @ Feb 19th 2006 5:50PM]

Happy said:

can't wait for the pirated 8-in-1 bootable iso.

---

That's gonna have to be a DVD ISO - if not a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD ISO

[SOAD @ Feb 19th 2006 5:51PM]

Well, it all depends on what costs what, but right now, my choices are:

*Windows Vista Home Basic
*Windows Vista Home Premium or
*Windows Vista Ultimate

when will we know the release date?!?!?!?!

[cz440 @ Feb 19th 2006 5:52PM]

How about Windows Vista None

[Diggiti @ Feb 19th 2006 5:56PM]

Windows Vista Revenge of the Sith
Windows Vista Porn Edition with Kung Fu Grip

[kenny @ Feb 19th 2006 5:56PM]

and which ones are the 32-bit or 64-bit versions?

[K Saleh @ Feb 19th 2006 5:58PM]

you know, I always want the best OS out there, but my question is, if I get Ultimate, will I be 'ultimately' slowing down my pc. You see if I pay for the best, I want it to make my system fast AND give me more options.

[Garriq @ Feb 19th 2006 6:03PM]

How about Windows Vista Core and Premium?

[WicK3d GooSe @ Feb 19th 2006 6:03PM]

Windows Vista Ultimate.

I will wait for the "scene" to come out with pirated copies. I plan on keeping windows xp for a long time until they come out with a SP1 for vista to fix all the problems it will have.

[Joshua Hendrickson @ Feb 19th 2006 6:05PM]

I won't be using any of these "versions". In fact, I'll just be sticking with Windows XP. I'm tired of giving Microsoft $200+ every couple years for a "fixed" and "better" version of Windows.

It's bad enough that Windows presides king over a high majority of personal computers. Now too the video game scene, next the automotive. Thanks to you people that must have the "latest and greatest" versions of Windows, they have the funds to do this.

[Glyn @ Feb 19th 2006 6:06PM]

Why is it that everyone thinks 'consumers' are dumb? "oh my god, 8 products to choose from!?!?! how can i cope???"

I'm sorry, but half of them won't even apply to the average consumer and probably won't even know they exist. Hell, it would suprise me if any non-prosumers have even heard about Vista. All in all, comsumers have had to deal with choice and diverse product ranges all their lives, be it a washing machine or a mobile phone. There are very simple ways to ensure that the consumer gets what he/she wants/needs be it through sales assistants or a simple tick box of features.

Before the Ford Mustang, cars were sold as-is. No options or differing model-ranges everyone thought they were happy. Then Ford gave consumers the option to choose certain features which made their car their own. Now-a-days when you buy a car you have countless models, options, features etc. to choose from.

There will still be people around who really don't care what version of vista they buy... i.e. the same group of people who couldn't tell you the difference between Athlons and Pentiums. They bought PCs and will still buy PCs so long as it works, they can let their kid play games, can surf the web and download the odd video. They'll probably never use any of the extra features offered in the more 'prosumer' versions of Vista so why would they pay more for something they don't need?

People have had choice for years. If you want 'one product that has it all' and are willing to fork out for it then there's the ultimate edition.

If confusion was going to cause problems anywhere in the PC market it'll be in hardware e.g. CPUs are no longer simply a case of which has the higher 'GHz'... you've now got single/dual/multi core, hyperthreaded or not, 64 or 32 bit... mobile optimised... also when it comes to hardware I think even prosumers are going to be caught out when it comes to HDCP. Especially early adopters who have bought what they thought would be HD Vista-ready hardware only to be told it's not.

Rant over. :)

Glyn

[Brian G @ Feb 19th 2006 6:06PM]

Windows Vista None
I will look identical to Ubuntu Linux

[Rex @ Feb 19th 2006 6:08PM]

Widows Vista Platinum Gonna Kick OSX's Arse Version 1337

[Andrew @ Feb 19th 2006 6:09PM]

What about Windows Vista Ultimate Tablet? and all the iterations in between..

[Mark Fleser @ Feb 19th 2006 6:10PM]

Just 8 more reasons not to buy. Oh wait I already have ultimate windows it's called MAC, microsoft has stolen pretty much every one of apple's ideas so you might as well run the original good windows.

[chuuchdizzle @ Feb 19th 2006 6:10PM]

vista home basic is supposed to only be able to run 3 progs at a time

[Trogdor @ Feb 19th 2006 6:11PM]

I'd like the half-caf decaf Windows Vista mocha latte with a twist of lemon.

WTF is Microsoft doing? DUMB.

[Tom @ Feb 19th 2006 6:13PM]

"can't wait for the pirated 8-in-1 bootable iso."

No need. Vista will only have one DVD (or maybe a second version for the N versions). If you bought the Starter, you can then later plug in a better CD key bought directly from Microsoft and "upgrade" to Ultimate.

At least that is the plan for now. MS wants to avoid pressing so many different discs.

Personally, I'll probably go with Starter, since it's going to be dual booting/virtualized on my MacBook Pro for games only. No need for bloated eye candy in the OS when all I use it for is to get to bloated eye candy in games.

[lakiolen @ Feb 19th 2006 6:14PM]

I'll take Ultimate, please. Thank god for bit torrent prices.

[Revrant @ Feb 19th 2006 6:17PM]

Big difference between Windows and OSX though, one screws up but lets you do what you like, the other treats you like a kid in Special Needs but manages to keep itself functional. Gosh, hard choice for me, freedom or problem free....Hmm...

Though we'll have our freedom stripped away soon with Vista, which means I'm sticking to XP and 2000.

[Ben @ Feb 19th 2006 6:18PM]

Great LA Story quote Trogdor...

Can I just have the Windows Vista with the sexy UI that I keep seeing on the 'tron, and who the fuck cares what else? I mean puh-lease people, this is like when I project-managed the selection and installation of a new $500k phone sytem for a company, and the end users where like "but the phones are black, and I wanted a white phone to match my desk".

Users don't care what's under the hood.

[Jack Mac @ Feb 19th 2006 6:19PM]

What About Vista N-C Edition?

I've been waiting for microsoft to release somthing like that for a long time. :/

I can't imagine why they didnt release Windows XP Non-Crashing edition either?

hmm....

[icerabbit @ Feb 19th 2006 6:20PM]

Through the jump, you jump to Paul Thurrott "Five months after I exclusively revealed the Windows Vista product editions, Microsoft has corroborated my report. ..."

Whatever.

It'll be OS X 10.5 or 10.6 for me.

[Rick @ Feb 19th 2006 6:27PM]

Windows Vista Cloudy Edition...

Windows Vista Typhoon...

Windows Vista Apacalypse...

It amazes me that people support this company.

[David T @ Feb 19th 2006 6:28PM]

glyn: very well said!

the average consumer will just use whatever happened to come with his PC. when was the last time you saw someone go out and buy his OWN copy of Windows?

hardware manufacturers will probably just bundle:
1. Windows Vista Home Basic - for consumer PCs
2. Windows Vista Home Premium - for Media Center PCs
3. Windows Vista Business - for business PCs
4. Windows Vista Ultimate - at extra cost

with the corresponding N version if in the Euro zone.

After all, with WinXP you already have Starter, Home, Pro, Media Center. That's four choices too. and the N versions.

[dfunked @ Feb 19th 2006 6:30PM]

funny that, the official Vista website claims that it is 'bringing clarity to your world'.

[John @ Feb 19th 2006 6:30PM]

Sounds like I'll be switching to a Linux box.

[CYRiX @ Feb 19th 2006 6:31PM]

"Which vista do you got"
"I got the N premium ultra 4.0 edition!"

[Ikoma @ Feb 19th 2006 6:34PM]

Windows vista Ultimate "N" i'd say :X

[Miguel @ Feb 19th 2006 6:39PM]

It's a new novel method of 1st degree price discrimination!

[antonio @ Feb 19th 2006 6:39PM]

lol, I'm hoping a "Wich windows Vista are you?" campaing, followed by a "Wich windows vista you can aford?" and a "which windows vista did you cracked?"

[Bryan @ Feb 19th 2006 6:39PM]

It�s all about DirectX 10. That is the motivator to get a multi-core 64bit processor, and a copy of Windows Vista. There hasn�t been a reason to upgrade for several years. After seeing the demos for Flight Simulator 10, I am really exited about what Vista can do. Say all you want about OSX, and Linux, Microsoft has DirectX. We can all keep out current rigs running XP, and walk around all that silly DRM. DirectX 10 is not backwards compatible, and will not run on XP. Vista will run DirectX 9 (hidden, but there), and DirectX 10.

[YourNameHere @ Feb 19th 2006 6:41PM]

I'll be running OS X 10.5, thank you very much.

[jeremy @ Feb 19th 2006 6:45PM]

"Big difference between Windows and OSX though, one screws up but lets you do what you like, the other treats you like a kid in Special Needs but manages to keep itself functional. Gosh, hard choice for me, freedom or problem free....Hmm..."

How does Mac OSX give treat you like a special ed kid? Isn't computing suppose to be intuitive, how is mac osx limiting you.
Think before you speak, Windows gives you "freedom" that is quite an oxymoron.

[John Doe @ Feb 19th 2006 6:46PM]

I'll be using the Windows Vista Pirate edition.

[Anonymous Coward @ Feb 19th 2006 6:47PM]

You left my version out ...

Windows Vista Lite (Haxx0red) Ultimate Edition

1) Like Vista, but with the DRM completely removed.
2 Will pass a 720p signal to my DVI (but non-HDCP) flat panel
3) Will allow me to do what I want to do with my LEGALLY OBTAINED media that I OWN

The first hacker group to do this will have my complete and utter respect, forever.

Seriously, it's nice to talk about content protection throughout the path, but almost none of the PCs sold currently even have TPM chips. If Vista allows even some functionality on legacy hardware, then it will be hacked, quickly, and without mercy.

Sorry Bill, you sold out. I will pay for a legal liscense, but I'll install the hacked version (or modify a legal one myself). Neither you nor the xxAA has the right to tell me what I can and can't do with my media. Until this happens, I'm sticking with XP.

[markie @ Feb 19th 2006 6:51PM]

it should've said "you have 9 choices", you forgot "none of the above"

...really, this is not meant as a flame but why should you have to switch to Vista? I personally really hope a lot of people and businesses will wait before they 'upgrade' see what it really is about and if it really brings some features they can't miss (I doubt it)... I mean, why not? Give me one reason, what are they missing out of if they stick to what they have now and/or decide to put the money in some hardware instead of this new OS? (and later decide to run a different OS, allright, I'm thinking wishfully... )

Me? I'm not even considering running Vista, I'm way too happy with my current Gentoo/Gnome, but if that hadn't been around, OS X would be more than fine for me...