Windows 7 SKUs announced: your worst nightmare has come to pass

Remember that screenshot we saw of all those different Windows 7 versions (pictured above)? Well guess what? It's worse than you could have possibly imagined. The following will be the actual new SKUs for the OS:

• Windows 7 Starter (limited to three apps concurrently)
  
• Windows 7 Home Basic (for emerging markets)
• Windows 7 Home Premium (adds Aero, Touch, Media Center)
  
• Windows 7 Professional (Remote Desktop host, Mobility Center, Presentation mode)
  
• Windows 7 Enterprise (volume license only, boot from virtual drive, BitLocker)
  
• Windows 7 Ultimate (limited availability, includes everything)
  

This information has been confirmed by Microsoft... who never listens to us. At least most consumers will only see Home Premium and Professional options at retail, which is more akin to the XP options of yore, and means WMC will be "baseline" for most PCs.

Update: Just to be clear, we've checked specifically with Microsoft on all six versions, and the placement of Home Basic in emerging markets. There's now a full breakdown after the break.

Windows 7 Starter

• Available worldwide to OEMs on new PCs
• Missing Aero UI tweaks
• Limited to 3 simultaneous applications

Windows 7 Home Basic (Vista equivalent: $200)

• Only available in emerging markets
• Missing Aero UI tweaks

Windows 7 Home Premium (Vista equivalent: $260)

• Available worldwide, to OEMs and in retail
• Includes Aero UI tweaks
• Features multi-touch capabilities
• Adds "premium" games
• Adds media capabilities (Media Center, DVD playback, DVD creation, etc.)
• Can create home network groups

Windows 7 Professional (Vista equivalent: $300)

• Available worldwide, to OEMs and in retail
• Includes all features of Premium
• Adds enhanced networking capabilities (Remote Desktop host, domain support, offline folders, etc.)
• Adds Mobility Center
• Adds Presentation Mode

Windows 7 Enterprise

• Available only in volume licenses
• Includes all features of Professional
• Adds Branch Cache
• Adds Direct Access
• Adds BitLocker

Windows 7 Ultimate (Vista equivalent: $320)

• Limited OEM and retail availability
• Includes all features of Enterprise

Current Vista breakdown can be found here.

[anus1220 @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:47PM]

took the words right out of my mouth.

[Andy TGD @ Feb 3rd 2009 2:04PM]

Exactly.

Isn't this beta program supposed to gather feedback - so why doesn't Microsoft take some useful advice?

[BlissX @ Feb 3rd 2009 3:26PM]

Maybe you should read Gizmodo's post about the Windows 7 SKUs if you seriously think this is that bad. Tsk Tsk Engadget... Mac-Loving, I got over it, but this is just poor writing.

[klumsy @ Feb 4th 2009 3:48AM]

Stop. Read. Think.

How many of these are going to be widely available to OEMs in developed countries? The options for you when you go to BB/Frys etc are:
Home Premium / Professional.

[Rob @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:32PM]

Damn it MS... you stole Apple's Dock, can't you look at their other models?

[Major4Play @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:17PM]

And Apple stole it from OS/2

[Paul A. Chapel @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:19PM]

The irony here is that as far back as I can remember, PC people regularly trashed the dock in OS X. Microsoft turns around and copies one of the primary things that people said they hated about Macs and now, those same PC people are acting like the Windows 7 taskbar it's the best thing since sliced bread.

So the lesson here, kids, is that Microsoft copies everything you hate, but nothing that you love about other operating systems.

[Niraj @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:41PM]

Ars has a nice article on this subject:
"Paradigms lost: The Windows 7 Taskbar versus the OS X Dock"
http://arstechnica.com/software/news/2009/01/dock-and-windows-7-taskbar.ars

[Joe Dombrowski @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:52PM]

Despite knowing full well Paul is a troll, here goes...
The Mac dock is not easily usable because of a few things. Inconsistent behavior of applications and removing links, no full screen previews, poor to no grouping, moving icons, and too much flash.

1) Inconsistent behavior: Try dragging a closed link off the Dock, then an open one. It does different things, and can be confusing if you're not used to it. Not a big deal, but at least 7 deals with that small problem.

2) Full screen previews: If I have a few internet windows open and some documents, the small previews will show about 5 or 6 windows in a row with nothing but text, making it much more difficult to find the one you want. The taskbar lets you mouse over a preview, and see it full screen, which makes it easier not only to find what you're looking for, but also to look at reference quickly before going back to where you're typing. No switching needed.

3) Grouping: This comes from the last point. Those 6 similar looking windows should be grouped by application OR task, neither of which Mac OS does. If I have 1 webpage, and 3 documents open, I shouldn't have to look through all 4 to figure out which is the one I'm looking for, just 1.

4) Moving icons: this is a big one for me. The dock centers itself, growing and shrinking based on the number of windows open. I develop a muscle memory as to where things are on the screen, so I can quickly launch programs, switch windows, close, or hit the start button. In Mac, as you open more and more windows, everything else shifts position, so you're aiming at a moving target. Slows down productivity considerably.

5) Too much flash. Detailed icons for all your applications and full page previews of your open windows. With all that visual stimulus, it looks nice, but makes filtering out the unnecessary information slower. Much better is showing the application icon, and window previews on mouseover. It helps sort things out.

6) (I know, I didn't mention it before) The way the shortcut becomes the link to a window is ingenious, no matter what, my browser windows will be in the same place, forever. I never have to search the taskbar for where the window is, and whether I want to restore, focus, or launch an application, it's the same movement.

Yes, the new taskbar is similar to the dock, but it is far more usable.

[Nick @ Feb 3rd 2009 2:05PM]

@ Chapel

It is obvious that you are a troll and that i can understand, since you have nothing better to do. You and the rest of the mactards are saying MS stole the foo*king dock how is that? it's the same concept from Windows 95 but improved. I see why is having big Icons a Apple thing? i have been having big Icons since windows 95. What the fudge is with you Mactards that are always saying that MS stole the for*in doc? So please pardon my mispelling but please stop that bull's digestive trash.

[ALCie @ Feb 3rd 2009 2:11PM]

Yep, and to quote from Ars:

"Ultimately, the new Taskbar is not Mac-like in any important way, and only the most facile of analyses would claim that it is."

So then, according to Ars, you are facile!...

Wait... does that make sense? Not much of an insult. Damn it Ars, take a page from Apple and bash your competitors more!

[Rob @ Feb 3rd 2009 4:48PM]

Why down-rank me? I'm not an Apple or MS cheerleader... I like and dislike things about both of them. But as far as this is concerned, MS should really just launch ONE freaking version of Windows.

And yes, they all steal things from each other. Nothing new there. I like the dock idea... I'm not a big fan of OSX having a fixed bar on the bottom and top of the screen.... but the OS has been incredibly stable for me and it's easy to get around. I do like how the grouping is working on Windows 7... I'd love to try it out on my iMac if I can ever get their website to respond when I try to download it. :P

[B @ Feb 3rd 2009 5:24PM]

Nick,

I was just wondering what letter you were trying to mask in "foo*king"?

foolking
foodking
footking

[chris @ Feb 3rd 2009 5:36PM]

Yeah, and I bet the second wheel ever made was better then the first!

[AK66 @ Feb 3rd 2009 6:36PM]

@Rob: Make sure you're using Firefox or it won't let you download it. It says you have to be using at least IE7 or FF.

[dale1v @ Feb 4th 2009 9:31AM]

No, Paul. No.
The dock and taskbar are two completely different things, and the taskbar conveys far more information than the dock.

[matthew.jewell @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:58PM]

Oh good grief...

[Maxwell Ash @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:32PM]

Is that the same number as Vista?
I don't think I've seen professional before though. So one more?

[Mike Cerm @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:38PM]

Professional is/was call Business in Vista.

Where's the super-cheap SKU for netbooks? I've got one that I'll need to upgrade to Win7, but if it's going to cost me $100 to upgrade, I'll probably just spend $300 on a new netbook.

[Ray-- @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:42PM]

As long as 7 Ultimate is as Ultimate as Vista Ultimate was everyone will be estatic.

[Brian @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:46PM]

Yeah it's the same number as vista. Vista had (if anyone wants to know):

Windows Vista Starter
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

[Vanillacide @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:54PM]

It's worse than that:

Windows Vista Starter 32-bit
Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit
Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
Windows Vista Business 32-bit
Windows Vista Enterprise 32-bit
Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit

Windows Vista Starter 64-bit
Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Windows Vista Business 64-bit
Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

Sigh, they should just do...

Windows Vista Starter 32-bit for your netbooks, and Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit for everything else.

[jeremyturnley @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:15PM]

Exactly the same as Vista, with one renames, yep.

As for the 64-bit versions, they aren't separate SKUs, so quit harping on it - if you buy any given version (except starter, which only comes in 32-bit), your key will work with the 32- or 64-bit version of the type you bought. You can even reinstall with the other version after you've activated the first, with a call to the phone activation system.

I really don't get WTF is wrong with people on this issue. You buy a home computer, it's going to come with Home Premium (or Basic, if you bought a crap-tastic one from a company trying to squeeze you for an upgrade - the OEM price difference isn't worth stocking them for most computer makers), with an upgrade option to Ultimate if you have more money than sense. You buy a business computer, it will come with Business/Professional, with an upgrade option to Ultimate. You NEVER see Enterprise or Starter unless you are in one of the very select market segments where you need them. So you get two options, how hard is that to really wrap your thick heads around?

[BigD145 @ Feb 3rd 2009 2:19PM]

Why would I buy a new computer just to get a hacked up OS with Dell logos invading my RAM?

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Feb 3rd 2009 3:43PM]

You guys are forgetting about Windows Vista Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition.

[El Taco @ Feb 3rd 2009 5:07PM]

Enterprise and Starter are new, and professional replaced business.

[blair harrington @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:33PM]

complete joke. why make it so confusing for the consumer? could you imagine leopard in 6 versions? my lord.

this does nothing but create extreme confusion. microsoft needs to just create on single OS and be done with it. instead consumers have to waste time figuring out what OS version is right for them. such a joke.

[Look_Around_You @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:34PM]

I also need just one model car and...

TV
Shoes
Camera
Cereal

Because it is so confusing for the consumer to have a choice.

[Patriks7 @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:35PM]

I would say at most 2. One version that's stripped down for old hardware and one version with the latest and greatest (aka Ultimate).

[Will @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:57PM]

"Look_Around_You", did you seriously compare operating systems to cereal? Oh, and I do have a choice, Windows and OS X, Microsoft is making that choice really easy.

[Alex @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:55PM]

It's not about the consumer. Believe it or not, Microsoft's strategy is not to cater to the consumer. Apple does that, and they do it rather well. Microsoft's real customer base is the enterprise, and in that setting a multiple-SKU setup makes sense.

[bobjones @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:41PM]

Try reading the damned article. The only two versions available for consumers will be Home Premium and Professional.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:47PM]

@ blair harrington

I'm not sure how much figuring out consumers will need to do when selecting their version of windows 7. When purchasing a new computer or upgrading a system, they'll usually have someone coach them (or, gasp, spend 5 minutes researching it themselves!). If you're a professional or purchasing for a company, your IT person should know what he's doing. Anyway, it's not like you're scripting a holodeck program in C++.

worth noting: cheetah, puma, jaguar, panther, tiger, leopard, and the impending snow leopard add up to 7 versions of OS X.

[kal326 @ Feb 3rd 2009 1:52PM]

I don't know about Leopard in 6 versions, but OSX certainly is working on 6 versions and you had to pay for each one. However this is an Apples and Oranges comparison.

Apple sells you a computer that they have a high margin on and the operating system basically comes along for the ride. Upgrades come at at least an annual rate for $129.99

Microsoft sells you an operating system at a high margin, but you get to choose your bells and whistles and some do more things then others. Compare this to your Mac Mini, IMac, and PowerMac.

The reason for different versions is different users, the vast majority of people buying computers in retail will never need to join a domain, host a website with IIS, or have group policy management. However they are probably gonna want multimedia crap by the boat load, hence Home Premium. Business users want all the aforementioned things, but don't give a damn about multimedia. Hence business get Pro/Business. Lastly you have those that want everything and go with Ultimate. Starter and Home Basic are pretty much irrelevant because they are niche products for developing counties and netbooks.

[Brandon Paddock @ Feb 3rd 2009 2:31PM]

Engadget is wrong, this article is crap.

There are TWO editions. Home Premium and Professional. Everything that's in Home Premium is also in Professional, making it very easy to decide which one you want.

Go read Paul Thurrott's article...

[Jeff Lewis @ Feb 3rd 2009 3:50PM]

It's not confusing to the end user - Engadget is looking for issues that don't exist.

If you're a regular consumer, you will never see Starter, Home Basic or Enterprise. Period. So remove them from the list. Similarly the 32/64 bit argument is irrelevent - you can use either and in the case of Ultimate, you get both. You can request or download the opposite if you need it and it didn't come in your version.

That brings us down to just three versions:

Home Premium which is what anyone who's doesn't have an IT department should get.
Professional, which is what anyone who DOES have an IT department should get.
Ultimate... which is really for a very small group of people who need both sets of features.

Which means, in the end, it's really simple:

For most people, get Home Premium.
For most businesses, get Professional.

And moreover - most people just use what comes on the computer they buy, so it's reallllly simple. But you know - "Microsoft releases seven versions of Windows 7 - but you don't really have to worry about it because there's really only one you care about" just doesn't have the same punch as "Windows 7 SKUs announced: your worst nightmare has come to pass" does it?

Personally, I think Microsoft should have just collapsed the top four (Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate) into one - Ultimate - but that's a little like why Apple can't sell MacOS X retail to run on any computer... they would both end up gutting their own profit margins by doing that.

[pn18 @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:37PM]

this is so wrong on so many levels

[Decoy @ Feb 3rd 2009 3:33PM]

How come it can't be wrong on just ONE level? Why wrong on multiple levels! To hell with it!

[roger @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:50PM]

jeez even more versions than Vista!

[Shattered Ice @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:52PM]

NO

[Mike @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:33PM]

so business is replaced by professional? business sounds better...

[nanobis @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:40PM]

well it was Pro on XP. They just changed for Vista.

[Sarig @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:33PM]

Fine with me, really, as long as Windows 7 gets cracked and pirated as soon as it's out ;)

[apophys @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:51PM]

oh yeah :D

[tlarkin79 @ Feb 3rd 2009 2:10PM]

Get a job.

[Dan Bugglin @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:34PM]

Starter is for emerging markets, not Home Basic.

[oakie @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:34PM]

damn yous! *shakes fist*

[chrisaroz @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:35PM]

I was just about to say that..

+1

[DarkRail @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:37PM]

Maybe it's "Emerging Basic" for home markets.

... or "Basic Home" for starter markets.

[Ivan @ Feb 3rd 2009 12:39PM]

@oakie

What kind of fist shake?
Fist Shake Starter?
Fist Shake Home Basic?
Fist Shake Home Premium?
...