Windows 8 Editions

Posted Date: 08-May-2012	Category: Windows 8
Author: Tony John	Member Level: Diamond	Points: 60

Two days ago, Microsoft made the official announcement regarding the available Windows 8 editions. Learn more about the Windows 8 Editions that will be available with the final release.

Microsoft recently made the official announcement on Windows 8 Editions. The official announcement proved many of the rumors on Windows 8 editions were wrong. According to the official blog on Windows 8 Editions, the following are the Editions that will be available for Windows 8:

Windows 8 (Basic Edition)

Windows 8 Pro - Professional or Business edition

Windows 8 RT - For ARM devices

Windows 8 Enterprise - For enterprise users like IT companies

Windows 8 Basic Edition

The Windows 8 basic edition (officially called "Windows 8") comes with all basic features for home users. If you have a Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium edition, you can upgrade to Windows 8. The basic edition provides most basic features for home users including remote desktop, picture password, Windows Media Player, switch languages on the fly, Windows store and so on.

Windows 8 Pro Edition

This is the professional edition for the power users. If you are a business user who want to stretch the Windows to the maximum possible and take advantage of all possibilities of Windows, Windows 8 Pro edition is for you.

Windows 8 Pro edition comes with advanced features, specifically, several additional security features to protect the business data for the professional users. Some of the enhanced features in Windows 8 Pro edition include BitLocker and BitLocker To Go, Boot from VHD, Client Hyper-V, option to join a Domain, Encrypting the File System on your computer so that others cannot access your data form the disk, Group Policies for Windows, Host Remote Desktop on the computer etc.

Windows 8 RT Edition

Windows 8 RT edition is something new for the Windows users. The Windows 8 RT Edition is also known as Windows On ARM (WOA) and is specifically meant for computers powered by ARM devices. What make it different for this edition is the ability to enable special features for thin, light weight form factor devices with high battery life. The Windows 8 RT edition will include the Touch optimized versions of Microsoft Office Products, which make it an attractive option for the tablet PC users and is expected to offer a touch competition to the Apple iPad and Android Tablets.

Windows 8 Enterprise Edition

Even though Microsoft announced that there will be an Enterprise Edition of Windows 8, they have not made any official announcement of the features available in the Enterprise Edition. The Enterprise edition of Windows 8 will have all features in the Windows 8 Pro edition. In addition, it will have several additional features for large organizations to enable deployment of software, managing PCs in the enterprise, advanced security features, enhanced virtualization features and so on. Exact features available in Windows 8 Enterprise Edition are not published by Microsoft yet.

The only Windows 8 Edition that gives Microsoft Office as an included package is, Windows 8 RT Edition. This will be the Metro Style Microsoft Office Suite.

NOTE: This article is my interpretation of the official announcement from Microsoft. I am not affiliated or associated with Microsoft or Windows 8. The information provided in this article may change later when Microsoft announce the final release of Windows 8.

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