It’s official, 8 different flavors of Windows Vista

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-02-26 01:21am

Because choices are good? Or because there would be more money to be milked? Perhaps the victims of having 8 different flavors of Windows Vista are the software vendors, who would have to explain the differences between each edition to their customers.

Here’s a quick rundown of the 8 product editions:

Windows Starter 2007 - This edition does not include the Aero graphical user interface, hence it’s not Vista-branded. And there’s no 64-bit edition, no networking, no Fast User Switching, no DVD Authoring, no gaming common controller support, and no image editing with enhanced touchup, and only three applications/windows are allowed to run simultaneously. Good only for really basic users with low budgets.

Windows Vista Home Basic - This is the true baseline version of Windows Vista; think Windows XP Home Edition. You can expect to find features such as Windows Firewall, Windows Search, Photo Library and etc. And every other edition below will be based on this edition. Good for general consumers or even the kids.

Windows Vista Home Basic N - Same as the Home Basic Edition, but minus the Windows Media Player. This edition is for the Europeans as they have antitrust rulings against Microsoft which does not allow the player to be bundled.

Windows Vista Home Premium - This edition includes features such as Media Center Extender support, Cable Card support, DVD authoring and Tablet PC functionality. This edition is best suited for notebooks and networked home desktops, but it’s probably insufficient for the geeks.

Windows Vista Business - Analogous to the Windows XP Professional, this will probably be the most widely used edition in corporate environments. This edition allows joining of domains, non-Microsoft networking (Netware, etc), Remote Desktop and Microsoft Windows Web Server. Most geeks and IT professionals will want to go for this edition.

Windows Vista Business N - Just like Home Basic N Edition, this one is meant for the Europeans and comes with no media player.

Windows Vista Enterprise - This edition will come with several new features such as Virtual PC, multi-language user interface (MUI) and Secure Startup (BitLocker Drive Encryption).

Windows Vista Ultimate - This one is going to be the most expensive, most feature-packed, and perhaps the most pirated edition of Vista. It’ll include new and unique features such as Game Performance Tweaker, Podcast creation utility, online “Club” services and privileged product support. This edition will be perfect for Windows fanboys.

So which one’s for you?

I'm pirating the Ultimate version. The only reason they're doing this is so they can charge $500+ for Windows Vista Ultimate. Starter has be deliberately crippled for it to only be able to run 3 programs at a time.

Adrian Laguna · Post by **Adrian Laguna** » 2006-02-26 01:29am

Dominus Atheos wrote:Windows Starter 2007 - This edition does not include the Aero graphical user interface, hence it’s not Vista-branded. And there’s no 64-bit edition, no networking, no Fast User Switching, no DVD Authoring, no gaming common controller support, and no image editing with enhanced touchup, and only three applications/windows are allowed to run simultaneously. Good only for really basic users with low budgets.

The fuck!? My windows XP can run various programs simultaneously (I'm running five right now: Firefox, Word, AIM, Messanger, and Perfect Chessmate), and supports gaming controllers. I don't see why this Windows Starter could possibly be incapable of doing that.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-26 01:29am

Windows Vista Ultimate - This one is going to be the most expensive, most feature-packed, and perhaps the most pirated edition of Vista. It’ll include new and unique features such as Game Performance Tweaker, Podcast creation utility, online “Club” services and privileged product support. This edition will be perfect for Windows fanboys.

Those services just sound like a bunch of bloated bullshit. Enterprise sounds a bit more sensible.

I'm normally not one to sound the "OMG FUCK MICRO$$$$OFT" trumpet, but from everything I hear about Vista, I really hope it falls flat on it's face.

Dominus Atheos · Post by **Dominus Atheos** » 2006-02-26 01:33am

Adrian Laguna wrote:
Dominus Atheos wrote:Windows Starter 2007 - This edition does not include the Aero graphical user interface, hence it’s not Vista-branded. And there’s no 64-bit edition, no networking, no Fast User Switching, no DVD Authoring, no gaming common controller support, and no image editing with enhanced touchup, and only three applications/windows are allowed to run simultaneously. Good only for really basic users with low budgets.
The fuck!? My windows XP can run various programs simultaneously (I'm running five right now: Firefox, Word, AIM, Messanger, and Perfect Chessmate), and supports gaming controllers. I don't see why this Windows Starter could possibly be incapable of doing that.

As I said in the OP, it would have to be deliberately crippled.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2006-02-26 01:34am

Three applications at a time? Are you fucking kidding me? How can that be useful for anyone other than gibbering retards?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2006-02-26 01:34am

Uraniun235 wrote:
Windows Vista Ultimate - This one is going to be the most expensive, most feature-packed, and perhaps the most pirated edition of Vista. It’ll include new and unique features such as Game Performance Tweaker, Podcast creation utility, online “Club” services and privileged product support. This edition will be perfect for Windows fanboys.
Those services just sound like a bunch of bloated bullshit. Enterprise sounds a bit more sensible.

I'm normally not one to sound the "OMG FUCK MICRO$$$$OFT" trumpet, but from everything I hear about Vista, I really hope it falls flat on it's face.

No kidding. Linux is looking better every day now.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-26 01:38am

Still too inconvenient for my lazy ass, I'm afraid. Given that I just now switched from 2000 to XP, I figure I'll be good for at least a couple of years.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2006-02-26 01:41am

And on top of that we're going to have OEM and retail versions of each one.

Geez, is Microsoft trying to FORCE users to piracy? I had the situation of having to reinstall a friend's copy of Windows with her lost disk (she had the serial key and everything else necessary, just no CD) and was forced to download the OEM version because I could find people with Windows XP Home OEM (I had one myself), Windows XP Pro retail, Windows XP Home retail, Windows XP Server, etc, but no one with an XP Pro OEM.

By making so many different versions it makes it REALLY hard to find the disk you need for maintenence.

Honestly, with all the problems in Vista (constricting resolution of video on non-DRMed hardware, DRM everywhere, ridiculous pricing, eight versions with several of them crippled, etc) I hope the thing burns.

EDIT:

online “Club” services and privileged product support.

THAT'S what you're paying extra money for? Ugh.
Frankly, the differences between some of these versions are ridiculous. The "Home Premium" adds DVD authoring and lets you actually USE some things you may already have (Media Center Extender and Tablet support). The Business Edition adds stuff that should be in the other versions already- non-Microsoft networking, remote desktop (I can download VNC free), web server (I can download Apache free, it's built in to Linux and Mac OS X), and joining domains. The Enterprise edition adds a multi-language interface! (granted, it also has Virtual PC which IS useful for many).

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2006-02-26 01:43am

Will it play DRM-less music?

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2006-02-26 01:53am

That Basic package is the worst thing I've ever seen. How can they claim options like that are good for consumers? Is it free, or something? I'm going for Ultimate Edition, myself, if I can afford it. Otherwise I'll get the Business Version from work.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-26 01:55am

Frankly, the differences between some of these versions are ridiculous. The "Home Premium" adds DVD authoring and lets you actually USE some things you may already have (Media Center Extender and Tablet support). The Business Edition adds stuff that should be in the other versions already- non-Microsoft networking, remote desktop (I can download VNC free), web server (I can download Apache free, it's built in to Linux and Mac OS X), and joining domains. The Enterprise edition adds a multi-language interface! (granted, it also has Virtual PC which IS useful for many).

Okay, really though, how many people that buy a Microsoft workstation-flavor OS are going to be running a web server off of it? How many people are then going to choose to run IIS off it? (Shit, I chose Apache mostly because I didn't want to wade through a bunch of LOL IIS BLOWS NEWB bullshit if I ever had to go asking for help on the internet!)

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-02-26 02:14am

Starter edition is meant for 3rd world countries. However, given copyright law is almost nonexistant there...

Also, isn't it potentially against the MS EULA to even currently run VNC or a web server off of WinXP?

And eh, being a Linux user, the basic ones should be more than sufficient to run the damn games and whatnot (plus by the time it comes out, I can still grab it off MSDN

)

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-02-26 02:35am

Hehehe, IIS does blow (for my purposes) for one reason alone- no support for an equivalent to mod_rewrite.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-26 02:50am

And what, pray tell, is mod_rewrite?

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2006-02-26 02:52am

Pu-239 wrote:Starter edition is meant for 3rd world countries. However, given copyright law is almost nonexistant there...

Why do they need a separate Windows edition for 3rd world countries? It doesn't even seem like it's going to be based on Vista, since it doesn't even have 64-bit support.

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2006-02-26 02:57am

Pu-239 wrote:Starter edition is meant for 3rd world countries. However, given copyright law is almost nonexistant there...

The idea for starter isn't that people won't pirate Vista and put it on their FreeDOS box. It's rather that instead of puting proper, pirated Vista instead of FreeDOS or an unformated disk they put proper, pirated Vista over the starter edition for which their system builder actualy paid a licence to Microsoft. They don't really expect many people to be using it, its just a way to at least get something out of the near-100% piracy countries.

On the fucked up current situation with the media - apperantly, Microsoft agrees and as such any Vista media will be able to install any version (or at least, within the subgroup), what you get will be determined by your key. So at least no more OEM and retail diffrences and such stupidity.

Their key to lowering piracy with Vista is that the corporate key versions will be the actual buisness versions only. That could actualy be a good idea if the high-end home versions have good additional value to home users. Hell, I've seen a ton of pirated XP installs, all of them were corp. keys, none were cracked or something like that.

Instant Sunrise · Post by **Instant Sunrise** » 2006-02-26 03:00am

Uraniun235 wrote:And what, pray tell, is mod_rewrite?

IIRC, it is a module for apache that rewrites the URL's, so instead of "somesite.com/forum/lookatathread.lol?thread=31337" it would be "somesite.com/forum/lookatathread/31337"

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2006-02-26 03:06am

Well by the looks of it I'll be switching back to linux by the time the march of progess forces me to run a more current OS. Hell the only reasons I haven't switched back already is because every so often I still play games (hardly any any more though), linux was being a damn dirty whore about my graphics set up last time I ran it and because all my precious settings are enshrined on my current windows set up. My lack of time also plays a part in it (too bad I didn't think about it earlier this week. I might've gotten everything done by now if I had).

Vista looks more like a total sack of shit every day though. It'll cost way too much money to get full functionality, it'll lick copius ammounts of sphincter, and last time I read the specs it had greater system requirements than Half-Life 2. I'd like to know what it's fucking doing that needs more power than HL2...

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-02-26 03:33am

skyman8081 wrote:
Uraniun235 wrote:And what, pray tell, is mod_rewrite?
IIRC, it is a module for apache that rewrites the URL's, so instead of "somesite.com/forum/lookatathread.lol?thread=31337" it would be "somesite.com/forum/lookatathread/31337"

IIS plugins can do that.

What a moronic reason to not use IIS on a windows box.

Count Dooku · Post by **Count Dooku** » 2006-02-26 04:16am

Do any of you know if you'll be able to get this for free via your college (if you attend one), like you can with XP? I got 2005 XP pro for free from my school when I built my computer from newegg last december...It would be awefuly nice if you could do that with Vista too...

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-02-26 04:32am

If you Educational Institution has an MSDNAA subscription then yes.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-02-26 04:50am

ggs wrote:
skyman8081 wrote:
Uraniun235 wrote:And what, pray tell, is mod_rewrite?
IIRC, it is a module for apache that rewrites the URL's, so instead of "somesite.com/forum/lookatathread.lol?thread=31337" it would be "somesite.com/forum/lookatathread/31337"
IIS plugins can do that.

What a moronic reason to not use IIS on a windows box.

Which one is that, please tell? I have to use IIS at work (Citrix web interface), and it really would be useful (all the ones I've seen one has to fork over money for, or are "lite" versions that do not have the functionality of mod_rewrite). Also, mod_rewrite comes w/ Apache.

Then again, I do realize that if one does have money to pay for Win2k3/IIS, one usually has money to pay for such modules (of course, in this situation, I'm not willing to use my own money, and requesting money is a bureaucratic process, and the Win2k3 was from MSDNAA anyway(I work at a university, and this was experimental before we bought licenses for production use (which I don't handle)) before someone points out license violations).

Also, another reason is dav_svn support, but I'm doing that on the Linux anyway. There's really no point in using Apache on Windows, since it works better on versions of *nix, unless you're using it as a desktop at the same time, or lesser versions of Windows, and you lose the features of IIS (ASP.NET, etc, though made up somewhat by the ASP module for Apache (which performs worse, so eh)), OS integration, etc.

Edit: Bah, to summarize- more free and or useful addons, and I wasn't specifically talking about Apache/Windows anyway.
Edit: Removed comment due to PR4.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2006-02-26 05:04am

Also, can anyone comment on if this has any merit? http://www.cygwin.com/ml/cygwin/2002-04/msg01159.html

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2006-02-26 05:49am

Pu-239 wrote:Which one is that, please tell? I have to use IIS at work (Citrix web interface), and it really would be useful (all the ones I've seen one has to fork over money for, or are "lite" versions that do not have the functionality of mod_rewrite). Also, mod_rewrite comes w/ Apache.

ASP.NET actually has built in support for URL rewriting on the most basic level,
Linky. The link has a demo URL rewriting engine(about 50 lines for the code itself), which is fairly limited(it is after all a damn short demo).

It really wouldnt be much effort to expand it into a more complete URL rewriting engine.

link1
link2
Fixing the postback issue with a verison of ASP.NET url rewriting

Also, another reason is dav_svn support, but I'm doing that on the Linux anyway.

AnkhSVN rocks for a Subversion client. BUt you are right, you have the choice of Apache, Apache, Apache if you want to run Subversion (which is a kickass piece of version control software.

There's really no point in using Apache on Windows, since it works better on versions of *nix, unless you're using it as a desktop at the same time, or lesser versions of Windows, and you lose the features of IIS (ASP.NET, etc, though made up somewhat by the ASP module for Apache (which performs worse, so eh)), OS integration, etc.

You can run ASP.NET without IIS(feel the voodoo!), but I agree running IIS on anything but Win2k3 is a stupid idea.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-02-26 08:58am

Uraniun235 wrote:Still too inconvenient for my lazy ass, I'm afraid. Given that I just now switched from 2000 to XP, I figure I'll be good for at least a couple of years.

Bullshit. That's what I thought a year ago before I knew a girl who was for all intents and purposes like Chloe out of 24 and convinced me to get Linux. I now run SUSE 10.0 and there has been no problems here, and I'm no computing genius.

Really, you should do well to learn about other systems. Complaining about MS then just sticking to their second rate products out of laziness is the height of... laziness.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

It’s official, 8 different flavors of Windows Vista

It’s official, 8 different flavors of Windows Vista

Re: It’s official, 8 different flavors of Windows Vista

Re: It’s official, 8 different flavors of Windows Vista