Distinguishing versions of Vista

[José]

It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises
them in this order:
Business (better than Home Premium)
Enterprise (better than Business)
Home Premium (better than Home Basic)
Home Basic (worst)
Ultimate (best)

I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate.

I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser
versions. Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to
a lesser version, so I can see what happens?

 

[Guest]

It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises

them in this order:
Business (better than Home Premium)
Enterprise (better than Business)
Home Premium (better than Home Basic)
Home Basic (worst)
Ultimate (best)

Yes, Plus a few more obscure versions ...

I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate.

That is correct.

I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser
versions.

Paul Thurrott did a writeup a long time ago about the different editions ...
who knows how accurate it is by now, but it should give you a general idea:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp

Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to
a lesser version, so I can see what happens?

Unfortunately, no.

- JB

 

[Mark Dietz]

Windows Vista Product Guide describes them all from what I know:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...bf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx
Each of the five edition headers is a link to a fuller description of that
edition.
The order listed does not indicate a single order of desirability. There
are business and home sku's. On the Business side there are two editions
and on the Home side there are two editions. Ultimate is the combo of
Business and Home.

No, you cannot downgrade your Beta 2 Ultimate. Users in the TechBeta
program have access to all five sku's but they are installed as stand-alone
products. The product key entered during setup determines what the Vista
Beta installer does. But this is at the time of installation and does not
imply that entering a different product key could at any time downgrade a
running system.

 

[José]

Yes, Plus a few more obscure versions ...

Which MS appears to be ashamed about, for they are not mentioned.

That is correct.

Apparently you can look in my computer.

Paul Thurrott did a writeup a long time ago about the different editions ...
who knows how accurate it is by now, but it should give you a general idea:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp

Interesting story

Unfortunately, no.

Too bad. It would be much better than a verbal description. And
actually I believe that the difference between Home and Proefessional
is just a few bits which make the Home Version act in a crippled way.

 

[Mark Dietz]

Only MSDN, TechNet, and TechBeta testers have non-Ultimate versions that I'm
aware. Only Ultimate was available to the public beta, and since you're asking
this question here, it's a really good guess that it's Ultimate.

 

[Guest]

Which MS appears to be ashamed about, for they are not mentioned.

The other versions include Vista Starter Edition, available only in emerging
computing markets, and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).

Apparently you can look in my computer.

Vista Ultimate is the only available public build. If you had installed
another edition, you would have definately had to have known which edition it
was

Interesting story

I thought so.

And
actually I believe that the difference between Home and Proefessional
is just a few bits which make the Home Version act in a crippled way.

In windows XP this was fairly true; things have changed ALOT in vista.

It is very interesting how Microsoft has packaged the different editions
into setup and will even support upgrading from one edition to another after
purchase... I think you will find this as fascinating as I do.

Cheers,

- JB

 

[José]

and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).

For Europe they say. I am afraid that I will be forced to buy such an
edition. And of course the non-N editions are not available in
European languages.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Who would force you to buy such an edition?
I believe N is only available as OEM to system builders. They are not
required to force it on you are they?

 

[Zapper]

N Editions
Finally, I should note that Microsoft is planning to offer so-called N
Editions of Windows Vista for the European market, in order to meet the
requirements of an antitrust ruling there. Windows Vista N Editions--Vista
Home Basic N and Vista Business N--will mirror the Vista Home Basic and
Vista Business versions, respectively, but will not include Windows Media
Player and other media-related functionality.

from Paul Thurrots Windows Supersite
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions_final.asp

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

XP N editions are not necessarily retail items. I don't expect Vista N
editions to be either. Like MCE or XP Pro x64 I think they are offered
through system builders as preinstalled OS's only.

I think it was sufficient for the EU Commission that they be offered as
preinstalled systems. The vast majority of Windows installations are
preinstalled systems anyway.

The last I heard system builders are not in a hurry to offer systems with
them and customers are not re-enacting Bastille day to get them. I had a
merry old time myself just getting hold of XP Pro N and XP Home N for
testing in VPC.

 

[Zapper]

VPC sucks..



I am kidding of course...
http://macfannet.mycom.co.jp/news/0103/02/0302connectix_interview.html

XP N editions are not necessarily retail items. I don't expect Vista N
editions to be either. Like MCE or XP Pro x64 I think they are offered
through system builders as preinstalled OS's only.

I think it was sufficient for the EU Commission that they be offered as
preinstalled systems. The vast majority of Windows installations are
preinstalled systems anyway.

The last I heard system builders are not in a hurry to offer systems with
them and customers are not re-enacting Bastille day to get them. I had a
merry old time myself just getting hold of XP Pro N and XP Home N for
testing in VPC.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Works for me.

VPC sucks..



I am kidding of course...
http://macfannet.mycom.co.jp/news/0103/02/0302connectix_interview.html

 

[Homer J. Simpson]

VPC sucks..

Of course the focus of this thread is VPC...