[LINK] Windows 8 Versions

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Windows 8 Versions
<http://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/11/microsofts-windows-8-terminology>


Windows 8 – This is the name of the successor of Windows 7. To make 
matters complicated, it is also one of the editions of the Windows 8 
operating system that is available to end-users. The edition is one of 
two – the other is Windows 8 Pro – that end-users can purchase for their 
PCs either as full copies or upgrades.

The core differences between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro are the 
following features that are only included in the Pro version of the 
operating system: Bitlocker and Bitlocker To Go, Boot from VHD, Client 
Hyper-V, Domain Join, Encrypting file system, Group Policy, Remote 
desktop (host). The majority of features not included in the Windows 8 
edition are for professional users.

Microsoft is making available additional editions of the operating 
system. There is Windows RT which is a specialized version of the 
operating system for ARM hardware, Windows 8 Enterprise for enterprises 
through volume licensing.

Windows 8 is also rumored to be a possible replacement term for the Metro 
design language used in the Windows 8 operating system and other 
Microsoft products.


Windows 8 Pro – The professional retail channel version of the Windows 8 
operating system. It ships with additional features, listed above, that 
especially businesses and It professionals need for work. This is the 
version that Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 users can upgrade to when the 
operating system comes out.


Windows 8 Enterprise – This edition is only available through volume 
licensing. It includes all features of Windows 8 Pro, and additional 
features exclusive to this edition. A Windows Team blog post highlights 
these additional features:

* Windows To Go, a “fully manageable corporate Windows 8 desktop on a 
bootable external USB stick”.

* DirectAccess, to access resources inside a network from a remote 
location without launching a separate VPN.

* BranchCache, caching of files, websites and other data from servers to 
avoid repeated downloads.

* AppLocker, restrict files and apps that individual users or groups are 
allowed to run

*VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) Enhancements

* App Deployment to side-load internal Modern UI apps


Windows 8 RT – This edition of Windows 8 is not available in retail. It 
ships preinstalled on ARM-based devices, and is in many regards 
fundamentally different from the desktop editions Windows 8, Windows 8 
Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise. Probably the biggest difference is that you 
can’t run desktop software on it. Microsoft will make available 
specialized versions of Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer for the 
edition, but the remaining software will consist only of Modern UI apps.

The edition lacks features like Storage Spaces, Windows Media Player as 
well as all Pro-exclusive features that the basic Windows 8 edition also 
lacks.

Media Center

Windows 8 Media Center Pack – Windows 8 ships without Media Center, a 
full screen media player and digital video recorder. Windows 8 Pro 
edition users can purchase the Windows 8 Media Center Pack to upgrade 
their version of Windows to Windows 8 Pro with Media Center. It basically 
adds Media Center, and with it the ability to play DVD movies to the 
version of Windows.

Windows 8 Pro Pack – Windows 8 edition users need to purchase the Windows 
8 Pro Pack to upgrade their operating system with the same Media Center 
components. What’s interesting in this regard is that Windows 8 edition 
users will at the same time upgrade their operating system to Windows 8 
Pro as well which means that they do get all the benefits of the Pro 
edition after the upgrade. Since this means two upgrades in one, it is 
likely that this upgrade will be more expensive than the Windows 8 Media 
Center Pack upgrade.

Windows 8 Pro with Media Center – This is the resulting edition when 
Windows 8 Pro users buy the Windows 8 Media Center Pack upgrade, and 
Windows 8 users the Windows 8 Pro Pack upgrade.

--
Cheers,
Stephen