Microsoft unveils six flavours of Windows 7, not two…

Microsoft is cranking up the marketing in the lead-up to the eagerly-awaited Windows 7 release later this year, having unveiled the line-up for its new operating system.

Citing the need to simplify the choices for users from the six Windows Vista editions, the company will be marketing two primary editions – namely Home Premium and Professional.

Colin Erasmus, who heads the Windows business at Microsoft SA, says the simplified strategy is in response to extensive user feedback, providing the broadest choice.

“It’s all about choice,” says Erasmus. “We have designed Windows 7 so different editions can run on a very broad set of hardware, from small-notebook PCs (netbooks) to full gaming desktops.

Truth be told, users will still have six options to choose from when Windows 7 is released. The four other editions are:

• Starter;
• Home Basic;
• Enterprise; and
• Ultimate.

Beginning at the most basic option, the Windows 7 Starter edition is aimed at users with entry-level PCs and small notebook PCs, and will be only be able to run three applications concurrently.

The Home Basic edition will be released only in emerging markets and is aimed at users with entry-level requirements on a full-size value PC.

Windows XP will continue to be offered in emerging markets.

Home Premium is considered the recommended edition for most PC users, including owners of small notebook PCs (or netbooks), who wish to have the “full Windows experience”.

Microsoft has retained the Enterprise edition that features additional security, infrastructure and desktop management functionality required by this segment of the market.

This edition will be supported by Microsoft’s Software Assurance agreements, but will not be available at retail level or preinstalled by OEMs on new machines.

The top-of-the-range edition, Windows 7 Ultimate, will be retained for hardcore enthusiasts and non-enterprise customers who want enhanced security features such as BitLocker found in Windows 7 Enterprise edition.