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Microsoft Vista Info Leaked

slashnutt writes to tell us Yahoo News is reporting that Microsoft accidentally released information about Windows Vista earlier than originally planned. From the article: "Microsoft disclosed information about a plan to release eight different editions of the new operating system on a company help page that was under development. The company has not made any official statements about the different versions of Windows Vista it plans to offer. The company has since taken down the Web site and declined to confirm the information and said it will offer more details about the Vista launch, targeted for the second half of 2006, in the coming weeks. Microsoft spokesman said in a statement 'This page has since been removed as it was posted prematurely and was for testing purposes only.'"

11 of 476 comments (clear)

  1. Enough Choice To Choke A Horse by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Ugh. Eight different versions.

    Windows Vista Starter (designed to combat piracy of Windows overseas; probably won't go on sale in US)
    Windows Vista Home Basic
    Windows Vista Home Premium
    Windows Vista Business Basic
    Windows Vista Business Premium
    Windows Vista Corporate Basic
    Windows Vista Corporate Premium
    Windows Vista Ultimate

    While I'd really like to believe otherwise, I cannot help but think that this will turn into a nightmare for application support. The ones that worry the most are the two at either end of the line: Starter and Ultimate. Will you need Ultimate to run top-of-the-line games or use top-of-the-line hardware? Will people with Starter not be able to use your program because they're missing certain functionality? Will you be able to burn DVDs with Home Basic, or does that functionality only come with Premium and Ultimate?

    Sure, each version will be tailored to that particular end user's most likely needs. You can bet, however, that there'll be all sorts of "incentives" to bump yourself up to the next level of functionality in the form of "well, that functionality only comes with version X"...

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

    1. Re:Enough Choice To Choke A Horse by Jugalator · · Score: 5, Informative

      Where did you get that list? According to Neowin's recent news, it's more like this:
      - Windows Starter 2007
      - Windows Vista Home Basic
      - Windows Vista Home Basic N
      - Windows Vista Home Premium
      - Windows Vista Business
      - Windows Vista Business N
      - Windows Vista Ultimate
      - Windows Vista Enterprise

      No Basic/Premium of Business, and there's no "Corporate" listed there.

      Anyway, it's still 8. :-) And I agree it's too many. It confuses more than it clarifies. When Joe User gets to decide, is he a Basic or Premium home user? Do a company need a Business edition or an Enterprise edition? The problem seem to be that you need to study feature lists and compare to know for sure what you need. I'd rather see just a Home vs Pro vs Ultimate (being the Home + Pro merge). Three editions (or more if you count N editions which Microsoft must do).

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  2. I know what it is. by MutantHamster · · Score: 5, Funny

    There will be several different versions such as Windows Vista Red and Blue. They are all pretty much the same, but if you want to complete the game you'll need some friends with the other versions, and some link cables.

    --
    My Greatest Heist - Muisc partly inspired by the unbeatable Qwantz
  3. premature release? by commodoresloat · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sorry to hear that Microsoft is the latest sufferer of this common problem. I'd like to help them out; I get a number of advertisements in my inbox each day offering various treatments for premature release. Perhaps someone can forward these emails to Microsoft?

  4. Old news by posterlogo · · Score: 5, Informative
    This was revealed days ago in an Engadget entry that was much more informative:
    http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/19/which-windows-v ista-will-you-run-you-have-8-choices/

    "Windows Starter 2007 - Vista without Aero, probably meant for developing nations.

    Windows Vista Home Basic - Basic Windows Vista for your single PC fam, doesn't sound like much going on here. Analagous to XP Home.

    Windows Vista Home Basic N - European version of the same, but without Media Player (because of antitrust rulings against MS in the EU).

    Windows Vista Home Premium - This is the one we're all probably gonna own. It's got Media Center functionality, Cable Card support, the whole home-media shebang.

    Windows Vista Business - Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista.

    Windows Vista Business N - Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista, but Euro.

    Windows Vista Enterprise - Business version of Vista with numerous enterprise features, like Virtual PC, volume encryption, etc.

    Windows Vista Ultimate - Love that name. This one does all of the above (and more); what else do you need to know? It's ultimate Windows.."

    More choices are rarely a bad idea. I dislike bundled crapola that I'll never need or want.

  5. Re:Hey, its better than Linux by bogado · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's true, but none of those thousands of versions of linux are intentionaly crippled. Ops. No you cannot run a 'server' with this version or no you can not setup this or that without the premium version.

    Sure, Linux is still strugling with the packaging since there is no standard. But it is getting better and better, everyday. :-D

    --
    []'s Victor Bogado da Silva Lins

    ^[:wq

  6. Re:Hey, its better than Linux by Stephen+Samuel · · Score: 5, Informative
    At least I can try most of the various versions of Linux without having to pay $400 a pop.

    And, once I have a version I like. I don't have to fork out another $400 just because I decide to upgrade my motherboard.

    And a lot of the so-called 4000 versions of Linux are specific versions that people have built for their preferred application. An example would be my netboot CD that allows net-booting Knoppix from a CD -- which I designed so that I can give students in a classroom their own Linux box (without touching their hard drives), and also a way to do semi-automated backups and restore for public Windows boxes.
    That's something that I (as a hobbyist) could never create with Windows (much less distribute).

    --
    Free Software: Like love, it grows best when given away.
  7. Re:Hey, its better than Linux by Gulthek · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, it isn't true. "Linux" is the kernel, which is now available in two versions: 2.4 and 2.6 (and all prior versions of course). There are many distributions, but they all use one of those two kernels.

  8. And if they find a pirated copy... by Soko · · Score: 5, Funny

    it terminates your license and removes your computers hard drive with a 12 guage. It's then known as "Hasta-la-VISTA", babee.

    Soko

    --
    "Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
  9. Re:Hey, its better than Linux by courtarro · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Likewise, I'll bet all 8 versions of Vista use the same "kernel". It's not the kernel that makes things work or not work (for the most part), it's the user-level software on top.

  10. It won't be that confusing to retail buyers by MojoStan · · Score: 5, Insightful
    - Windows Starter 2007
    - Windows Vista Home Basic
    - Windows Vista Home Basic N
    - Windows Vista Home Premium
    - Windows Vista Business
    - Windows Vista Business N
    - Windows Vista Ultimate
    - Windows Vista Enterprise
    Windows Starter version will never be seen by 99% of people outside its intended market (developing nations). How many Slashdot readers have even seen Windows XP Starter Edition on a computer or in a store (including online stores)?

    The 'N' versions of Windows (Europe-only) will be simply ignored by the vast majority of buyers and retailers. Some retailers (maybe most) will not even stock the 'N' versions. Source:

    Still 'no demand' for media-player-free Windows
    Vista Enterprise Edition will only be available through volume licensing, so retail buyers won't see this version either. The IT folks who can buy Enterprise Edition are knowledgable enough not to be confused.

    So far, that leaves:

    - Windows Vista Home Basic
    - Windows Vista Home Premium
    - Windows Vista Business
    - Windows Vista Ultimate
    Since Vista Ultimate Edition is probably only for the uber-geek, most retail buyers will probably only need to choose from three versions: (1) Home Basic, (2) Home Premium, and (3) Business. For buyers of Windows PCs, that choice is similar today: XP Home, XP Media Center Edition, and XP Pro.
    --
    TO START
    PRESS ANY KEY

    Where's the 'ANY' key? I see Esk, Kitarl, and Pig-Up...