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MS Confirms Six Different Versions of Windows 7

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the totally-learned-that-lesson dept.

darien writes "Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 7 will be offered in six different editions. In a seeming admission that the numerous versions of Vista were confusing to consumers, the company says that this time its marketing will focus on just two editions — 'Home Premium' and 'Professional.' But the reality is more complex, with different packages offering different subsets of the total range of Windows 7 features."

7 of 758 comments (clear)

  1. Why? by whisper_jeff · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have never understood why Microsoft does this. Well, beyond the "make more money" aspect but that's because they're a company in the business of making money. The thing is, I just don't understand _how_ this leads to them making more money. In my mind, having one-and-only-one version of your operating system seems so much more efficient and cost-effective. It reduces the cost of pressing the discs, packaging, marketing - everything. It reduces the headaches of support (it outright eliminates the question of which version of the OS a person is running and thus what features they have access to, for example). In every way, it seems like it would cost Microsoft MORE to offer different versions of their OS which surely more than offsets any additional money they may make from doing it so I just don't understand why they do it. I'd love for someone to offer a flash of insight to explain what I'm obviously missing but, on every level, it just seems like the wrong choice.

    1. Re:Why? by Silentknyght · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Sometimes I worry that the people on Slashdot aren't really smarter than your average bears, otherwise I wouldn't keep reading the same, rehashed, "why are they making X versions, that's so dumb" comments over and over.

      It's simple economics. And I've seen only very few people stand up and point this out. It makes sense with economic theory. I'm not making any comments on whether or not it's confusing, or on whether or not it's ethical, but just that there is a perfectly logical reason for it: money.

      I suppose the best description of their economic practice is Price Discrimination. It's not a new theory, and it happens all over the place (see airline ticket sales). In short, think of your standard supply/demand curve. If you sell one product, at $50, you lose out on the people who would have paid $75 for the product, and you also lose out on the people who will only pay $25 for it. By charging different amounts, they're capturing demand at all (or many more) points on the supply/demand curve, maximizing their efficiency.

  2. Re:Starter Edition by Microlith · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I believe it's inherited from the super-crippled version of XP that was released into "emerging markets" that could only load up 3 applications at a time.

    I was under the impression that Home Basic was intended for netbooks, and Starter for "emerging markets." Although I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to artificially limit what a netbook can do out of the box, to give the impression of a lack of power to drive people to buy a more powerful laptop with more expensive copies of Windows on it.

  3. Re:Starter Edition by Neeperando · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's like saying "Well his Nissan Maxima has leather seats and Bose stereo, mine doesn't - that's an artificial decision"...response "So is the price tag".

    I get your point, but my point is that they're taking out functionality that was already there and then charging less for it. So to rephrase your analogy as I see the situation, it would be if Nissan built all Maximas with leather seats and Bose stereos, but then at the dealership they stripped off the leather and replaced it with canvas (or whatever), and put in a crappy stereo using the excuse that only audiophiles really need nice stereos.

    I don't mind paying extra to add extra features, but it seems silly to put in a artificial road block to make it seem like I'm getting more with the Home Premium Edition.

    --
    Being a computer scientist means you tell people how computers should work, not that you know how they actually work.
  4. Re:Obviously.... by rad_chad · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But it's not so cut and dry with that. For some time PPC WAS great...then Intel became the better choice for them. Apple moved on with the times. Microsoft just doesn't get what people want, and that is definitely not 6 different versions of Windows.

  5. Re:Obviously.... by vux984 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Uh no, the difference is in the different Linux versions, all made by different groups of people.

    Ubuntu Desktop Edition
    Ubuntu MID Edition
    Ubuntu Server Edition
    Ubuntu Netbook Remix
    Kubuntu
    Xubuntu
    Edbuntu

    7 official versions of Ubuntu alone. You were saying..?

  6. All free, no upgrade no limts by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What version of Ubuntu limits you to 1 gig of ram or only three apps?

    The different Ubuntu versions are different configurations you can EASILY switch between if you want it to. I have NO objection to MS including an option to automatically configure your OS for various settings. Let it offer me a choice wether this is a single shared PC at home, or a PC at on a small network or a locked down machine in an office.

    So your argument fails because you just don't have a clue about Ubuntu.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.