Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Windows 8 – All Editions Announced!

Back in April, Microsoft has finally announced all the Windows 8 flavors that we’ll have available next year and their targets.

First of all, like stated by Brandon LeBlanc on the “more-or-less” official Microsoft’s blog “Blogging Windows”, the official product name for the next operating system will in fact be…Windows 8!

So, the next-gen O.S. will have 3 versions:
.: Windows 8
.: Windows 8 Pro
.: Windows RT

 

Windows 8

This should be the most used version worldwide.It’s the base version but it should have plenty of features like the new Windows Explorer, Task Manager and a better multi-monitor support.


Windows 8 Pro

Windows 8 Pro can be called the “geek” or the “professional/enterprise” flavor of Windows 8.
It will include all the Windows 8 features, plus encryption (assumedly Bitlocker), virtualization features (Hyper-V), PC management and domain connectivity.

Reasonably Windows Media Center should be available for Windows 8 Pro has an media-pack add-on that will be available for download on Windows Store.


Windows RT

Windows RT it’s the ‘new kid on the block’. Windows 8 (RT) will be the first version of Microsoft’s well succeeded O.S. to run on ARM or WOA architecture. This version will only be available on pre-installed PCs and, most commonly, on tablets/slates with ARM processors. It will be optimized for the touch experience for the new Microsoft Office Suite to come.´


The chart bellow shows the features available for the different versions:

Feature name

Windows 8

Windows 8 Pro

Windows RT

Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium

x

x

 

Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate

 

x

 

Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles

x

x

x

Windows Store

x

x

x

Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, Video)

x

x

x

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote)

   

x

Internet Explorer 10

x

x

x

Device encryption

   

x

Connected standby

x

x

x

Microsoft account

x

x

x

Desktop

x

x

x

Installation of x86/64 and desktop software

x

x

 

Updated Windows Explorer

x

x

x

Windows Defender

x

x

x

SmartScreen

x

x

x

Windows Update

x

x

x

Enhanced Task Manager

x

x

x

Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs)

x

x

x

Better multiple monitor support

x

x

x

Storage Spaces

x

x

 

Windows Media Player

x

x

 

Exchange ActiveSync

x

x

x

File history

x

x

x

ISO / VHD mount

x

x

x

Mobile broadband features

x

x

x

Picture password

x

x

x

Play To

x

x

x

Remote Desktop (client)

x

x

x

Reset and refresh your PC

x

x

x

Snap

x

x

x

Touch and Thumb keyboard

x

x

x

Trusted boot

x

x

x

VPN client

x

x

x

BitLocker and BitLocker To Go

 

x

 

Boot from VHD

 

x

 

Client Hyper-V

 

x

 

Domain Join

 

x

 

Encrypting File System

 

x

 

Group Policy

 

x

 

Remote Desktop (host)

 

x

 

 

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