Compare Windows 8.1 Editions

Compare Features Between Windows 8.1 Editions

windows_8_1boxes.jpg

information   Information
Windows 8.1 comes with many new and improved features since Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Preview. Windows 8.1 will be available in four Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions.

Windows 8 users will be able to update to Windows 8.1 free of cost through the Windows Store (Start screen) on October 17th 2013. Windows 8.1 will be available to retail on October 18th 2013. Windows 8.1 has already been released to OEMs in August, and available for download now for TechNet and MSDN subscribers since September 18th.

Windows 8.1 is not designed for installation on PCs running XP or Vista. If you're running Windows 7, your files will easily transfer. You can purchase full retail versions of Windows 8.1 starting at $119.99 and Windows 8.1 Pro for $199.99. Pre-orders for Windows 8.1 are now available at the online Microsoft Store.
Windows 8.1 OEM users who buy PCs later this year can also upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro using the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack for $99.99. Windows 8.1 Pro owners will be able to buy Windows Media Center as an add-on pack for $9.99.

The European Windows 8.1 N, Windows 8.1 Pro N, Windows 8.1 Enterprise N, or Windows 8.1 KN, Windows 8.1 Pro KN, Windows 8.1 Enterprise KN editions include the same functionality as Windows 8.1, except for media-related technologies (Windows Media Player, web camera), and certain preinstalled media apps (Camera, Music, and Video). In addition, the KN editions do not include certain preinstalled communication apps (Calendar, Mail, and People).

See: How to Install Media Feature Pack for N and KN Editions of Windows 8 and 8.1


This tutorial will show you a comparison list of key features between the four Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions.

For more detailed information, see:






Windows RT 8.1

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 Pro

Windows 8.1 Enterprise

3D printing support (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

App automatic updates from Windows Store (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

AppLocker

NO

NO

NO

YES

Apps included (Alarms, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Finance, Food & Drink, Games, Health & Fitness, Mail, Maps, Music, News, People, Photos, Reader, Reading List, SkyDrive, Sound Recorder, Sports, Travel, Video, and Weather)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Apps launch other apps (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Apps - Open multiple instances of same app (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Assigned access (new)

YES

NO

YES

YES

Binary extension scanning (Internet Explorer)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Biometric fingerprint enrollment (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

BitLocker and BitLocker To Go

NO

NO

YES

YES

BITS Support

NO

NO

YES

YES

BranchCache

NO

NO

NO

YES

BYOD Multi-factor authentication (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Connected standby

YES

YES

YES

YES

CPU Sockets supported

1

1

2

2

Desktop apps (x86/x64) install and run

NO

YES

YES

YES

Desktop Background (change)

NO

YES

YES

YES

Desktop wallpaper set as Start background (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Device Encryption

YES

YES

YES

YES

Device enrollment (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

DirectAccess

NO

NO

NO

YES

Domain Join

NO

NO

YES

YES

Exchange ActiveSync

YES

YES

YES

YES

Family Safety

YES

YES

YES

YES

File Explorer

YES

YES

YES

YES

File History

YES

YES

YES

YES

Group Policy

NO

NO

YES

YES

HomeGroup (create)

NO

YES

YES

YES

HomeGroup (join)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Hyper-V (client)

NO

NO

YES

YES

InstantGo

YES

YES

YES

YES

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

NO

YES

YES

YES

Internet Explorer 11 (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

ISO mount

YES

YES

YES

YES

Languages switch on the fly (Language Packs)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Local accounts

YES

YES

YES

YES

Local Security Policy Editor

NO

NO

YES

YES

Local Users and Groups Manager

NO

NO

YES

YES

Lock screen photo slide show (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Metered Connections

YES

YES

YES

YES

Microsoft account sign in

YES

YES

YES

YES

MiraCast wireless display support (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Mobile hotspot / Wi-Fi tethering (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Mobility Center

YES

YES

YES

YES

Multiple monitor improvements (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Network Bridging

NO

YES

YES

YES

Office Home & Student 2013 RT included

YES

NO

NO

NO

Offline Files

NO

NO

YES

YES

Open MDM support (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Open up to four variable sized windows at once (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

PC Settings improvements (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Picture password

YES

YES

YES

YES

Pin Sign-in

YES

YES

YES

YES

Play To

YES

YES

YES

YES

Portrait mode improvements (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Presentation Mode

YES

YES

YES

YES

Presentation Settings

YES

NO

YES

YES

Quiet Hours

YES

YES

YES

YES

RAM - maximum supported

4 GB

128 GB

512 GB

512 GB

Recovery Drive









Refresh PC

YES

YES

YES

YES

Remote business data removal (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Remote Desktop (Advanced Compression)

NO

NO

NO

YES

Remote Desktop (Audio Capture)

NO

NO

YES

YES

Remote Desktop (client)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Remote Desktop (Direct3D Rendering)

NO

NO

NO

YES

Remote Desktop (DWW Remoting)

NO

NO

YES

YES

Remote Desktop (Easy Print)

NO

NO

YES

YES

Remote Desktop (host)

NO

NO

YES

YES

Remote Desktop (Multiple Monitors)

NO

NO

YES

YES

Remote Desktop (PnP Device Redirection)

NO

NO

NO

YES

Remote Desktop (Remote Applications)

NO

NO

NO

YES

Reset PC

YES

YES

YES

YES

Search powered by Bing (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Secure Sign-in (CTRL+ALT+DEL)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Semantic Zoom (Start/Apps screen)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Screenshot capture

YES

YES

YES

YES

Sideloading LOB apps

sold separately

NO

sold separately

YES

Snipping Tool

YES

YES

YES

YES

Start button (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Start screen and live tiles

YES

YES

YES

YES

Start screen control (new)

NO

NO

NO

YES

Storage Spaces

NO

YES

YES

YES

System Image

YES

YES

YES

YES

Tiles (Start/Apps) - customize multiple tiles at once (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Tiles (Start) - four sizes (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Touch keyboard and thumb keyboard

YES

YES

YES

YES

Trusted Boot

YES

YES

YES

YES

VDI enhancements

NO

NO

NO

YES

VHD boot

NO

NO

YES

YES

VHD mount

YES

YES

YES

YES

VPN clients built-in

YES

YES

YES

YES

Wi-Fi Direct wireless printing support (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Windows Defender

YES

YES

YES

YES

Windows Media Player

NO

YES

YES

YES

Windows PowerShell

YES

YES

YES

YES

Windows SmartScreen

YES

YES

YES

YES

Windows Store (Start screen)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Windows To Go Creator

NO

NO

NO

YES

Windows Update

YES

YES

YES

YES

Wireless Adhoc Networking

NO

YES

YES

YES

Work folders (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Workplace join (new)

YES

YES

YES

YES

Xbox SmartGlass with Play To / Play On

YES

YES

YES

YES


That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Windows_8.1_Retail_Box.jpg
    Windows_8.1_Retail_Box.jpg
    13.6 KB · Views: 515
  • windows-8-boxes.png
    windows-8-boxes.png
    60.7 KB · Views: 290
Last edited:
Back
Top