Windows 8 Versions announced, 8, Pro,RT,Ent

Microsoft announces Windows 8 catalog including standard, Pro and Arm-based ‘Windows RT’ editions - The Next Web

Windows 8
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 8 RT (ARM based)
Windows 8 Enterprise

QUOTE:
The differences between the editions are based on the platforms and features that each will contain. Windows 8 is the standard edition, likely to be found packaged with many OEM systems and will be the default recommendation for ‘many consumers’, says Microsoft.
Windows 8 Pro will “ help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies.” This version includes everything in the standard version plus encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity. Windows Pro will have to have Media Center added on to it as a ‘media pack’ that Microsoft says will be economically priced. Windows 8 Pro has a bunch of exclusive features listed like BitLocker, Boot from VHD, Client Hyper-V, Group Policies and hosting Remote Desktops.
The third version will be called Windows RT and it will be installed on PCs and tablets that contain ARM-based processors. This will help these systems stay ‘thin and light’ and have better battery life than more power-hungry x86 processors.
Windows RT will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Microsoft says that new applications based on the WinRT programming model will be revealed soon, calling them a ”new generation of cloud-enabled, touch-enabled, web-connected apps.”
There will also be an enterprise version of Windows 8. Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus tools for PC management, advanced security, virtualization and deployment.

 

[Calico]

Hi everyone

Windows to Go -- on any of these or do I have to give it up.

It's not mentioned in the chart but.

NOTE: As with previous versions of Windows, we will also have an edition of Windows 8 specifically for those enterprise customers with Software Assurance agreements. Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus features for IT organization that enable PC management and deployment, advanced security, virtualization, new mobility scenarios, and much more.

Maybe it's going to be part of the Enterprise version. I guess we'll have to waif for more detail...

Language packs also ??

t will include all the features above plus an updated Windows Explorer, Task Manager, better multi-monitor support and the ability to switch languages on the fly (more details on this feature can be found in this blog post),which was previously only available in Enterprise/Ultimate editions of Windows.

Source - Announcing the Windows 8 Editions - The Windows Blog

 

[stefalopod]

Heh, leave it to John Dvorak to start Win8 bashing (bash early and bash often is his motto).
Microsoft Screws Up Windows 8 | John C. Dvorak | PCMag.com
I don't think John get some of the stuff he is writing about. I wonder if he is using Win8 for anything? And its too early to call the ball on Windows on ARM, we will have to see how it is implemented.

Ok, not like I'm anything special in this department, but Mr. Dvorak is an embarrassingly poor writer and editorialist.

While this appears to simplify matters, it actually confuses things because Microsoft totally dropped the ball by omitting Media Center from both releases.

Wow, I wish I were a master of suspense like John Dvorak.

Geeze, teenage bloggers write better than this guy.

 

[johnpombrio]

LOL, Stef. You are way too young to appreciate John D. He has been writing/complaining about tech stuff for over 30 years now. I remember reading him in Byte magazine WBW. He is prolific writer and tosses out stuff like this in a dozen different venues. John is an acquired taste and people have been fuming over his writing since the first IBM PC came out and he panned it (too expensive, which it was). Cranky Geeks was his finest moment.

 

[Brink]

Hi everyone

Windows to Go -- on any of these or do I have to give it up.

Language packs also ??

Cheers
jimbo

Hello Jimbo,

I believe that "Windows 8 To Go" is suppose to officially be for Windows 8 Enterprise. However, we already have this that works.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5349-windows-8-go-setup-usb-flash-drive-usb-disk.html

All editions of Windows 8 will have the ability to change languages.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5757-compare-windows-8-editions.html

 

[stefalopod]

LOL, Stef. You are way too young to appreciate John D. He has been writing/complaining about tech stuff for over 30 years now. I remember reading him in Byte magazine WBW. He is prolific writer and tosses out stuff like this in a dozen different venues. John is an acquired taste and people have been fuming over his writing since the first IBM PC came out and he panned it (too expensive, which it was). Cranky Geeks was his finest moment.

LOL, If he's been irritating people for that long, I'll take it I got a proper introduction. Is this guy the same Dvorak as the keyboard?

 

[FuturDreamz]

A very simple view:

If Microsoft does intend to completely rebuild Windows, then I can see legacy features drop off of RT first, then Standard, then Pro (eventually), then maybe Enterprise, but unlikely.

 

[GMan]

Uhh, what IS Media Center?

Yes, I use it all the time on my spec machine desktop. It's great for using my ancient ATI Remote Wonder. I can then be in bed and watch any of my numerous videos, which I do often. I have a huge collection of highest quality music videos and the WMC is great for that, especially with remote.

I also have MediaPortal installed which is the same kind of app. It is easier to customize and has other cool features.

One of the buttons on my remote opens WMC and another is programmed to open MP. Which I use at any given time is based on a whim...doesn't really matter to me and it's probably random which button I press when I go to start up the remote based watching.

 

[chev65]

No Windows Media Center = fail.

Add it to the Windows Essentials list and make it free = Win!

 

[FuturDreamz]

No Windows Media Center = fail.

Add it to the Windows Essentials list and make it free = Win!

Nah, The Metro interface allows the standard media apps to do what WMC does. Microsoft just has to make it more remote friendly (which won't be hard)

WMC would be redundant, as it's sole purpose is to allow you to access your media from an easy to navigate interface.

 

[GMan]

No Windows Media Center = fail.

Add it to the Windows Essentials list and make it free = Win!

Nah, The Metro interface allows the standard media apps to do what WMC does. Microsoft just has to make it more remote friendly (which won't be hard)

WMC would be redundant, as it's sole purpose is to allow you to access your media from an easy to navigate interface.

I think we're a long way off from seeing the functionality of WMC in any Metro app.

WMC on the other hand, has been refined for many years over multiple operating systems.

 

[area 66]

Peoples will use more Linux solutions for their HTPC , good job Microsoft. In my bedroom, I use a Media Center in a Xbox to access my video library in the server, Xbox have a nice TV style remote.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi everyone

Windows to Go -- on any of these or do I have to give it up.

It's not mentioned in the chart but.

NOTE: As with previous versions of Windows, we will also have an edition of Windows 8 specifically for those enterprise customers with Software Assurance agreements. Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus features for IT organization that enable PC management and deployment, advanced security, virtualization, new mobility scenarios, and much more.

Maybe it's going to be part of the Enterprise version. I guess we'll have to waif for more detail...

Language packs also ??

t will include all the features above plus an updated Windows Explorer, Task Manager, better multi-monitor support and the ability to switch languages on the fly (more details on this feature can be found in this blog post),which was previously only available in Enterprise/Ultimate editions of Windows.

Source - Announcing the Windows 8 Editions - The Windows Blog

Thanks -- the ONE feature that would make me upgrade is the Windows to Go stuff.

I've kept the BCDBOOT stuff just in case it's forgotten in the RC editions -- noting how large orgainsations work I'm sure the BCDBOOT.EXE hobbled from the current W8 CP version will still work.

Developers are usually interested in the applications when getting an OS out of the door -- not obscure boot mechanisms.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[chev65]

No Windows Media Center = fail.

Add it to the Windows Essentials list and make it free = Win!

Nah, The Metro interface allows the standard media apps to do what WMC does. Microsoft just has to make it more remote friendly (which won't be hard)

WMC would be redundant, as it's sole purpose is to allow you to access your media from an easy to navigate interface.

Completely incorrect, you obviously aren't familiar with what WMC can do. No APP can come close to it's functionality.

Not too surprisingly GMAN already pointed out this fact.

 

[raine369]

It's Media Center that will be the addon. I think they will all have Media Player. I very rarely use MC, since I have Hulu+, Netflix, AmazonVOD and Playon for streaming.

 

[FuturDreamz]

No Windows Media Center = fail.

Add it to the Windows Essentials list and make it free = Win!

Nah, The Metro interface allows the standard media apps to do what WMC does. Microsoft just has to make it more remote friendly (which won't be hard)

WMC would be redundant, as it's sole purpose is to allow you to access your media from an easy to navigate interface.

Completely incorrect, you obviously aren't familiar with what WMC can do. No APP can come close to it's functionality.

Not too surprisingly GMAN already pointed out this fact.

What exactly?

Microsoft could come out with a TV Tuner app, which could possibly even work with Mediaroom devices, such as my TelusTV dvr. Even then I wouldn't use it.

Most of the services needed for the Xbox to stream video, pictures, and music is already there. It could be streamlined a bit though.

Wouldn't be that hard to build a sports app to view current standings.

I've actually used Media Centre Studio to hide many components that I never use, and I imagine that others would probably do the same if it was easy.

 

[raine369]

When I used Xbox for streaming, I used Playon instead of Media Center, it was eaiser to use and has more sources.

 

[area 66]

When I used Xbox for streaming, I used Playon instead of Media Center, it was eaiser to use and has more sources.

I will check this today.

 

[johnpombrio]

When I used Xbox for streaming, I used Playon instead of Media Center, it was easier to use and has more sources.

I tried using the 360 for streaming, I really did. Frustrating as hell getting it to work with Win7 (I wonder if it works better with Win8? No matter unless it supports .mkv). I eventually bought a media player which supported every codec I could throw at it and does 1080P with 5.1 surround sound through the HDMI port. With a 2 TB hard drive inside, it is quite the box. Mind you, getting 1100+ movies Handbraked was the big challenge.

 

[GMan]

TVersity is a really great UPnP/DLNA server. It can automatically transcode any file on the fly, when the client doesn't know how to read it and/or its codecs. The current version 2.0 is not free but 1.9.7 is completely free.

It even automatically updates files you put into shared folders, on the fly, immediately.

If this is used, I recommend disabling the Windows Media Network Sharing service and also SSDP Discovery service.

 

[FuturDreamz]

I would still like to know what exactly WMC does that can't be done in Metro.