Microsoft details upcoming Windows 10 editions

[HEXUS]

There will be six Windows 10 SKUs plus three embedded/IoT versions.

Read more.

[Guppy]

I don't know why they have to make it so complicated, wouldn't it just be easier to have 2 SKUs:
Windows 10 - combining home, pro, enterprise and education
Windows 10 Mobile - combining normal and enterprise

[BlackDwarf]

Having worked with both Enterprise and Education customers, different SKU's are likely to be just to separate (and hopefully benefit, money-wise) each. Schools normally have significantly different subscription agreements with Microsoft than Enterprise customers, and there may well be some apps that don't install on the Edu SKU.

I'm liking Windows 10 more and more each day. Can't wait to have an RC to install and run permanently.

[shaithis]

They obviously decided that edition simplifying in Windows 8 was unnecessary!

[zarnywoop]

How is it complicated? They are all licensed differently, and as BlackDwarf said, it is to keep them all separate for convienence as they will be distrubuted differently. It's not as if you walk into a shop and see all versions on a shelf.

Consumer version (home), Business version (Pro), Enterprise version (Big business licensing), Education (multi-machine licensing) and two mobile versions; general and an enterprise version.

Then trimmed versions for kiosks and devices without interaction, oh and Xbox.

[tomthum]

I don't want there crap upgrade I would want a full version of win 10 Pro ( to match the pro version i use )
we all no a fresh full install is the best way to upgrade.
also does this mean people running win pro 8.1 will get a free download of the same or are the free upgrades restricted to win home 10!!!!!!!!!!
Tom

[LSG501]

they could have made it easier but it's not that complicated yet, I'm still waiting for the 'eu' anti competition versions with stuff taken out

Home - everyday user although I do sometimes feel that home is too limited
Pro - work from home/power use/small business
Enterprise - subscription/bulk license, so no real change there.
Education - could be designed to have additional school focused tools to help with restrictions and obviously education payment options. A school focused store likely too.

Windows mobile... why couldn't they have just had that as one version?

[Tabbykatze]

It's not exactly like they're changing much than from their current SKU ecosystem. Not entirely sure what to get up in arms about

[Saracen]

For me, it looks like Pro. If any at all.

[GuidoLS]

Just a couple of factoids to maybe help some people loosen up the knots in their knickers.

1) The reason the educational version and the enterprise versions are not on the same SKU is simple. The US government (and probably every other government in the world that has electricity and a PC made after 1994) is under contract to get the lowest priced business enterprise version. The educational versions are priced even lower. After some negotiation (and litigation) this was decided on to make things the most fair for everyone. If the educational and enterprise were on the same SKU, then your local government would be getting the educational discount instead of the business discount.

2) There are only 4 skus the average Hexus (or any other breathing person) user has to worry about. Home, Mobile, Educational and Pro. If you have to complain about not understanding Enterprise, you neither need, nor likely can you afford, to purchase an Enterprise license. The biggest difference between home and pro is the Windows update process. Read more here. The article will also explain the question of how Enterprise will be able to deal with updates in the future.

Educational versions should be obvious, and won't be changing.

Mobile has 3 versions. 1 for phones, one for low powered tablets and one IoT. All different devices, all different functions. As a consumer, you won't be purchasing Win10 for IoT devices.

Enterprise has a couple of different versions - one for PC's, a mobile SKU and a semi-IoT sku for things like kiosks, atms, etc, where single use licensing is impossible. These are 3 sku's that nobody outside of big business has any need to worry about.

I don't have access to anything 'official', but 'grapevine' (as opposed to the rumor mill) says that current Windows Home and Basic users will be straight lined over to Windows Home, and Pro will straight line over to Pro, based on your current license key. Enterprise will not be getting a free upgrade. Portable devices that aren't laptops and their direct relatives I don't know about.

You'll have a few options for upgrading - a download/clean install, or a download/upgrade, or, if you're doing the insider program, for the first time, you will be able to convert directly from preview version to RTM. There is, believe it or not, still a bit of confusion on if Insiders will get the upgrade for free, or if they'll need to convert a Win7/8/8.1 key - Gabe Aul said one thing, sort of backtracked, and then someone else has sort of back tracked on the back track, so that part is in limbo.

I know there are people that have actually clicked on the link and read the information. I suggest everyone does so, because there's a lot of knee jerk that really indicates some people aren't even reading the article on Hexus, let alone the source information.

[GuidoLS]

I don't know why they have to make it so complicated, wouldn't it just be easier to have 2 SKUs:
Windows 10 - combining home, pro, enterprise and education
Windows 10 Mobile - combining normal and enterprise

Almost as easy as going to a car dealership and having the choice between a car and a pickup truck. And only a car and a pick up truck. Both grey. Both 2 door with no ac or heat. And no options, at all. Because that's what 2 sku's mean. When you go to the grocery store, and there are 4 different boxes of Cheerios, even though they are the "same" product, and they all do exactly the same thing, they all have a different SKU,

[Corky34]

I could be reading to much into this announcement coupled with past announcements, but I'm guessing the Home, Pro, Enterprise versions tie into the different update rings.

Home = Has to take both security and feature updates as there made available.
Pro = Has to take security updates when available and can choose to delay feature updates for a time.
Enterprise = Can delay both security and feature updates for a time.

[GuidoLS]

I could be reading to much into this announcement coupled with past announcements, but I'm guessing the Home, Pro, Enterprise versions tie into the different update rings.

Home = Has to take both security and feature updates as there made available.
Pro = Has to take security updates when available and can choose to delay feature updates for a time.
Enterprise = Can delay both security and feature updates for a time.

There are no previews for home and enterprise, but so far, for Pro, you have the choice of updates being done automatically as they're pushed out, or giving permission to download/install. It's kind of hard to determine if anything should be delayed/ignored at this point, because there's been nothing to delay/ignore. Things actually related to Windows 10 have been, in my mind, critical to the ability to test the OS. Other stuff that's come through, and somewhat regularly, has included updates for Defender, driver updates (almost always optimized, and almost always signed) and .net security updates, but I'm relatively certain those have come due to some piece of software I've installed that's also installed a version of .net that wasn't previously installed. In other words, stuff that probably shouldn't be ignored.

Another difference that may occur (can't find anything official, nor anyone willing to discuss it) is that Applocker might come back to Pro, but won't be in Home.

But so far, the most obvious differences that have been enumerated are the update rings, but I'd be willing to bet there are further differences, especially between the consumer products (Home, Pro) and Enterprise.

[directhex]

Plus ça change.

[excalibur2]

I could be reading to much into this announcement coupled with past announcements, but I'm guessing the Home, Pro, Enterprise versions tie into the different update rings.

Home = Has to take both security and feature updates as there made available.
Pro = Has to take security updates when available and can choose to delay feature updates for a time.
Enterprise = Can delay both security and feature updates for a time.

H'mm don't like the words "for a time" as if MS decide to go to subscription in the future then they could stop you blocking a download that would make your Win10 inoperable until you pay for this service.
So with a suspicious mind.....MS get the world onto their Win 10 OS (inc free for pirates) then they can turn the screw in the future...........................

[GuidoLS]

H'mm don't like the words "for a time" as if MS decide to go to subscription in the future then they could stop you blocking a download that would make your Win10 inoperable until you pay for this service.
So with a suspicious mind.....MS get the world onto their Win 10 OS (inc free for pirates) then they can turn the screw in the future...........................

I know I'm wasting my time, but I did provide a link that explains how the new Update system will work. If you aren't willing to read it, and let it put into proper context on what 'for a time' might mean, then by all means, don't upgrade. But seriously, educate yourself first. Because even if MS ever considered putting out such a blocker, in violation of so many EU regulations that Brussels would go into meltdown, that still doesn't negate your ability to simply disconnect from the net.

I understand Saracen's privacy concerns. But paranoia based on nothing but imaginary things never posted on the net by anyone that actually knows better is just silly.