Windows Vista editions to be easily upgradable

[grazzhoppa]

Every "edition" of Windows Vista will have all the features and functionality of the most expensive edition, but they'll just be locked away. Users will be able to get features of a more expensive edition by buying a key from Microsoft - you won't have to have buy a new CD/DVD package.

It isn't clear if all the bits of the complete Windows Vista will be installed on the harddrive or if you'll need the CD/DVD to install upgrades. If the former is true, buying from PC builders like Dell, who generally package basic editions of Windows, will be more attractive as the opportunity to get a more complete Windows will only be a click and credit card away. But having a few gigabtyes of data you're not using on you harddrive isn't too attractive.


Microsoft has not made an official statement, but sources close to the company say this type of distribution system is the plan. Things might change.

A source familiar with this upgrade plan says with the five editions of Windows XP, Microsoft manages five "master images." The company will only have to manage one master image of Vista with the new plan.

Microsoft has announced seven editions of Windows Vista. In order of price and functionality:

• Vista Starter Edition
• Vista Home Basic Edition
• Vista Home Premium Edition
• Vista Professional Edition
• Vista Small Business Edition
• Vista Enterprise Edition
• Vista Ultimate Edition

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[thedivinehairband]

We'll just count the days before some smartie pants unlocks those hidden features.

 

[The_Dave]

Why can't they just do like Apple does with Mac OS X? It's so simple ... a consumer OS and a server OS. Everyone gets access to the entire feature set the OS has to offer, and can choose which ones to use or not use. Not a techie? Enable Simple Finder and work with only the most basics of Mac operation, surf the web with Safari, gawk at the widgets. Geek? Open up the Terminal and have fun with the CLI, play around with XCode, configure apache manually through .conf files. Something for everyone in an easy to buy package -- ease of use starts with the ease of purchase! Seriously, is there even a reason to have seven different distributions?

You know too that pirates are going to crack the activation systems and turn their Starter Edition copies into Ultimate Edition copies, unless Microsoft comes up with some killer activation system ... which they shouldn't be devoting resources to, considering they'd be much better spent on creating a secure, stable OS that doesn't get run over by spyware and virus threats.

 

[Polaris573]

unless Microsoft comes up with some killer activation system ... which they shouldn't be devoting resources to, considering they'd be much better spent on creating a secure, stable OS that doesn't get run over by spyware and virus threats.

Yes, but it's much more profitable to let viruses, spyware, adware, whateverthehellware overun the operating system and concentrate on keeping people from steeling the OS. What does microsoft have to lose right now they have a veritable monopoly. What's everyone going to do if Vista has more security holes than swiss cheese (if swiss cheese was an OS). Switch to Linux? yeah right. By a Mac and all new software to use on it?