 | | Welcome to Windows 7 Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows 7. The Windows 7 forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks. | Windows 7 - Compare Windows 7 Editions Compare Windows 7 Editions
Published by Brink
06-26-2009
| Compare Windows 7 Editions Compare Windows 7 Editions
. | | Starter | Home Basic | Home Premium | Professional | Enterprise - Ultimate |
|---|
Estimated Full Retail Price | OEM | OEM | $199.99 | $299.99 | $319.99 Ultimate | Estimated Upgrade Retail Price | OEM | OEM | $119.99 | $199.99 | $219.99 Ultimate | 32-bit and 64-bit versions | 32-bit only | Both | Both | Both | Both | AAC and H.264 decoding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Aero Glass Remoting | | | | | Yes | | Aero Peek | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Aero Shake | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | | | Yes | | Audio Recording over Terminal Services | | | | | Yes | Backup and Restore Files | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Backup to Network | | | | Yes | Yes | | Bitlocker | | | | | Yes | | | | | | Yes | Branche Cache Distributed Cache | | | | | Yes | | Calculator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Desktop Background Changeable | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Desktop Windows Manager | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Device Stage | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | DirectAccess | | | | | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dolby Digital compatibility | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Domain Join (Windows Server) | | | | Yes | Yes | DVD playback | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Encrypting File System (EFS) | | | | Yes | Yes | | Encrypting Offline Files | | | | Yes | Yes | | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | | | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Games Explorer with basic games (FreeCell, Hearts, Minesweeper, Purble Palace, Solitaire, Spide Solitaire) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Games Explorer with premium games (Internet Backgammon, Internet Checkers, Internet Spades, Mahjong Titans) | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Getting Started | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Join Only | Join Only | Yes | Yes | Yes | IIS Web Server | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Internet Connection Sharing | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | IE8 Protected Mode and DEP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Internet Explorer 8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Language Packs (MUI) | | | | | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Live Explorer Previews | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Live Taskbar Previews | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Location Aware Printing | | | | Yes | Yes | Max RAM (32-bit) | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | Max RAM (64-bit) | | 8GB | 16GB | 192GB | 192GB | MPEG-2 decoding | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Multiple Monitors | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Multi-Touch support | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Network and Sharing Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Network Bridge | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Play To | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Power Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 64-bit Processor Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Physical Processor Support | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Presentation Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Previous Versions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Processor Core Support | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ReadyDrive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Remote Desktop Host | | | | Yes | Yes | RSS support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | Snipping Tool | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | SuperFetch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | | Yes | Yes | | Sync Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes - Not to network location | Yes - Not to network location | Yes - Not to network location | Yes | Yes | System Restore | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Tablet PC | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Number of TV tuners supported | | | 4 of each type (analog, digital, etc.) | 4 of each type (analog, digital, etc.) | 4 of each type (analog, digital, etc.) | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | UNIX based applications subsystem | | | | | Yes | | | | | | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Aero Theme | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Anytime Upgrade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Windows Basic Theme | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Easy Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows ExperienceIndex (WEI) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Fax and Scan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Flip | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Journal | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Media Center | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Media Player 12 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Media Player 12 Remote Media Experience | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | Yes (No Presentation Mode) | Yes (No Presentation Mode) | Yes | Yes | Windows Photo Viewer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows PowerShell and ISE | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Standard Theme | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Taskbar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Update | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Virtual PC support | | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | WordPad | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | XP Mode (Windows Virtual PC) | | | | Yes | Yes | | XPS Viewer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 10,967 | |
 Tutorial Tools | | | | | | | | | |
06-26-2009
|
#1 | | Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Cambridge, UK |
Could you include virtualisation as well please.
| My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number self built OS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit CPU Intel E8400 3GHz Motherboard Intel DX48BT2 Memory Kingston PC3-10700H 4Gb Graphics Card XFX Radeon HD 5850 BlackEd. Sound Card Soundblaster X-Fi XtremeMusic Monitor(s) Displays 2x Samsung SM-T220HD 22" Screen Resolution 1680x1050 on two monitors Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve USB Mouse Razer Diamondback 3G PSU Thermaltake ToughPower 850w Case Thermaltake Armor Cooling Tuniq Tower 120 Hard Drives Samsung F3 1Tb (OS)
3x Samsung F1 1Tb Internet Speed 8128/443 Other Info c-media multi-card reader
ocz atv 4gb flash for readyboost |
06-26-2009
|
#2 | | Windows 7 RTM (TechNet), XP Pro x64, Vista x64, Ubuntu Adirondack Mountains |
Since this is in progress I'm not sure if you're looking for additions but here's one that seems to have changed over the past several months (or at least not as clear as it was)....
Full Image Backup capability
(in other words, which versions allow Full Image Backups)
Last edited by zrtom; 06-26-2009 at 01:19 PM..
| My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell: XPS 420, XPS 420, XPS M1330, XPS M1330, Mini 9, Mini 10v OS Windows 7 RTM (TechNet), XP Pro x64, Vista x64, Ubuntu CPU Q6600, Q6700, T7500, T7500, N270, N270 Motherboard Dell Memory 4GB, 8GB, 4GB, 4GB, 2GB, 2GB Graphics Card ATI, nVidia, nVidia, nVidia, Intel, Intel Monitor(s) Displays Dell 2408WFP Keyboard Logitech Wave Hard Drives A drawer full. OCZ Vertex 2x30GB in RAID 0 on my main desktop.....fast, fast, fast! Internet Speed 29 Mbps DL / .95 Mbps UL Other Info New project(9/09)...Built a low power (38-40 watts using Kill-a-Watt) Windows Home Server machine. Zotac ION (Atom 330, GeForce9400), 2GB RAM, 2x1TB Seagate 7200.12, IN WIM miniITX Case. Fits on a shelf in laundry closet, practically silent. |
06-26-2009
|
#3 | | Windows 7 Pro x64 & Win7 Pre x64 / Ubuntu 9.10 Beta Connecticut |
Great list Brink, well done | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom Desktop & HP G60-120US OS Windows 7 Pro x64 & Win7 Pre x64 / Ubuntu 9.10 Beta CPU Q6600 Quad Core 2 - 2.4Ghz Motherboard EVGA - 680i SLI Memory 4GB Kingston DDR2 800 Graphics Card XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog Ed. X 2 SLI Sound Card On Board Monitor(s) Displays 24"Dell Wide Screen and Gateway 17" Widescreen & HP 15.4" Screen Resolution 1920 x1200 (Dell) 1440 x 900(Gateway) & 1366x768 (HP Laptop) Keyboard Saitek Cyborg & Logitech wireless Mouse Logitech G5 & Logitech wireless PSU Rosewell RX750 Case Antec 900 Cooling Zalman 8700 Hard Drives WD 500GB, Seagate 1.5 TB Internet Speed Cable - 20Mbs/sec DOWN 5Mbs/s UP |
06-26-2009
|
#4 | | Windows 7 RTM (TechNet), XP Pro x64, Vista x64, Ubuntu Adirondack Mountains |
| My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell: XPS 420, XPS 420, XPS M1330, XPS M1330, Mini 9, Mini 10v OS Windows 7 RTM (TechNet), XP Pro x64, Vista x64, Ubuntu CPU Q6600, Q6700, T7500, T7500, N270, N270 Motherboard Dell Memory 4GB, 8GB, 4GB, 4GB, 2GB, 2GB Graphics Card ATI, nVidia, nVidia, nVidia, Intel, Intel Monitor(s) Displays Dell 2408WFP Keyboard Logitech Wave Hard Drives A drawer full. OCZ Vertex 2x30GB in RAID 0 on my main desktop.....fast, fast, fast! Internet Speed 29 Mbps DL / .95 Mbps UL Other Info New project(9/09)...Built a low power (38-40 watts using Kill-a-Watt) Windows Home Server machine. Zotac ION (Atom 330, GeForce9400), 2GB RAM, 2x1TB Seagate 7200.12, IN WIM miniITX Case. Fits on a shelf in laundry closet, practically silent. |
06-26-2009
|
#5 | | |
Question Brink,
Great post and perfect timing. Clarify this please. Will we be able to use Wau to upgrade all the way up to and including Ultimate? This chart is confusing to me. Is it a empty space because you can't upgrade to it or beyond it? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Gateway GT5692 OS Party OS Ultix64 CPU AMD Phenom 8450 triple-core 2.10 ghz Memory 4GB Graphics Card ATI Radion HD 3200 Monitor(s) Displays Gateway FPD1775W Screen Resolution 1280x720 Hard Drives 465.6613 Gibibytes |
06-26-2009
|
#6 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |
Hello Larry,
If there is not a YES there, then it means it is not supported in the specific edition of Windows 7.
You can't use WAU in the Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Windows 7 though.
Hope this helps,
Shawn
Last edited by Brink; 06-26-2009 at 05:27 PM..
| My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
06-26-2009
|
#7 | | Windows 7200, XPSP3, Ubuntu Karmic Koala (KD4) Adelaide, Australia |
Really the only difference between Home Premium and Pro is .... Domain Join (and therefore Location Aware Printing and Remote Desktop Host) and XP Mode.
Makes the decision pretty easy for me.
Thanks for the excellent table Brink. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number AMD Athlon 64 3200+ OS Windows 7200, XPSP3, Ubuntu Karmic Koala (KD4) Motherboard Gigabyte K8T8000 Memory DDR 1.5Gb Graphics Card 6600GT Monitor(s) Displays MultiMonitor (2) LCD Mouse Revolution Hard Drives Old Seagate 75
Big Western Digital
Samsung 500Gb pulled out of an external drive and installed
Ext: Maxtor (Firewire), 1Gb Lacie (think its Samsung) |
06-26-2009
|
#8 | | Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail Texas |
You're welcome Charles. Premium doesn't have EFS or Offline Files either though. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Retail CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower w/ 250 mm Front & 120 mm Rear fan Cooling Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Copper CPU heat sink w/120 MM Hard Drives 2 x 750GB (RAID 0) Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 10.58 Mb/s Download and 1.12 Mb/s Upload Other Info Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
** Samsung CLX-3175FW Printer
** D-Link DIR-855 Router
** Motorola SB6120 Cable Modem
** ASRock ION 330 server |
06-26-2009
|
#9 | | Windows 7 Retail 64bit/64bit, 32bit secondary drives, XP Mode plus other VMs |
Great work! Shawn And very timely as well! I think a good number of people will want to look this over carefully in the next few months in order to make the decisions on which edition they will go with.
The WAU or Windows Anytime deals are generally limited to the prebuilds with Vista presently installed with the offer of the free 7 upgrade being offered from July 1st forward. Most of the systems sold in retail outlets tend to be the less featured editions sold for general home user/consumer user where these are intended for promotional deals.
Even while you will likely be expanding on this a bit further it makes a great reference since MS has been a little slow on this. It's still a great solid reference!
(especially from what MS has on their own page. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...mpare-editions)
Last edited by Night Hawk; 06-27-2009 at 03:24 AM..
Reason: MS link added
| My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Retail 64bit/64bit, 32bit secondary drives, XP Mode plus other VMs CPU AMD 6000 X2 Motherboard Asus M2N-E Memory Kingston HyperX DDR2 800 4gb Graphics Card MSI Radeon HD 2600XT Sound Card Creative Labs X-Fi XtremeGamer Monitor(s) Displays 2 x Acer P191W 19" widesscreen Screen Resolution 1440x900 native Keyboard Saitek Cyborg Mouse MS Trackball Explorer PSU OCZ GameXStream 700w Case Antec 900 Cooling Zalman CNPS 9700 110mm fan Antec 120mm abd 200mm case fans Hard Drives Which one?
WD 500gb Cavier SE sata = 2
WD 500gb Green Power sata =1
WD 1tb Green Power sata = 2
usb flash drives = 6 Internet Speed 12mbps boost All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:48 AM. |  |