Some time ago I wrote about the new and improved Windows Vista, although details where very sketchy at the time. In the mean time I have downloaded the latest beta version (didn’t have the time yet to fool around with it though) and read about all the new features (most of them are utterly useless in my humble opinion). Well, talking of useless: have you seen the proposed versions Vista will be available in? Holy toledo Batman, who has come up with this plan? What is this? Let’s confuse everyone and then hope they will still buy it? Just take a look at the differences and what they think people will buy:
- Windows Starter 2007 – Vista without Aero, probably meant for developing nations.
- Windows Vista Home Basic – Basic Windows Vista for your single PC fam, doesn’t sound like much going on here. Analagous to XP Home.
- Windows Vista Home Basic N – European version of the same, but without Media Player (because of antitrust rulings against MS in the EU).
- Windows Vista Home Premium – This is the one we’re all probably gonna own. It’s got Media Center functionality, Cable Card support, the whole home-media shebang.
- Windows Vista Business – Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista.
- Windows Vista Business N – Think of it as XP Pro, but Vista, but Euro.
- Windows Vista Enterprise – Business version of Vista with numerous enterprise features, like Virtual PC, volume encryption, etc.
- Windows Vista Ultimate – Love that name. This one does all of the above (and more); what else do you need to know? It’s ultimate Windows..
Seriously: does Microsoft really expect anyone to understand any of this? I mean: how many versions does one need? At least Apple has only 2 versions of it’s OS X: the regular and server flavor. Who would need more?
This just sounds like a marketing scam to me. A bit like with all the version of Windows 2000. Pff….