Wave Systems Corp. (fka WAVXQ)

[vickers2]

From 'Starter' to 'Ultimate': Site shows six Vistas

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/101598.asp

Microsoft hasn't yet issued any official announcement detailing the different versions of Windows Vista to be offered, but several online sites are pointing today to a list of them on a help page under development. It names six primary versions of the upcoming PC operating system, plus two without Windows Media Player to be offered under the European Commission's antitrust ruling.

Here's the list of the primary six:

# Windows Starter 2007
# Windows Vista Home Basic
# Windows Vista Home Premium
# Windows Vista Business
# Windows Vista Enterprise
# Windows Vista Ultimate

See coverage by Microsoft Watch's Mary Jo Foley, ActiveWin, Neowin and Paul Thurrott, who reported a preliminary list of the versions last fall.

No prices are given, and it's not clear whether the list on the help site is final. It differs in some respects from previous reports about the versions Microsoft was aiming to offer, including the recent list published by Neowin and referenced in this CNet News.com story. For example, the list on the help site doesn't include a Windows Vista Small Business edition.

Judging from the list, the company is incorporating Tablet PC and Media Center PC functions into the higher-end Windows Vista versions, but as CNet News.com previously reported, Microsoft is not offering versions explicitly named Media Center PC Edition or Tablet PC Edition, as it does with the current Windows generation

But what is Windows Vista Ultimate, anyway? A search on the help site brings up this page, which warns that the text is still preliminary but offers this top-line overview for the "Ultimate" version: "Explore new features for searching, staying connected, networking, syncing devices, and managing files on your computer. Find things fast, get down to business, and focus on what matters to you." The page lists more details below that.

Another page on the site also refers to "Windows Ultimate Extras" and explains, "As the owner of a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate, you have access to exclusive programs and services." It doesn't list any of them yet.

Windows Vista, the successor to 2001's Windows XP, is due out later this year. Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said earlier this week that the company wants to have the new operating system available at retail before Thanksgiving in the United States.