distinguishing versions vista

It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises them in this order: Business (better than Home Premium) Enterprise (better than Business) Home Premium (better than Home Basic) Home Basic (worst) Ultimate (best)
I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate.
I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser versions. Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to a lesser version, so I can see what happens? -- José

It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises them in this order: Business (better than Home Premium) Enterprise (better than Business) Home Premium (better than Home Basic) Home Basic (worst) Ultimate (best)

Yes, Plus a few more obscure versions ...

I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate.

That is correct.

I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser versions.

Paul Thurrott did a writeup a long time ago about the different editions ... who knows how accurate it is by now, but it should give you a general idea:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp

Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to a lesser version, so I can see what happens?

Unfortunately, no. :)
- JB

Windows Vista Product Guide describes them all from what I know: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bbc16ebf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en ---------- Mark Dietz PROnetworks <http://www.pro-networks.org>
José wrote:

It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises them in this order: Business (better than Home Premium) Enterprise (better than Business) Home Premium (better than Home Basic) Home Basic (worst) Ultimate (best)
I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate.
I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser versions. Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to a lesser version, so I can see what happens?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx Each of the five edition headers is a link to a fuller description of that edition. The order listed does not indicate a single order of desirability. There are business and home sku's. On the Business side there are two editions and on the Home side there are two editions. Ultimate is the combo of Business and Home.
No, you cannot downgrade your Beta 2 Ultimate. Users in the TechBeta program have access to all five sku's but they are installed as stand-alone products. The product key entered during setup determines what the Vista Beta installer does. But this is at the time of installation and does not imply that entering a different product key could at any time downgrade a running system.
"José" wrote in message

It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises them in this order: Business (better than Home Premium) Enterprise (better than Business) Home Premium (better than Home Basic) Home Basic (worst) Ultimate (best)
I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate.
I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser versions. Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to a lesser version, so I can see what happens? -- José

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 11:02:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:

It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises them in this order: Business (better than Home Premium) Enterprise (better than Business) Home Premium (better than Home Basic) Home Basic (worst) Ultimate (best)
Yes, Plus a few more obscure versions ...

Which MS appears to be ashamed about, for they are not mentioned.

I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate.
That is correct.

Apparently you can look in my computer.

I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser versions.
Paul Thurrott did a writeup a long time ago about the different editions ... who knows how accurate it is by now, but it should give you a general idea:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp

Interesting story

Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to a lesser version, so I can see what happens?
Unfortunately, no. :)

Too bad. It would be much better than a verbal description. And actually I believe that the difference between Home and Proefessional is just a few bits which make the Home Version act in a crippled way. -- José

Only MSDN, TechNet, and TechBeta testers have non-Ultimate versions that I'm aware. Only Ultimate was available to the public beta, and since you're asking this question here, it's a really good guess that it's Ultimate. ---------- Mark Dietz PROnetworks <http://www.pro-networks.org>
José wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 11:02:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush JimmyBrush@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:
It is my understanding that there will be five versions. MS advertises them in this order: Business (better than Home Premium) Enterprise (better than Business) Home Premium (better than Home Basic) Home Basic (worst) Ultimate (best) Yes, Plus a few more obscure versions ...
Which MS appears to be ashamed about, for they are not mentioned.
I think my beta version of Windows Vista is Vista Ultimate. That is correct.
Apparently you can look in my computer.
I'd like to know what functions are unavailable in the lesser versions. Paul Thurrott did a writeup a long time ago about the different editions ... who knows how accurate it is by now, but it should give you a general idea:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp
Interesting story
Is there a way to temporarily cripple my operating system to a lesser version, so I can see what happens? Unfortunately, no. :)
Too bad. It would be much better than a verbal description. And actually I believe that the difference between Home and Proefessional is just a few bits which make the Home Version act in a crippled way.

Which MS appears to be ashamed about, for they are not mentioned.

The other versions include Vista Starter Edition, available only in emerging computing markets, and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).

Apparently you can look in my computer.

Vista Ultimate is the only available public build. If you had installed another edition, you would have definately had to have known which edition it was ;)

Interesting story

I thought so.

And actually I believe that the difference between Home and Proefessional is just a few bits which make the Home Version act in a crippled way.

In windows XP this was fairly true; things have changed ALOT in vista.
It is very interesting how Microsoft has packaged the different editions into setup and will even support upgrading from one edition to another after purchase... I think you will find this as fascinating as I do. :)
Cheers,
- JB

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:45:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:

and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).

For Europe they say. I am afraid that I will be forced to buy such an edition. And of course the non-N editions are not available in European languages. -- José

Who would force you to buy such an edition? I believe N is only available as OEM to system builders. They are not required to force it on you are they?
"José" wrote in message

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:45:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush JimmyBrush@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:
and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).
For Europe they say. I am afraid that I will be forced to buy such an edition. And of course the non-N editions are not available in European languages. -- José

N Editions Finally, I should note that Microsoft is planning to offer so-called N Editions of Windows Vista for the European market, in order to meet the requirements of an antitrust ruling there. Windows Vista N Editions--Vista Home Basic N and Vista Business N--will mirror the Vista Home Basic and Vista Business versions, respectively, but will not include Windows Media Player and other media-related functionality.
from Paul Thurrots Windows Supersite http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions_final.asp

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

Who would force you to buy such an edition? I believe N is only available as OEM to system builders. They are not required to force it on you are they?
"José" wrote in message On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:45:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush JimmyBrush@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:
and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).
For Europe they say. I am afraid that I will be forced to buy such an edition. And of course the non-N editions are not available in European languages. -- José

XP N editions are not necessarily retail items. I don't expect Vista N editions to be either. Like MCE or XP Pro x64 I think they are offered through system builders as preinstalled OS's only.
I think it was sufficient for the EU Commission that they be offered as preinstalled systems. The vast majority of Windows installations are preinstalled systems anyway.
The last I heard system builders are not in a hurry to offer systems with them and customers are not re-enacting Bastille day to get them. I had a merry old time myself just getting hold of XP Pro N and XP Home N for testing in VPC.
"Zapper" wrote in message

N Editions Finally, I should note that Microsoft is planning to offer so-called N Editions of Windows Vista for the European market, in order to meet the requirements of an antitrust ruling there. Windows Vista N Editions--Vista Home Basic N and Vista Business N--will mirror the Vista Home Basic and Vista Business versions, respectively, but will not include Windows Media Player and other media-related functionality.
from Paul Thurrots Windows Supersite http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions_final.asp

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message Who would force you to buy such an edition? I believe N is only available as OEM to system builders. They are not required to force it on you are they?
"José" wrote in message On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:45:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush JimmyBrush@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:
and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).
For Europe they say. I am afraid that I will be forced to buy such an edition. And of course the non-N editions are not available in European languages. -- José

VPC sucks..

I am kidding of course... http://macfannet.mycom.co.jp/news/0103/02/0302connectix_interview.html "Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

XP N editions are not necessarily retail items. I don't expect Vista N editions to be either. Like MCE or XP Pro x64 I think they are offered through system builders as preinstalled OS's only.
I think it was sufficient for the EU Commission that they be offered as preinstalled systems. The vast majority of Windows installations are preinstalled systems anyway.
The last I heard system builders are not in a hurry to offer systems with them and customers are not re-enacting Bastille day to get them. I had a merry old time myself just getting hold of XP Pro N and XP Home N for testing in VPC.
"Zapper" wrote in message N Editions Finally, I should note that Microsoft is planning to offer so-called N Editions of Windows Vista for the European market, in order to meet the requirements of an antitrust ruling there. Windows Vista N Editions--Vista Home Basic N and Vista Business N--will mirror the Vista Home Basic and Vista Business versions, respectively, but will not include Windows Media Player and other media-related functionality.
from Paul Thurrots Windows Supersite http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions_final.asp

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message Who would force you to buy such an edition? I believe N is only available as OEM to system builders. They are not required to force it on you are they?
"José" wrote in message On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:45:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush JimmyBrush@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:
and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).
For Europe they say. I am afraid that I will be forced to buy such an edition. And of course the non-N editions are not available in European languages. -- José

Works for me.
"Zapper" wrote in message

VPC sucks..

I am kidding of course... http://macfannet.mycom.co.jp/news/0103/02/0302connectix_interview.html "Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message XP N editions are not necessarily retail items. I don't expect Vista N editions to be either. Like MCE or XP Pro x64 I think they are offered through system builders as preinstalled OS's only.
I think it was sufficient for the EU Commission that they be offered as preinstalled systems. The vast majority of Windows installations are preinstalled systems anyway.
The last I heard system builders are not in a hurry to offer systems with them and customers are not re-enacting Bastille day to get them. I had a merry old time myself just getting hold of XP Pro N and XP Home N for testing in VPC.
"Zapper" wrote in message N Editions Finally, I should note that Microsoft is planning to offer so-called N Editions of Windows Vista for the European market, in order to meet the requirements of an antitrust ruling there. Windows Vista N Editions--Vista Home Basic N and Vista Business N--will mirror the Vista Home Basic and Vista Business versions, respectively, but will not include Windows Media Player and other media-related functionality.
from Paul Thurrots Windows Supersite http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions_final.asp

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message Who would force you to buy such an edition? I believe N is only available as OEM to system builders. They are not required to force it on you are they?
"José" wrote in message On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:45:02 -0700, Jimmy Brush JimmyBrush@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:
and the infamous "N" editions (those without media player).
For Europe they say. I am afraid that I will be forced to buy such an edition. And of course the non-N editions are not available in European languages. -- José

VPC sucks..

Of course the focus of this thread is VPC...