Windows 7 launches today, but there are three versions on sale, not including student editions, so which is right for you? As ever, it depends what you’re looking for and how much you have to spend. Read on, and we’ll break down the differences between all three.
Windows 7 Starter
If you’re running anything but the crumbliest netbook, give Windows 7 Starter a wide berth. It’s been trimmed more thoroughly than a Christmas turkey by boxing day, and as a result lacks most of the features that make Windows 7 great.
Install Windows 7 Starter and you’ll find you can’t customise the desktop background, adjust window colours or sound themes. There’ll be no graphical loveliness from Aero either, although the handy new Snap feature is included, and even DVD playback is disabled.
You can also kiss goodbye to Windows Media Centre, and remote streaming of media is a no-no. Running Windows XP apps will also cause trouble, as Windows 7’s XP mode is left out too.
There is good news though: while Starter editions of Windows XP and Vista limited users to running no more than three apps at a time, Windows 7 does away with those restrictions. It’ll multitask just like its bigger brothers, but not much else. That said, if you’re looking to kick some life into an old netbook, it’ll do the job.
Read our Windows 7 review now!
Windows 7 Home Basic
Microsoft isn’t selling Windows 7 Home Basic in the UK, but that doesn’t mean intrepid importers won’t get hold of a copy. It’s very limited, doing away with Aero’s visual effects just like Windows 7 Starter, but it does include live taskbar previews and other niceties such as switching users without having to log off.
Think of Windows 7 Home Basic as a slight step up from Starter, but still far from the full shilling. Anyone with a new 64 bit PC will be wasting their cash on Windows 7 Home Basic too, as it only supports 32 bit processors. That said, you can change the desktop background.
Windows 7 Home Premium
This is more like it. Windows 7 Home Premium comes with most of the bells and whistles you’ll be expecting from an all new operating system. The Aero visuals are there in full effect, as is Windows Media Centre and touchscreen abilities for anyone upgrading a tablet or finger-friendly all-in-one.
It’s the lowest-priced Windows 7 edition with support for new 64 bit hardware and will support dual processors too. You’ll also get Microsoft’s bundled applets such as Snipping Tool, Sticky Notes, Live Preview and Windows Journal. DVD and MPEG-2 video playback is also enabled, so if you’re planning to watch movies, it’s your best bet on a budget. Likewise, Windows 7 Home Premium will support up to eight TV tuners, four analogue and four digital.
Mac owners will also want to take note that Windows 7 Home Premium is the cheapest way to get Redmond’s latest onto their aluminium dream machine without resorting to Boot Camp, since it’s the lowest priced version with virtualisation abilities built in, ready to run within VMWare or Parallels.
Sure, there are a few features missing from Windows 7 Home Premium. Bitlocker file encryption is left out, as is the ability to encrypt the file system for maximum security. You’ll also find XP Mode missing, which might cause problems for anyone with lots of pre-Vista software to run.
Windows 7 explained: what’s new?
Windows 7 ProfessionalThe differences between Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional will be trivial for most people using it at home, but anyone running a small business or working at home should give it a second look. It includes enhanced networking abilities, XP Mode to make sure it’ll run older software, and Remote Desktop functions so your tech support guys can tap into the system from afar.
You’ll also get the ability to backup files to a network device, encrypt the file system and use up to 192GB of 64 bit memory. Handy if you’ve got important files to keep safe away from the PC itself, have sensitive data that needs protecting, or are planning to run a beastly rig that’s specced to the hilt.
Windows 7 Ultimate
You want everything Microsoft has to offer? Then you probably want Windows 7 Ultimate. As well as everything above you’ll also get BitLocker and BitLocker To Go, letting you encrypt sensitive files and take them on the road without risk too.
You can upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate and bag those extra features whenever you like using the Windows Anytime Upgrade tool, assuming you’re already running Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional.
However, those expecting a ton of extras might be disappointed. While Windows Vista Ultimate came packed with a suite of fancy Windows Ultimate Extras there’s no such incentive to bag Windows 7 Ultimate, just all the new features from every other edition, crammed into one install disc.
