Windows 7 - Version Comparison and Editions Print E-mail

Windows 7 Editions PCWizKid is asked all the time what are the main differences between each version of Windows 7.  As always PCWizKid uses the most upto date and complete version of ANY OS, in this case Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit.  However not everyone requires EVERYTHING an OS may have to offer.  In some cases you may never use certain features.  For this reason it is wise to check what the OS editions exist and choose appropriately based on your needs.  The average user will in most cases use the "Home Premium" edition.  Most small businesses will adopt the "Professional Edition" and large Businesses and IT Professionals tend to get the full blown "Ultimate" edition.  The OEM Home edition version for example would come pre-installed on some PC's such as Netbooks.

Here is a list that gives you a good idea on whats included for each Windows 7 edition

Feature
Home Basic
Home Premium
Professional
Ultimate
Estimated Full Retail Price
OEM
Estimated Upgrade Retail Price
OEM
32-bit and 64-bit versions available separate
Both
Both
Both
Both
AAC and H.264 decoding
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Action Center
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Aero Glass Remoting


Yes
Aero Peek
Yes
Yes
Yes
Aero Shake
Yes
Yes
Yes
Aero Snap
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Aero Theme
Yes
Yes
Yes
AppLocker


Yes
Audio Recording over Terminal Services


Yes
Backup and Restore Files
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Backup to Network

Yes
Yes
Bitlocker


Yes
Bitlocker To Go


Yes
Branche Cache Distributed Cache


Yes
Calculator
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Compatibility Mode
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Desktop Background Changeable
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Desktop Windows Manager
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Device Stage
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
DirectAccess


Yes
Disk Defragmenter
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Disk Defragmenter (Automatic)
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
Fast User Switching
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Federated Search


Yes
Gadgets
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (Disabled in Enterprise)
Games Explorer with basic games (FreeCell, Hearts, Minesweeper, Purble Palace, Solitaire, Spide Solitaire)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (Disabled in Enterprise)
Games Explorer with premium games (Internet Backgammon, Internet Checkers, Internet Spades, Mahjong Titans)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Getting Started
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
HomeGroup Sharing
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
Internet Explorer 8
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jump Lists
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Language Packs (MUI)


Yes
Libraries
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Live Explorer Previews
Yes
Yes
Yes
Live Taskbar Previews
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Local Group Policy

Yes
Yes
Local Security Policy

Yes
Yes
Local Users and Groups

Yes
Yes
Location Aware Printing

Yes
Yes
Max RAM (32-bit)
4GB
4GB
4GB
4GB
Max RAM (64-bit)
8GB
16GB
192GB
192GB
MPEG-2 decoding
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multi-display Terminal Services


Yes
Multiple Monitors
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Multi-Touch support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Network and Sharing Center
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Network Bridge
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Offline Files

Yes
Yes
Paint
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Parental Controls
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Photo Slide Shows (Basic)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Play To
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Power Management
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
64-bit Processor Support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Physical Processor Support
1
2
2
2
Presentation Mode
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Previous Versions
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Processor Core Support
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Projector Connection Switching
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ReadyBoost
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
ReadyDrive
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Remote Desktop
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Remote Desktop Host

Yes
Yes
RSS support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
SMB Network Connections
20
20
20
20
Snipping Tool
Yes
Yes
Yes
Software Restriction Policies

Yes
Yes
Sticky Notes
Yes
Yes
Yes
SuperFetch
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sync Center
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
System Image Backup
Yes - Not to network location
Yes - Not to network location
Yes
Yes
System Restore
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.)
UAC - User Account Control
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
UNIX based applications subsystem


Yes
VHD - Boot from


Yes
VHD - Create and Attach
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Aero Theme
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Anytime Upgrade
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Basic UI Theme
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Defender
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows DVD Maker
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Easy Transfer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows ExperienceIndex (WEI)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Fax and Scan
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Flip
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Flip 3D
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Journal
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Firewall
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Media Center
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Media Player 12
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Media Player 12 Multimedia Redirection


Yes
Windows Media Player 12 Remote Media Experience
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Mobility Center
Yes (No Presentation Mode)
Yes (No Presentation Mode)
Yes
Yes
Windows Photo Viewer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows PowerShell and ISE
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Search
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Slideshow
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Standard UI Theme
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Taskbar
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Update
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Windows Virtual PC support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
WordPad
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
XP Mode (Windows Virtual PC)

Yes
Yes
XPS Viewer
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
 

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