In addition to huge number of existing Windows 10 editions, Microsoft is going to bring five more variants for home users. Here are the key changes and how they will be licensed and priced.
The Redmond software giant is currently working on five new editions which extend the Windows 10 Home family.
The new editions include:
- Entry
- Value
- Core
- Core+
- Advanced
The company is preparing different system requirements for each edition. Entry and Value SKUs will be targeted for Atom and Celeron-based devices with a maximum of 4 GB of RAM, while the new Advanced edition would require Intel Core i9 and Core i7 CPUs.
Here is the list of system requirements at a glance:
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- Entry: Intel Atom/Celeron/Pentium ≤ 4 GB RAM & ≤ 32 GB SSD AND ≤ 14.1" screen size (NB), ≤ 11.6" (2in1, Tablet), ≥ 17" AiO
- Value: Intel Atom/Celeron/Pentium ≤ 4 GB RAM & ≤ 64GB SSD & ≤ 14.1" screen size (EM ≤ 4 GB RAM & ≤ 64GB SSD or ≤ 500 GB HDD)
- Core: Cannot be used on devices that meet the Core+ and Advanced SKU Hardware Specifications
- Core +: High end CPU and >4 GB RAM (All Form Factors) ≥8 GB RAM & ≥1080p screen resolution (NB, 2in1, AiO) >8 GB RAM & ≥2 TB HDD or SSD storage (Desktop)
- Advanced: Intel Core i9 (any configuration) OR Core i7 ≥ 6 Cores (any RAM) OR AMD Threadripper(any configuration) OR Intel Core i7 >16 GB (any Cores) or AMD FX/ Ryzen7 >16 GB (any Cores) OR ≥ 4K screen resolution (any processor, includes 4K UHD-3840 resolution
Pricing for the SKUs is as follows: Advanced ($101), Core + ($86.66), Core ($65.45), Value ($45), and Entry ($25).
Also, Microsoft is cancelling Windows 10 S as a separate edition. Instead, there will be 'S mode', which can be enabled for any edition. When in S mode, Windows 10 will be restricted to running apps downloaded from the Store only.
These new Windows 10 SKUs would be available to partners starting in April 2018.
Source: Thurrott.com
What do you think about these changes to Microsoft's roadmap of Windows 10? Do you like them or is it confusing to have so many editions of the OS? Tell us in the comments.
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So from making it simple with versioning in 10, its becoming complicated again! Thanks Sergey!
Yep… I see no point in this change. It turns into edition hell.
Reminds me of Vista
– Windows Vista Starter
– Windows Vista Home Basic
– Windows Vista Home Premium
– Windows Vista Business
– Windows Vista Enterprise
– Windows Vista Ultimate
…and 7
– Windows 7 Starter
– Windows 7 Home Basic
– Windows 7 Home Premium
– Windows 7 Professional
– Windows 7 Enterprise
– Windows 7 Ultimate
“…we’ve chopped it up into six different versions, none of which work.” – Windows Vista Parody, 2008
Haha, yeah. Vista had too many issues.
Actually Enterprise would be equal and better (costs more as well) to ultimate and should be at the bottom of your list (or top dog). Enterprise does everything ultimate can do except it has KMS activation. I’ve been using Enterprise ever since Vista.
I think it sucks and Windows 10 has evolved into a POS
Windows10 was a POS _before_ it was inflicted on the generic public. It didn’t somehow, suddenly, _become_ a POS. No. It was be deliberate design by MS from the outset.
This latest change only continues that trend.
Note the restrictions on Core. What new notebooks or desktops sold would be LOW enough to meet it? None.
So any new system purchaser will be forced onto Core+ or Advanced. And what’s the betting that Core+ will be a VERY significant price gouge up on Core?
So Core will only be for holdout owners of older, less capable systems who want those systems downgraded to Windows 10.
This was M$’d end game to sell more hardware–There is no free lunch.
So now they link OS edition to a hardware configuration of a system.
Users of a high-end PC will need to pay more.
Who cares about it if you can legal buy OEM licenses of Windows 10 Pro for about 5 €
Where can I get an OEM license of Pro for €5?
I am retired and on a limited income. My question to Microsoft is simply WHY? In What way (s) will I get an advantage to what I do from the new editions?
Monkey Business for making money !
What are the long term plans of MS starting with W10 given for free ?
Some Robin Hood Plan ?
Linux is looking good to me again.
I need Pro LTSB instead of those bunch of useless things. I don’t understand why I have to waste my time every 6 months for functionalities I don’t use. It is really peculiar to me.
It is now clear that future editions will bi ties to PC hw config.
But is there a functional difference between Entry|Value|Core|Core+|Advanced editions?
Who knows.
Perhaps not all of those are for retail selling or for the same market. For instance, a casual user may not even know that there exists a special version of Windows 10, called Education.
Well if this happens then it must complicate things.In this way, Linux can be a better option.