Windows 10 in 7 flavors

How many editions of Windows 10 will be available?

There are 7 editions and counting.

1. Windows 10 Home:

The most popular edition is Windows 10 Home, for PCs, tables and 2-in-1s.
Target:  Consumers

Features in Home:

• Cortana -the unflappable and courteous digital assistant
• Microsoft Edge Browser
• Continuum tablet mode for touch-capable devices
• Windows Hello -face recognition iris and finger-print login
• A bunch of out of the box universal Windows apps such as Photos, Maps, Mail, Calendar, video etc.
• X-Box games from any Windows 10 PC at home.

2. Windows 10 Mobile:

For smaller, mobile and touch-capable devices like smart phones and small tablets.
Target: Consumer Mobile users

• Universal Windows apps
• Touch-optimized Office version
• Continuum for Phone - Use a larger screen and convert a phone to a PC

3. Windows 10 Pro:

For PCs, tablets and 2-in-onebuilt upon Windows 10 Home

Target: Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) Programs

• Optimized for Small businesses
• Manage devices and apps efficiently and protect sensitive business data
• Support Remote and mobile apps taking advantage of cloud technology
• Allows taking advantage of Windows Update for Business helping management cost savings.

The following is quoted from the blog :

"As we announced earlier this year, for the first time ever, we are offering the full versions of Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 Pro as a free and easy upgrade for qualifying Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in the first year after launch.** Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device”

This is great but it is not coming to my Nokia Icon anytime soon.

4. Windows 10 Enterprise:
For PCs, tablets and 2-in-one built upon Windows 10 Pro.
Target: Medium and large-sized organizations.

• Focused on security of devices, identities and applications

• Broadest range of deployment capabilities and comprehensive device management capabilities.
• Windows Update for Business
• Long term servicing branch deployment option

This is made available for customers opting volume licensing.

5. Windows 10 Education:

Target: Educational needs

Built on Windows 10 Enterprise for needs of schools and all educational stake holders-administrators, teachers & students through academic volume licensing. There will be paths for students with Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 pro to upgrade to Windows 10 Education.

6. Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise:

Target: Business users on mobile devices

For business customers on smart tablets and smart phones. Available for volume licensing customers.

• Incorporates latest security and innovation features when they are available.

7. Windows IOT Core:
Versions of Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise with Windows 10 IOT Core for small foot-print, low-cost devices like gateways.

Target: IOT

 

Target industry devices like ATMs, retail POS (Point of Sale), handheld terminals and industrial robots.

More importantly Windows 10 will be delivered as a service and there will be ongoing innovation and security updates.

The 3.9 million Windows Insiders have helped bring a great product to the table.