Microsoft has just announced all the different versions of Windows 10

[bill]

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/05/13/introducing-windows-10-editions/ [blogs.windows.com]

Introducing Windows 10 Editions

Windows 10 is coming this summer in 190 countries and 111 languages. Today, we are excited to share more details on the Windows 10 Editions.

We designed Windows 10 to deliver a more personal computing experience across a range of devices. An experience optimized for each device type, but familiar to all. Windows 10 will power an incredibly broad range of devices – everything from PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox One, Microsoft HoloLens and Surface Hub. It will also power the world around us, core to devices making up the Internet of Things, everything from elevators to ATMs to heart rate monitors to wearables. No matter which Windows 10 device our customers use, the experience will feel comfortable, and there will be a single, universal Windows Store where they can find, try and buy Universal Windows apps.

• Windows 10 Home
  
• Windows 10 Mobile
  
• Windows 10 Pro
  
• Windows 10 Enterprise
  
• Windows 10 IoT Core
  

[keyplyr]

I wonder which one goes out *free* for desktop? If we currently have Win7 Pro, will we get the 10 Pro or be baited with the Home and need to buy the upgrade?

(not that there's much difference)

[IanCP]

I also wonder what, if any in the real world, will be the difference between standard and pro desktop.

I think I've always had the pro versions way back since XP [maybe 98?] but I could never tell the difference when working on other people's home edition.

[IanCP]

I forgot to say that having differing editions is a HUGE step forward instead of the former Microsoft "one size fits all" approach.

Will we still have to kill OneDrive?

[EditorialGuy]

I wonder which one goes out *free* for desktop? If we currently have Win7 Pro, will we get the 10 Pro or be baited with the Home and need to buy the upgrade?

The blog post says:

"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."

So it would appear that, if you have Windows 7 Pro, you'll get a free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

[IanCP]

Elsewhere...

And even better: once a qualified Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it up to date for the supported lifetime of the device

Anyone know the Microsoft definition of "supported lifetime of the device"?

My definition of the lifetime of my device approaches infinity because I build and maintain my own.

[tangor]

What you build to is a form factor. When, (not if) that form factor becomes obsolete, that's the end of the useful lifetime. There might come a day the PC is obsolete. :) This pre-supposes you don't build tablets or smartphones.

Glad of the year grace period as the first few months on market will show most of the warts and expectations.

[IanCP]

There might come a day the PC is obsolete

At age 73 now, I'll likely be not only obsolete, but gone before that day arrives.

Hah! I have a genuine lifetime guarantee!

[J_RaD]

i hate windows and its many versions, but i guess at this point if you are trying to keep install sizes down, this will help.

[J_RaD]

wait..rephrase, i hate how many versions windows makes with each new release. Not a windows hater :-)

[keyplyr]

From a web developer's perspective, nothing in the last several windows versions have made it essential for me to upgrade. The main reason I'll upgrade from 7 to 10 is the security updates.

[engine]

From a user's perspective, it's really important that Microsoft makes it clear what OS is what.

In my experience of supporting friends, so many of Microsoft's products are fragmented, and there's confusion between what login is for want, and what link is where for which product. When I ask them what OS version they have, many are unsure, and then establishing their log-in is often more challenging.

I'd really like to think that Microsoft can get to grips with all that when Win 10 arrives so that all the applications become more of a seamless connection. I somehow suspect confusion will continue.