Behind the Scenes of Windows 7 Enterprise

An article has been posted on the Windows Team Blog highlighting the enterprise value of Windows 7 and how it reflects what customers and partners told us enterprises need most. Here is what the article reads-

With Windows Vista, we learned a lot about how involved our customers and partners like to be in the development of an OS – in a nutshell, early and often. With Windows 7, we changed the way we developed the Windows OS in order to be more responsive to that feedback. As such, early on we identified three main principles to our new process:

• Planning: Our team spent six months on planning Windows 7 in a “vision phase.” We analyzed trends and customer needs before building features. We also focused more on end-to-end business scenarios, rather than solely on features and technologies.
• Predictability: We committed to giving our customers and partners a timeframe for our release and stuck to it. We remain on track to ship Windows 7 within three years of the Windows Vista release. We also only shared information about Windows 7 when we had a higher degree of certainty which has resulted in minimal changes from earlier disclosures.
• Early Ecosystem Engagement: We engaged with partners during the early stages of Windows 7 development, rather than waiting for the traditional beta timeframe. This has allowed for a more seamless experience and greater compatibility in all areas.

The article is big enough to be posted here so you can read the rest on the Windows Team Blog

Windows 7 pricing leaked

After the official announcement about the various editions of Windows 7 by Microsoft two days back,their has been news about the pricing of the different versions of Windows 7. According to the German Website Windows Secrets the different versions of Windows 7 would cost between  $199.95 and $ 319.95,though Microsoft has not published any news about the same. 

The Starter Edition of Windows 7 is valued at $199,95 which would be available worldwide. The Starter Edition of Windows 7 wouldn’t be available in stores, but exclusively through OEM partners.

Users in the developed countries have to spent at least $259,95 to get a retail copy of Windows 7 Home Premium edition, which is the smallest package available for them. Windows 7 Professional would be available for $299,95.

If you want full functionality,then you probably need to spent $319.95 for the Ultimate version of Windows 7. No information is available on pricing for the Windows 7 Enterprise Edition.

Source- Win7.in

Final editions of Windows 7 announced

In a recent briefing with Paul Thurrott,  Bill Veghte revealed the editions of Windows 7 that will be shipping in.

Here is what his post reads

"At a macro level, there are a couple of niches that are important to us, and we are a global business after all, so there are certain market dynamics that we need to address," Veghte said. These niches will be addressed by OEM-only Windows 7 product editions, which is to say that these products will be sold only with new PCs. The first is Starter Edition, which will be a hardware-constrained version sold only in emerging markets. The second is Ultimate edition, which will essentially be a retail version of Windows 7 Enterprise this time around.

"We feel that this lineup offers a clear onramp for Windows 7," Veghte added, "making it easier than ever to find the right version for your needs."

Here’s how the complete product line-up

Windows 7 Starter

Market: Emerging markets, with new PCs only
Key features: Enhanced taskbar, Jump Lists, Windows Media Player, Backup and Restore, Action Center, Device Stage, Play To, Fax and Scan, basic games
What’s missing: Aero Glass, many Aero desktop enhancements, Windows Touch, Media Center, Live thumbnail previews, Home Group creation

Windows 7 Home Premium

Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Aero Glass, Aero Background, Windows Touch, Home Group creation, Media Center, DVD playback and authoring, premium games
What’s missing: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, advanced backup, EFS, Mobility Center, Offline Folders

Windows 7 Professional

Market: Mainstream retail market
Key features: Domain join, Remote Desktop host, location aware printing, EFS, Mobility Center, Presentation Mode, Offline Folders
What’s missing: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD

Windows 7 Enterprise

Market: Volume-license business customers only
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What’s missing: Retail licensing

Windows 7 Ultimate

Market: Retail market, limited availability
Key features: BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, AppLocker, Direct Access, Branche Cache, MUI language packs, boot from VHD
What’s missing: Volume licensing