TORONTO – Microsoft has yet to announce an official release date for Windows 10, but the software giant has now cleared up some of the confusion surrounding the different versions of the operating system.
The company has confirmed there will be seven different versions of Windows 10, including desktop and mobile versions for both home and business users, versions for school and even an “Internet of Things” edition.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Windows 10
“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,” wrote Microsoft’s Tony Prophet in a blog post.
“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.”
Each version will be tailored to suit a certain type of user or device – for example, business users will have their own versions, but small companies will have a different version than larger companies.
Sounds a bit confusing, right? Here’s how each version breaks down:
For the consumer
Windows 10 Home: This will be the “consumer-focused desktop edition,” as Microsoft describes it. It will replace the Windows 8 version that most consumers are running on their PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 hybrid devices.
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The Home edition will include the company’s new web browser Microsoft Edge, Windows Hello facial recognition and fingerprint scanning login technology and it will have Microsoft’s voice assistant Cortana built in.
If you have an Xbox One you will also be able to stream games from you console to your Windows 10 device, so long as they are on the same network.
This will be a free upgrade for users running Windows 7 or 8.1.
Windows 10 Mobile: This version will run on smartphones and smaller tablets, to replace Windows Phone 8.1.
“It boasts the same, new universal Windows apps that are included in Windows 10 Home, as well as the new touch-optimized version of Office,” according to Microsoft’s announcement.
This will be a free upgrade for users running Windows Phone 8.1.
For businesses
Windows 10 Pro: This is the version of Windows 10 that is tailored for small businesses. It will be available on PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 hybrid devices. Pro users will be able to manage apps and data across all of their devices and use “Windows Update for Business,” which lets businesses control how they receive security updates from Microsoft.
This will be a free upgrade for users running Windows 7 or 8.1.
Windows 10 Enterprise: Designed for large enterprise companies, this version of Windows 10 has many more security features. However, because this update is only available to “volume licencing” customers it’s a paid upgrade.
Windows 10 Enterprise Mobile: This is the mobile version of the more sophisticated Windows 10 enterprise, available to volume licencing customers, for smartphones and smaller tablets.
For schools
Windows 10 Education: This version is similar to Windows 10 Enterprise in order to allow teachers and administration staff to control how updates and security features are managed.
“There will be paths for schools and students using Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro devices to upgrade to Windows 10 Education,” reads the explanation on Microsoft’s website.
For other devices running Windows
Microsoft said there will be versions of Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise for devices like ATMs, retail point of sale, handheld terminals and industrial robotics.
There will also be a Windows 10 version for “Internet of Things” devices like gateways.
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