Windows 7 Versions / Editions Compared

Win 7 comes in many different flavours but in North America there are only 5.

Quick Notes:

  • If you are using Windows 7 Starter, about the only things you will find annoying is the inability to change wallpapers and that lack of Aero (the glass like window frames in 7)
  • Ultimate and Enterprise are the same product however Windows 7 Enterprise is a corporate license only SKU which allows the user to access some additional software like MDOP.
  • If you use Windows and your company has more than 5 people in it, you should skim THIS article which explains how to buy Windows Professional but get Windows Enterprise for no additional fees.

 

Below is a simple list of common Windows 7 Features:

Home Use Stuff

Starter

Home Premium

Professional

Ultimate/
Enterprise

32-bit and 64-bit versions 32-bit only Both Both Both
Maximum physical memory 2GB 16 GB 192 GB 192 GB
Maximum physical CPUs supported 1 1 2 2
Maximum CPU Cores Supported Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Backup and Restore Center Cannot back up to network Cannot back up to network Yes Yes
Multiple monitors No Yes Yes Yes
Fast user switching No Yes Yes Yes
Desktop Wallpaper Changeable No Yes Yes Yes
Desktop Window Manager No Yes Yes Yes
Windows Mobility Center No Yes Yes Yes
Windows Aero No Yes Yes Yes
Multitouch No Yes Yes Yes
Premium Games Included No Yes Yes Yes
Windows Media Center No Yes Yes Yes
Windows Media Player Remote Media Experience No Yes Yes Yes
Encrypting File System No No Yes Yes
Location Aware Printing No No Yes Yes
Remote Desktop Host No No Yes Yes
Presentation Mode No No Yes Yes
Home Group (create and join) Join only Yes Yes Yes

Corporate Stuff

Starter

Home Premium

Professional

Ultimate/
Enterprise

Windows Server domain joining No No Yes Yes
Windows XP Mode No No Yes Yes
Aero glass remoting No No No Yes
AppLocker No No No Yes
BitLocker Drive Encryption No No No Yes
BranchCache Distributed Cache No No No Yes
DirectAccess No No No Yes
Subsystem for Unix-based Applications No No No Yes
Multilingual User Interface Pack No No No Yes
Virtual Hard Disk Booting No No No Yes

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