Windows 10 is an operating system developed by Microsoft for personal computers, tablets, embedded devices, and Internet of Things devices. There have been several different versions of Windows over the years, including Windows 8 (released in 2012), Windows 7 (2009), Windows Vista (2006), and Windows XP (2001). While older versions of Windows run primarily on desktop and laptop computers, Windows 10 is designed to run equally well on tablets as well.
Introduction to Windows 10 Editions
As has been the case in the past, we will offer different Windows editions that are tailored to different device families and use. These different editions meet the specific needs of our various customers, from consumers to small businesses to the largest enterprises.
Windows 10 Home is the consumer-focused desktop edition. Windows 10 Home offers a familiar and personal experience for PCs, tablets, and 2-in-1s. It will help people do great things, both big and small. With it, they’ll be more productive and have more fun thanks to a long list of innovations: Cortana, the world’s most personal digital assistant; the new Microsoft Edge web browser; Continuum tablet mode for touch-enabled devices; Windows Hello face-recognition, iris and fingerprint login; and out of the box, a wide range of universal Windows apps like Photos, Maps, Mail, Calendar, Music and Video.
We’re also bringing the Xbox gaming experience to Windows 10, giving games and gamers access to the Xbox Live gaming community, enabling the capture and sharing of gameplay, and giving Xbox One owners the capability to play their Xbox One games from any Windows 10 PC in their house.
Windows 10 Mobile is designed to deliver the best user experience on small, mobile, touch-centric devices like smartphones and small tablets. It features the same new, universal Windows apps that are included in Windows 10 Home, plus a new touch-optimized version of Office. Windows 10 Mobile delivers great productivity, security, and management capabilities for customers who use their devices at work. In addition, Windows 10 Mobile will enable some new devices to take advantage of Continuum for Phones, so people can use their phone like a PC when connected to a larger screen.
Windows 10 Pro is the desktop version for PCs, tablets, and 2-in-1s. Building on both the familiar and innovative features of Windows 10 Home, it has many additional features to meet the diverse needs of small businesses. Windows 10 Pro helps them effectively and efficiently manage their devices and apps, protect their sensitive business data, support remote and mobile productivity scenarios, and take advantage of cloud technologies. Windows 10 Pro devices are a great choice for organizations that support choose-your-own device (CYOD) programs and prosumer customers. Windows 10 Pro lets customers take advantage of the new Windows Update for their Business, which will reduce management costs, bestow control over update deployment, provide quick access to security updates, and continue access to the latest innovation from Microsoft.
As we announced earlier this year, for the first time, we are offering the full version of Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Mobile, and Windows 10 Pro as a free and effortless upgrade for eligible Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in the first year after launch. Once you upgrade, you will have Windows 10 for free on that device.
Windows 10 Enterprise is built on Windows 10 Pro, including advanced features designed to meet the demands of medium and large-sized organizations. It provides advanced capabilities to help protect against an ever-growing range of modern security threats targeted at devices, identities, applications, and sensitive company information. Windows 10 Enterprise also supports the widest range of options for operating system deployment and comprehensive device and app management. It will be available to Volume Licensing for customers, so they can take benefit of the latest innovation and security updates on an ongoing basis. Also, they will be able to choose the pace of adoption of new technology, including the option to use the new Windows Update for Business. With Windows 10 Enterprise customers will also have access to the Long Term Servicing Branch as a deployment option for their mission-critical devices and atmosphere. As with previous versions of Windows, active Software Assurance customers in Volume Licensing can upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise as part of their existing Software Assurance benefits.
Windows 10 Education is based on Windows 10 Enterprise and is designed to meet the needs of schools – staff, administrators, teachers, and students. This edition will be available through Academic Volume Licensing, and there will be pathways for schools and students using Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro devices to upgrade to Windows 10 Education.
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise is designed to provide the best customer experience for business customers on smartphones and small tablets. It will be available to Volume Licensing for customers. It extends the great productivity, security, and mobile device management capabilities that Windows 10 Mobile provides, and adds flexible ways for businesses to manage updates. In addition, Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise will include the latest security and innovation features as they become available.
There will also be versions of Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise for industry devices such as ATMs, retail points of sale, handheld terminals, and industrial robotics, and Windows 10 IoT Core for small-footprint, low-cost devices such as gateways.
