Windows 8 editions#Windows 8 Enterprise
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{{Windows 8}}
Windows 8, a major release of the Microsoft Windows operating system, was available in four different editions: Windows 8 (Core), Pro, Enterprise, and RT. Only Windows 8 (Core) and Pro were widely available at retailers.{{cite web | url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/253990/windows_8_which_version_should_you_choose.html | title=Windows 8: Which Version Should You Choose? | publisher=PCWorld | date=17 April 2012 | access-date=17 April 2012 | author=Bradley, Tom }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The other editions focus on other markets, such as embedded systems or enterprise. All editions support 32-bit IA-32 CPUs and x64 CPUs.
Editions
; {{visible anchor|Windows 8}}
:Windows 8 (also sometimes referred to as Windows 8 (Core) to distinguish from the OS itself){{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-secrets-book-guide-product-editions-144067 |title=Windows 8 Secrets, Beyond the Book: Guide to Product Editions |work=Supersite for Windows|publisher=Penton|access-date=24 July 2015}} is the basic edition of Windows for the IA-32 and x64 architectures. This edition contains features aimed at the home market segment and provides all of the basic new Windows 8 features.
; {{visible anchor|Windows 8 Pro}}
:Windows 8 Pro is comparable to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate{{cite web |url=https://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2012/04/16/announcing-the-windows-8-editions/ |title=Announcing the Windows 8 Editions |work=Blogging Windows |publisher=Microsoft |last=LeBlanc |first=Brandon |year=2012 |access-date=17 April 2012 |archive-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802140736/http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2012/04/16/announcing-the-windows-8-editions/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/topic/microsoft/?tag=mncol;txt|title=Microsoft: Here are the four editions of Windows 8 | work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |last=Foley |first=Mary Jo|year=2012 |access-date=17 April 2012}} and is targeted towards enthusiasts and business users; it includes all the features of Windows 8. Additional features include the ability to receive Remote Desktop connections, the ability to participate in a Windows Server domain, Encrypting File System, Hyper-V, and Virtual Hard Disk Booting, Group Policy as well as BitLocker and BitLocker To Go.
; {{visible anchor|Windows 8 Pro with Media Center}}
:Windows 8 Pro with Media Center was never sold directly, but was included with the Windows 8 Pro Pack{{cite web |last=LeBlanc |first=Brandon |title=Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99 {{!}} Windows Experience Blog |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2012/07/02/upgrade-to-windows-8-pro-for-39-99/ |website=blogs.windows.com |date=2012-07-02 |access-date=2020-01-24 |quote=And if you want, you can add Windows Media Center for free through the "add features" option within Windows 8 Pro after your upgrade.}} and temporarily offered for free on Microsoft's website as an upgrade from Windows 8 Pro. This edition adds Windows Media Center back from the premium editions of Windows 7. No official installation media exists; it must be downloaded from the Add Features to Windows program. Besides the addition of Windows Media Center, it is identical to Windows 8 Pro.
; {{visible anchor|Windows 8 Enterprise}}
:Windows 8 Enterprise provides all the features in Windows 8 Pro (except the ability to install the Windows Media Center add-on), with additional features to assist with IT organization (see table below). This edition is available to Software Assurance customers, as well as MSDN and Technet Professional subscribers, and was released on 16 August 2012.{{cite web|url=http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/springboard/archive/2012/08/16/windows-8-is-ready-for-your-enterprise.aspx | title=Windows 8 Is Ready For Your Enterprise |publisher=Microsoft | date=16 August 2012 | access-date=16 August 2012 | author=Rose, Stephen}}
; {{visible anchor|Windows RT|text=Windows RT}}
: Windows RT is only available pre-installed on ARM-based devices such as tablet PCs.{{cite web| url=http://rcpmag.com/articles/2012/04/17/microsoft-names-windows-8-editions.aspx | title=Microsoft Names Windows 8 Editions, Unveils ARM-Based 'Windows RT' | publisher=Redmonad Channel Partner | date=17 April 2012 | access-date=17 April 2012 | last=Mackie |first=Kurt}} It includes touch-optimized desktop versions of the basic set of Office 2013 applications to users—Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, and supports device encryption capabilities. Several business-focused features such as Group Policy and domain support are not included.
: Software for Windows RT can be either downloaded from Windows Store or sideloaded, although sideloading on Windows RT must first be enabled by purchasing additional licenses through Microsoft volume licensing outlet. Desktop software that run on previous versions of Windows cannot be run on Windows RT{{cite web|title=Windows RT: FAQ|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-rt-faq|work=Windows portal|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=12 March 2013}} as Windows Store apps are based on Windows Runtime API which differs from the traditional apps. According to CNET, these essential differences may raise the question of whether Windows RT is an edition of Windows: in a conversation with Mozilla, Microsoft deputy general counsel David Heiner was reported to have said Windows RT "isn't Windows anymore." Mozilla general counsel, however, dismissed the assertion on the basis that Windows RT has the same user interface, application programming interface and update mechanism.{{cite web|last=Shankland |first=Stephen |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57431236-92/microsoft-bans-firefox-on-arm-based-windows-mozilla-says/ |title=Microsoft bans Firefox on ARM-based Windows, Mozilla says|publisher=CNET |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=22 October 2012}}
Unlike Windows Vista and Windows 7, there are no Home Basic, Home Premium, or Ultimate editions.{{cite web |url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-8-skus-pro-enterprise-home,15362.html | title=Microsoft Announces Revamped Windows 8 Editions |publisher=Tom's Hardware | date=17 April 2012 | access-date=17 April 2012 | author=Taylor, Bill}}
=Regional restrictions and variations=
All mentioned editions have the ability to use language packs, enabling multiple user interface languages. (This functionality was previously available in Ultimate or Enterprise edition of Windows 7 and Windows Vista.) However, in China and other emerging markets,{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} a variation of Windows 8 without this capability, called Windows 8 Single Language, is sold. This edition can be upgraded to Windows 8 Pro.{{cite web|title=Add features: FAQ|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/add-features-frequently-asked-questions|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023031841/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/add-features-frequently-asked-questions|archive-date=23 October 2015|work=Windows 8 Help|publisher=Microsoft|quote=Can I add features to my Single Language edition of Windows? Yes. If you bought the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack, you should be able to install it and activate Windows successfully.}} Furthermore, like in Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 (since the latter shares the same Windows NT kernel as its desktop variant), OEMs who preload Windows 8 can choose not to support certain display languages either out of the box or make them available for download. These exact choices depend on the device manufacturer and country/region of purchase (as well as the wireless carrier for cellular-connected devices). For example, a cellular-connected Samsung ATIV Smart PC running Windows 8 on AT&T only supports English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Korean (the last three are available as optional downloads).
Additional Windows 8 editions specially destined for European markets have the letter "N" (e.g. Windows 8.1 Enterprise N) suffixed to their names and do not include a bundled copy of Windows Media Player. Microsoft was required to create the "N" editions of Windows after the European Commission ruled in 2004 that it needed to provide a copy of Windows without Windows Media Player tied in.
Windows 8.1 with Bing is a reduced-cost SKU of Windows 8.1 for OEMs that was introduced in May 2014. It was introduced as part of an effort to encourage the production of low-cost devices, whilst "driving end-user usage of Microsoft Services such as Bing and OneDrive". It is subsidized by Microsoft's Bing search engine, which is set as the default within Internet Explorer, and cannot be changed to a third-party alternative by the OEM. This restriction does not apply to end-users, who can still change the default search engine freely after installation. It is otherwise identical to the base edition.{{cite web|last1=Thurrott|first1=Paul|title=Windows 8.1 with Bing Revealed|url=http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-bing-revealed|website=SuperSite for Windows|publisher=Penton Media|access-date=26 August 2014|date=6 March 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2158665/microsoft-announces-windows-8-1-with-bing-for-low-cost-pcs-and-tablets.html|date=23 May 2014|first=Brad|last=Chacos|work=PC World|publisher=IDG|title=Microsoft announces Windows 8.1 with Bing for low-cost devices}}{{cite web|title=Microsoft fights Android and Chrome OS with dirt-cheap Windows 8.1 PCs and tablets|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-fights-android-and-chrome-os-with-dirt-cheap-windows-8-1-pcs-and-tablets/|website=ZDNet|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=4 September 2014|date=3 September 2014}}
Editions for embedded systems
; {{visible anchor|Windows Embedded 8 Standard}}: Windows Embedded 8 Standard is a componentized edition of Windows 8 for use in specialized devices. It was released on 20 March 2013.{{cite web|url=http://news.microsoft.com/2013/03/20/windows-embedded-8-generally-available/|title=Windows Embedded 8 Generally Available|website=news.microsoft.com|access-date=22 August 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-makes-first-of-its-windows-embedded-8-releases-generally-available/|title=Microsoft makes first of its Windows Embedded 8 releases generally available|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|website=ZDNet|access-date=22 August 2020}} Notable for being the only edition of Windows 8 to not get an update to 8.1. It reached the end of mainstream support on July 10, 2018, and reached the end of extended support on July 11, 2023. {{Cite web |last=GitHub-Name |title=Windows Embedded 8 Standard - Microsoft Lifecycle |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-embedded-8-standard |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us}}
; {{visible anchor|Windows Embedded 8 Industry}}: Windows Embedded 8 Industry is an edition of Windows 8 for use in industrial devices. It was released on 2 April 2013 and is available in Pro, Pro Retail, and Enterprise editions.{{cite web|title=Microsoft releases Windows Embedded 8 Industry Pro, Pro Retail, and Enterprise editions |date=2 April 2013 |url=https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-releases-windows-embedded-8-industry-pro-pro-retail-and-enterprise-editions|access-date=22 August 2020}}
; {{visible anchor|Windows Embedded 8 [For Embedded Systems (FES)]}}: Includes Windows Embedded 8 Pro and Windows Embedded 8 Enterprise editions, which are binary identical to their respective non-embedded editions, differing only in licensing.{{cite web|url=https://www.proxis.ua/files/documents/Windows%20Embedded%20Version%20Overview.pdf|title=Windows Embedded Version Overview|page=11|publisher=PROXIS|access-date=January 15, 2024}}
These are the final editions of Windows (excluding Server) to use the "Windows Embedded" branding. Starting with the release of Windows 10, Microsoft switched to the use of "Windows IoT" branding.
Upgrade compatibility
The following in-place upgrade paths are supported from Windows 7. It is only possible to upgrade from an IA-32 variant of Windows 7 to an IA-32 variant of Windows 8; an x64 variant of Windows 7 can only be upgraded to an x64 variant of Windows 8. The retail package entitled Windows 8 Pro Upgrade was restricted to upgrading a computer with licensed Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista or Windows 7. Finally, there is no upgrade path for Windows RT.{{Cite web |url=http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/07/02/upgrade-to-windows-8-pro-for-39-99.aspx |title=Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99 |work=Blogging Windows |publisher=Microsoft |first=Brandon |last=Leblanc |access-date=3 July 2012 |quote=You can add Windows Media Center for free through the "add features" option within Windows 8 Pro after your upgrade.}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Windows 8 upgrade path{{cite web|title=Windows 8 Upgrade Paths|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj203353.aspx|work=Microsoft TechNet|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=23 August 2012}} | |||
| rowspan=2 | Edition of Windows 7 to upgrade from || colspan=3 | Edition of Windows 8 to upgrade to | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Core || Pro || Enterprise | |||
| Starter | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |
| Home Basic | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |
| Home Premium | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |
| Ultimate | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{No}} |
| Professional | {{No}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes}} |
| Enterprise | {{No}} | {{No}} | {{Yes}} |
In-upgrade is not available for Windows Vista and Windows XP. However, on Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista RTM, it is possible to perform a clean install while preserving personal files. On Windows Vista SP1, it is possible to perform a clean install but save system settings as well. While Microsoft still refers to the scenarios as "upgrade", the user still need to reinstall all apps, carry out necessary license activation steps and reinstate app settings.{{cite web|last1=Rodgers|first1=Evan|title=Microsoft reveals Windows 8 upgrade paths: XP, Vista, and 7 eligible, but with caveats|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/28/3124126/microsoft-windows-8-upgrade-paths-xp-vista-7|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|date=28 June 2012}}
Comparison chart
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Notes
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{{efn|name="sideload"|Not all computers running Windows 8 can perform sideloading. Out-of-box sideloading support is only available for Windows 8 Enterprise computers that have joined a Windows domain. Sideloading on Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro computers as well as Windows 8 Enterprise computers without a domain affiliation requires purchase of additional licenses through Microsoft volume licensing outlet.{{cite web |title=How to Add and Remove Apps |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh852635.aspx |work=TechNet |publisher=Microsoft |date=31 May 2012 |access-date=4 October 2012 |quote=To enable sideloading on a Windows 8 Enterprise computer that is not domain-joined or on any Windows® 8 Pro computer, you must use a sideloading product activation key. To enable sideloading on a Windows® RT device, you must use a sideloading product activation key. For more information about sideloading product activation keys, see Microsoft Volume Licensing.}}}}
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{History of Windows}}
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