Microsoft unveils Windows Vista lineup

How many packages will Windows Vista come in? A press release from Microsoft details the full Windows Vista product lineup.

The release is a little sketchy on details, but basically it shakes out like this:

• Windows Vista Business includes the Windows Aero interface, integrated search, and Tablet PC support
• Windows Vista Enterprise, available only as part of a volume license contract through Software Assurance or a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, adds hardware-level encryption, Virtual PC Express, and a subsystem for Unix-based applications
• Windows Vista Home Basic is the low-cost entry for cheap PCs and apparently doesn’t support the Aero interface or integrated search
• Windows Vista Home Premium adds Aero support, integrated search, Media Center features, Tablet PC support, and integrated DVD burning and authoring
• Windows Vista Ultimate combines every feature from the business and consumer editions

In addition, there’s Windows Vista Starter, available only in energing markets. No offial word yet about the EU-only N versions, in which Media Player features have been removed.

This lineup makes good sense to me, although I can see some blurring at the edges. I’ll wait to pass final judgment until I see a more detailed matrix that lists what’s in each version.