What are Windows 8 1. Who is a System Administrator? The most important innovations

If you are interested in upgrading or purchasing a new operating system, then you should know which version is right for you. The good news is that with the new Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft has reduced the number of different editions of Windows. The Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate versions have disappeared. The list of available ones has been kept to a minimum.

From now on, there are only four versions of Windows 8, and only three of them are intended for home use.

If you do not take into account the edition developed specifically for RTM-based tablets, then there will be only two PC versions of Windows 8 to choose from.

Windows RT or Windows 8

Windows RT is the most tablet-oriented edition of Windows 8. We have already talked about it before, let us only recall that this is a special version of Windows 8 designed for computers running on ARM architecture (i.e., primarily tablets).

Windows RT won't work with existing software, so if you buy a Windows RT tablet, you'll have to use Metro apps. There's also the option to install desktop apps, but you'll only be able to run Microsoft's own apps, such as Office. The fact is that Microsoft will not allow desktop applications for Windows RT to be installed from a third source.

In general, the name Windows RT itself is a little strange. It's not even Windows 8, it's just Windows RT - a name inherited from Windows Runtime (WinRT), which is a new platform for developing Metro-style applications (which, by the way, is now officially called Modern UI). However, no matter what, Windows RT and Windows 8 are equally capable of running WinRT applications.

It's all quite confusing, but you don't have to worry about it too much. It is impossible to simply buy a boxed version of Windows RT, since this system will only be available on ARM tablets in a pre-installed state. If you buy a tablet, be sure to check which operating system it runs on: Windows 8 or Windows RT.

Microsoft's first Surface tablets will run Windows RT, so you won't be able to use your favorite desktop software. Surface Pro, which will be released a few months after the initial release of Surface tablets, will run Windows 8 Pro rather than Windows RT.

Windows 8 versions

If we put Windows RT aside, it turns out that there are very few versions of Windows 8. There are only three main editions:

Windows 8 is the main edition of Windows 8, which is aimed at home users. This version is very similar to the Home Premium option in Windows 7. In Windows 8, you get everything you expect from an operating system: a Windows desktop with support for traditional desktop programs, a new design style known as Metro, and many more features. intended for home use. Most people will be quite comfortable with this edition of Windows 8.
Windows 8 Pro is the Pro version aimed at business and enthusiasts. It includes features traditionally found in professional versions of Windows: group support, a server with remote desktop capabilities, file system encryption, virtual hard drive boot and BitLocker. One feature that might interest you is that Windows Media Center can only be used for free on Windows 8 Pro. This feature is available as a free add-on, but only in the Pro version of Windows 8.
Windows 8 Enterprise is the traditional edition of Windows designed for businesses and organizations. The edition includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro (except support for Windows Media Center) and a few more additions, such as Windows To Go, which allows you to install Windows 8 on a USB drive. This USB drive can then be connected to any computer and run Windows 8 directly from it.

There is also an N version called Windows 8 N Edition. This version comes without Windows Media Player and is specifically designed for the European market after Microsoft felt pressure from the European Commission.

If you buy the basic edition of Windows 8 (which is what most computers come with) and then decide you want the Pro version, there's nothing stopping you from doing so. You can easily add new features to the Windows 8 Control Panel by purchasing the Windows 8 Pro Pack, which upgrades Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro.

Stripped down version

Here's what you really need to know about her:

If you buy a boxed copy (or digital download) of Windows 8, there are only two things to worry about: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Windows 8 is designed for home use, while Pro offers a feature set more useful for businesses and enthusiasts. However, if you need Windows Media Center, then you will only have to buy the Pro version.
If you buy a tablet with Windows 8 pre-installed, check the operating system version. If it's Windows RT, you won't be able to run regular Windows desktop apps (except Office and some other Microsoft apps). In the future, some laptops and other types of computers with ARM architecture may also ship with the Windows RT operating system without support for Windows desktop applications.

There is good news for those who like to build their own computers. Microsoft has removed restrictions on the use of Windows for its computers. Previously, although many stores sold OEM versions, you could not install them on your computer, even if you assembled it yourself.

The license rules said that a computer with the OEM version installed had to be sold to someone or someone who was already using "non-genuine" versions of Windows, perhaps even having a pirated copy of Windows installed.

This limitation has now been lifted, so feel free to buy the OEM version if you build your own computer.

However, OEM versions are still tied to one computer, and if you are building a new computer, you will need another copy of the OEM version of Windows 8 for the new PC.

P.S————-

Windows 8 has become even faster, more reliable and more stable than the previous version. If you have already decided which version of the new operating system is right for you, then all that remains is to purchase Windows 8, which you can always buy on the website itprogress.ru. For you – free consultation and fast OS delivery times

With the advent of , Microsoft has simplified its product line, so that buyers have essentially only two retail versions to choose from—Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, plus a third version that will only be sold with new computers and devices powered by ARM processors.

This means that for most consumers, choosing a version of Windows 8 will be an easy task for the first time since October 2001, when Microsoft released two variants of Windows XP - Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition.

However, some difficulties still remain. For example, you have to choose not so much between Windows 8/Pro and Windows RT, but between different types of equipment. And although Microsoft's designations are quite confusing, I would divide all equipment into two groups: personal computers with processors on the traditional Intel-compatible x86/x64 architecture and devices on the ARM platform. Computers run Windows 8, devices run Windows RT.

The category of Windows computers includes traditional desktop PCs, all-in-one computers, laptops, ultrabooks, various hybrid computers and tablets. The Windows device category is expected to consist mainly of various types of tablets, but oddly enough, other PC-like products may also be included. I think this is where buyers face the biggest challenge: choosing between computers that look like devices and devices that look like computers.

However, it is quite easy to compare different versions of the software platform. Fundamental architectural differences aside, the base version of Windows 8 and Windows RT have similar capabilities, with a few (but very important) key differences. Otherwise, the set of functions for these two products is almost the same. And Windows 8 Pro is literally an enhanced version of Windows 8, which has absolutely all the functions of the basic edition and offers a number of additional unique features.

In other words, Windows 8 and Windows RT are aimed primarily at average consumers, just like Windows XP Home was ten years ago. And Windows 8 Pro is aimed at corporate users and enthusiasts, just like XP Professional was at one time.

Microsoft has already published a very sketchy and unorganized version of the software available in every version of Windows 8/RT. Rafael Rivera and I are putting together more detailed and structured tables for the book Windows 8 Secrets, which will be published later this year. But to choose the right edition of Windows 8, it is not at all necessary to read a detailed, pedantic listing of all the functions. Most users can decide on the desired version now.

Do you need Windows 8 Pro?

First, you need to take Windows 8 Pro out of the equation. It's very easy to understand: if you absolutely need at least one of the unique features of Windows 8 Pro, this is your only option. The following features are not available in the basic version of Windows 8 or Windows RT:

Ability to upgrade (not just downgrade) from Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate. If you need to upgrade the current operating system on an existing computer while retaining user data, and if that operating system is Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, you will have to buy Windows 8 Pro.

BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. These features provide full-disk encryption for desktop and portable drives, respectively, ensuring data protection even if the drive is removed and connected to another computer. (Windows RT has a device encryption feature that, while not identical to BitLocker, has similar capabilities.)

Encrypting File System (EFS). Although Windows 8 doesn't pay much attention to this feature due to the presence of BitLocker and , it allows you to encrypt individual drives, folders or even files, protecting them even if the drive is removed and connected to another computer.

Client Hyper-V. Microsoft's server-side virtualization solution has been added to a client operating system for the first time. Users receive a powerful hypervisor-based platform for creating virtual machines.

Boot from a virtual hard disk (VHD). This new feature allows you to create a virtual hard disk in Client Hyper-V and boot your physical computer from that disk rather than from physical media.

Connecting to a domain. If you need to join an Active Directory-based domain, you'll have to buy Windows 8 Pro.

Group Policy. Microsoft Policy Based Management technology requires an Active Directory domain and therefore Windows 8 Pro.

Remote desktop connection. Any computer or device running Windows 8 can use the Remote Desktop client to connect to other computers and servers, but only Windows 8 Pro can host such sessions, allowing you and others to connect to your PC remotely .

Windows Media Center. For a small (and as yet undetermined) price, Windows 8 Pro users can purchase Windows Media Center, a feature that was previously included with premium versions of Windows. This feature is not available for Windows 8 and Windows RT users.

That's all. For the first time in more than ten years, it has become so easy to choose a version of Windows.

Windows 8 or Windows RT?

If you don't need the features of Windows 8 Pro, you can choose between Windows 8 (for computers compatible with Intel architecture) and Windows RT (for ARM-based devices). Most buyers will choose between different types of computers and devices, since the set of functions for both software platforms is almost the same. But before you get down to business, it is worth understanding several important factors. Here are the main ones:

You cannot upgrade to Windows RT. If you want to upgrade or migrate to a new OS while maintaining your previous user data on a computer running Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic or Home Premium, you'll need Windows 8 (or Windows 8 Pro).

Windows RT cannot run “legacy” Windows programs. And this will be the main argument against for many users. However, it's important to understand what this means: Windows RT includes a traditional desktop environment with all the built-in Windows 8 desktop components like Windows Explorer and Task Manager. (And the bundled Office 15 apps discussed below are desktop apps, too.) Programs written for the x86/x64 architecture do not run on Windows RT. And there are plenty of them.

Windows RT is missing two Windows 8 features. The Windows Media Player desktop application and the Storage Spaces feature are not available.

On the other hand, Windows RT has a number of advantages over Windows 8. These include:

Office 15. Windows RT includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote 15. Windows 8 users will have to purchase these products separately or use Office web apps to get similar functionality.

Device encryption. Windows RT includes full device encryption, which ensures data protection even if the drive is removed and connected to another computer, or if someone tries to access it in some other way. Windows 8 users will have to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro or buy third-party software to get similar functionality.

In the future, we'll be able to study and compare Windows 8 PCs and Windows RT devices, which is sure to make things more challenging. But based on the information already available, many users will be able to make their choice right now. This should be good news for those who found it difficult to navigate the crazy variety of versions in the era of Windows Vista and

Comparison and choice of Windows 8 edition

On October 26, 2012, the Windows 8 operating system was officially released. In connection with this event, users who want to purchase Windows 8 are faced with the problem of choosing the right edition.

Microsoft has tried to make this choice easier by reducing the number of editions, however, some questions still remain. In this article I will try to answer them.

Comparison

A total of four editions of Windows 8 have been released:

Windows 8– basic edition of the operating system for desktop PCs and laptops based on x86 processors. Intended mainly for home use;
Windows 8 Professional– edition with enterprise-level functions: encryption, virtualization, the ability to include a PC in a domain and manage it using group policies. Targeted at corporate users and computer enthusiasts;
Windows 8 Enterprise– an advanced edition that offers all the features of Windows 8 Pro, as well as some additional features. Designed for large organizations and available only under a corporate license;
Windows RT– OS edition for tablets and other devices based on ARM processors. It includes MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote) optimized for touch screens. Windows RT is supplied only with new devices, in a pre-installed form.

For clarity, I have summarized all the differences between the editions into one table, which I present to your attention.

There are also some points to keep in mind:

Hyper-V requires a 64-bit system with processor support for hardware virtualization and second-level address translation (SLAT);
To use touch capabilities (picture password, touch keyboard, etc.) you need a tablet or monitor that supports multi-touch technology;
For secure boot, you need a motherboard with firmware that supports UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B and has a Microsoft Windows Certification Authority certificate in the UEFI signature database;
Windows Media Center is not included in any edition of Windows 8. It is only available as an add-on to Windows 8 Pro, for a fee;
No version of Windows 8 has the ability to play DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. To view them, you need either Windows Media Center (see previous paragraph) or third-party software;

Choice

Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro. For the average PC user, the choice is limited to these two editions. Therefore, first of all, it’s worth answering the question: do you need the capabilities of Windows 8 Pro? If you want to use encryption, virtualization, and also connect your computer to a domain and manage it using group policies, then choose Windows 8 Pro. For everything else, regular Windows 8 is fine.

By the way, Microsoft has changed its pricing policy for the better. Windows 8 costs about 3 thousand rubles, Windows 8 Professional - about 5 thousand rubles. For comparison, the Windows 7 Home Premium edition, comparable in functionality to Windows 8, costs about 5 thousand rubles, and Windows 7 Professional costs 7.5 thousand rubles.

As for Windows 8 Enterprise, everything is simple. The functions that are present in this edition (BranchCache, DirectAccess, etc.) are applicable only in a corporate network, and even there they are used quite rarely. Therefore, the Enterprise edition is available exclusively to corporate customers with a Software Assurance subscription.

Well, Windows RT. Here the choice is not made between Windows 8/Pro and Windows RT, but between different types of equipment - tablet or PC. However, architectural differences aside, the base version of Windows 8 and Windows RT have similar capabilities, with a few (important) differences. Basically, the set of functions of these two products is approximately the same.

And as a conclusion, I’ll say that I personally don’t think it’s necessary to switch to Windows 8 from Windows 7, at least not yet. But for those who use Windows XP or Vista, switching to Windows 8 may be a good decision.

Choosing a version of Windows 8, differences between releases, which edition to choose, Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, features of Windows 8 Enterprise. Over the past decade, Microsoft has completely messed up its products. And we're not talking about the antitrust issues that have also plagued it for much of the past decade.

We are talking about its tendency to confuse users with too many editions of its product. So, instead of making a product called Windows or Office, the company makes several releases of these same products, each of which comes with some almost arbitrary set of features and functions and, of course, its own price.

Of course, the decision to diversify its products was not made out of thin air, but it was based on the wrong reasons. A study conducted by Microsoft found that users tend to spend more money on premium versions of a product. And based on the results of these studies, they decided that the more versions of Windows there are, the better.

To better understand how it all began, remember the debut of Windows XP in 2001. At first, there were two simple versions of the product: Windows XP Home Edition, aimed at the general market, and Professional Edition, aimed at businesses and that part of the population that wants to have additional opportunities.

Even at that time, ordinary consumers preferred the more expensive edition of XP Professional and paid extra money for the ability to customize their PC.

After that, the company expanded the XP line with additional releases that filled certain niches, for example, XP Tablet PC Edition (for tablet PCs) and Media Center Edition (for so-called media centers). Then they added XP Professional x 64, a 64-bit version, and a version for emerging markets called XP Starter Edition. There were releases of "N" for the European market and "K" for the Korean market, both due to antitrust measures. Then there was a high-end Intel version of Itanium (now dead) for the 64-bit platform.

By the time Windows Vista arrived, how many editions of the product were actually available is difficult to say, since most of them also came in separate 32-bit and 64-bit (x64) versions.

Microsoft did not stop there and began to confuse customers not only with packaging, but also increased the way the user purchased the product. There were also not-quite-retail versions of the software, called OEM versions, which technically would have only been sold to PC manufacturers, but became widely available online. Then a new option came out called Windows Anytime Upgrade, which allowed in-place upgrades from one version of Vista to another.

Windows 7 simply simplified the product line slightly. This time, the 32-bit and 64-bit (x64) versions of each edition have been grouped together. And although there are almost as many major versions of the product as there were with Vista, the choice has become much easier.

It boiled down to the following: the lowest-budget netbooks were equipped with the simplest version of Windows 7 called Starter Edition. Home PCs typically came with Windows 7 Home Premium, and business PCs came with Windows 7 Professional. If you want the ultimate version, get Windows 7 Ultimate edition. But in reality, most people had to choose between Home Premium and Professional versions of Windows 7.

With Windows 8, Microsoft has finally returned to its roots. And although the OS still comes in several versions, the choice has become smaller and much easier.

In Windows 8, Microsoft offers only three major editions of the product. Two of the three versions, called Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, are designed for traditional PCs that use an Intel/Intel-compatible x86/x64-bit processor. The third, called Windows RT, is aimed at new PCs and tablets running on ARM processor architecture.

Apart from the basic architecture, all other editions of Windows 8 are roughly comparable to Windows RT. That is, their feature sets are very similar. Windows 8 Professional is an enhanced Windows 8 that adds several unique features to the standard features of Windows 8. Roughly speaking, Windows 8 is aimed at the average consumer - like Windows XP Home used to be - and Windows 8 Pro is aimed at companies and just enthusiasts, like XP Professional was.

This division makes it fairly easy to choose the right product, as long as you understand the differences between PCs and ARM-based devices. (although the difference between the two is quite subtle). So your first choice is whether to choose a computer or a device.

If you're upgrading or doing a clean install of Windows 8 on an existing PC, you'll have a choice between Windows 8 and the Professional edition. It's simple.

If you're buying a new computer, it probably also means choosing between the regular edition of Windows 8 and the professional version. But if you buy a new tablet, you will have to choose among three editions: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT. In this case, your choice will be limited by the type of device you buy: some models have a compatible Intel chipset - here you can choose between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro - and some have an ARM chipset, here your only choice is Windows RT.

The overall picture is this: Windows RT is a new, unreliable product. It only works on ARM platforms, which allow devices to become thinner and lighter, and have better batteries than Intel-compatible products. Windows RT is roughly comparable to the base version of Windows 8, but there is one critical feature: this edition is not compatible with any existing Windows application or utility. And it's missing two interesting and potentially useful features, Windows Media Player and Storage Spaces. True, Windows RT offers several of its own unique features: device encryption and free, packaged versions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote. These applications are based on Office 2013 and, like Windows RT, are branded with the RT name (for example, the word RT).

As mentioned, there are three main versions of Windows 8. But there are others. In emerging markets, Microsoft again sells versions called Windows 8 Starter. And Windows 8 Enterprise edition is only available to Microsoft enterprise customers who subscribe to a volume licensing program called Software Assurance. This version of Windows 8 is actually quite interesting as it offers a number of additional and useful features that are available in Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro. This release cannot be purchased through normal means.

To make the right choice, you'll need to understand the individual differences between each major version of Windows 8. And understand the pros and cons of different hardware features in both Intel-compatible computers and ARM-based devices.

Differences between Windows 8 releases.

Please note that some applications may not be pre-installed but can always be downloaded from the Windows Store.

Digital media

File and storage

Account and Security

For an experienced user

For business

Which edition to choose: Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro.

Now that you're armed with the information, choosing between the Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro editions should be relatively easy. Just consider whether you need features that are only available in the Pro version.

If you need it, get Windows 8 Pro:

Upgrade from Windows 7 Pro, Ultimate: If you're upgrading from an existing PC and are currently running Windows 7 Ultimate or Pro, you'll need to purchase Windows 8 Pro.
and BitLocker To Go: These unique features ensure full encryption of fixed and removable drives, keeping your data protected even when the media has been removed for reading on another device.
Hyper-V Client: Microsoft's excellent server-based virtualization solution, provides a powerful platform for creating and then managing your virtual machines.
Boot from VHD: This feature allows you to create a virtual hard disk, and then boot your physical computer from it, rather than from a physical disk.
Join Domain: This feature is required to log into the active directory of a Windows 8 domain, in which case you will need Windows 8 Pro (or Enterprise).
a special file encryption system, like BitLocker To Go and BitLocker, encrypts individual folders and even files.
Group Policy: This Microsoft policy-based management technology requires an Active Directory domain and Windows 8 Pro.
Remote Desktop (Host): All Windows 8 devices or computers use the Remote Desktop client to provide remote access to the server or other PCs, but only Windows 8 Pro can conduct sessions with the host, allowing users to remotely access their own PC .
Windows Media Center: For an affordable price, Windows 8 Pro users can easily become the owner of Windows Media Center. Please note this is not available in Windows 8/Windows RT.

Unique features of Windows 8 Enterprise.

The Windows 8 Enterprise edition is an extended version of the professional Windows 8. To put it simply, an edition that includes everything found in Windows 8 Pro, plus some of its own unique features.

These include:

Windows To Go: This very cool feature allows you to install Windows 8 on some high-end USB memory sticks, creating a portable Windows environment that includes all your personal data, settings, and installed applications if you want.
Metro-style application deployment: A corporation can bypass the requirement that all Metro applications must be downloaded and installed from the Windows Store. That is, any enterprise can deploy Metro applications within its own environments.
DirectAccess: A modern alternative to VPN (virtual private network), DirectAccess allows remote users to seamlessly access all resources on a corporate network without the common VPN hassles.
BranchCache: Aimed at enterprises, BranchCache allows servers and PC users to cache files, web resources, and other content so they don't have to be constantly downloaded over the WAN.
AppLocker: This feature provides control over the whitelist and blacklist, that is, which files and applications, which users or their groups are allowed to run.
VDI improvements: Windows 8 Enterprise also includes improvements to VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) as a way to virtualize client Windows installations in a high-performance data center and deliver them to client machines in a managed environment.

Windows 8- a fast and reliable operating system for desktop computers, laptops or tablets. Windows 8 has a new Metro interface, which appears first after system startup and has application tiles. Scrolling in the Metro interface is horizontal. Instead of the Start menu, Windows 8 uses a “hot corner”, clicking on which opens the start screen.

New in Windows 8

Added support for USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0, DirectX 11.1 and NET.Framework 4.5.
Internet Explorer 10.
Conductor . Includes a Ribbon similar to the Ribbon in Microsoft Office.
New task manager. New performance graphs have been added, management of running applications, background processes and services has been optimized on a single “Performance” tab.
System Restore. Two new functions - Recovery and Reset. The restore returns all system files to their original state while preserving all settings, user files and applications. A reset returns the computer to factory settings.
Windows Store App Store. Purchasing and downloading Metro applications.
Ability to log into Windows 8 using Live ID. This will allow you to log into your user profile and download settings online, and also adds integration with OneDrive.

Windows 8 free download

Download Windows 8 for free Russian version from the official website. Our website monitors all software updates to ensure that you have the latest version of Windows.