Microsoft provides latest Windows 7 roadmap

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Microsoft has been releasing monthly updates to OEM's on their upcoming Windows 7 operating system.

Techarp has posted their latest update where Microsoft notes that they are currently finishing product research based on feedback from OEM and end users. This will help them determine potential Windows 7 offerings / SKUs. Microsoft aims to provide detailed Windows 7 SKU information sometime this month. The next OEM update is scheduled to be released around November 13, 2008.

Interestingly, Microsoft has revealed the "Windows 7 Language Waves". Localised versions of Windows 7 will be released over 101 days after RTM. These are not general release dates but dates that indicate when the various languages will be finalised.

Wave 0 - RTM - English, Spanish, Japanese, German, French
Wave 1 - RTM + 14 days - Italian, Dutch, Russian, Simplified Chinese
Wave 2 - RTM + 28 days - Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Korean
Wave 3 - RTM + 45 days - Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong), Czech, Portuguese, Hungarian
Wave 4 - RTM + 59 days - Danish, Norwegian (Bokmål), Finnish
Wave 5 - RTM + 73 days - Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Ukrainian
Wave 6 - RTM + 87 days - Thai, Romanian, Lithuanian, Slovak, Bulgarian
Wave 7 - RTM + 101 days - Estonian, Croatian, Serbian Latin, Latvian, Slovenian

In the OEM update Microsoft also detailed Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU). Like Vista, Windows 7 users will be able to upgrade to a "more premium" version to unlock additional features. More details will be forthcoming in Novembers update presumably when Microsoft release SKU information.

Microsoft is also planning a Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Program, where end users you purchase Vista systems will have the option (for a limited time) of upgrading to Windows 7.

Eligible Editions : Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate
Eligible Languages : Wave 0 to Wave 4
Available Upgrade Paths : Like-to-like product paths only (e.g. from Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium)

#1 +Berserk87 on 08 Nov 2008 - 12:15

*typo
"users you purchase vista"

cool that vista people have to option to upgrade.

(3 replies) #2 Raa on 08 Nov 2008 - 12:25

So by the looks, there MIGHT not be a "Basic" edition anymore? That's a good move tbh.

#2.1 PureLegend on 08 Nov 2008 - 12:40

Where did you get that from?

#2.2 skynetXrules on 08 Nov 2008 - 12:48

nah !

it is just ineligible for the program

you will have to pay for 7 s' basic

anyway it sounds good idea , buy vista 2day and get 7 2morow

Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Program

#2.3 GP007 on 09 Nov 2008 - 09:26

I think his reasoning is that since MS has been showing off full Win7 Ultimate running on low spec netbooks what's the need for a Basic version?

I say just have Home, Business and Ultimate.

(2 replies) #3 +majortom1981 on 08 Nov 2008 - 14:07

So basically all the same versions as vista. UGh they havent learned.

#3.1 kaiwai on 08 Nov 2008 - 16:26

majortom1981 said,

Microsoft never learn. It was a pathetic attempt by Microsoft to carry over the idea from the server world to the desktop world. IMHO, they should have Desktop and Server editions and then differentiate pricing by selling 'additional support' for those who want it. For example, you purchase Windows then pay for a 'Gold Level' Support (for example).

#3.2 +statm1 on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:33

I didnt see IceBreakers comment below. But this reaffirms what he said.

There was nothing to learn from. Something that no one wants to get through their skull. Vista Home Basic is identical to XP Home. Until Vista you could not get Media Center or Tablet PC options unless you bought it separately. So why shouldn't they separate a combined SKU from the basic SKU. If you want more you should pay more. If you want all that plus business features you should pay more, hence Ultimate.

It boggles my mind why people complain about having options. There are plenty of knowledgable people around to tell them what the difference is. You get more you should have to pay more. Its as simple as that. In Ultimate you weren't paying for Ultimate Extras you were paying for the ability to have business and consumer features all in one package and if you happened to get a few extra consumer or power user items every once in awhile for no extra money then great.

I think MS went the right way with how they setup the SKUs. Theres no reason for MS to bite it on the loss of not making you pay extra to get Media Center. And if bargain shoppers dont want or need anything extra you can spend the same amount of money that you did on XP. Since you couldn't get Media center or Tablet functions with XP unless you bought them separately.

Last edited by statm1 on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:42

(3 replies) #4 2Cold Scorpio on 08 Nov 2008 - 14:24

I don't see why everyone wants fewer SKUs. Personally, I like having options, and the difference between versions isn't hard to figure out if you actually *read*. I'll likely be getting the Ultimate Edition like I did with Vista.

64-bit, of course. lol

#4.1 +majortom1981 on 08 Nov 2008 - 16:02

2Cold Scorpio said,

Why not just have a home edition and business edition. I don't find that to difficult

#4.2 mrmckeb on 09 Nov 2008 - 06:58

Or just one version that has everything in it? It would save on production costs.

#4.3 GP007 on 09 Nov 2008 - 09:30

This has probably been said time and again, but Vista has the same number of versions XP has when you get right down to it.

XP Home- Vista Home Basic
XP Media Center Edition - Vista Home Premium
XP Pro- Vista Business

Ok well Vista Ultimate is basically all of those in one, so it's got 1 version more than before. I don't see how having 4 SKU's is such a problem personally. But maybe that's just me.

(2 replies) #5 Airlink on 08 Nov 2008 - 14:29

Oh gods. They're gonna do the more-then-two versions thing again.
:pounds head against Bill Gates:
Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. Stupid.

#5.1 +statm1 on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:33

I'll say it again and I didnt see IceBreakers comment below. But this reaffirms what he said.

Vista Home Basic is identical to XP Home. Until Vista you could not get Media Center or Tablet PC options unless you bought it separately. So why shouldn't they separate a combined SKU from the basic SKU. If you want more you should pay more. If you want all that plus business features you should pay more, hence Ultimate.

It boggles my mind why people complain about having options. There are plenty of knowledgable people around to tell them what the difference is. You get more you should have to pay more. Its as simple as that. In Ultimate you weren't paying for Ultimate Extras you were paying for the ability to have business and consumer features all in one package and if you happened to get a few extra consumer or power user items every once in awhile for no extra money then great.

I think MS went the right way with how they setup the SKUs. Theres no reason for MS to bite it on the loss of not making you pay extra to get Media Center. And if bargain shoppers dont want or need anything extra you can spend the same amount of money that you did on XP. Since you couldn't get Media center or Tablet functions with XP unless you bought them separately.

Last edited by statm1 on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:42

#5.2 michael.dobrofsky on 09 Nov 2008 - 06:32

"It boggles my mind why people complain about having options."

I love options, but all the Windows editions are meant to do is make more cash for MS, based on what they can squeeze out of consumers. If they were honest and wanted to the right thing, they'd have two version, one business, one home/personal and call it a day. Instead, they want to be greedy pigs and put features in here, pull them out there, etc.

There you go, I just unboggled your mind. It's all about greed

(5 replies) #6 IceBreakerG on 08 Nov 2008 - 14:55

Does anyone not realize that the SKUs Vista have are almost identical to the ones XP had? The only difference is XP got more SKUs further into it's lifetime. When it launced, it was only XP Home and XP Pro. Later it was XP Home, XP Pro and XP MCE. Then it was XP Home, XP Pro, XP MCE and XP Tablet Edition. Oh, let us not forget XP Embedded, then there was XP 64 bit. Let's see, how many is that? Six different versions of XP. Yet, everyone wants to bitch about how many SKUs Vista has, but never mention that XP actually had "more" than Vista did. Let's pay attention here:

XP Home N = Vista Basic (You know, that pos stripped down version Microsoft was "forced" to put out because of the EU, remember that?)
XP Home = Vista Home + MCE features
XP Pro = Vista Business
XP MCE = Vista Ultimate (Since MCE had the stuff XP Pro did, plus MCE, which is what? That's right, Ultimate)
XP Tablet Edition = Vista ? (Tablet features are available in all versions of Vista I believe)
XP Embedded = Vista ? (Haven't seen any embedded versions of Vista)
XP 64 Bit = Vista ? (All versions of Vista, except Basic I think, has a 64 Bit alternative, so that's a moot point, it's not really a "seperate" sku with Vista since anyone can switch when they want to).

It's amazing how guys want to criticize Microsoft for releasing so many different versions of Vista, yet fail to realize your beloved XP actually had more SKUs than Vista. Also, the versions released in different countries do not apply to the US because they're not even available here. For the record, there's only 4 main versions of Vista:

The majority of you will never see Home Basic, because it's that stripped down version. So that leaves 3 more options. Home Premium is the best value for "home" users. Business is the best value for "business/corporate" users and Ultimate is for the people like me, and most who read this site, that want "everything" + a cookie. So, if you think Microsoft hasn't "learned", they actually did a couple years ago

Last edited by IceBreakerG on 08 Nov 2008 - 15:02

#6.1 b.tarek.aziz on 08 Nov 2008 - 15:08

Well said.

#6.2 MitchLeBlanc on 08 Nov 2008 - 16:05

Good point.

#6.3 sanke1 on 08 Nov 2008 - 16:16

You also forgot 1 more XP SKU

XP Starter Edition (Available only for developing countries)

#6.4 TranceSphere on 08 Nov 2008 - 16:37

You also missed out:

Vista Home Basic N
Vista Business N
Vista Enterprise
Vista Starter

#6.5 skynetXrules on 08 Nov 2008 - 18:05

TranceSphere said,

N version only in Europe and only because EC BS's

starter & enterprise you cant find them anywhere in the mart

(4 replies) #7 daz411 on 08 Nov 2008 - 16:54

I think 3 versions would be good enough:

Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Business
Windows 7 Ultimate

#7.1 Faisal Islam on 08 Nov 2008 - 19:44

I think only 2 versions for Home user

Windows 7 Classic
Windows 7 Premium

#7.2 shakey_snake on 08 Nov 2008 - 19:50

What about Netbooks?

#7.3 MightyJordan on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:05

shakey_snake said,

Bugger netbooks. They're barely powerful enough to handle even XP!

#7.4 +statm1 on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:35

Maybe you should research more on that comment Jordan.. Netbooks power, XP, Vista, and Windows 7 flawlessly. Theres evidence and reviews everywhere.

Think before you speak next time.

(2 replies) #8 bucko on 08 Nov 2008 - 17:57

Meh I moved to Vista Home Premium x64 hoping they would make it their main OS a few years yet, I knew they were going to increase OS's release more, but not this quick. Glad I got the cheap OEM, I wonder how much the upgrade would be?

#8.1 skynetXrules on 08 Nov 2008 - 18:06

i believe it is free upgrade for a limited time

#8.2 monacelli on 08 Nov 2008 - 18:41

skynetXrules said,

Wouldn't that be nice. Probably not though.

(4 replies) #9 HalcyonX12 on 08 Nov 2008 - 19:47

But will it have WinFS?

#9.1 shakey_snake on 08 Nov 2008 - 19:51

The new Libraries feature is a good as WinFS ever would have been.

#9.2 skynetXrules on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:23

NO ! and Never

can we have stop talking about that obsolete NTFS supersit tech

i am sick and tired from winFS BS

#9.3 +statm1 on 08 Nov 2008 - 20:37

As well as most of WinFS was broken up and put to use in several difference products. But the whole concept of WinFS is gone. They have developed something just as good in its place as Snakey said.

#9.4 mrmckeb on 09 Nov 2008 - 07:00

statm1 said,

WinFS isn't a file system.

(1 reply) #10 excalpius on 08 Nov 2008 - 21:51

ONE VERSION PLEASE.

Or two - "normal home (re: cheap OEM) version" + "upgrade to premium" option version if you absolutely MUST.

Apple can do this. So can you.

It just completely screws up everyone from OEMs to end users to try and sort the SKU stupidity out. And when they do, it's down to two versions ANYWAY. When you buy from OEMs, you get a choice of Home Premium or Ultimate...period.

It would considerably cool the Windows 7 excitement if MS shows they learned nothing from this SKU Vista fiasco.

#10.1 shakey_snake on 09 Nov 2008 - 05:12

Apple can do it because they have a much smaller install base, that runs on a considerably less diverse range of hardware (which they manufacture).

I'm afraid you're comparing apples to oran...well, Windows.

#11 ChrisJ1968 on 08 Nov 2008 - 22:52

Any idea at the pricing of Windows7? now you all got my wife watching for Windows7..jerks! lol (just kidding)

how about some more SKU's?

Win 7 home edition
Win7 WBE(why bother edition)
Win7 obnoxiously expensive home edition

then the business SKU's

Last edited by ChrisJ1968 on 08 Nov 2008 - 23:16

#12 djlegion on 09 Nov 2008 - 01:46

If my PC came with Vista Home Premium, does that mean I get the free upgrade?

(1 reply) #13 Hak Foo on 09 Nov 2008 - 02:45

Groan. I bet my lovely retail-box copy of Vista Ultimate (free from MS promotion) won't entitle me to Windows 7 later. I don't mind Vista, but I'd be worried Vista will become a driver pariah like pre-Win2000 NT products

#13.1 excalpius on 09 Nov 2008 - 04:10

It uses the same driver model as Vista, so no worries there.

(2 replies) #14 InPCHell on 09 Nov 2008 - 03:30

What do they mean "the option of upgrading to Windows 7"??? Does this mean that since I bought Vista Ultimaste retail, that I get Windows 7 for free?

#14.1 Izlude on 09 Nov 2008 - 04:48

InPCHell said,

that would be lovely

#14.2 TRC on 09 Nov 2008 - 06:40

I would imagine you would have to purchase a Vista system shortly before 7 releases. They aren't going to give it away to people who have had Vista for years.

#15 McDave on 09 Nov 2008 - 10:28

Buy a computer from a major store today and the OS will proably be Windows Vista Home Premium pre-installed. I gues most sales persons just say "This computer has the lastest version of windows called Vista"

I'm currently reading a MS publication that states the SKU's for vista are... Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, Ultimate. They also add in Eruope there is also Home Basic N & Business N. For emerging markets the is Starter Edition too. So in total I count 6. There are 64 bit version of everything other than Starter edition, if you factor all that in kinda makes 11 diffrent SKU's.

For avrage Joe they just see what the sales person tells them (this comuter has vista).

With the free upgrade thing, bet it will be just like they did with vista giving customers a voutcher (to keep the hardware manufacturs happy) for anyone who gets a PC a few months before Win7 Release.

(1 reply) #16 Airlink on 09 Nov 2008 - 13:52

Meanwhile, everyone is pirating the hell out of Vista Ultimate.
You know it's true :/

#16.1 excalpius on 10 Nov 2008 - 01:40

Because it's the only version of Vista with enough features to make it worth having. This is FREE market research, MS. One, or two, versions of W7...tops.

#17 zalman on 11 Dec 2008 - 03:20

wheres teh ****ing update? its december and nothing from ms?

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