Confused? Here's a full breakdown of Windows 7 shipped editions, ordered by complexity:
Windows 7 Starter
Lacks: , the ability to run more than three simultaneous programs at once*, , full mobility capabilities
Available: Emerging markets only, only installed on OEM-specific machines and limited to certain kinds of hardware
*Ignores background applications like file backup utilities, but will trigger if you actually open up the backup program
Windows 7 Home Basic
Lacks: Aero enhancements, , Internet connection sharing
Available: Emerging markets only (no U.S., Western Europe, Japan, and other developed countries)
Windows 7 Home Premium
Includes: Aero enhancements, , media functionality for playing movies and burning DVDs, and the ability to create home network groups
Available: Worldwide!
Windows 7 Professional
Includes: Enhanced networking features like , advanced backup, location-aware printing, and offline folders, as well as and .
Available: Worldwide!
Windows 7 Enterprise
Includes: Branch Cache, , , AppLocker, boot from VHD support
Available: Volume licensing only
Windows 7 Ultimate
Includes: Everything. The whole enchilada. Just not any Ultimate extras--Microsoft has scrapped the notion of these extended add-ons for its future operating systems.
Available: Limited availability
What to Get and How to Install It
Microsoft intends for Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional to be the two editions that most consumers are apt to pick up. Your Average Joe should target the latter, whereas small business-themed customers will want to opt for the latter. Microsoft has yet to offer its official suggestions for or hardware recommendations for the operating systems, so stay tuned. However, that the various editions of Windows 7 will be able to run on a "very broad set of hardware, from small-notebook PCs (sometimes referred to as netbooks) to full gaming desktops."
Microsoft has yet to announce price points for any of the Windows 7 products. Upgrading from a lesser Windows 7 version to a more meaty variety will be handled through Microsoft's electronic upgrade capabilities. Going from a standard Vista Home Basic or Home Premium install to Windows 7 won't require a reformat of any kind. According to , the new operating system can be installed right overtop of these Vista editions without complications. Going from XP to Windows 7 will require a clean installation, as will jumping from a 32-bit Windows 7 installation to a 64-bit installation.