There is evidence, via a Microsoft job posting, that , as it once planned but abandoned for Vista, as well as , which already exists with Vista. There would also be two additional 'N' versions of Windows 7 for customers in the , which has signalled recently it may even demand Microsoft . In all, Windows 7 could therefore have as many as 10 editions.

Windows blogger Thurrott disagrees, arguing strongly that Microsoft will cut down on the proliferation in editions that hit an apex with XP and Vista. He notes that includes the locale-specific themes that, in XP and Vista, were only available in the Starter edition.

The public beta, which is of Windows 7 Ultimate, appears able to run on low-end hardware like netbooks, obviating the need to create a separate SKU for it, Thurrott said.

He said that he has also heard reports that Microsoft plans to cut the "useless" Home Basic, that the Business edition will eventually be renamed Professional and include Media Center features, and that an Enterprise edition would be eliminated and its features, such as desktop virtualization, offered as add-ons to interested corporate customers.

Thurrott believes Microsoft's best strategy is to release Windows 7 in just three versions (not including the EU-mandated ones): Home, Professional and Ultimate.