Want Aero effects, Media Center, and the ability to run more than three applications at once? Then you can't settle for Starter, which comes bundled on some new hardware. Instead you'll have to pay for Home Premium. If you want those plus more presentation tricks and other extras, cough up the cash for Professional.

To add DirectAccess--a VPN alternative--BitLocker encryption and more, buy Enterprise. But if you only want to upgrade one computer at a time... sorry; only Enterprise volume-licencess are available. For you, pick up Ultimate if you can find (and afford) it. That complete OS will be only available on a limited basis, with specifics to be announced.

And another underpowered edition, Home Basic, is only being inflicted on emerging markets. Wouldn't it be more altruistic to sell a complete OS in these nations?

And that there are only 6 editions, saying that realistically, U.S. customers will primarily choose between Home Premium and Professional. That's an interesting take, but it's still one version too many. Microsoft only serves itself with these various editions, forcing people to pay more for needed features out of the fear that they might miss something.

I want a single, desktop version of an OS with features that scale up or down to my needs. Seem far-fetched? It works for Apple.