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Windows 8: The SKUs are Here to Stay
What Microsoft started with Windows Vista and continues to implement to this very day doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. Not in Windows 8, at least. A rather telling job description popped up on Microsoft’s careers site recently looking to fill a position on the “Windows SKU team.” That’s right, an entire team dedicated to all things SKU. Okay, so, maybe it will be an extremely small team, but I had no idea the planning of SKUs would take such a focused effort. I suppose it makes sense when taking into consideration all the planning that needs to happen for each SKU, how they will differ from one another, sorting out the branding issues, et al.
In a direct quote from the job ad:
Are you looking for a challenging role with high visibility? Join the Windows SKU team. The Windows SKU team ensures that customers have a broad choice of options available when it comes time to make a purchasing decision, so that people can find the Windows they need at a price point that’s competitive and fair. At the end of the day, what we sell to end users are Windows SKUs and we take this responsibility very seriously. Our success depends on our ability to respond to a shifting business landscape by providing people with the Windows features they want in packages that they can consume. Everything we do is driven by these customer-focused fundamentals. If you’re looking for a challenge with direct, broad impact across the company, come join us!
So, with that in mind, if the current line-up of SKUs stays status quo, it looks like we can count on seeing the following editions of Windows 8:
- Windows 8 Enterprise
- Windows 8 Ultimate
- Windows 8 Professional
- Windows 8 Home Premium
- Windows 8 Home Basic
- Windows 8 Starter
What are your thoughts on having Windows 8 SKUs? Do you think they’re a good idea or are you of the type who wants one Windows SKU that can do everything the most advanced SKU is capable of doing?
http://msftkitchen.com
There ok but there are too many. Like Ultimate and Enterprise are practically the same only difference is one is only available if you do mass licensing which most big companies do, I don’t see why they cant combine those into a single version. Same with starter and home basic.
If I were to do it, there’d be Home, Business and Server.
Splitting SKUs that are effectively the same is just needless money grubbing in my eyes.
One thing I would love to see is SUA/Interix in the Professional version (even as a separate purchase). POSIX is not necessary an enterprise need; were it widely available, I’m pretty sure SUA would quickly displace Cygwin.
Well, there are two many SKU for not obvious reasons.
I think there should be only the following SKU:
* Windows Ultimate including some additionnal stuff and available only on some high end PC which could be called the ultimate PC. Those PC could be especially aimed at competiting with Mac
* Windows Pro
* Windows Home
* Windows Light for netbooks and other low powered PC
Moreover third world countries don’t need something like Home Basic or starter.
They need Windows Home Premium and Professional at fair prices a bit like the ones practised in China.
I live in a third world country and i know noone interested by Home Basic or Starter.