Windows 8 Editions Introduced: Meet S/T, Pro, and RT

From DailyTech: Windows XP launched in 2001 with two primary editions -- Home and Professional. Later Media Center and a handful of regional-targeted versions would be tacked on. In 2006 Windows Vista -- an operating system that fairly or unfairly would come to be quite loathed and derided -- launched with a dizzying six editions including Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate. Windows 7 trimmed much bloat from Vista when it launched in 2009, but stuck with the packed six-edition lineup (which included both 32-bit and 64-bit variants, to boot).

Windows 8 has tall boots to fill as the follow-up to Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows 7 -- the world's fastest selling operating system in history. Launching this fall, the operating system changes much. Among the most recent changes to be announced is a trimming of the operating system SKUs.

Microsoft late Monday announced that Windows 8 would come in only three versions -- Windows 8 (self-titled), Windows Professional, and Windows RT. In many ways the latter two echo the simplistic marketing of Windows XP.

The final edition -- Windows RT -- is the special new version of Windows that will be compatible with ARM processors for the first time. ARM Holdings plc's (LON:ARM) licensed designs have dominated the smartphone and tablet space -- now they aim to do the same in the PC space, challenging veteran x86 manufacturer Intel Corp. (INTC).

Windows RT is missing a couple of features found in the x86 editions -- notably Windows Media Player and Storage Spaces. But it comes with Microsoft's ubiquitous Office suite for free -- something the self-titled basic and Professional editions can't boast. It also comes with specialized device encryption.

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