Windows 8, a major release of the Microsoft Windows operating system, was available in four different editions: Windows 8 (Core), Pro, Enterprise, and RT. Only Windows 8 (Core) and Pro were widely available at retailers. The other editions focus on other markets, such as embedded systems or enterprise. All editions support 32-bit IA-32 CPUs and x64 CPUs.

Editions

Windows 8 (also sometimes referred to as Windows 8 Core to distinguish from the OS itself) is the basic edition of Windows for the IA-32 and x64 architectures. This edition contains features aimed at the home market segment and provides all of the basic new Windows 8 features. A Single Language version is available on emerging markets, which does not support swithcing between languages.

Windows 8 Pro is comparable to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate and is targeted towards enthusiasts and business users; it includes all the features of Windows 8. Additional features include the ability to receive Remote Desktop connections, the ability to participate in a Windows Server domain, Encrypting File System, Hyper-V, and Virtual Hard Disk Booting, Group Policy as well as BitLocker and BitLocker To Go.

Windows 8 Pro with Media Center was never sold directly, but was included with the Windows 8 Pro Pack and temporarily offered for free on Microsoft's website as an upgrade from Windows 8 Pro. This edition adds Windows Media Center back from the premium editions of Windows 7. No official installation media exists; it must be downloaded from the Add Features to Windows 8 program. Besides the addition of Windows Media Center, it is identical to Windows 8 Pro.

Windows 8 Enterprise provides all the features in Windows 8 Pro (except the ability to install the Windows Media Center add-on), with additional features to assist with IT organization (see table below). This edition is available to Software Assurance customers, as well as MSDN and Technet Professional subscribers, and was released on 16 August 2012.

Windows RT is only available pre-installed on ARM-based devices such as tablet PCs. It includes touch-optimized desktop versions of the basic set of Office 2013 applications to users—Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, and supports device encryption capabilities. Several business-focused features such as Group Policy and domain support are not included.

Software for Windows RT can be either downloaded from Windows Store or sideloaded, although sideloading on Windows RT must first be enabled by purchasing additional licenses through Microsoft volume licensing outlet. Desktop software that runs on previous versions of Windows cannot be run on Windows RT as Windows Store apps are based on Windows Runtime API which differs from the traditional apps. According to CNET, these essential differences may raise the question of whether Windows RT is an edition of Windows: in a conversation with Mozilla, Microsoft deputy general counsel David Heiner was reported to have said Windows RT "isn't Windows anymore." Mozilla general counsel, however, dismissed the assertion on the basis that Windows RT has the same user interface, application programming interface and update mechanism.

Unlike Windows Vista and Windows 7, there are no Home Basic, Home Premium, or Ultimate editions.

Regional restrictions and variations All mentioned editions have the ability to use language packs, enabling multiple user interface languages (this functionality was previously available in Ultimate or Enterprise edition of Windows 7 and Windows Vista). However, in China and other emerging markets, a variation of Windows 8 without this capability, called Windows 8 Single Language, is sold. This edition can be upgraded to Windows 8 Pro. Furthermore, like in Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 (since the latter shares the same Windows NT kernel as its desktop variant), OEMs who preload Windows 8 can impose language locks to prevent using non-whitelisted languages. These exact choices depend on the device manufacturer and country/region of purchase (as well as the wireless carrier for cellular-connected devices). For example, a cellular-connected Samsung Ativ Smart PC running Windows 8 on AT&T only supports English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Korean (the last three are available as optional downloads).

Additional Windows 8 editions specially destined for European markets have the letter "N" (e.g. Windows 8.1 Enterprise N) suffixed to their names and do not include a bundled copy of Windows Media Player. Microsoft was required to create the "N" editions of Windows after the European Commission ruled in 2004 that it needed to provide a copy of Windows without Windows Media Player tied in.

Windows 8.1 with Bing is a reduced-cost SKU of Windows 8.1 for OEMs that was introduced in May 2014. It was introduced as part of an effort to encourage the production of low-cost devices, whilst "driving end-user usage of Microsoft Services such as Bing and OneDrive". It is subsidized by Microsoft's Bing search engine, which is set as the default within Internet Explorer, and cannot be changed to a third-party alternative by the OEM. This restriction does not apply to end-users, who can still change the default search engine freely after installation. It is otherwise identical to the base edition.

Editions for embedded systems Windows Embedded 8 Standard is a componentized edition of Windows 8 for use in specialized devices. It was released on 20 March 2013. Notable for being the only edition of Windows 8 to not get an update to 8.1. It reached the end of mainstream support on July 10, 2018, and reached the end of extended support on July 11, 2023. Windows Embedded 8 Industry is an edition of Windows 8 for use in industrial devices. It was released on 2 April 2013 and is available in Pro, Pro Retail, and Enterprise editions. Includes Windows Embedded 8 Pro and Windows Embedded 8 Enterprise editions, which are binary identical to their respective non-embedded editions, differing only in licensing.

These are the final editions of Windows (excluding Server) to use the Windows Embedded branding. Starting with the release of Windows 10, Microsoft switched to the use of Windows IoT branding.

Upgrade compatibility The following in-place upgrade paths are supported from Windows 7. It is only possible to upgrade from an IA-32 variant of Windows 7 to an IA-32 variant of Windows 8; an x64 variant of Windows 7 can only be upgraded to an x64 variant of Windows 8. The retail package entitled Windows 8 Pro Upgrade was restricted to upgrading a computer with licensed Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista or Windows 7. Finally, there is no upgrade path for Windows RT.

+ Windows 8 upgrade path Edition ofWindows 7to upgradefrom Edition of Windows 8to upgrade to Core Pro Enterprise Starter Home Basic Home Premium Ultimate Professional Enterprise In-upgrade is not available for Windows Vista and Windows XP. However, on Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista RTM, it is possible to perform a clean install while preserving personal files. On Windows Vista SP1, it is possible to perform a clean install but save system settings as well. While Microsoft still refers to the scenarios as "upgrade", the user still need to reinstall all apps, carry out necessary license activation steps and reinstate app settings.

Comparison chart + Comparison of Windows 8/8.1 editionsFeatures RT Core Pro Enterprise Availability Pre-installed on devices Most channels Most channels Volume License customersArchitecture ARM (32-bit) IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit)Maximum physical memory (RAM) 4 GB 128 GB on x644 GB on IA-32 512 GB on x644 GB on IA-32 512 GB on x644 GB on IA-32 Secure Boot Picture password Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles Touch and Thumb keyboard Language packs Updated File Explorer Standard apps File History Refresh and reset of OS Play To Connected Standby Windows Update Windows Defender Better multi-monitor support New Windows Task Manager ISO image and VHD mounting Mobile broadband features Microsoft account integration Internet Explorer 10 SmartScreen Windows Store Xbox Live (including Xbox Live Arcade) Exchange ActiveSync Snap Can connect to a VPN? Desktop Support for language packs and switching Device encryption Supported third-party apps Remote Desktop Storage spaces Windows Media Player Parental Controls BitLocker and EFS Sideload Windows Store apps Boot from VHD Can join a Windows domain? Group Policy Hyper-V AppLocker Windows To Go DirectAccess BranchCache Can be virtualized by RemoteFX? Services for Network File System Subsystem for Unix-based Applications Windows Media Center Office 2013 apps bundled with OS Features Windows RT Windows 8 (Core) Windows 8 Pro Windows 8 Enterprise

Notes

References

de:Microsoft Windows 8#Editionen