Microsoft has announced the various editions of the upcoming Windows 8 operating system today on their blog. They have mentioned that they have worked hard to make it easier for customers to know which edition will work best for them. By the looks of it Windows 8 will come in three editions — Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT.

Windows 8 Editions

Windows 8 will be the official product name for the next x86/64 editions of Windows. For the most part the general public will do fine with Windows 8 as it includes features that were previously in past Enterprise/Ultimate editions of Windows. For tech enthusiasts and professionals however, Windows 8 Pro will be your best bet as it features encryption, virtualization and various other advanced features. The last edition of Windows 8 will be Windows RT, that was known as Windows on ARM or WOA in the past. Windows RT will only be pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors to help maintain battery life. It will also include touch-optimized versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

You can see the official comparison chart between the various Windows 8 editions below:

Feature name Windows 8 Windows 8 Pro Windows RT
Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium

x

x
Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate x
Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles x x x
Windows Store x x x
Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, Video) x x x
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote) x
Internet Explorer 10 x x x
Device encryption x
Connected standby x x x
Microsoft account x x x
Desktop x x x
Installation of x86/64 and desktop software x x
Updated Windows Explorer x x x
Windows Defender x x x
SmartScreen x x x
Windows Update x x x
Enhanced Task Manager x x x
Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs) x x x
Better multiple monitor support x x x
Storage Spaces x x
Windows Media Player x x
Exchange ActiveSync x x x
File history x x x
ISO / VHD mount x x x
Mobile broadband features x x x
Picture password x x x
Play To x x x
Remote Desktop (client) x x x
Reset and refresh your PC x x x
Snap x x x
Touch and Thumb keyboard x x x
Trusted boot x x x
VPN client x x x
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go x
Boot from VHD x
Client Hyper-V x
Domain Join x
Encrypting File System x
Group Policy x
Remote Desktop (host) x

 

Microsoft plans to share more information about the various editions of Windows 8 in the near future. Until that time please share your thoughts about the 3 available Windows 8 editions in the comments section.