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Windows 7 Upgrades: Keep Enterprise for Enterprises and Consumer for Consumers

Microsoft has a pretty attractive Windows 7 upgrade plan: Buy a Vista machine now and move to Windows 7 for free in the fall. The plan is aimed at small businesses and consumers, and Microsoft hopes to keep it that way by limiting upgrades to purchases of no more than 25 PCs.

I'm wondering if Microsoft really has to do this. Do any real enterprises opt for cheaper consumer versions of Windows? You tell me. What makes high-end versions of XP or Vista better for big shops, or can one really get away with large volumes of consumer machines? Your expert opinion always welcome at dbarney@redmondmag.com.

Posted by Doug Barney on 07/01/2009 at 9:51 AM


Reader Comments:

Thu, Jul 2, 2009 Tom Pennsylvania

"Do any real enterprises opt for cheaper consumer versions of Windows?" Yes, in some cases. There is always a need to have all supported versions in a dev shop, for example. Another example provided is the Exec taht wants to have the bells and whistles they have on their Ultimate machine at home. Still others may need specific functionality that only comes on Consumer versions (hence the need for Ultimate, since Home doesn't support full enterprise networking). I wish they would just stop playing the versions game to target business vs. consumer vs. power user vs. Netbook user vs.... Microsoft, just make one OS that can do what it needs to - provide a platform and include full networking support!!! Once that is done, provide the "enhancements", such as Media Center, as a free (or fee) download. Just keep the MUST HAVE and the NICE TO HAVE separate. you already do that internally, just sell it to us that way.

Wed, Jul 1, 2009 Wisesooth United States

I do not believe that there is any such thing as a pure consumer end-user or a pure enterprise end-user. Microsoft is making a mistake by fiddling with its features. Microsoft also needs to watch its back with promotions that do not pass muster with the law. Entities like the EU are looking for a way to extract money from "deep pocket" US corporations whose only crime is that they are big.

Wed, Jul 1, 2009

I think Microsoft needs to be careful with how it defines "consumer" vs. "enterprise". For instance, Microsoft supposedly defined Vista Ultimate as a consumer OS. It included a codec for playing DVD's via Windows Media Player. Vista Enterprise did not. So which should be loaded on your Exec's laptop? They were supposedly surprised by the fact that some Enterprise customers wanted to load Ultimate and as a result, originally there was no KMS key available, only MAK. I'm not sure if this has been changed.

Wed, Jul 1, 2009 LT Gainesville florida

AN enterprise would hopefully have an EA (enterprise agreement)
Unless your a novell shop(assuming their is a novell client), or run a really small office with client based software (doctors office running WebMD\Med\intergy) no advantage. This seems geared to joe Average user.

Wed, Jul 1, 2009 Joe

We never use consumer version as we have Campus license pricing.

I believe Netbooks are attractive "tweener" devices. I don't want to lug my laptop but PDA screen too small to view atachments. I would never rely on netbooks as my primary PC. Too cheap and unreliable. Shorter length warranties tell me alot on how the vendors view this device.

Wed, Jul 1, 2009 Dan York, Pennsylvania

Precisely. Even small shops often have a server and windows domain even if it's Small Business Server. In fact, several of our customers do since we're a Small Business Specialist and cater to small to mid-sized organizations. And if you want clients to be able to actually use the server and domain resources, you pretty much have to go with Pro (or Ultimate I guess). So it's not so much a question of Enterprise vs Consumer, as what size of organization can benefit from the arrangement. Looks to me like this is right up a small business's alley.

Wed, Jul 1, 2009

Machines have to be capable of joining a domain in our environment, and I imagine most others as well. That keeps the consumer editions out of the equation.

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