What features are in which version of Windows 7?
I’m sure this list is out on the web somewhere, but just in case you’ve not seen it in this easy-to-read format before, below is my list of the features of each version of Windows 7. I think this will help you to work out which one is right for your school:
- Windows 7 Home Premium is the retail version. It doesn’t allow network login (called Domain Join), so it’s unsuitable for university-based computers, and unlikely to be useful for student laptops owned by you, unless you don’t plan to manage them or connect them up to your network except via the web. It is also unable to run XP Mode, which might be useful for some of your older software.
And it’s probably the one on laptops your staff/students buy themselves.
- Windows 7 Professional is the minimum version you’ll need in university as it has network domain join and XP Mode.
- Windows 7 Enterprise is the right version if you believe that you should be encrypting any laptops used by staff, because it comes with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. And in addition it also adds AppLocker – which you may want on all of your devices too.
- Windows 7 Ultimate is in the table below for completeness, but you are only likely to get this version if you buy it in a retail store with it pre-installed (which is an expensive way to get the functionality in Enterprise or Professional edition)
See below the table for my “How to Buy Windows 7” guide
What features are in which version of Windows 7?
|
Features |
Home Premium |
Professional |
Enterprise |
Ultimate |
|
32-Bit and 64-Bit Versions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Create and Join a Home Group |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Tablet PC Functionality |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Multiple Monitor Support |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Document Libraries |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Fast User Switching |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Windows Search |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Windows Mobility Center |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Windows Aero, Taskbar, & Jump Lists |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Live Thumbnail Previews |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Multi-Touch |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Premium Games Included |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Windows Media Center |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Create & Play DVDs |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Device Stage |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Action Center |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Encrypting File System |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Location Aware Printing |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Remote Desktop Host |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Domain Join & Group Policy Controls |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Windows XP Mode |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
AppLocker |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
BitLocker & BitLocker to Go |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
BranchCache |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
DirectAccess |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA) |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Enterprise Search Scopes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Multilingual User Interface Language Packs (MUI) |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Licence Rights for 4 Windows Virtual Machines |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Virtual Hard Disk Booting |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Volume Activation |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
|
Licence Rights for Network Booting of Windows |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
How to buy Windows 7 for your university
So now you’ve worked out which version you want, you may want to know the best way to buy the right version!
Existing computers
- For any existing computers running any version of Windows XP or Windows Vista, you are probably already covered for the upgrades to Windows 7 Enterprise on your Campus Agreement. If you don’t have a Campus Agreement, or you need to buy some extras for staff laptops, you can buy a Windows 7 upgrade on a Select licence. If it’s basic Select, the upgrade is to Windows 7 Professional, with the Software Assurance option, you’ll get Windows 7 Enterprise.
New computers
- For Professional edition, you can either buy a new PC with it pre-installed, or buy a PC with Windows 7 Home Premium, and then add an upgrade (again, if you have a Campus Agreement this upgrade will already be included in it for you).
- For Enterprise edition, the best way is to buy a new PC with Windows 7 Home Premium, and then upgrade via your Campus Agreement , or with the Select licence plus Software Assurance (which gives you the right to keep upgrading, and adds the Enterprise features)
Here’s some links to find out more about Campus Agreement, Select Licences and Software Assurance.
Your existing Microsoft partner will be able to give you a quote. I’ve just checked on the Pugh site*, and they quote £43 for a Select Windows 7 Professional upgrade.
* Pugh is one of our partners, but there are plenty of others. You can find them all on our website
