President of Windows and Windows Live Division Steven Sinofsky presents the new Windows in Barcelona. (Reuters)
There will be three versions of the new Windows, Microsoft revealed on Monday while confirming Windows 8 to be the official product name.
The Redmond-based company is looking to simplify its product line, cutting the number of editions by more than half since the 2009 release of Windows 7 which came in seven different versions. Windows 8 will arrive in three flavors: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, and Windows 8 RT.
“We have worked to make it easier for customers to know what edition will work best for them when they purchase a new Windows 8 PC or upgrade their existing PC,” the company wrote in a blog post.
The breakdowns are fairly straightforward. The regular version of Windows 8 should be fine for most people. “It will include all the features above plus an updated Windows Explorer, Task Manager, better multi-monitor support and the ability to switch languages on the fly,” the blog states.
Windows 8 Pro is for, well, the professionals: tech geeks and businesses, including features for “encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity.”
The final choice, Windows RT, is essentially Windows “Lite,” designed for thin and light notebooks and tablet computers with a focus on touch optimization and battery life.
Microsoft expects to complete work on the new OS this summer, according to a report from Bloomberg, with the final product penciled in to go on sale around October.
Get a daily look at what’s developing in science and technology throughout the world.