Different Types of Windows Operating Systems

Microsoft released Windows 7 in 2009.

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Computer users have differing needs. While a typical business needs to manage network permissions and give many users simultaneous access to shared resources, a home user may simply use his computer to check email and play an occasional game. Microsoft markets several versions of Windows to serve the needs of these markets. Each edition has a different price point and feature set from the others.

Home Computers

Home editions of Windows such as Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Premium provide the basic functionality that personal computers require. These include the ability to run software, play games, access the Internet and view or manipulate media such as music, videos and images. To keep consumers' costs down, these editions of Windows do not include some of the advanced features that business users require.

Business Computers

Business computers often require features not needed on standard home machines. For example, Windows 7 Professional includes a feature called "Windows XP Mode" for running legacy software. It also includes the ability to act as a host for the Remote Desktop application and has a self-encrypting file system to prevent data loss from theft. Windows 7 Enterprise features data encryption for removable storage devices. It also has the ability to run on a computer with no hard drive by booting from a virtual image hosted on a server.

Business networks may have many users logged in to their computers simultaneously during the day. Each user needs to access resources such as databases, intranet websites, email and Internet gateways. In addition, each user has her own password and access permissions. The powerful computer needed to manage network access for a large user base is called a server. Because servers perform very different roles from standard business computers, they require different operating systems. The Windows Server product line is Microsoft's offering for servers.

Tablet Computers

Beginning with the release of Apple's touch-screen tablet -- the iPad -- in 2010, the low-cost laptop segment began to see declining sales as many consumers decided to purchase tablets instead. This led Microsoft to decide that future versions of Windows would support tablet computers. Windows 8 is the first Microsoft operating system that runs both on standard PCs and on tablets.

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About the Author

Jason Artman has been a technical writer since entering the field in 1999 while attending Michigan State University. Artman has published numerous articles for various websites, covering a diverse array of computer-related topics including hardware, software, games and gadgets.

Photo Credits

• Matt Stroshane/Getty Images News/Getty Images

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