Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 will come in three versions.
A post on the Windows Team Blog says “For PCs and tablets powered by x86 processors (both 32 and 64 bit), we will have two editions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.”
So far so mundane.
But the post goes on to let us all know that there's a third version, Windows RT.
“Windows RT is the newest member of the Windows family,” the post says, going on to explain that the new name replaces “Windows on ARM or WOA” and that this version of Windows “will only be available pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors.”
There's no explanation of the name RT, but the post does say “Windows RT will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. For new apps, the focus for Windows RT is development on the new Windows runtime, or WinRT, which we unveiled in September and forms the foundation of a new generation of cloud-enabled, touch-enabled, web-connected apps of all kinds.”
We therefore deduce that the cunning naming squad at Redmond has made WinRT all friendly by re-jigging it as “Windows RT”. We also suspect that if the product is a dud, a rather nasty and derogatory nickname has been made painfully obvious. Commentards will know what we mean.
The post also offers the handy table, reproduced below, which explains what makes it into each version of Windows 8. ®
Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium
Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate
Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles
Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, Video)
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote)
Installation of x86/64 and desktop software
Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs)
Better multiple monitor support
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