Some examples of Win7 Pro features: location-aware printing to connect to printers anywhere remote desktop connectivity encrypted file system the Windows XP Mode virtualization feature that allows users to run XP applications that won’t work natively on a Windows 7 machine and domain join, which allows easier connection from a personal laptop to a business network.īusiness with 10 or fewer employees may not need the features of Windows 7 Professional, but for anything beyond 10 employees Windows 7 Home Premium may not be enough, says Sandrine Skinner, a director in the Windows Commercial Product Management group. Home Premium goes for $119 and $199), but offers more networking and security features. In between these two worlds is Windows 7 Professional, a version of the new OS that is pricier than Home Premium (Professional costs $199 for an upgrade version and $299 for a new, full retail version. Most of these companies need more than what Windows 7 Home Premium offers, but cannot afford the Software Assurance licences required for Windows 7 Enterprise edition.
Microsoft defines a small business as anywhere from five to 100 employees, and anything between 100 and 1,000 employees is considered to be midsize. Yes, a lesser-known aspect of the Windows 7 strategy is to appeal to SMBs (small and midsized businesses). With Windows 7, Microsoft (MSFT) aims to please both consumers and businesses large and small.
