This is misleading: customers in developed countries (US, UK, Japan, etc) won't even be seeing 3 of these versions when they go to buy Windows 7. I think most people can easily choose Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate if given the choice and a proper comparison.

i personally use ubuntu but, if i was some huge software monopoly company then this stratergy would make sense. this allows microsoft to compete in many markets for example the starter version for the netbook industry. also by having so many versions it allows people to buy an version of the os that they actually need and not any of the crap that they don't.

i still hate M$ though and hope that they sill lose market share:)

The only thing I found confusing was the title of this article. It gives the reader an initial bad impression and then back-track to the, "oh, it's not that bad..." ideology. I guess if you picked a different title nobody would read your article.

Yes, the common user will only have TWO choices....

Not that hard of a choice, Win. 7 Ultimate 64 bit, only choice IMO.

As others have said, there's no need to be deceiving with the title. Some people only read titles.

The 6 flavors aren't really confusing, and since regular consumers will really only have 2 different versions to choose from, this is a step in the right directed for Microsoft, not a misstep.

Jay Jay - your a fanboy idiot. so your vote doesn't count.
If it had a monopoly...then things like Ubuntu and OSX wouldn't exist.
Your "example" you gave...was mentioned in the article...
BTW, I put Ubuntu on my computer a few months back (dual boot). and I was unimpressed. I'm sure if it came out the same time windows 95 did...then i'd be impressed. theres no eye candy with that OS, and it cant run a LOT of the programs out there that people use in their everyday life.

The dumb asses at M$ Can't help but to shoot themselves in the foot. Instead of following Tolkien's example of "One OS to rule them all" Chopping it up to little pieces is only going to frustrate customers who didn't get all the OS features at its exorbitant price and foment the piracy they so much dread by those curious as to what they missed. Given their lack of trust in the consumers eyes, this OS should be marketed as an all in one product. If they wish to return to their stupid watered down formula, they could do so at a later date with another OS. Right now the public needs to see ONE complete product to ease the confusion of having to upgrade from one multiple format OS with a lot of growing pains to a new one in a relative short time. M$ when given the choice to rise up to the occasion and deliver a better product, continually and against all common sense continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Look at Vista and the Zune, now you come up with a phone ( mentioned in another article this week) that while if as stated has some improvement still has no camera flash. Who runs the quality control over at Redmond, WA.?

R~

How do I get a job writing for a tech blog? Seems like you don't need any real qualifications and it definitely seems like you don't have to do any actual research.

There are 2 consumer versions of this product, just like XP. Home and Professional. Everything else is set up for specialty markets.

Seriously, how do I get your job?

Predacorp, I'm guessing that you don't get alot of calls from your friends and family for tech support on easy matters. My sister does not want all the features of Ultimate, she has no need for them, she just wants a machine that she can play WOW on, listen to her music collection, and check email on. Thats it. When I tried to show her how she could grab files of my mom's computer over the network, she walked away and claimed using a flash drive was better. She is not alone, most people don't need all the bells and whistles, and simply don't want them.

And remember that alot of these features will require more RAM and faster processors (I'm assuming) so the different flavors help users keep their upgrade cost down, while allowing the users who want the extra features to use them.;

Of course, this is just one nerd's opinion.

If you think the different versions of Windows Vista and 7 are confusing, take a look at the hundreds of Linux brands.

It would not be so bad if Microsoft came up with better names for the versions.

All an operating system should do is run applications. The Atari STs are a perfect example.

Gonna have to be pro or ultimate for me. I need that file encryption. Among other things. Then again I am in the IT business and have seen first hand how easily data is stolen.

And yes it will require more ram and CPU resources. Its based on the Longhorn kernel that Vista uses.