Perhaps too much has been written about the number and type of SKU's Microsoft released for Windows Vista - so why I am adding to the din now...
Many attempted to explain why the larger number of available SKU's was bad, or what one would be trading up or down, by selecting one version of Windows Vista over another. There were version lists; features tables and matrices, with little check boxes denoting what version came with what and for what price, but no one has addressed why the Windows Vista SKU lineup continues to frustrate and disappoint consumers, partners and OEM's. None of the major news outlets seemed to understand why one version of Vista over another was good, or bad, much less appropriate. Most professional bloggers stuck to the same old mantra about how confusing so many SKU's were - none reflected what was wrong with any one SKU, or the line.
There has to be one main reason, right?
From where I sit, all versions of Windows Vista are the same... every machine I build ships with one version, Ultimate. We are an Ultimate only shop. When we first began to build computers and networks featuring Windows Vista we started off using Vista Business where we thought it was appropriate, but we soon found ourselves reaching out for features that were not there and having to turn to third-party software solutions to fill in the blanks. That cost us money we had not planned on spending [better to hack us off, than anger a customer].
Very soon after, we adopted a policy of Windows Vista Ultimate ONLY. I think the reasons why we became a Vista Ultimate only shop may help people understand what to expect from Vista's different SKU's and drive many to the same conclusions we arrived at.
First off, the Windows Vista Home Premium SKU is fine - it is the only SKU that is consistent with Microsoft's previous marketing and product segmentation; however, it is entirely inappropriate for business - even very small businesses. Home Premium is what Windows XP Media Center Edition devolved to <eventually>. When first introduced, Windows XP Media Center Edition was a super-set of Windows XP Professional; domain join was possible, as was Remote Desktop, and all other business related features. Once Media Center was attached to Windows XP Home Edition, the SKU lost all that made it a candidate for small business people. Take note: Windows Vista Home Premium does have one big limitation and difference from its older XP cousin, it can no longer see domain resources at all - not only can it not join a domain [as designed] it cannot even see them - domain resources cannot be mapped from Home Premium at all.
Enough about the only version of Windows Vista that in terms of marketing, remains familiar and somewhat consistent with the past.
The real pooper in the Windows Vista lineup is the business edition. Sure, it can join domains, see network shares, and it supports group policies. All good - all terribly necessary and all just as boring to consumers as they ever were. Windows Vista Business is the dud of the bunch. You see, previously, Windows XP Professional was everything that Windows XP Home was - just a lot more, and the first great Media Centers were everything both Home and Professional were - the consumer got a lot, and partners and integrators had all they needed. The problem with Windows Vista's lineup and perhaps explaining its slower sales and rate of adoption, is just how bad the business version is. People are familiar with what they had. If they had XP Professional, they had it all - all that was in XP Home, plus all they needed for work. Now that is no longer the case.
Back to business...
As I said, we first tried to deploy Windows Vista Business and very quickly started taking calls from customers about what was missing... The biggest? "Where's the burn button?" <the small disk burning access button visible in Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Vista> - hint... it isn't there in Windows Vista Business. Doesn't seem like much, but when you have to deploy third party utilities to make up the difference, it can be and similarly, when customers have one expectation and they are met with a different reality, they get upset.
So very simply, Windows Vista Business editions are not like XP Professional - they do not have all that previous home editions had, plus all that business people need - they, like Home Premium, are less than they used to be.
Focus on that last line for a moment.... similarly marketed versions of Vista feature less than they used to?
Now, if I were ever to join the rank and file of my local Windows Vista Sux0r user group, it would be as a result of not how bad Vista is in general, but because of how bad Vista Business is. Windows Vista Business leaves a small business person and their Microsoft Partner with only one choice: Ultimate, and a lot more money that will have to be spent.
There are problems with Windows Vista - and they start with what the business edition isn't any longer and how much more one has to spend to get what they once had with greater clarity.