What are the versions of the Windows operating system. What are the versions of the Windows operating system Key features of Windows

Some features require a Windows 10 Enterprise E5 license.
Using Windows Hello for Business with biometrics requires specialized hardware, including a fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor, and other biometric sensors.
Requires TPM 1.2 or later for TPM-based key protection. BitLocker in Pro editions includes additional configuration options and does not require InstantGo devices or devices that pass the Hardware Security Testability Specification.
WIP requires the use of Mobile Device Management (MDM) or System Center Configuration Manager to manage settings. These products are sold separately. Active Directory simplifies management tasks, but is not required.
Requires UEFI 2.3.1 or later with Trusted Boot. Virtualization extensions must be enabled, such as Intel VT-x, AMD-V, or SLAT. Requires Windows x64 version; IOMMU, e.g. Intel VT-d, AMD-Vi; BIOS Lockdown).
The Boot-Time System Integrity Protection feature in Windows Defender System Guard requires UEFI 2.3.1 or later and Safe Boot. The optional Windows Defender System Guard cloud-based system guard remote integrity check feature requires TPM 1.2 or later and a management system that supports remote assessment capabilities (for example, Intune and System Center Configuration Manager).
Requires UEFI 2.3.1 or later with secure boot capability. Virtualization extensions must be enabled, such as Intel VT-x, AMD-V, or SLAT. Requires Windows x64 version; IOMMU, e.g. Intel VT-d, AMD-Vi; BIOS Lockdown.
Requires UEFI 2.3.1 or later with Trusted Boot. Virtualization extensions must be enabled, such as Intel VT-x, AMD-V, or SLAT. Requires Windows x64 version; IOMMU, e.g. Intel VT-d, AMD-Vi; BIOS Lockdown.
Devices running the desktop version of Windows are supported starting with Windows 10 1607. Enrollment of Windows devices with previous OS versions (Windows 7 and 8.1) is not supported for devices using roaming profiles. If you rely on roaming profiles or settings, you should use Windows 10. You must have a working and up-to-date version of Azure AD Connect.
Available only in some countries. Availability of features and applications may vary by country and device.
MDM requires an MDM product such as Microsoft Intune or other third party solutions (sold separately).
Either an App-V server (available for free as part of the Windows 10 Assessment and Deployment Kit) or System Center Configuration Manager (sold separately) is required.
Requires Bing for business. Microsoft 365 subscription sold separately.
Cortana personal assistant is only available in certain countries. Features of its work depend on the region and device. Android and iOS devices require the Cortana app (requires Android 4.1.2 or later or iPhone 4 with iOS 8.0 or later to install).
Microsoft 365 subscription required (sold separately).
The user must link their computer and phone in the computer settings. Users will receive an app from Microsoft that they need to download to their mobile phone and follow the installer prompts.
Requires a touch-enabled tablet or PC. Pen may be sold separately.

The Windows operating system is the most popular in the world. It works on 90% of devices that are owned by housewives, office workers, large companies, schools, IT professionals and developers. Each category of users uses the computer in its own way. For some, a web browser and the Office package are enough, for some, fine-tuning of the system is needed, and for some, powerful protection mechanisms are simply needed. In this regard, several editions of Windows have arisen, differing in different functionality, license price and purpose. In this article, we will analyze how they differ, and also explain what certain terms that you may encounter on the Internet mean.

What are the editions of Windows 10

There are only 6 main editions of desktop Windows 10:

Home Single Language (Home SL)- Home for one language.
Home- Homemade.
Pro- Professional.
Enterprise- Corporate.
Education- For educational institutions.
S- publication for students and educational institutions.
Lean- not yet officially released, but only a development edition for tablets with 16 GB of internal memory. Information on it will appear later.

Of course, there are other highly specialized editions. For example, the working conditions for IT companies in China are slightly different than in another world, so Microsoft created a special version of Windows 10 - Windows 10 China. However, an ordinary user from a CIS country is unlikely to encounter this, so we will not analyze such systems.

Note that Windows 10 Mobile is often included in the lists of editions of Windows 10, which is available in two versions:

Windows 10 Mobile.
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise.

In fact, Windows 10 for smartphones is a separate operating system, so we will not talk about it here either.

What is the difference between different editions of Windows 10

There are quite a few differences between the editions, but not everyone can understand them. We will look at the available editions according to a couple of criteria that can influence your choice of a particular Windows 10.

Where to buy a license for Windows 10, and how much does it cost

In this section, we will consider the possibility of purchasing a license for a particular edition of the system from the point of view of an ordinary user.

Home SL: this edition is the cheapest, but a regular user cannot buy a license for it. Microsoft licenses Windows 10 Home SL only to manufacturing companies that can preinstall it on tablets or laptops.
Home: The world's most widely used version of Windows 10. It can be licensed by anyone in the Microsoft Store or Microsoft partner stores. The price in the USA is $120, but in other regions it may differ due to the difference in exchange rates. The Russian Microsoft Store offers to buy Windows 10 Home for 8699 rubles.
Pro: A more expensive edition designed for IT professionals, developers and small organizations. Also available to every user. The original price is $200, but the Russian Microsoft Store sells Windows 10 Pro for 15299 rubles. We also note that a paid upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro is possible - just type a request for this Windows 10 Pro in the Windows Store.
Enterprise: edition created especially for corporate clients. The license for it can be acquired only by legal entities.
Education: edition for educational institutions. The subtleties of its licensing are quite complicated, but the main thing is that it is also not available to the average user.
S: This edition is also aimed at educational institutions and is not available to general users. However, it can be pre-installed on laptops and tablets (in particular, Surface Laptop). In this case, the user will be able to upgrade to the Pro edition for $49.99.

Which editions can disable Windows 10 updates

Windows 10 users often complain about automatic system updates. Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs security updates, bug fixes, and new driver versions. Many want it because of potential issues with the latest system and driver builds. Let's figure out how you can influence this process in various editions of Windows 10.

Home SL: no way. You won't be able to do anything with updates. The system will automatically download updates and install them within 7 days.
Home: similar to Home SL, there are no ways to manage the update center.
Pro: In this edition, you will be able to disable driver updates, delay any updates for 35 days, limit the automatic download of updates, and also switch to the corporate update branch - Current Branch For Business (instead of the standard Current Branch). New builds of Windows 10 get into the business branch only after thorough testing by Microsoft and ordinary users, so the likelihood of errors in them is minimal.
Enterprise: In addition to the features of the Pro edition, you get the option to switch to the LTSB (Long Term Servicing Branch). Updates come here with long delays, and major updates come with huge ones. All for the sake of stability.
Education: here everything is similar to the Pro edition.
S: The update settings in Windows 10 S are also completely similar to the Pro edition.

What features differ in Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise and other editions

Let's take a look at other functional differences between Windows 10 editions.

Home SL: This edition is the most limited. You get only the basic features of Windows 10. A rather unpleasant aspect is the lack of an official ability to change the system language. However, it's still possible.
Home: the functionality of this edition is absolutely similar to Home SL, except for changing the main language of the system: in Home it is possible without problems.
Pro A: Compared to Windows 10 Home, you get quite a few extra features. We note the availability of the group policy editor, which allows for flexible system configuration, the built-in Bitlocker encryption mechanism, the ability to activate and. There are also some corporate features available that the average user will not need.
Enterprise: the most functional edition. In addition to the features of Windows 10 Pro, there are powerful security mechanisms (although you need to learn how to use them), Direct Access functions, Windows-To-Go (the ability to create a Windows 10 flash drive that can be used on different computers), BranchCache and more.
Education: Same functionality as the Enterprise edition.
S: The main feature of this edition is blocking the installation of classic programs. You will only be able to download apps from the Windows Store. In addition, the ability to change the standard browser (Microsoft Edge) and search engine (Yandex in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey, Bing in the USA and European countries) is programmatically disabled. All other functionality is similar to the Pro edition, with the exception of a few proprietary chips created specifically for educational institutions.

How to download ISO images of Windows 10 Home SL, Home, Pro and Enterprise

We have already told how from the official Microsoft website. Let's figure out which sites indicated in the corresponding article can be used to download specific editions.

Official site

On this site, any user can easily download ISO Windows 10 Home SL, Home and Pro. To download the desired edition, select the following image:

Home SL: Windows 10 single language.
Home / Pro: Windows 10. You can choose a specific edition when installing the system from this image.

Website TechBench by WZT

On a resource created by amateurs, you can freely download images of Windows 10 Home SL, Home / Pro, as well as Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education. Instructions for this are not needed: everything is pretty obvious.

Third Party Resources

If you are using other image sources, look at the ISO name or description. Usually, its author specifies built-in editions.

What do the letters N, KN and LTSB stand for in the name of the image

Even on the official Microsoft website, you can see images of Windows 10 N or Windows 10 KN. Also on various resources there are Windows 10 LTSB. Let's explain what these letters mean.

What is Windows 10N

Postfix N denotes a different set of programs built into the system, in particular, the absence of Windows Media Player components. This subspecies of editions was created after Microsoft's litigation in the European Union.

Microsoft provides regular users with images of Windows 10 Home N and Pro N. People from most CIS countries need only know that Windows 10 N is not available in Russian or Ukrainian, so its use in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine or Kazakhstan does not make sense. If you still saw the N-image in Russian on some third-party resources, then know that this language is integrated into the image by its author, which may cause problems later.

What is Windows 10 KN

KN editions are similar to N with the only difference: if N images are created for EU countries, then KN images are available only for Korea and only in Korean.

What is Windows 10 LTSB

We already mentioned the term LTSB above as one of the update center options in Windows 10 Enterprise. Windows 10 LTSB images are for enterprise users only. Their main features are as follows:

The absence of any built-in metro programs, including the Windows Store and Microsoft Edge.
Updater is set to the LTSB branch by default.

If you don't want to deal with the lack of metro programs, then you definitely shouldn't use these images. If you want the cleanest possible Windows 10, then you won't find a better option. Just keep in mind that licenses for this version of Windows are sold only to legal entities, and you will have to do something with activation.

What does OEM, Box, Retail, FPP and VL mean?

While downloading images online or simply discussing them with someone, you may come across terms like OEM, Box or Retail. They are usually used in the context of editions of Windows 10, and many consider them to be some kind of separate editions. In fact, all these names are not related to the editions of Windows 10 and, accordingly, to the functionality of the system, but denote Windows license distribution channel. Let's analyze this moment in more detail.

What is an OEM license

OEM license- a license for Windows, which is tied to the motherboard of the device. An ordinary user cannot purchase such a license; it is available only to PC manufacturers at fairly low prices (usually $10-20, depending on the edition of Windows).

The catch with the OEM license is that, according to the license agreement, it cannot be transferred to other devices.

What is a Retail-, Box- or FPP-license

Retail license- a license for Windows, which is not attached to anything and is subject to transfer to other devices. Regular users who purchase Windows 10 Home or Pro receive this type of license.

Since such licenses are most often sold in boxes (with a disk or flash drive), the name is also common. Box (box license) or FPP (Full Packaged Product). Note that in the context of licensing Windows 10, the concepts Retail, box and FPP mean the same thing.

What is a VL license

If we consider licenses for Windows 10, then VL denotes a volume license that is not available to general users: it is intended only for large corporate customers. Its feature is the ability to activate several hundred systems at once with the same license key.

What is a Not For Resale license

If you have come across a similar term somewhere (although it is quite difficult to meet it by chance), then know that Not For Sale means literally Not for resale.

Is the functionality of Windows 10 OEM and Retail different?

No, it's not different. The functionality and configuration of Windows 10 OEM or Windows 10 Retail does not depend in any way on the distribution channel for its license.

What is RTM, Final, RC and Insider

In addition to the abbreviations for Windows 10 license distribution channels, you may come across the terms RTM, Final, RC, and others. As in the case of OEM/Retail, they are not related to editions of Windows 10 in any way, but indicate system version. Let's give a decoding of the main notation.

What is RTM, Final or Gold

RTM (Release To Manufacturing, release) - the final version of the system, which is released as official. Words Final or Gold in this context mean the same thing.

What is RC or Insider

RC(Release Candidate) - a beta version of the system, which may contain flaws and bugs. This abbreviation was used for Windows 7 and Windows 8. Starting with Windows 10, the designation is used insider or insider preview. Insider builds are quite often unstable, so don't install them unless absolutely necessary.

What is TH1, TH2, RS1, RS2 or RS3

Terms like this represent the code name for a version of Windows 10. We will provide information about all currently known versions of Windows 10, including code names, version numbers, and build numbers.

TH1 (Threshold 1)- version 1507 - assembly 10240 . Released in July 2015 as the original version of Windows 10 ( IR). Status - RTM.
TH2 (Threshold 2)- version 1511 - assembly 10586 . Released in November 2015 as November Update N.U.). Status - RTM.
RS1 (Redstone 1)- version 1607 - assembly 14393 . Released in July 2016 as Anniversary Update AU). Status - RTM.
RS2 (Redstone 2)- version 1703 - assembly 15063 . Released in March 2017 under the name Creators Update (updates for designers CU). Status - RTM.
RS3 (Redstone 3)- version 1709 - assembly 16299 . Released in October 2017 as the Fall Creators Update FCU). Status - RTM.
RS4 (Redstone 4)- version 1803 - assembly 17134 . Released in May 2018 as April 2018 Update. Status - RTM.
RS5 (Redstone 5)- version 1809 - assemblies 17xxx. Currently under active development, the update is expected to be released in September-October 2018. Status - insider.

Now you know exactly how Windows 10 Home and Pro differ, and you also know how to distinguish the Windows 10 edition from the license distribution channel or system version.

In fact, there are a lot of innovations, and even just listing them is quite difficult. Of course, many of them are unlikely to ever be useful to you, so we tried to mention the main ones.

Now let's talk a little more separately about each edition of Windows 10.

Mobile (Mobile)

As the name implies, this version of the “tens” is designed for mobile devices: smartphones and tablets with a screen diagonal of up to 8 inches.

Windows 10 Mobile will provide its owner with almost complete synchronization with the desktop version of Windows. It has the same set of universal applications as the Home version, and is equipped with a specially prepared version of MS Office for mobile devices.

With Continuum, by connecting your smartphone to a large screen, keyboard and mouse, you can use it as a normal PC.

Mobile corporate

This is a version of the corporate version of Windows 10, adapted for mobile devices and touch with enhanced security.

IoT Home

This edition of the operating system is intended for a variety of computer devices: terminals, robots, etc. It has a number of specific functions, for example, for use in payment terminals based on Windows tablets.

Home

A completely standard version of Windows 10. It is planned to install it on most of the devices sold: laptops, ultrabooks, personal computers, transformers.

If we compare this edition of Windows 10 with others, then it will have only a basic set of functions: the Cortana assistant, the new Edge browser, the Windows Hello function - it allows you to log in with a picture of the user's face, fingerprint, as well as some other applications from Microsoft (photo, maps, mail, calendar, music and video).

Home for one language

This version is no different from Home, except that it does not have the ability to change the system language. It will be intended mainly for developing countries and its cost will be lower than that of a regular Home.

Professional (Pro)

Like Windows 10 Home, it is intended for installation on personal computers and laptops, but already in a more expensive premium segment. Unlike the Home version, the Professional version, along with the basic functions, offers its owners a number of additional features that meet the needs of small businesses. Windows 10 Pro allows you to effectively manage company devices on which a similar system is installed, protects data, and supports remote management.

Corporate (Enterprise)

If we compare this version with Windows 10 Pro, then they are very similar to each other. But still there are some differences between the versions: Corporate offers additional features and is more focused on medium and large organizations. Among the additional options: advanced security features.

For educational institutions (Education)

At its core, it is a version of Windows 10 Enterprise, but for educational institutions, not for business.

Comparison of Windows 10 versions in tables

Now we will present all the information about the differences in operating systems in the form of tables.

First, let's look at the main features.

There are many types of Windows 10 and each version has its own characteristics. We will tell you about the main differences between the assemblies, and you will understand how they differ from each other.

The new operating system of a well-known corporation has already made a lot of noise. Today, Windows 10 has already been released in several editions, each of which has some of its own characteristics. And a simple user is not always able to understand what types of OS are better than others today and what differences this or that version has. Therefore, now we will understand this issue a little and try to briefly describe each edition of this OS.

Differences between Windows 10 and previous versions

First, you need to touch on some of the features inherent in all varieties of the operating system from Microsoft, which appeared only in a dozen, and which were not in earlier versions of the OS:

The "Start" button has taken its usual place;
There is a new browser called ;
Cortana is a new voice assistant that is more relevant for mobile versions of the OS;
It is possible to set up multiple virtual desktops;
Switching between mobile and desktop options for displaying information is implemented through the Continuum function;
Other changes and innovations.

If you start listing all the innovations of the "tens", it will take a very long time. Therefore, let's move on to a brief description of each version.

Mobile Windows 10

This version of the OS was developed directly for mobile devices and its name speaks for itself. Under her control, devices with screens less than 8 inches work. Using this version, the user has the opportunity to fully realize the synchronization of his data with a desktop PC. The difference between such an OS is that it installs .

Other types of mobile "ten" have either increased security settings (mobile corporate), or specially designed for the same payment terminals and similar devices (IoT Home).

Home multilingual

This is a simple Windows 10, which has a certain standard set of applications installed. A similar version of the OS is designed for devices sold in a retail network - laptops, tablets and other devices.

Here it is possible to identify the user by a face picture, fingerprint, etc. There is a Home version in which the user does not have the ability to change the system language. It was assumed that a similar version of the OS would be implemented for poor countries, so that the cost of the operating system itself can be significantly reduced.

Despite all the limitations and cuts, this build is still the most popular. Perhaps this is due to its price, which is at least 2 times lower than the cost of a professional assembly. Which you will learn about below.

Professional (Pro)

This type of Windows 10 isn't just for premium hardware. But also on ordinary PCs, whose users want full access to all system functions. The main differences from the standard Home-version are in some additional features that are received by representatives of medium and large businesses. For example, there is a group security policy that is not in other assemblies. In addition, other tools are available.

Architecture differences: 32 and 64 bits

The most common question is what is the difference between 32 and 64 bit views. This question is not idle, because both versions can be installed on almost any PC. We recommend choosing the 64-bit version, as it is universal. The 32-bit version, however, supports only a limited number of utilities that were created specifically for it. And if you can find for both varieties, then some specific and rare / special programs are only available for a specific build.

Microsoft has stated that Windows 10 is the final version of Windows, but no one ever said it would be easy. After two years of existence, Windows 10 has no less than ten different editions. Each of them is essentially the same but offers slightly different features for users with different needs. Along with ever-changing features, this can keep track of what's happening with Windows 10. Let's take a look at each version of Windows 10 in turn and see why Microsoft has created such a fragmented environment.

Comparison of Windows 10 versions

Components and functions	Home	Pro	Education	Enterprise
Continuum for phone	+	+	+	+
Cortana	+	+		+
windows ink	+	+	+	+
Start Menu and Live Tiles	+	+	+	+
Tablet mode	+	+	+	+
Voice, pen, touch and gestures	+	+	+	+
Microsoft Edge	+	+	+	+
Mobile device management	+	+	+	+
Windows Update	+	+	+	+
Windows hello	+	+	+	+
Companion devices for Windows Hello	+	+	+	+
Device Encryption	+	+	+	+
	+	+	+	+
Windows Device Health Validation Service	+	+	+	+
Group Policy		+	+	+
Enterprise data roaming with Azure Active Directory		+	+	+
Windows Store for Business		+	+	+
Limited access		+	+	+
Dynamic Provisioning		+	+	+
Windows Update for Business		+	+	+
Shared PC Configuration		+	+	+
Test		+	+	+
Windows Information Protection		+	+	+
bitlocker		+	+	+
Joining a domain		+	+	+
Azure Active Directory domain join with single sign-on to cloud applications		+	+	+
Internet Explorer in Enterprise Mode (EMIE)		+	+	+
Remote Desktop		+	+	+
Hyper-V client			+	+
Direct Access			+	+
AppLocker			+	+
Managed User Experience			+	+
Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)			+	+
Microsoft User Environment Virtualization (UE-V)			+	+
Credential Guard			+	+
Device Guard			+	+
Windows to Go			+	+
BranchCache			+	+

Brief description of publications

Windows 10 Home- This is a standard offer and includes everything that home users need.
Windows 10 Pro builds on Home and includes additional features for power users and small business use.
Windows 10S- a stripped-down Chromebook competitor that lets you install apps for the Windows Store.
Windows 10 Enterprise has advanced features for large-scale enterprise deployment.
Windows 10 Education is an offshoot of Enterprise with education-specific default settings and a lower price for schools.
Windows 10 Pro Education comes pre-installed on PCs that schools can purchase at a discount and offers a classroom-specific flavor of Pro.
Windows 10 Mobile is Microsoft's mobile operating system, which is not very popular.
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise allows businesses to manage Windows 10 mobile devices for their employees.
Windows 10 IoT replaces Windows Embedded, a lightweight version of Windows that hobbyists or businesses can install on small computing devices and robots and apps for sale.
Windows 10 Team is a specialized version of Windows 10 that only works on the Surface Hub smart whiteboard.
for workstations supports powerful PCs that perform intensive calculations on a regular basis

Windows 10 Home

We start with the basic version. If you're going to walk into a store and buy a new laptop off the shelf, it will almost certainly be Windows 10 Home. True to its name, it includes the full experience of Windows 10 features that the average home user will enjoy. You'll find all the essentials inside, including Cortana, Store apps, Xbox, and tablet and touch support. The Home Edition does not take into account some business-oriented features that are the only other edition in PRO, but you can buy them separately.

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro builds on what Home offers but includes more features designed for power users and businesses. The most notable differences are the ability to join a Pro machine for a domain, support for BitLocker encryption, and support for Group Policy for easily changing company-wide settings. Most of the machines in the business use the Pro edition, so IT can use these tools to their advantage. But enthusiasts can also benefit from what the Pro has to offer.

For example, many of the settings we discuss in articles are easier to change using the Group Policy Editor than in the registry. However, I do not believe that this is suitable for most home users. You can replace free alternatives for some Pro-only features. For example, TeamViewer can replace Remote Desktop and you can trade VeraCrypt for BitLocker. And no normal Windows user at home should join their computer in a domain.

Windows 10S

One of the newest releases in the lineup, Windows 10 S is a smoothed version of the operating system. Its most distinctive feature is that you can only install apps from the Windows Store, so it won't work with any traditional desktop software. Microsoft Edge is the default browser and you cannot change the default search engine from Bing.

Windows 10 S is only available on pre-installed devices, and most of them are inexpensive. Microsoft is targeting Windows 10 S in the education market as it's kind of a competitor for Chromebooks. While you can upgrade from Windows 10 S to Pro for dollars, most home users should stay away from it. The combination of cheap hardware and limited apps available limits what your device can do.

Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise is, unsurprisingly, designed for large-scale business use and is only sold through Microsoft Volume Licensing. Unlike Windows 7, there is no full version of Windows 10 that offers the full set of Enterprise features for home users. But that's okay, because the extra features of Enterprise only shine in enterprise deployments. The biggest feature is DirectAccess, which allows remote workers to access their company's internal network through a VPN-like connection, but with more security. AppLocker, another great feature, allows administrators to block access to certain applications. This edition also allows companies to switch to the long-term branch to avoid regular changes to Windows 10 that could break their operations. Enterprise also includes some behind-the-scenes tweaks that make it easier for IT pros to install or migrate Windows en masse by standardization. While Pro is great for small businesses, a company with thousands of employees can save money and control their setup with the Enterprise edition.

Windows 10 Education

Windows 10 Education Edition includes all Enterprise features. As Microsoft explains, this is actually a variant of Windows 10 Enterprise that provides education-specific default settings. In past versions, this included disabling Cortana by default, but it is present in current builds. Windows 10 Education also disables tips and suggestions that are only advertisements.

Aside from these default settings, the only significant change for the Education edition is that it costs significantly less than the Enterprise edition. This helps schools cut costs while still getting a powerful version of Windows that allows them to block games and inappropriate content on computers used by students. Although the computer must have Windows 10 Pro installed to upgrade to Enterprise, this does not apply to the Education edition. PCs with Windows 10 Home can upgrade to Windows 10 Education, which will further reduce the cost of schools.

Windows 10 Pro Education

Confused by all these names? Windows 10 Pro Education merges two existing edition titles. Just like Windows 10 Education, the only difference is the taste of Windows 10 Pro with a few default settings specific to education environments. The biggest difference between Pro Education and Education is that the former is pre-installed on new devices purchased through the K-12 program at a discount. This means schools don't need to go through Microsoft Volume Licensing to buy pre-built PCs. Smaller schools that lack a full IT staff or don't need the enterprise features of Windows 10 Education can still exercise control with the features found in Windows 10 Pro Education.

Both editions of Windows 10 Education include the Set Up School PCs app, which guides administrators by creating a standard Windows image. They can choose from options such as uninstalling browser apps, automatically joining computers to the school domain, and configuring Windows Update to avoid restarting during school hours. After completing this process once, IT staff can place the package on a flash drive and quickly apply it to other machines.

Windows 10 Mobile

Did you know that Windows Phone still exists? Right now it's called Windows 10 Mobile, but it's the next iteration of running a version of Windows for your smartphone. This is part of Microsoft's plan to create a single, unified operating system on every device. It lets you access the same new Windows Store apps that are available on the Windows 10 desktop, along with the Continuum feature that lets you use your phone like a PC on a big screen.

While this is an improvement over Phone 8.1, Windows Mobile is still largely out of the mobile realm as Android and iOS take over. Due to a failed rollout and a continued lack of reliable apps, Windows 10 Mobile has suffered from limited usage. But I still use the budget lumia 640 and I'm quite happy with it than the virus-ridden android.

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise

The enterprise version of Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise is almost the same as the consumer version. As you'd expect, it offers business features like update deferral and management, telemetry control, and more powerful deployments.

Windows 10 IoT (Internet of Things)

For previous versions of Windows, Microsoft provided a shortened version called Windows Embedded. For example, Windows XP Embedded was and still is extremely popular for lightweight devices like ATMs, cash registers, and watches. Embedded editions of Windows contain only the core components, reducing their footprint on the machine while still allowing the device to take advantage of Windows. The successor to Windows Embedded is now known as Windows IoT.

The IoT is connected by internet connections to everyday household objects. For example, it is popular among smart things like the alexa speaker from amazon and this version of Windows serves to allow hobbyists and corporate users to use it. Windows 10 IoT can run on popular small devices that don't have powerful resources.

Microsoft offers two options: Windows 10 IoT Core and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise. Core is free to download and you can install it on devices like the Raspberry Pi. Enterprise flavor is equivalent to Windows 10 Enterprise and therefore more powerful. Businesses can install it on industrial robots, cash registers, and other IoT devices.

Windows 10 Team

The Microsoft Surface family includes an interactive whiteboard known as the Surface Hub. Like other smart cards, it is designed for business use so employees can collaborate and video conference between locations. This device runs a special version called Windows 10 Team. It's based on the Enterprise, but offers a few differences since it's specifically designed for the giant board. The user interface is optimized for the mega touch screen. Any user can come up and log in to a low-level user account without logging in. When the session ends, the system deletes local files unless you save them to OneDrive. And like Windows 10 S, you can't install traditional desktop apps. Team is a specialized version as it only applies to one device. You will probably never experience this.

Windows 10 Pro for Workstations

Because 11 editions wasn't enough, Microsoft recently announced another version of Windows 10. This product is called Pro for Workstations and it's designed for high-end PCs that require heavy workloads. New features include ReFS (Resilient File System), persistent memory, faster file sharing, and expanded hardware support. Essentially, this results in a host of internal improvements that make the day-to-day work of computing information throughout the day much smoother. Microsoft explains that these changes will result in less data corruption, faster network transfers, and up to 6TB of RAM usage. Windows 10 Pro for Workstations will launch with the Fall Creators Update in Fall 2017. This edition will likely only see business use.