Table 1.3 outlines the upgrade options mapped to the different Windows 7 editions. Some information in this table was adapted from information found on Paul Thurrott’s incredibly informative Windows Supersite ( Feature Table 1.2 compares the features in the various versions of Windows 7.

The Windows 7 Starter edition is available in 139 countries with emerging technology markets and leaves out some features found in Windows 7 Home Basic.

versions, but omit multimedia features such as Windows Media Player and IE. The N versions of the Home Basic and Professional editions (available in Europe) are similar to U.S. The emulation feature enables organizations to use their Itanium-based systems with existing Windows applications until they create 64-bit versions created internally or purchase them from software vendors. The 64-bit versions use an emulation layer called WOW64 to run Win32-based applications, although, for best performance, Microsoft recommends using 32-bit software on 32-bit Windows systems. Then 64-bit CPUs, such as AMD’s Athlon 64 and Opteron, or Intel’s Core Duo and i7 families, can take advantage of their speed and other enhancements. But as more computers begin to ship with 4GB or more RAM installed, that will change. As of this writing, most users will be running the x86 code base because their computers have 4GB or less RAM installed. For the buyer who has to have it all, the Ultimate version leaves nothing out.įurthermore, 64-bit versions are available for all platforms. Home versions emphasize the multimedia experience. The Starter version is available only pre-installed on low-end PCs (primarily netbook PCs). We think the dawn of the 64-bit age has finally started, and with Windows 7 you can go either way (32- or 64-bit, that is).Īlthough all versions contain the same integrated applications and many of the same multimedia features, Professional and Enterprise editions include greater security and emphasize the needs of the business sector (Enterprise is available only through special corporate licensing agreements, not via retail). Many experts believe that home/small office users should install the 32-bit version of Windows 7 even if they have 圆4 processors, and should use the 64-bit versions only if they must run specific 64-bit apps with huge memory requirements (such as Adobe PhotoShop or Flash Professional). You might occasionally encounter issues with availability of 64-bit device drivers for the 64-bit platform.

For example, there is no Win16 or MS-DOS support, so you cannot run 16-bit Windows (3. Certain limitations apply to 64-bit Windows versions.

Windows 7 ultimate 32 bit