For desktops and laptops, the new Windows 10 operating system has been released in several versions. Pro and Home versions immediately became available to users, the rest are intended for corporate use (Enterprise) and educational institutions(Education).
As for the appearance, it is the same for all editions: the Start menu has returned, which connected elements of both versions 7 and 8 of the OS. The design has become more stylish compared to Windows 7. The virtual assistant Cortana has also appeared.
Windows 10 Home and Pro updates are available for regular users, and many have questions about this. What system to choose to install on your computer?
Windows 10 Home
Differences between different assemblies may not be noticed by every user. The Home version is standard and suitable for home use. It is it that is planned to be installed on most devices sold for sale.
Windows 10 Home innovations:
- Windows Hello is a new way to authenticate. Includes the ability to unlock the computer by fingerprint, iris, or face parameters. As planned by the developers, it is planned that the new function will reliably protect user data.
- hiberboot and instago. These features allow you to quickly wake up from sleep mode and accelerated loading systems.
- Microsoft Edge is a new browser that has replaced the well-known Internet Explorer. After failing with the old version of the browser, the company decided that it was no longer possible to fix it and completely replaced it with a completely new one.
- Virtual desktops. This feature was not in any of the previous versions of Windows, now the user can use as many desktops on one device.
But not all innovations are positive. The disadvantage of Windows 10 Home is that the user has decided the right to choose how to update.
Windows 10 Pro
Innovations that appeared in Windows 10 Home are in the professional version. But Windows 10 Pro users have much more control over which updates to install and how they work across different networks. This option can also be used as a home option, but the main focus is on small business owners: data protection is enhanced, many functions for processing and working with documents, and so on.
Windows 10 Pro differs from Enterprise in some ways, but in general it is suitable for running not only small, but also medium-sized businesses.
If we talk about updates, then the user will be able to receive not only standard updates, but new ones for programs and security systems that are business-oriented. Also in the Windows 10 Pro version, you can independently configure the type of updates that are installed, set a schedule for them, or refuse them altogether.
Since the professional version is still intended for business, it has enhanced data storage security, including those that are in the cloud.
If we compare Windows 10 Pro with Windows 10 Home, then it has the following advantages:
- support for different devices and advanced management of them;
- encryption methods for data transmission over enterprise networks;
- a wider list of networking standards;
- remote management, access to office printers and shared documents;
- work with the cloud;
- if necessary, for a small fee, this version can be upgraded to Enterprise;
- group policy management.
All of the above functions are not very necessary for an ordinary user and basically simplify doing business, as they relate to working with documents. In principle, with specialized software and proper use, the Pro version can also solve problems for large businesses, although there is a separate assembly for it - Enterprise.
In general, both in the Pro version and in Home, the basic components are the same, the difference is only in business tools.
If the average user doesn't need the business components, then the home edition will do just fine. But the professional version is also suitable for the home.
As for the price, then for both versions it is, to put it mildly, not at all democratic. There are two ways to purchase - either update an existing one, or download a system image from the official website. The version to which the system is updated depends on the pre-installed OS.
But soon the term of the free Windows update will end and you will still have to purchase it. By the way, if the user has an old system of the Enterprise category, then you will not be able to use the free upgrade option.
Read in the review how the versions of Windows 10 differ - Home, Pro, Enterprise or Education. Which one should you choose, how to upgrade to the new version.
Microsoft developers have always released several versions of the same operating system. Each of the assemblies differs from each other in terms of available functionality, cost, supported bit depth, and other parameters. Consider what versions exist and which one is better to use on your computer.
Categories of Windows 10 and their general features
The developer divided all Windows 10 builds into 4 categories:
- home;
- Professional (or Pro);
- Enterprise;
- Education.
The above builds refer to the Window 10 desktop OS. Also, Microsoft has developed a version of Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones and tablets.
Versions of WIndows 10, what's in common?
Before proceeding to describe the differences between each category of OS, consider their common features:
- Support for virtual desktops. Windows 10 was the first system from Microsoft that has the built-in ability to work with multiple desktops at once. The user can launch a new workspace with a single button click on the toolbar. Switching between desktop tabs allows you to split your work, but the desktop shortcuts will be the same for all screens;
- Quick start. Now the user does not have to wait a long time for the operating system to turn on. Regardless of the characteristics of the computer, the tenth version of the OS will be launched on average in 10-20 seconds;
- Economical battery consumption. This option is useful for laptops. The system has a built-in battery saving wizard, the use of which allows you to increase the autonomy of a portable device by 20% -30%;
- Cortana Assistant. All versions of Windows 10 allow you to work with a voice assistant. Commands can be voiced both for searching data on a computer and for surfing the Internet. There is support for the Russian language. Also, Cortana recognizes more than 20 different dialects of English and will understand you even if you speak with an accent;
- Multitasking. Windows 10 is better than other operating systems from Microsoft for multitasking. This means that you can run several "heavy" programs and games at the same time without significantly slowing down your PC. All tasks are uniformly loaded in RAM;
- Preinstalled Windows Defender. Standard Windows Defender monitors all threats in real time, scans executable files and immediately warns the user about malware. Windows Defender is a great replacement for classic antivirus if you use an operating system at home. Thus, there is no need to buy expensive antiviruses;
- Personalization. The user can fully customize the desktop to fit their needs. Move the toolbar, adjust the size of shortcuts, appearance start menu and many other options.
Also, in each version of the system there is a pre-installed new browser from Microsoft - MS Edge. The browser is characterized by maximum compatibility with the OS, fast operation, no bugs and errors, a pleasant interface and the option to create notes directly on the screen of a web page.
You will be able to work with all of the above features of Windows 10, no matter which OS version you choose.
Windows 10 price range
The official cost of each of the OS versions is indicated in dollars. Please note that online stores or other points of sale may slightly increase the retail price (10%-20% on average). Also, the price in the territory of the Russian Federation depends on the dollar exchange rate.
Prices (taken from the official website Microsoft.com):
- Home - $119.19;
- Professional - 199.99;
- The Enterprise version is provided in the form of a paid subscription, which is purchased separately for each user. The annual subscription cost is $84. It is possible to purchase the software monthly for $7 for one PC;
- Education - $99.99. Also, this version is distributed free of charge to universities from around the world that are members of the DreamSpark project.
Windows 10 Mobile and Mobile Enterprise editions are free for users of Microsoft (Nokia) smartphones and tablets.
Let's take a closer look at the features of each assembly of Windows 10 OS.
Windows 10 Home
This version of the operating system is intended for private use. Perfect for installation on a home PC or laptop. The Home build is the most common, since it is with it that most computers and laptops are sold around the world.
Windows 10 Home supports all the basic features mentioned earlier and comes with Defender pre-installed. The system lacks utilities and applications that are not useful to the average user. Also, the developer removed support for encrypted file system and network administration settings. This made it possible to significantly speed up the operation of the OS and make it even more accessible to low-performance PCs.
Note that the lack of hard disk encryption does not mean that the operating system is not secure. All user files and executable programs are scanned by the Firewall, and the OS update service always regularly installs the latest security and bug fixes on the PC.
Windows 10 Enterprise
Ideal version of Windows for business. Today, tens of thousands of businesses around the world use Windows 10 Enterprise. Its advantage lies in the fact that the built-in system tools are able to provide all the necessary software tools for both a small company and entire corporations and companies with many branches and.
The advantage of this version of the system is its cost. It is more profitable to buy an Enterprise subscription for each computer for the required period than to install a professional version on all devices.
As for the Enterprise functionality, it differs from the professional version of the system (in which all management tools are available) only in the absence of a pre-installed MS Edge browser. If necessary, the browser can be downloaded from the official application store from Microsoft.
Among the features of the assembly, one can single out the means of team interaction. The most important ones are:
- BranchCache is a utility that speeds up the process of finding and installing the latest updates;
- The Credential Guard Utility and Device Guard services are software, whose task is to create a data protection system for the hard disk, RAM, incoming traffic, network environment;
- Direct Access is a system utility with which the administrator local network, with which you can set up remote control between two gadgets.
Windows 10 Pro
According to the developer, the professional build of the OS is also designed to work on home PCs and laptops. It is only suitable for advanced users who need to install business applications, virtualization and administration tools.
Distinctive characteristics:
- Enhanced information security system (BitLocker). Thanks to the built-in ability to encrypt all files that are stored in disk space, you can not worry that someone will hack into your PC and gain unauthorized access to the contents of the disk;
- The Hyper V utility is a built-in component for virtualization. With its help, you can install and test the operation of other operating systems directly in the window of an existing Windows 10;
- Built-in remote desktop option (Remote Desktop);
- A service for interacting with cloud storages, an application store, and a service for updating business application settings.
Windows 10 Education
The Education build is designed specifically for use by students and classrooms in educational institutions. It is also focused on working with business programs, has MS Office installed.
Feature support:
- Direct Access - organization of remote access between two computers on the network;
- Simplified cloud hosting setup;
- Built-in hard disk and RAM protection mechanisms.
In general, the capabilities of the "educational" version of Windows are similar to the Enterprise version, only the Cortana voice assistant is missing.
Mobile versions Windows OS
All versions of mobile builds are intended exclusively for use by individuals on smartphones and tablets. Assemblies are distributed free of charge and are already installed in the purchased gadget. If it is necessary to use the corporate version, the user can install it himself using the instructions on the Microsoft.com website.
Features of mobile versions:
- Support for interaction with touch screens;
- Continuum option, with which the user can enter the contents of the screen of a mobile gadget on the display of another compatible device;
- Pre-installed for working with documents and electronic presentations.
All updates to mobile builds are done over the air. To check for new software, go to the system settings, section "Update and Security", and install the available components.
How to find out the installed version of Windows 10?
You can find out which version and build of Windows 10 is installed on your PC using the built-in components. Follow instructions:
- Open the system notification center and click on the "All settings" field;
- In the new window, click on "System";
- In the right part of the window, select the "About" section. Then, on the right side of the screen, find the "Issue" and "Version" field.
OS update
To update your operating system, open the options window again as described in the previous section and click on the Update & Security tile.
Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet. Click on the "Check for Update" button. After receiving data from the Microsoft server, a field will appear with a notification about the need to update the system. If your PC has the latest update installed, no messages will appear as a result of the scan.
To install the update, click on the "Restart Now" button. When the system is restarted, new components will be installed.
In the options window, the user can configure automatic detection and installation of notifications.
Windows 10 Versions - Key Differences
In conclusion, let's summarize all editions of Windows 10 and their main characteristics:
- Home is the version with the most truncated functionality. It will be installed even on a low-performance PC and is perfect for home use;
- Enterprise is the corporate build type that the developer recommends using in the enterprise. Supports all the features of a professional build, but without the Edge browser;
- Education – OS category for use in educational institutions;
- Professional is the most complete and expensive version of the OS. Supports all administration tools, work with network environment and has a strong security system for the file system and user data. There is a pre-installed MS Edge;
- Mobile - assembly for mobile devices;
- Mobile Enterprise - version for use by mobile corporate devices.
Share in the comments which build of Windows 10 is installed on your PC and why you chose it.
The recent announcement of a fresh operating system from Redmond caused a big wave of discussion among our readers. The ability to upgrade for free, collect information about users, replace the seemingly eternal Internet Explorer browser, and even joke about Bill Gates' ability to count to ten, all this became the subject of active discussion and debate. Nevertheless, today we will focus on a slightly different question that is primarily of interest to the gaming community: “so, what can the “ten” do in games?”
Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when considering installing Windows 10 is that its main trump card - DirectX 12 - is still not available. The first games using the new set of APIs should appear towards the end of 2015, but so far the only application that can demonstrate the potential of DirectX 12 is Futuremark's synthetic benchmark. Therefore, at this stage, we will compare the operating systems from Microsoft in games that are currently popular, find out how quickly and efficiently the developers of drivers for video cards work, and try to understand whether it makes sense to upgrade to Windows 10 right now, if most of the time it takes PC you spend, mastering the virtual worlds.
Test Methodology
The main test participants were three Windows operating systems of the latest generations: Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64, Windows 8.1 Pro x64, Windows 10 Pro x64. The official image of each OS was installed on a GoodRAM SSD Iridium Pro 240GB solid state drive, after which all available updates from their Windows Update were downloaded. Similarly, they set latest versions drivers for hardware components. The role of graphics adapters was taken over by ASUS MATRIX-GTX980-P-4GD5 and MSI R9 290X Lightning, which made it possible to use accelerators from two different camps. Both video cards, together with the central Intel processor Core i5-4690K did not succumb to additional overclocking and functioned at the nominal frequency set by the manufacturer.
The complete test bench configuration looks like this:
- processor: Intel Core i5-4690K (3.5 GHz, 6 MB);
- cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Flex (NF-A15 PWM fan, 140mm);
- motherboard: MSI Z87M Gaming (Intel Z87);
- RAM: GoodRAM GY1600D364L10/16GDC (2x8 GB, 1600 MHz, 10-10-10-28-1T);
- video card #1: ASUS MATRIX-GTX980-P-4GD5 (GeForce GTX 980);
- graphics card #2: MSI R9 290X Lightning (Radeon R9 290X);
- system drive: GoodRAM SSD Iridium Pro 240GB (240 GB, SATA 6 Gb/s);
- secondary storage: ADATA SX900 256GB (256GB, SATA 6Gb/s);
- power supply: Chieftec CTG-750C (750 W);
- monitor: LG 23MP75HM-P (1920x1080, 23″);
- operating system #1: Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64;
- operating system #2: Windows 8.1 Pro x64;
- operating system #3: Windows 10 Pro x64;
- GeForce driver: NVIDIA GeForce 355.60;
- Radeon driver: ATI Catalyst 15.7.1.
All available graphics settings are set to high. Additionally, the command was written in the console fps_max 0 to remove the built-in fps limit. The test scene covers the beginning of the game: running around the map, starting rune control, a fight in the mid lane.
In GTA V, the maximum image quality parameters are selected, MSSA 2x anti-aliasing and tessellation are used. Additionally, the options for loading detailed objects and shadows at a longer distance are activated.
The game version is 1.07. Preset - "Outrageous quality." All additional options are included except for proprietary technologies from NVIDIA: HBAO + and NVIDIA HairWorks. The test scene is a horse ride through the ruined village at the beginning of the game, with a total duration of 60 seconds.
Image quality is high. Disabled additional options such as HBAO+ and "depth of field".
The frame rate was measured based on the results of the in-game benchmark. Graphics settings according to the "Ultra" preset without any changes.
Screen resolution - 100% (1920x1080 pixels). Maximum graphics settings, including MSAA 4x anti-aliasing and SSAO lighting processing algorithm.
Image profile - "maximum", SMAA anti-aliasing and lighting processing according to SSBC technology.
Ultra-image quality preset. Testing took place both with the help of an in-game benchmark and with the participation of the Fraps program. The latter helped to more accurately determine the minimum fps.
The game version is 9.9. Once again, all sliders are set according to the preset “Maximum” profile.
The in-game test "Tank battle" was used as a test scene. The mode of "cinematic" quality of the picture. Anti-aliasing is enabled in 6x mode. Test results
Before proceeding to the analysis of the test results, it is necessary to clarify the issue of short-term fps drops in games when using Windows 10, which some users experience. In my case, a similar situation could be observed in Battlefield 4 and Grand Theft Auto V. The solution turned out to be quite simple - just disable the Windows Update Delivery Optimization (WUDO) p2p update system, which is basically active in Home and Pro versions. You can do this in the Windows Update settings section. I can’t 100% say that this is the reason, but the actions described above ensured that there were no lags in gaming applications throughout the entire testing.
The final 3DMark Fire Strike graph can be safely used in an advertising campaign aimed at supporting a new product. Regardless of the chosen video card, we managed to get uniform “ladders”, indicating the superiority of newer OS versions over their predecessors, provided that the PC configuration is absolutely identical. In practice, the situation is somewhat different, as we will see in the course of the material.
The first real gaming application immediately showed mixed results. The video card from NVIDIA managed to improve its performance in the Windows 10 environment relative to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. The maximum advantage reaches 9.7%. A more interesting situation has developed with a representative from the red camp: the best minimum fps was also achieved in Windows 10, while the average fps was higher in the older "seven". Windows 8.1, in this case, got the position of an outsider.
In Grand Theft Auto V, the Radeon R9 290X shows, though not a large, but stable increase in fps in new generations of the OS. For the GeForce GTX 980, similar behavior is typical only with respect to the value of the minimum frame rate, where the gaps are already more noticeable and range from 15% between Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 to an impressive 28.3% between the “ten” and “seven”. Windows 8.1 closes the chart again.
The results obtained in one of the best RPG games of 2015 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - are very dense. For the Radeon R9 290X, the difference was only one frame per second, which can be attributed to a possible error. The GeForce GTX 980 is most productive paired with Windows 10, which provides it with an 8.1% handicap over the popular Windows 7 in terms of the minimum fps value.
In general, the environment in Dying Light is similar to what we saw in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, only now the difference in the results of the GeForce GTX 980 is more obvious. Windows 7 is able to provide a minimum fps of 77 frames per second, in the Windows 8.1 environment this figure is already 83 fps, and Windows 10 guarantees an increase of another 4 frames. For the Radeon R9 290X, the operating system used does not play a significant role.
So we got to one of the most talked about games on Windows 10. As difficult as it is to guess, the reason for the negative on the part of users was the lower level of performance in the environment of the new operating system from Microsoft. Our testing partly confirms this. The graphs show a 7% drop in GeForce GTX 980 performance on average, both in terms of minimum and average fps. If an accelerator from AMD is installed in your system, then on the contrary, you can count on an additional boost of 1-3%.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is the first game where the benefits of installing Windows 10 will be immediately noticeable "by eye", though this only applies to owners of AMD graphics adapters. The minimum frame rate increased from 45.5 fps to 66.18 fps, which is a 45% increase. To verify the reliability of the result, the built-in benchmark was repeated more than ten times and even the game was reinstalled - the data was confirmed. The GeForce GTX 980 turned out to be completely indifferent to the version of the installed operating system.
In Far Cry 4, the GeForce GTX 980 card, running Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, showed parity of results, but both systems lost to the speed of the "seven". Get the most out of the Radeon R9 290X with Windows 10 or Windows 7. It seems that Windows 8.1 is not the best choice for a gamer today.
For tankers, Windows 10, like its older sister Windows 8.1, is not of particular interest. At best, performance will be at the level of proven Windows 7, and at worst, performance will decrease by 6-8%.
New test participant
If we have already undertaken to test the current operating systems, then it is worth remembering one more participant - an alternative for Windows promoted by Valve. We are talking, of course, about SteamOS. Per Last year the park of games available for this operating system has expanded significantly. Increasingly, you can find announcements of new games, the release of which is scheduled for two competing platforms at once.
Since SteamOS is based on Linux, DirectX resources are not available to it as such, but the winner in the confrontation "OpenGL vs DirectX" is already known. In any case, we compared the capabilities of SteamOS in two computer games ah, more recent than Metro Last Light and Half Life 2. They were a simulator of vehicles from the Second World War War Thunder and the steampunk first-person shooter BioShock Infinite. The decisive factor in the choice of test applications was the fact that these games have built-in benchmarks in their assets, because there is no full-fledged analogue of the Fraps utility for SteamOS yet.
First, let's deal with the productivity of platforms from Microsoft. In the case of the GeForce GTX 980, Windows 10 turned out to be 2-5% faster than Windows 7. The final fps of Windows 8 is somewhere in the middle. The Radeon R9 290X runs Windows 7 more quickly, outperforming its peers by an average of 3%.
As for SteamOS, it lags and lags noticeably. An average frame rate of 41 fps can be achieved on a significantly cheaper graphics card than the R9 290X when playing under Microsoft's OS. And in general, Radeon products are definitely not the best choice for building a Steam Machine. Problems arise already at the stage of installing the operating system, when SteamOS cannot independently select the correct video driver, and in order to somehow increase the level of performance, you have to update it manually through the terminal.
In BioShock Infinite, Windows 7 proved to be the sole leader. It noticeably breaks away from competitors in terms of the minimum fps, whether it's the GeForce GTX 980 or the Radeon R9 290X. SteamOS is limping on both legs and the graphs eloquently reflect this. The lag behind products from Redmond can reach 73%.
Analytics
Analyzing the graphs presented in the review, it becomes clear that the leader can change depending on the specific test application. A lot depends on the installed video card and the video drivers it uses. Therefore, to make it easier for readers to make a decision about the advisability of switching to Windows 10, a general histogram of the "Total Average FPS" was built.
Final average fps
What do we have as a result? Windows 8.1 gets the status of an outsider in the eyes of gamers. It is rather strange that the operating system, released back in 2013, could not surpass the level of its predecessor. Windows 7, on the contrary, feels cheerful and confident. She became the leader in performance when the system was installed radeon video card R9 290X and slightly behind in tests with the GeForce GTX 980.
About Windows 10, despite the early stage of its life cycle, nothing bad can be said. It is somewhere faster, somewhere slower than the “old woman” Windows 7, but in general it is on the same level with it. Further improvement of the new OS by Microsoft engineers, together with support from developers of video drivers for current graphics adapters, will unequivocally secure the leadership position for Windows 10. The only sad thing is that in order to achieve this goal, Microsoft itself resorts to not entirely humane methods, removing Windows 7 and 8.1 from the list of supported platforms for its exclusives. The implementation of DirectX 12 is certainly a step forward, but a shadow of doubt about the artificial nature of the restriction still remains.
Speaking of DirectX 12. At the beginning of the article, we mentioned that there is a test that can demonstrate the potential of the API, and we tested our equipment in it.
The advantage of DirectX 12 over DirectX 11 (both in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode) is really huge, but the gap from Mantle is not so big, only 14.6%. In any case, the data obtained should not be taken at face value. This does not in any way mean that in the near future we will witness a tenfold increase in fps in computer games, which can already be seen today in the example of Battlefield 4 using Mantle technology.
conclusions
The Windows 10 operating system from Microsoft has established itself as a fast and stable platform for gaming. First of all, owners of Windows 8.1 should think about the possibility of an upgrade, for whom such a step will mean a free increase in performance in a number of gaming applications, and the control interface will seem familiar and familiar. For adherents of the “folk” Windows 7, there are no good reasons to switch to a new OS yet. The mass update among the participants in this category is likely to fall at the end of 2015 - the beginning of 2016, when several interesting projects with DirectX 12 support will be released.
In the end, I would like to touch on the issue of the further development of the SteamOS platform. It is quite difficult to find and highlight any benefits from buying or collecting a Steam Machine yourself. The main problems are the lower performance of system components in gaming applications, a limited list available games, difficulties in compatibility with video cards from AMD. If the user is faced with the task of getting some analogue of the game console, where the keyboard and mouse will not be in demand, then installing Windows and activating the Big Picture mode in the Steam client looks much more promising, because as soon as you need to customize SteamOS for yourself, you will have to not only connect the hated keyboard, but also get acquainted with the list of commands for the Linux terminal.
Microsoft has always divided its operating systems into different versions. They differed from each other in capabilities depending on the needs of users in different areas. Understanding the differences between different editions of Windows 10 will help you choose the edition that best suits your needs.
Different versions of Windows 10
In total, there are four main versions of the Windows 10 operating system: these are Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro (Professional), Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education. In addition to them, there is also Windows 10 Mobile and a number of additional editions of the main versions.
Common features of different versions of Windows 10
Now all major versions of Windows 10 contain multiple identical components:
- personalization options - the days when the possibilities of versions were intentionally limited relative to each other, not even allowing you to customize the desktop for yourself in some versions of the system, are far gone;
- Windows Defender and built-in firewall - each version is protected from malware by default, providing the minimum acceptable level of security for networking;
- Cortana is a voice assistant for working with a computer. Previously, this would have definitely become the property of only a separate version;
- built-in browser Microsoft Edge - a browser designed to replace the outdated Internet Explorer;
- quick turn on of the system;
- opportunities for economical consumption of food;
- switching to portable mode;
- multitasking;
- virtual desktops.
That is all key features Windows 10 will be yours regardless of which version you choose.
Table: basic functions of Windows 10 in various versions
| Basic Components | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Enterprise | Windows 10 Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customizable Start Menu | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Windows Defender and Windows Firewall | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Quick Start with Hyberboot and InstantGo | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| TPM Support | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Battery saving | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Windows Update | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Cortana personal assistant | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Ability to speak or type naturally | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Personal and initiative proposals | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Reminders | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Search the web, device, and cloud | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Hands-Free Activation "Hey Cortana" | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Windows Hello authentication system | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Natural fingerprint recognition | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Natural face and iris recognition | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Enterprise-grade security | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| multitasking | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Snap Assist (up to four apps on one screen) | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Pinning apps to different screens and monitors | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Virtual desktops | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Continuum | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Switching from PC Mode to Tablet Mode | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Microsoft Edge browser | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Reading View | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Built-in handwriting support | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Cortana integration | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Features of each version of Windows 10
Let's take a closer look at each of the major versions of Windows 10 and its features.
Windows 10 Home
The "home" version of the operating system is intended for private use. It is she who is installed by most ordinary users on home machines and laptops. This system contains the basic features mentioned above and offers nothing more than that. However, this is more than enough for comfortable use of the computer. And the absence of unnecessary utilities and services, those that are not useful to you for private use of the system, will only have a positive effect on its performance. Probably the only inconvenience for the average user in the Home version of the system will be the lack of a choice of how to update.
Windows 10 Professional
This operating system is also intended for use at home, but is presented in a slightly different price segment. We can say that the version is intended for private entrepreneurs or small business owners. This is reflected both in the price of the current version and in the features it provides. The following features can be distinguished:
- data protection - the ability to encrypt files on the disk is supported;
- support for Hyper-V virtualization - the ability to run virtual servers and implement application virtualization;
- communication between devices with this version of the operating system - it is possible to link several computers into a convenient working network for joint tasks;
- choice of update method - the user himself decides which updates he wants to install. In addition, in this version, more flexible settings for the update process itself are possible, up to disabling it for an indefinite period (In the "Home" version, you have to resort to a number of tricks for this).
An even more advanced version for business, this time for a large one. This enterprise operating system is used by many large enterprises around the world. Not only does it contain all the business features that the Professional version offers, but it goes deeper in that direction. Many things are being improved in the field of team communication and security. Here are just a few of them:
- Credential Guard and Device Guard - applications that increase the protection of the system and data on it several times;
- Direct Access - a program that allows you to set up direct remote access to another computer;
- BranchCache is a setting that speeds up the process of downloading and installing updates.
In the Enterprise version, everything is made for corporations and large businesses
Windows 10 Education
Almost all features of this version are close to Enterprise. That's justThis operating system is aimed not at corporations, but at educational institutions. It is installed in universities and lyceums. Hence the only important difference is the lack of support for some corporate functions.
Windows 10 Education is built for schools
Other versions of Windows 10
In addition to the main versions, two mobile ones can also be distinguished:
- Windows 10 Mobile - this operating system is designed for phones from Microsoft and some other devices that support Windows operating systems. The main difference, of course, is in the interface and capabilities of the mobile device;
- Windows 10 Mobile for business is a version of the mobile operating system that has a number of advanced settings data security and more extensive update customization. Some are supported additional features for business, albeit in a very limited way compared to operating systems for personal computers.
And there are also a number of versions that are not intended for private use at all. For example, Windows IoT Core is used in many terminals installed in public places.
Choosing a version of Windows 10 for home and work
Which version of Windows 10 is better for work, Professional or Enterprise, depends on the size of your business. For most not big companies opportunities The Pro version will be more than enough, while for serious business you will definitely need the corporate version.
For home use, it is worth choosing between Windows 10 Home and the same Windows 10 Professional. The fact is that although the home version seems ideal for installation on your personal computer, an experienced user may not have enough additional tools. Still, the Pro version offers a few more features, and even if you don't need them regularly, having them on hand is quite useful. But by installing the Home version as well, you won't lose much. You will still have access to Windows Hello and other Windows 10 features.
Table: Availability of features and services in different versions of Windows 10
| Components and Services | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Enterprise | Windows 10 Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Device Encryption | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Joining a domain | √ | √ | √ | |
| Group Policy Management | √ | √ | √ | |
| bitlocker | √ | √ | √ | |
| Internet Explorer in Enterprise Mode (EMIE) | √ | √ | √ | |
| Assigned Access Mode | √ | √ | √ | |
| Remote Desktop | √ | √ | √ | |
| Hyper-V | √ | √ | √ | |
| Direct Access | √ | √ | ||
| Windows To Go Creator | √ | √ | ||
| AppLocker | √ | √ | ||
| BranchCache | √ | √ | ||
| Controlling the Start Screen with Group Policy | √ | √ | ||
| Downloading non-published business applications | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Mobile device management | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Azure Active Directory join with single sign-on to cloud applications | √ | √ | √ | |
| Windows Store for Organizations | √ | √ | √ | |
| Granular UX control | √ | √ | ||
| Easily upgrade from Pro to Enterprise | √ | √ | ||
| Easy upgrade from Home to Education version | √ | √ | ||
| Microsoft Passport | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Enterprise Data Protection | √ | √ | √ | |
| Credential Guard | √ | √ | ||
| Device Guard | √ | √ | ||
| Windows Update | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Windows Update for Business | √ | √ | √ | |
| Current Branch for Business | √ | √ | √ | |
| Long Term Servicing Branch | √ |
Recommendations for choosing an operating system for a laptop and home computer
Most professionals agree that if you choose regardless of the cost of the operating system, then Windows 10 Pro will the best choice for installation on a laptop or home computer. After all, this is the most full version systems for home use. More advanced Enterprise and Education are needed for business and study, so it makes no sense to install them at home or use them for games.
If you want Windows 10 to reach its full potential at home, then go for the Pro edition. It is replete with all kinds of devices and professional applications, the knowledge of which will help you use the system with maximum comfort.
Choosing a Windows 10 build for games
If we talk about using Windows 10 for games, the difference between the Pro and Home builds is minimal. But at the same time, both versions have access to the standard features of Windows 10 in this area. Here are the following possibilities:
- Xbox Store Access - Every version of Windows 10 has access to xbox store apps. You can not only buy games for Xbox one, but also play. When playing, the image from your console will be transferred to the computer;
- Windows store with games - in the Windows store itself, there are also many games for this system. All games are optimized and use Windows 10 as a launch platform, getting the most out of the resources used;
- game bar - by pressing the Win + G key combination, you can call up the Windows 10 game bar. There you can take screenshots and share them with friends. In addition, there are other functions depending on your devices. For example, if you have a fairly powerful video card, it is possible to record the gameplay and save it to the cloud storage;
- support for resolutions up to 4 thousand pixels - this allows you to get incredible image quality.
In addition, soon all Windows 10 builds will receive Game Mode, a special game mode where computer resources will be distributed to games in the best possible way. And also an interesting innovation for games appeared as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update. This update was released in April and, in addition to many creative features, includes a built-in game broadcasting function - now users do not have to use third-party solutions to start streaming. This will bring the popularity of streams as media content to new level and make this process more accessible to all users. Regardless of which build you choose, Home or Professional, in any case, you will have access to many gaming features of the Windows 10 system.
Video: comparison of editions of different versions of the Windows 10 operating system
After carefully examining the various builds of Windows, it becomes clear that there are no superfluous ones among them. Each version is used in a particular area and will find its own user group. And information about their differences will help you decide on the choice of operating system for your needs.
Which version of windows 10 to choose? What rank? Which one is best for gaming and which one for mining? What to pay attention to Special attention when choosing? All this, and the rest that interests many users, we will analyze in this article.
Which version to choose 32 or 64 bit?
Depending on the bitness, there are 32 and 64-bit operating systems.
The 32-bit system is designed for computers with up to 4GB of RAM. 64-bit, respectively, for computers with RAM from 4GB and above, up to 192GB.
You can view the amount of RAM on the computer in the properties of the system (computer).
As for performance, modern processors (AMD or Intel) support both bit depths. But it makes no sense to install x64 on “old” computers, some commands may be missing, and accordingly this can have a bad effect on performance.
The most popular build for regular users
An assembly is a modified windows image that removes unnecessary features. As a rule, in such builds all services are removed to increase performance and speed.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages based on the popular build of windows 10 uralsoft.
Advantages:
- small size of the image and the system as a whole;
- hacked windows, that is, an activation key is not required;
- increased speed of work;
- The assembly already includes all the necessary programs and settings for greater convenience.
Flaws:
- possible registry errors;
- not stable operation of the system due to the removal of services.
It is worth noting that a lot depends on the assembler, there are assemblies with many disadvantages and only a small part of the advantages, but there is one where one disadvantage crosses out all the advantages. Therefore, choosing windows by assembly is not the best option.
This is what a popular assembly from Uralsoft looks like.
Which version of Windows to choose for games
For game lovers, windows 10 home is the way to go. This is the basic version that is installed by default, but with limited features compared to windows 10 pro. Using encryption, remote access, group policy is not possible in this version.
However, in the home version, it is possible to open games from Xbox one. It is worth noting that programs for windows 7 and 8 work correctly in windows 10.
Which version of Windows to choose for mining
Windows 10 Pro is a popular version of the OS designed for business applications. Suitable for small companies or home users. Everything you need is already included in this version - disk encryption, remote access and other features.
Windows 10 Enterprise is another version of windows 10 for mining, designed for large companies. Unlike previous versions, it is used exclusively for business applications. Worth noting are features such as Applocker for policy setting and BranchCache, which improves the flow of downloads and updates. There is the possibility of remote access without enabling VPN, there is cloud hosting.
It should be noted other equally useful versions of windows 10.
Windows 10 Mobile. The name itself says that the OS is intended primarily for mobile devices. It is possible to connect to an external display. It should be noted that users who have a smartphone based on windows phone should upgrade to windows 10.
The image above shows an example of displaying the mobile version.
Windows 10 Education is a version of the operating system for students and universities. The functions are the same as the Enterprice version. The difference is that this version should be connected to tablets, netbooks and smartphones with a diagonal of less than 8 inches.
