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Microsoft has revealed that there will be just three editions of the firm’s upcoming next-gen Windows; Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT, the new name for the ARM version.
The software giant is moving some of the features traditionally reserved for the professional version of Windows into the standard Windows 8 including the ability to switch the desktop display language on the fly.
However like Windows 7, the ability to host a Remote Desktop session will be reserved for the pricier Windows 8 Pro, along with enterprise features such as joining a domain, group policies and encrypted file systems.
Windows RT is now the name for what Microsoft was previously calling Windows on ARM. Touch-optimised Office productivity software including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote are now confirmed as part of Windows RT as standard.
The RT stands for ‘run time’ which Microsoft said "forms the foundation of a new generation of cloud-enabled, touch-enabled, web-connected apps of all kinds." We’re not really sure what’s up with that either. Why can’t they just call it Windows 8 ARM?
Microsoft promised to reveal information on pricing and promotions in "the coming months."
The company reminded customers that they can download a preview of Windows 8 where they can discover the full horror of the Metro UI for themselves. Or maybe they might even like it?
