Which version of Windows 10 to install for games. Which Windows is best for computer games. Adobe Photoshop launch monitoring

Do I need to switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10? Maybe, well, these innovations and beauty? Or still keep up with the times? This is a question that confuses many of today's Windows users.

Comparison of Windows 10 and Windows 7

As an example, take any laptop with very decent performance, for example, Samsung R60Y+. Don't be scared by the fact that this model is 9 years old - it's a machine with a dual-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. Windows 8/8.1/10 runs very quickly on it, which cannot be said about inexpensive and weak netbooks: one of these is the Acer Aspire One 521 with its conventional processor and only 1 GB of RAM.

Windows 10 and Windows 7 performance

For comparison, we took a PC with the following equipment:

Startup and behavior when turning on the PC

Windows 8 and 10 versions load faster. This is not a file-by-file loading of the operating system kernel, as was the case until Windows 7, but loading of the last successfully completed session with working settings and user data. Starting Windows “from scratch” every time you turn on the PC is a thing of the past for operating systems: this method wore out internal drives faster (SSD drives and LiveUSB bootable flash drives, which are less wear-resistant than a simple HDD, suffered especially) and greatly overloaded the RAM and processor.

After booting, Windows 7 shows the classic desktop and taskbar with the Windows main menu. In Windows 8.x, the Start button was hidden, but in Windows 10 it was made more accessible, as in earlier versions of Windows. Most tools for configuring and debugging Windows 10 are still readily available and will be discussed below.

To begin with, the BootRacer program measures the time it takes the OS to start - from the appearance of the Microsoft logo to the display of the Windows desktop.

If the Windows 7 shell had not started from scratch every time, it would have started in just 3–4 seconds. And this on PC with very impressive performance!

Switch to Standby/Hibernate and Hibernate Windows

The first mode that allowed you to safely stop Windows without closing programs or losing data was hibernation - saving the entire current session on drive C. The more advanced the version of Windows, the less time it takes to execute the hibernation command.

The older the system, the longer it takes to go into hibernation mode; the best time - 21 seconds - was shown by Windows 10

Windows hybrid sleep mode - a cross between hibernation and regular sleep mode - takes slightly less time, and this is also where Windows 10's superiority can be seen.

Windows 7 and 10 system requirements for PC

The values ​​given below for RAM, video card memory, CPU and space in the system partition (in the case of using one version of Windows, this is usually partition C:) must be exceeded at least twice, otherwise this is not work on the computer, but torture.

Windows 7/10 computer requirements - table

The main factor is the PC bit capacity. Changing Windows 7 to 10 makes sense, for example, in the following situations:

Which version of Windows is best for gaming?

It is necessary that the game does not freeze anywhere - and it does not matter whether it is single-player or multiplayer. Who would like a laptop that is overheated to capacity and makes noise at half the apartment with its fans at night, in which your favorite World of Tanks or Call of Duty Black Ops constantly freezes, control of the main character is lost, and you are killed in the game in an easy place?!

Windows 7, 8 and 10 are only slightly ahead of each other - if only there was a powerful and fast “stuffing” of a computer or tablet. Most games of the last decade require at least Windows Vista, otherwise you are unlikely to play GTA-4/5 or the latest World of Warcraft on them.

An example is the game Tomb Raider. No noticeable increase in loading speed was found.

There is a slight lag between Windows 10 and Windows 7 in the games Metro Redux and Crysis 3.

Which version of Windows runs faster applications for work tasks?

As in games, the hardware itself decides a lot here. For example, when you launch the programs Download Master, Firefox Portable, Adobe Photoshop, Avant Browser and some others, a splash screen (cover) of the application appears on the screen for a second or two, which you are unlikely to speed up - these programs are so configured, they maintain the interval for displaying this splash screen before opening your main working window. This is reminiscent, for example, of the intro of a Call of Duty or Grand Turismo game, but, unlike desktop applications, you can interrupt the demo video and start the game by pressing Enter or clicking the mouse.

Labor productivity is important here. If for you a computer is not a toy, but a means of earning money, applications should work quickly - for example, Microsoft Office does not slow down when typing documents; the printer, scanner, copier, etc. work quickly; The enterprise local network does not “fall off” and does not slow down.

Launching Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge

Internet Explorer 11 and the new Microsoft Edge browser are taken as an example. With each shift, Windows IE gets a little faster. Microsoft is right - Edge is much faster than slow-witted IE.

Internet Explorer is clunky, and yet banks and corporations use it - they don't need Chrome, Opera, or Firefox.

Adobe Photoshop launch monitoring

Throughout its history, Photoshop has accumulated so many software modules, templates, filters and settings that it takes a very long time to launch even on high-speed machines.

Further development of Windows did not greatly affect its launch speed.

How Microsoft Excel performed

Overall, nothing has changed in Excel performance.

This is one of those cases where productivity in work applications does not change for the better.

People's reviews about Windows 10

One fine morning, I came across news about the public availability of Windows 10 from the company Melkosoft. Initially, I was very surprised by the release of the 10th after the 8th, but that’s not the point, I immediately downloaded it and hemorrhoids began, because after a 2-hour installation, a 5-hour search for firewood that would work correctly system, I came across a crude, unfinished system in which even the conductor does not work reliably! Popandos, comrades! The graphical component is very minimalistic and uninteresting, almost everything was ripped off from 8, but a start menu was added, conceptually it’s a mixture of 7 and 8, to be honest, this is of no use, I would say that I’m waiting for a full-fledged version, but it can’t be so after what I saw. Result: Despite the ardent desire to switch to Linux, I rolled back to seven

Qwetyshttp://otzovik.com/review_1424470.html

Since 2013, I have been using the Windows 8.1 operating system and was completely satisfied, but when I saw a discussion of Windows 10 on the Internet on forums, how beautifully people describe how good and convenient it is, I couldn’t resist and went to the official Microsoft website. In general, I downloaded the installation and started installing this system. The installation did not take long, like all windows, it quickly installed, rebooted and then it started... Well, of course, I’ll immediately note that the interface is beautiful, the icons were replaced with more neat ones, the taskbar and the main screen. The screen began to freeze , you are looking for settings to adjust but you can’t understand where they are located, I read on the forums that you need to demolish the previous version and I bought a Windows 10 image with a license key. In general, I formatted the hard drive and installed Windows 10... And it started again... - now I’ll just list What problems did I encounter? The store does not work - there are always errors, the explorer does not work, updates do not work, games and programs do not start - something is always missing from the library... All files that are not enough for the full operation of the PC cannot be found in on the Internet specifically for Windows 10. As a result, Windows 10 was disposed of and the PC was returned to Windows 8.1

Lengushihttp://otzovik.com/review_1955777.html

Good day. Most of us are accustomed to the Windows 7 operating system, so it’s understandable that the transition to Windows 8,8.1 and 10 is met with hostility. After all, you need to get used to the new, but the old has already been studied inside and out. It’s probably strange, but for me personally, it is learning something new that arouses great interest. New is not only new problems, bugs and other crap. New is also a solution to old problems, optimization, improvement, improvements. I have already installed Windows 10 five times, demolished it, returned to 8.1 and 7. But at the moment I have clearly decided to stay on the top ten. It is more convenient, it works many times faster than previous operating systems, and yet it is new. In the end, new versions of programs and games are optimized for it. Games don't interest me at all, but still. There was only one unpleasant moment - an annoying message asking me to upgrade to the top ten, which appeared with updating previous versions of the OS. But even with him it was easy to fight. There was no need to install updates, or it was tedious to remove something from the installed ones. It’s a matter of two minutes. Turning on bluetooth on the keyboard doesn’t work for me, but there’s a very convenient panel here. Just for me. They say that a dozen monitor users and send data to Microsoft. Well yes, that's true. What next? It is stupid for the average user to worry about this. Not everyone is an employee of the FSB or similar organizations. Why such paranoia? Terrorists may need to worry, but ordinary people have no reason to. A fake problem, which by the way can be solved by installing a small patch that destroys all the shit, including the cool thing Cortana. I use it with pleasure. I disabled the standard antivirus and installed my favorite Avast. I don't know any problems. Oh yes, there was one serious problem. I have a folder with films. At the moment, its volume exceeds 400 GB and Windows was not friendly with this folder. The bar at the top took a long time to load. Everything froze. The problem was solved simply, in the folder settings I changed the folder optimization from “video” to “general elements”. It’s strange that she was slow when it came to optimizing for video. But I solved the problem, and this is the main thing. Of course, I recommend this operating system. Fast, attractive, easy to use and configure.

Kosmonaut Mishahttp://otzovik.com/review_2744012.html

Summary: is Windows 10 as necessary as it seems?

So, if you have a lot of free time and want to please your eyes with a new design - go ahead! What will change if the Windows main menu becomes not just a menu, but a tile with large icons and cells of different sizes? You can’t argue with the statistics: more than half of people still love Windows 7 - it works just fine on their computers.

The first requirement for any operating system is functionality, which includes features such as:

The list threatens to become endless. No matter how huge it was, people expected new features, new functions from Windows 10, and not just new screensavers and shiny panels, mosaics and animations, which the “Gates office” never skimped on. Since Microsoft is unlikely to release a new version of Windows (under the name 11 or Prima), all hope is for Windows 10 updates, which will bring to mind what is already there.

Video: Windows 10 settings

Updating Windows to Windows 10 is not that important. If you don’t need the Cortana “voice”, virtual desktops and other “bells and whistles”, stay on Windows 7; in any case, you won’t lose anything either in work or in play.

The Windows 10 operating system has different editions (versions) of the system for use on computers, differing in their functionality. In this article we will dwell in detail on the differences between the editions of Windows 10.

On most computers purchased at retail (laptops, netbooks, all-in-one PCs, hybrid tablets, desktop system units), a certain edition of Windows 10 is already installed by the device manufacturer. In this case, the buyer has no choice; he has to be content with what he has.

Users who buy a device without an operating system (laptop, ready-made system unit, assembled system unit, etc.) independently install any version of the Windows operating system on their computer. Most users choose the modern Windows 10 operating system to install on their computer. Before installing the system, the question arises: which edition of Windows 10 to choose, how do the Windows editions differ from each other?

In this article, we will look at the editions of Windows 10 for PCs and laptops, without affecting the mobile and server versions of Windows. Users who do not know the details about the version of Windows 10 installed on their computer can easily find out the system edition by reading the article.

Since the release of Windows 10 in July 2015, Microsoft has been adding new editions of the operating system from time to time. In addition to being divided into versions, each edition has a build number; build numbers change after installing system updates.

The major versions of Windows 10 are divided into three categories, differing in functionality:

• Windows 10 Home (Windows 10 Home).
• Windows 10 Pro (Windows 10 Professional).
• Windows 10 Enterprise (Windows 10 Enterprise).

Derived categories (subtypes of the main versions) are separated from the main categories of Windows 10, in which the main version has several variants of derivative editions of the system. The choice of Windows 10 edition depends on the needs of a particular user. You will see a comparison of Windows 10 editions with each other in the form of a table at the end of the article.

There is a Windows 10 Insider Preview program to preview new releases of Windows 10. Testing users receive free preview versions of Windows to use on their computers. In return, it receives telemetry about the use of the system, this allows you to check the operation of the system with new functions, identify faults and troubleshoot problems in the next builds of Windows 10.

Only 3 versions of Windows 10 are available for retail sale for installation on new computers:

• Windows 10 S

The Windows 10 Enterprise version is installed on computers only as an upgrade from the Windows 10 Pro edition. Microsoft supplies the remaining versions to equipment manufacturers (PCs, laptops) for installation on devices before selling them to consumers.

The original Windows 10 operating system can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website using the methods described in the article.

Windows 10 Home editions

An edition of Windows 10 has been released for home users, which contains all the basic features of the operating system. At home, you do not need the system functions used in enterprises, so there is no point in overpaying for extra functionality. This edition is well suited for home use. Windows 10 Home edition uses automatic updates.

Versions of Windows 10 for home users are divided into the following editions:

• Windows 10 Home (Windows 10 Home).
• Windows 10 Home for one language (Windows 10 Home Single Language; Windows 10 Home SL; Windows 10 Single Language; Windows 10 SL) - a version similar to the home edition, differing only in that you cannot change the operating system language here. Very often this edition is installed on laptops and netbooks. For manufacturers, this is a cheaper Microsoft licensing option than Windows 10 Home.
• Windows 10 Home with Bing - in this version you cannot change the Bing search engine in browsers and Internet Explorer (nothing prevents you from using a different browser). This edition is installed on some laptops.

Windows 10 Pro editions

For small businesses and home users who need advanced system capabilities, the professional version of Windows 10 is offered, which, in turn, is divided into several editions. This version includes a hypervisor (virtual machine), BitLocker and other system functions.

Professional versions of Windows 10 have the following editions:

• Windows 10 Professional (Windows 10 Pro).
• Windows 10 Pro for educational institutions (Windows 10 Pro Education).
• Windows 10 Pro for Workstations (Windows 10 Pro for workstations) - a version of Windows 10 Pro with expanded hardware support for enterprises with high computing loads.
• Windows 10 S is a version with a special configuration of Windows 10 Pro, which allows applications installed from the Microsoft Store to run. All other programs will not work on this version of the operating system.

Windows 10 Enterprise editions

A corporate version of the system has been created for medium and large businesses. The Windows Enterprise edition has all the features of the professional version, as well as additional features that are relevant for use in enterprises.

The enterprise version of Windows 10 has the following editions:

• Windows 10 Corporate (Windows 10 Enterprise).
• Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing (Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB).
• Windows 10 for educational institutions (Windows 10 Education).

Other versions of Windows 10

There are also several other versions of Windows 10, including:

• Windows 10 IoT (Windows 10 for the Internet of Things) - this version has several editions for installation on industrial equipment (terminals, ATMs, etc.).
• Windows 10 Team - this version is installed on Surface Hub tablets.

Differences between Windows 10 editions

Many users have probably noticed the differences between the editions of Windows 10 with letters at the end of the system version designation.

The letter "N" is added to editions of Windows 10 released for the European Union. The names of the editions are as follows: Windows 10 Home N, Windows 10 Pro N, Windows 10 Enterprise N, etc. The difference from the standard versions is that these versions, at the request of the EU, do not have some applications (Groove music, Windows Media Player, Cinema and TV), which you can add to the OS yourself.

The letters "KN" are added to the South Korean versions of the system. The same applications are missing here. The version designation is as follows: Windows 10 Enterprise KN, Windows 10 Pro KN, Windows 10 Home KN, etc.

A special version of Windows 10 China Government Edition has been released for China for use in government agencies.

The letter combinations “VL”, “OEM”, “COEM”, “GGK”, “GGWA”, “FPP” indicate the types of licenses for Windows.

Comparison of Windows 10 versions in the table

Two editions are optimal for use on personal computers: Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Professional. Using a list showing the capabilities of different editions of Windows 10, it is much easier to choose the best version of the system that suits the requirements of a particular user.

For a visual comparison of versions of Windows 10, look at the table, which displays the main features of the system in different editions: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education.

Conclusions of the article

The Windows 10 operating system is available in different editions, which differ in functionality, depending on consumer needs. The recommended versions for home use are: Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Professional.

Which Windows is better? – this is a very interesting question. But in my opinion it is not entirely correct, since it is not complete. It doesn't fully define what you want to know.

If you are interested in the XP version number, 7, 8, 10, then the answer is obvious. Based on the principle that each subsequent version should be better than the previous one, the answer already suggests itself. Of course, this is Windows 10. At the moment this is the latest version and it is, of course, the coolest. For the newest computers, it should certainly be the best. But questions immediately arise: “Why is it better than the rest?”; "Can it be installed on old computers?"; "Is it possible to install old OSes on new computers?" To understand the essence of our further discussions, you need to know what an Operating System (OS) is, what it consists of and how it works.

From Wikipedia we learn the following definition:
"Operating System, abbreviated OS (from English operating system, OS) is a set of interconnected programs designed to manage computer resources and organize user interaction." In other words, the OS must manage all computer devices and allow you to enter commands and data from input devices such as a keyboard, mouse..., and output the results of command execution to output devices such as a monitor screen or printer.

Composition of the operating system

A modern Operating System consists of 5 important components:

The kernel is the main part of the operating system, which manages all program execution processes and their access to computer resources, and also manages the file system;

Drivers are programs that ensure the operation of all devices and components of a computer;

Operating system configuration files;

Command processor – converts user commands entered from the keyboard into commands understandable to the operating system;

Graphical interface – converts mouse commands into commands understandable to the operating system;

That's all. But why then are the installation packages so large? Yes, because all versions of Windows are not only the operating system itself, but also packages of utilities (applications) - programs that provide convenience for working with the OS. Therefore, each version of Windows differs not so much in the kernel itself as in the software package. And this is especially noticeable in editions of any version of Windows from XP to ten. That's why they differ so much in capabilities and price.

Considering the fact that after version 7, each subsequent operating system (kernel) is a continuation of the previous one, it should be assumed that versions from 7 to 10 differ little from each other and are quite compatible. And this is confirmed by Microsoft itself: all operating systems from Vista to 10 are compatible. Moreover, they are similar in configuration and require a minimum of 1 GB of RAM during installation.

Hence the conclusion is that Windows 7 to 10 as an operating system differ little from each other and there is not much difference in what you want to install. But they differ significantly in the set of programs, settings and appearance (graphic design). The most noticeable difference in OS is the bit depth (32 and 64 bits). It is this that determines on which computer which Windows is best installed.

If the Windows kernel is 32-bit, then the entire software package will be 32-bit. If the kernel is 64-bit, then the package will contain 64-bit programs. Of course, not all programs are 64-bit, but only those that are urgently needed. The rest will still be 32-bit. Since a 64-bit OS allows 32-bit programs to run.

Since the Operating System is not the grace of God, designed to ensure convenient operation of computers, but a business project created to siphon money from users, you need to look at what dirty tricks, or advantages and limitations, or innovations in which package are included. Let's see how different editions of different versions of Windows differ.

Features of Windows 7 editions

Windows Vista and 7 were developed back in the days when there were only a lot of 32-bit processors. Therefore, they were focused primarily on maximizing the use of their capabilities. And some of the capabilities of 64-bit processors were not fully used. I mean support for PAE, NX and SSE2. Perhaps this was done in order to ensure maximum compatibility with the previous version of XP and not scare off Windows fans.

Windows 7 (Starter)

For example, Windows 7 Starter exists only in a 32-bit version and allows you to work with memory amounts only up to 2 GB. This is an absolutely minimalistic package, intended more for cheap netbooks. Yes, these are the restrictions. On the other hand, it has everything you need:
1. Windows Media Player;
2. Improved taskbar and jump lists;
3. Windows Search;
4. Joining a home group;
5. Archiving and recovery;
6. Expanded capabilities for playing media files;
7. Support Center;
8. Device management (Device Stage);
9. Streaming media files, including Play To technology;
10. Bluetooth support;
11. Faxes and scanning;
12. Basic set of games;
13. Credential Manager;
14. Any number of simultaneously running applications; Which Windows is better - Windows 7 Home Basic (Home Basic)

In principle, this edition can be used on weak laptops and especially on netbooks. It is designed for users with minimal requirements and combines reliability and speed with a familiar interface. Surf the Internet. Print documents. Watch films. Listen to music. All this is quite possible. But you can only play light games, mainly from the Windows package. Starter is an OEM version and came pre-installed. I think this is a great solution if money is a problem. But we always want more and better. For me, I would not want to install a disadvantaged version under any circumstances.

Windows 7 (Home Basic)

As I said at the very beginning, each subsequent version is cooler than the previous one. The Windows 7 Home Basic version contains everything that the initial version plus:

15. “Live” thumbnails in the taskbar;
16. Fast user switching;
17. Connect to wireless networks on the fly;
18. Internet connection sharing;
19. Supports multiple monitors;
20. Windows Mobility Center (without presentation mode);

This is the cheapest edition on sale. Some problems were identified in managing equipment connected via USB ports. Because of this, I also do not recommend using it. can fail at the wrong moment.

Windows 7 (Home Premium)

The Windows 7 Home Premium version is even cooler. In addition to all this, it also includes:

21. Glass and advanced navigation in Windows (Aero Shake and Aero Peek);
22. Aero Background;
23. Windows Touch (touch and handwriting input);
24. Creating a home group;
25. Windows Media Center;
26. Playing and editing DVD video;
27. Extended range of games;
28. Scissors, Windows Journal, Sticky Notes;
29. Windows Sideshow (on secondary display);

An excellent solution for most tasks, including games.

Windows 7 (Professional)

30. Location-aware printing;
31. Joining a domain and group policies;
32. Connections to remote desktops (host);
33. Advanced archiving (network and group policies);
34. Encrypting File System (EFS);
35. Windows Mobility Center: presentation mode;
36. Offline folders;
37. Windows XP Mode;

Perhaps the best solution from the entire line. There are all the most necessary applications and nothing superfluous.

Windows 7 (Ultimate)

The coolest configuration among home versions is Windows 7 Ultimate, among professional versions Windows 7 Enterprise. If you don’t go into details, they are almost identical in configuration and differ mainly in the licensing scheme and price. The following features have been added to them:

38. BitLocker and BitLocker To Go;
39.AppLocker;
40. DirectAccess;
41. BranchCache;
42. Multilingual user interface (language packs);
43. “Corporate” search;
44. Improvements in the deployment of virtual environments (VDI);
45. Boot from virtual hard disks (VHD);

Of course, this is an extremely superficial description of the applications and features included in Windows 7. To decide whether you need all this. You need to at least know what is what and what you eat it with. The Internet can help in this matter. It’s a pity that it’s not possible to describe everything in detail in one article.

Comparing the above-described capabilities of different editions of Windows 7 Home Premium will be the best option. It will be more than enough for you.

Before moving on to considering the Windows 8 and 10 kits, I would like to remind you that Windows 8 was developed at a time when only 64-bit processors were already being produced. This is probably why it implemented software support for PAE, NX and SSE2. This increased the security of data and the OS itself. But it led to the incompatibility of the new OS with 32-bit processors.

How to determine if your processor supports PAE, NX and SSE2

Microsoft released the program Coreinfo v3.31, which shows you the mapping between logical processor and physical processor. The topology of the logical processor is hardwired into the program. The compliance of the technologies present in your processor is marked with asterisks. The program is launched from the command line. As a result of its work, you will receive approximately the following information:

In the picture I have highlighted everything that will interest you first. The first two lines are the name and topology of your processor. The next three are NX, PAE and SSE2. All of them should be marked with asterisks as in the figure. And although Microsoft specifies these exact sets of instructions for all 64-bit Windows from 7 to 10 as mandatory, their processor support is only sufficient for Windows 7 and 8. For Windows 8.1 and 10, this is no longer enough. The fact is that in the lists of 64-bit processor instructions there are already more than 75. And old processors, released, say, in 2005, support only 15. Naturally, they physically cannot execute the remaining instructions. Therefore, 64-bit versions of Windows such as 8.1 and 10 will no longer work.

To find out if your old processor is suitable for working with Windows 10 or 8.1, you need to go to the Microsoft page System requirements for installing Windows 10 or 8.1. In the "Processor" line, find the word highlighted in blue. This is a link to the Windows Processor Requirements page. On this page below the text there are tables of correspondence between Windows versions from 7 to 10 groups of processors. Knowing the name of your processor on the Internet, you can find enough details about it and then compare it with the entries in the table.

Features of Windows 8 and 8.1 editions

Now let's look at the capabilities of the Windows 8 and 8.1 editions. Initially, Windows 8 was developed exclusively for mobile devices with touch screens and was called Windows 8 RT (RunTime). It includes sensor-optimized versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote.

Then came Windows 8 and Windows 8 PRO for desktop computers with enhanced touchscreen capabilities. Edition 8 includes everything that is available in Windows 7 Home Premium. And the PRO edition is equal to Windows 7 Ultimate. Both versions do not contain MS Office components.

It turned out that the initial ideas were not implemented as well as desired. And how I want money. Therefore, a new version 8.1 appeared very quickly. With her, everything is practically the same, only supposedly improved. And the Windows 8.1 Enterprise edition was added, which is equal in composition and capabilities to the previous PRO edition. And the PRO edition and simply 8.1 have become more modest. In general, everything was put in its place as it should be. But a strange limitation appeared. Edition 8.1 supports memory up to 128 GB, and PRO and Enterprise editions up to 512 GB. Apparently they were going to live for a very long time.

As you can see, the equipment is very good everywhere. Therefore, you can install whatever your heart desires. The only limiting factor will be the thickness of your wallet. It is most logical to buy the PRO version. You will receive everything that can be used at home and will not overpay for absolutely unnecessary things.

Features of Windows 10 editions

Now let's look at the capabilities of the Windows 10 editions. Everything here is quite similar to 8.1: - Windows 10 Home has all the basic operating system features included in the Windows 8 PRO version. Which already speaks about initially greater capabilities than the eight;
- Windows 10 Pro (Professional) for small businesses and home users who need advanced system capabilities corresponds to Windows 8 Enterprise or Windows 7 Ultimate;
- Windows 10 Enterprise (Corporate) for medium and large businesses. The Windows Enterprise edition has all the features of the professional version, as well as additional features that are relevant for use in enterprises. But in essence it differs little from the previous version.

For those who want to buy: if you want to get the most useful things for home use, then the PRO version is the best option, although the Home version will be more than enough.

Which Windows is better - Answers to questions

Now, having all the necessary information at hand, you can answer more specific questions quite fully and accurately.

Which Windows is better? Or which windows is better?

As I already said, the latest version is always better than the previous ones. Therefore, this is 10. Based on the set of programs and capabilities that can be used at home, this will be the HOME version or, if you really want, then PRO.

Answer: The best option for home use is Windows 10 Pro (Professional).

Which Windows is better: 7 or 10?

Considering the principle that the latest development is better than the first, then this is again 10. As you remember, the home edition of the top ten is no worse than the PRO edition of the seven. And Windows 10 Pro (Professional) includes almost all the features of Windows 7 Maximum (Ultimate).

Answer: Windows 10 is better than 7 (if only because it is much more secure).

But here you should take into account the fact that Windows 7 already works well on 2 GB of RAM and on any older processors. For 32-bit tens, 2 GB is not enough. With this amount of memory, it works slower than the 7. In addition, ten cannot be installed at all on 32 processors, since they do not have support for PAE, NX and SSE2. And the 64-bit version does not want to work with older 64-bit processors that do not support new 64-bit instructions. New OS for new hardware. In addition, all support for Windows 7 will end in 2020.

Which Windows 7 is better for gaming?

This question could be answered immediately when considering the capabilities of Windows 7. Theoretically, any edition except the initial edition is suitable for games, due to its limitations. But in reality, Windows 7 Home Premium will be the best solution. Although for games in any case it is necessary to install additional packages such as: Adobe Flash Player, Visual C++, ...

Which Windows 10 is better?

For home use, Windows 10 Home is sufficient.

This is how it all began in 2015.

Now everything has changed.

As a result of the latest reinstallations, it turned out that there are already several versions of Windows 10: the first version (July 2015, its number should apparently be 1507), 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809. The version numbers correspond to the year and month of release. In each subsequent version, improvements and improvements are made. But these improvements and improvements through updates are not carried over to older versions. That is, the installed old version of Windows does not receive these innovations. To get them you need to reinstall Windows to a new version. Therefore, all versions exist in parallel. And they are updated separately, independently of each other. The update history of all versions is located at https://support.microsoft.com/ru-ru/help/4018124/windows-10-update-history.

I believe that Microsoft has entered into a conspiracy with other corporations that write software. And they began to include checking the Windows version in new programs. Already the latest versions of Photoshop and Skype do not support Windows versions lower than 1803. There are other programs. Soon there will be a lot of them. Windows version 1703 and earlier home and PRO builds are no longer supported. This means there will be no more monthly updates for them. Microsoft itself recommends installing the latest version of Windows 10. According to it, version 1803 and, accordingly, 1809 are the fastest loading and most productive.

So when choosing a Windows 10 installation package, you now also need to check the build version. At the moment, version 1809 has been released and is recommended. Otherwise, you simply will not be able to take advantage of the new features and new programs. Starting with version 1809, there will be only Corporate and educational builds. Their support will be provided for no more than 30 months. And then install the new version again.

Which Windows 7 is better to install?

The best solution is the one that best suits your needs. For home use, Windows 7 Home Premium is the best solution. But this was the case at the time when it was sold because it was the best price/quality ratio. Now you can download and install any one, except the initial one. Maximum is probably the most common build.

Which Windows is better for a laptop?

A laptop is the same as a desktop computer, only portable. Therefore, the same rules apply to him. Considering that you probably want to use new software, then Windows 10 Home is quite suitable for you.

But which one is 32 or 64 bit? Here you need to know:

What kind of processor is installed on the laptop, 32 or 64 bit, fairly new or very old? - the answer to this question will help clarify whether you can install Windows 10 at all.

As practice has shown, it is better to install Windows 10 if you have 4 GB or more of RAM. Based on this, we can safely assume that 64-bit will be better.

What does windows 10 1607/1703/1709/1803/1809 mean?

These are the release dates of Windows 10 editions. The first pair of numbers indicates the year. Second month. Therefore version 1607, this is the edition released in July 2016. According to Microsoft, edition 1803 is the fastest and most secure. Many programs in new versions support it, and even 1809. Earlier versions become obsolete and their support is discontinued.

If you noticed, since 2017, new editions have been published twice a year. In March and September. Support for older editions was 18 months. Starting with edition 1809, Microsoft promises to provide 30 months of support.

For 2 gigs of RAM, which is better to install Windows 8.1 or 10?

Both theoretically and practically, Windows 8.1 is lighter than 10. Accordingly, it will work a little faster. I can say for sure that 32-bit versions of both Windows will work, but in any case not very fast. I recommend reading how to speed up your computer.

With 64-bit Windows, things are somewhat more complicated. If the processor is too old and does not support the necessary lists of 64-bit instructions, then you will not be able to install them. Neither one nor the other.

The Windows operating system from Microsoft has dominated the operating system market for many years. Most likely, this is the OS installed on your computer. And, if this is not the tenth version, then you should think about an upgrade to keep up with technical progress.

Windows 10 is a collective name for a whole line of operating systems, which includes versions that differ in functionality and are aimed at different user segments. In this article we will talk about the main differences between them. Let us immediately note that we will not dwell on versions focused on the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as on built-in solutions. These versions are certainly necessary and important, but they are of interest to developers of devices and services, and not to individual users.

The following versions are focused on the latter: Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise. As you can guess from the names, versions containing the word “Mobile” are aimed at mobile devices (smartphones and tablets with displays up to 8 inches), while the rest are intended for personal computers.

Now let's talk about each version in more detail.

Windows 10 for PC

- the basic version of “windows”, which is intended for home use. In most cases, it is this that is installed on a PC with a complete OS. It differs from the Pro version in significantly limited functionality. For example, Windows 10 Home lacks support for remote access, data encryption, group policies, support for limited access and a number of other functions. However, the home version includes the Microsoft Edge web browser, the Windows Hello biometric authentication system that allows you to identify a user by face or fingerprint, and the ability to play Xbox One games. Naturally, Microsoft has provided support for backward compatibility with applications developed for previous versions. Most programs written for Windows 7 and 8 will work correctly in Windows 10.

is the optimal choice for home users using business applications and small companies. This version already includes BitLocker drive encryption, support for Hyper-V virtualization, multiple desktops, Remote Desktop remote access, the Azure Active Directory mechanism, which allows you to easily and easily interact with the cloud service system, as well as Windows Store and Enterprise Data Protection containers . To update the operating system, use a separate utility, Windows Update for Business.

Windows 10 Enterprise is a corporate build, aimed at use in large companies. Unlike the above versions, it is intended primarily for working with business applications. It contains a number of advanced features, such as Direct Access, which provides the ability to gain remote access to a corporate network without using a VPN, cloud hosting, Remote Desktop remote access, as well as Credential Guard and Device Guard mechanisms, which increase computer security. In addition, Windows 10 Enterprise includes AppLocker, which allows you to configure system policies to allow or restrict user access to certain applications, and BranchCache technology, which improves the download and update process, and also provides faster work with intranet sites by caching HTTP traffic.

Windows 10 Education is the version for students and educational institutions. By and large, the features offered by Windows 10 Education are similar to the enterprise version, with the exception of the missing Cortana.

The versions of the Windows operating system described above were intended for use on personal computers. In contrast, versions of Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise are focused on mobile devices, such as netbooks and tablet computers with a display diagonal of less than 8 inches, phablets and smartphones.

Windows 10 for mobile devices

Windows 10 Mobile is designed for individual mobile device users. Among the distinctive features of this version are support for touch displays, Continuum mode, thanks to which the mobile device can be connected to an external display, as well as an optimized version of the Office suite. Windows 10 Mobile users will be able to install more than 20 self-signed applications on it.

By the way, if you are using a device running the Windows Phone operating system, then you should upgrade to Windows 10 Mobile.

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise is a mobile version of Windows designed for corporate use. At its core, it is similar to the Windows 10 Enterprise version, with the only difference being that it is optimized for use on mobile devices. Unlike the regular mobile ten, users of the corporate mobile version can install an unlimited number of self-signed applications, and also receive the ability to manage updates, telemetry and support for Current Branch for Business.

Windows 10 delivery options

Now that we have dealt with the differences in versions of Windows 10, we need to say a few words about the types of this software. There are four of them: a boxed version, an OEM version, a corporate license and an electronic key. Windows 10 is licensed on a per-copy, per-device basis. This means that you need to purchase a license for each device on which Windows 10 is installed. In case you want to install multiple copies of Windows on one computer, then you will have to purchase a license for each copy.

- This type of Windows 10 operating system is distributed as a separate product intended for retail sale. The package includes: distribution kit on disk, certificate of authenticity and license agreement. This license is not nominal. It can be transferred to another user or organization, but no more than once. By the way, transferring the OS to another computer is only possible with a license for the boxed version. The main disadvantages of this distribution method are: you have to store boxes to prove the legality of your software, you do not get the rights to use previous versions, and the high cost. The boxed version comes with Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro.

- the most preferred option when purchasing a computer. The seller agrees to install Windows 10 on your computer and provide technical support for the software. When activated, the operating system is “tied” to the hardware component of the computer. However, the OEM license is not nominal. You can transfer it to another person or company, but only along with the computer. The OEM version costs less than the boxed version. Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro are supplied in this format.

— aimed at legal entities. According to the terms, the company is obliged to purchase a certain quantity (at least five copies) of the same or several software products. After two years from the date of placing the first order, it becomes possible to order one unit of goods under the OLP program. This type of license is personal and cannot be transferred to another individual or legal entity. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise are distributed under a volume license.

is a way to distribute Windows by selling a dongle. Then the user independently downloads the distribution kit from the Microsoft website and activates it by entering the purchased serial number. This license is almost identical to the boxed version, but due to the lack of physical delivery components, the cost of the electronic key is significantly lower than that of the boxed version. Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro are distributed according to this principle.

Today, the version of Windows 10 has already become a favorite among many users. Some people comfortably use the professional version of this software, others “use” the home version and remain quite satisfied with this state of affairs. However, those who decide to install this operating system for the first time are scratching their heads over the question of whether Windows 10 Enterprise or Professional is better?

How many versions are there in total?

Today, there are only seven versions of this OS available for users to choose from:

• professional;
• audit;
• mobile;
• home;
• corporate;
• server;
• mobile-corporate.

But which build of Windows 10 is the best? Each of these versions is ideal for certain categories of users. If you make the right choice, you can use the new product from Windows with complete comfort.

Description of editions

Home

Today it is the most popular version of Windows 10 around the world. It comes with the Edge browser, as well as a biometric system that identifies users of the system. For security, this version does not require passwords; it recognizes the user by face and fingerprints. The computer running the Home version can run Xbox games.

Pro

This version is ideal for cases where the computer supports business applications. The developers claim that Windows 10 Pro is designed specifically for small organizations.

Supports Hyper-V virtualization, as well as the ability to encrypt the disk. You can use Windows Update for Business to update your software.

Enterprise

This version is actively used by the largest corporations and companies, as it works with support for complex functions such as:

1. Direct Access – the ability to remotely access without using a VPN.
2. BranchCache is an option that makes the update and download process much easier and faster.
3. Credential Guard and Device Guard are applications that increase your computer's security significantly.

Education

The Windows 10 version, as the name suggests, was created specifically for educational institutions and students in particular. Much like the Enterprise version, but without support for some specific features.

Mobile

This OS is applicable for Microsoft smartphones. Also, users of some Lumia with Windows 8.1 can upgrade to version 10. Mobile for business supports some business segment functions and has more fine-grained settings for updates and security policies.

Differences in editions

If you want Windows 10 to reach its full potential at home, then give preference to the Pro version. It is replete with all kinds of devices and professional applications, knowledge of which will help you use the system with maximum comfort.

Before you think about which Windows 10 is best to install, analyze for what purposes you will need it.