Per Microsoft's classification:
Black text: features for home users
Blue text: features for IT pros
White text: features for business users
Yellow test: features for all
Features | basic | premium | business | ultimate |
Application Compatibility features | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
File-based image format (WIM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pluggable logon authentication architecture | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Universal game controller support | Yes | Yes | Yes* | Yes |
Accessibility Settings and Ease of Access Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Games Explorer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Speech Recognition | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Updated games | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Mail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Media Player 11 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Movie Maker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Photo Gallery—for organizing, editing, printing, and sharing photos and videos | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Sidebar | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
.NET Framework 3.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
64-bit processor support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ad hoc backup and recovery of user files and folders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ad hoc backup and recovery of user files and folders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Anti-phishing in Internet Explorer 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Anti-phishing in Windows Mail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Automatic hard disk defragmentation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
File tagging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
I/O prioritization | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Improved file and folder sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Improved peer networking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Improved power management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Improved VPN support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Improved wireless networking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Instant Search | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Internet Explorer 7 Fix My Settings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Internet Explorer 7 Protected Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Internet Explorer 7 with RSS feed support, tabbed browsing, and integrated search | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
IPv6 and IPv4 support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Network and Sharing Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Network Diagnostics and troubleshooting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Next-generation TCP/IP stack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Performance self-tuning and hardware diagnostics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Service Hardening | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stacking and Group By View. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sync Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
User Account Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Welcome Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows CardSpace | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Defender | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Experience Index | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Firewall | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows HotStart | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows ReadyBoost | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows ReadyDrive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Security Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows SuperFetch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Update | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Vista Basic user interface | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
XPS Document support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Maximum RAM supported with 32-bit system | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
Parental Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Yes |
Windows Meeting Space | View only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Simultaneous SMB peer network connections | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Windows Mobility Center | Partial | Partial | Yes | Yes |
Maximum RAM supported with 64-bit system | 8 GB | 16 GB | 128+ GB | 128+ GB |
New premium games |
| Yes | Yes* | Yes |
Automatic backup scheduling |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Backup of user files to a network device |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Backup of user files to a networked PC or device |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Incremental backup |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Scheduled backup of user files |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Scheduled backup of user files |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Aero user experience (glass, dynamic windows, and a smoother-performing desktop) |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows SideShow |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Tablet PC handwriting recognition improvements |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Tablet PC touch screen support |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Tablet PC usability and navigation improvements |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows Tablet PC with integrated pen/digital ink input |
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
Native DVD playback |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Support for Media Center Extenders, including Xbox 360 |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Themed slide shows |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Windows DVD Maker (Video DVD Authoring and Burning) |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Windows Media Center—CableCard support (U.S. only) |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Windows Media Center—for music, photos, videos, live and recorded TV, and online entertainment |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Windows Media Center—for recording and watching high-definition TV (U.S. and South Korea only) |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Windows Movie Maker HD |
| Yes |
| Yes |
Windows Fax and Scan |
|
| Yes | Yes* |
Complete PC Backup and Restore (image based) |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Offline Folder support |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Shadow Copy (restore previous versions of your documents) |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Small Business Resources |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Two processors (two processor sockets) support |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Wireless network provisioning |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Control over installation of device drivers |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Desktop deployment tools for managed networks |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Encrypting File System |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Network Access Protection Client Agent |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Policy-based quality of service for networking |
|
| Yes | Yes |
System image–based backup and recovery |
|
| Yes | Yes |
Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) Client |
|
| Yes | Yes |
All worldwide user interface languages (36 languages total) available |
|
|
| Yes |
Subsystem for UNIX-based applications |
|
|
| Yes |
Support for simultaneous installation of multiple user interface languages |
|
|
| Yes |
Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption |
|
|
| Yes |
Years of product support | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
