Since Microsoft has confirmed the Vista tiers, I just thought I’d point out that it’s not as confusing as it may seem. While at first it seems daunting, it boils down to be much simpler.

The Versions

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic N
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business N
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

The above list looks ugly, especially to the normal user. Lets start to apply some of the special attributes and see where the home user stands:

Windows Starter will only be sold in emerging markets.

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic N
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business N
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

The N editions will only be available in Europe and won’t be as promoted as their non-N counterparts.

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic N
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business N
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

As the name suggests, Vista Business, while it may be on the shelf, makes its target audience clear.

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic N
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business N
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

Enterprise is only available to Volume licensing customers

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic N
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business N
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

Now here’s where it gets kind of tricky. Microsoft will most likely push Premium and Ultimate over Basic, but it will still be on shelves

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Basic N
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Business N
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

This is what the end user will see, with striked-out versions not seen and bold versions more prominent than normal.

So we went from eight versions to two and one half (Basic won’t be as prominent.) So the question boils down to “Do I need the extra stuff?” If yes Ultimate, if No, Premium.

Why all the version?
Well, Microsoft has to cater to many different types of users if they want to keep their marketshare. They need to cater to Users with older hardware, users buying new computers, small businesses, enterprises, enthusiasts, and everyone in between.
But why not just make one Ultimate edition and sell it to everybody?
More people will buy if they can save some money and get a version that fits only their needs, nothing more. Microsoft knows this, and since they want everyone to adopt Vista, they create business strategies to reach that goal. Microsoft’s biggest OS competitor usually winds up being themselves, as they saw with Windows XP.

Hopefully this will work toward dispelling some of the lack of knowledge surrounding Vista (but I can dream )