Windows 8 will be released under 9 (nine) different names -- unlike Windows 7

It has been found that windows 8 will be released in 8 different names, which will have different features accordingly. Unlike Windows 7 which was launched in 6 different versions, namely -- Windows 7 came in six different editions: Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate.

According to Techcrunch -- The unofficial news comes from a registry key found within the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. If this key is to be believed, Windows 8 will be available in the six editions of Windows 7 with the addition of Windows 8 Professional Plus, Enterprise Evaluation, and ARM edition. That makes nine Windows 8 versions in all — seven more editions than Apple’s OS X.

The full list (which definitely may change before the final release, if Microsoft decides so) goes as follows:

• Windows 8 Enterprise Edition
• Windows 8 Enterprise Eval edition
• Windows 8 Home Basic Edition
• Windows 8 Home Premium edition
• Windows 8 ARM edition
• Windows 8 Professional edition
• Windows 8 Professional Plus edition
• Windows 8 Starter edition
• Windows 8 Ultimate edition

When Apple released Mac OS X -- they critisized the Microsofts Multi-version approach and claimed that with Mac OS X you only need one version which works for everyone. Microsft is now releasing it's Brand new Computing environment in 9 different versions.

Windows 8 will be released later this year and will finally push Microsoft into the so-called post-PC world. It has a tough game ahead. Windows 8 needs to curb OS X’s explosive growth and kill the iPad. Like Windows 7 before it, Microsoft is letting consumers try out a final beta copy prior to its release.

[Image via windows8beta]