Windows Vista has 6 editions in its product lineup: 3 for consumers and public retail – Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate. 2 editions of Windows Vista are for businesses and corporations – Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Enterprise. The last version of Windows Vista – Windows Vista Starter is for emerging market. Each edition of Windows Vista has its own target market and resolves around the needs of specific type of potential customer, from individual home desktop or laptop PC users, small and medium enterprises or businesses to large global companies. Microsoft defines each edition of Windows Vista with the description listed at the bottom. For detail matrix and comparison of features available or what is not available in each editions of Windows Vista, refer to table below.

FeatureHome
Basic
Home
Premium
BusinessEnterpriseUltimate
64-bit CPU Processor SupportYesYesYesYesYes
Accessibility Settings and Ease of Access CenterYesYesYesYesYes
Ad-hoc Manual Backup and Recovery of User Files and FoldersYesYesYesYesYes
Anti-Phishing in Internet Explorer 7.0YesYesYesYesYes
Anti-Phishing in Windows MailYesYesYesYesYes
Automatic Hard Disk DefragmentationYesYesYesYesYes
Automatically Organize Contents based on File Properties or TagsYesYesYesYesYes
DiagnosticsYesYesYesYesYes
Games ExplorerYesYesYesYesYes
Instant Search Integrated with OSYesYesYesYesYes
Internet Explorer 7.0YesYesYesYesYes
Internet Explorer Fix My SettingsYesYesYesYesYes
Internet Explorer Protected ModeYesYesYesYesYes
IPv4 and IPv6 TCP/IP Stack SupportYesYesYesYesYes
Low Priority I/OYesYesYesYesYes
Network CenterYesYesYesYesYes
Network Diagnostic and TroubleshootingYesYesYesYesYes
Performance Self-TuningYesYesYesYesYes
Speech RecognitionYesYesYesYesYes
Service HardeningYesYesYesYesYes
Sync CenterYesYesYesYesYes
User Account ControlYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Backup and RestoreYesYesYesYesYes
Windows CalendarYesYesYesYesYes
Windows DefenderYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM)YesYesYesYesYes
Windows Easy TransferYesYesYesYesYes
Windows FirewallYesYesYesYesYes
Windows HotStartYesYesYesYesYes
Windows MailYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Media Player 11YesYesYesYesYes
Windows Photo GalleryYesYesYesYesYes
Windows ReadyBoostYesYesYesYesYes
Windows ReadyDriveYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Security CenterYesYesYesYesYes
Windows SidebarYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Update/Microsoft UpdateYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Vista Basic User InterfaceYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Welcome CenterYesYesYesYesYes
XPS Document SupportYesYesYesYesYes
Windows Meeting SpaceView OnlyYesYesYesYes
Windows Mobility CenterPartialPartialYesYesYes
Universal Game Controller SupportYesYesYes*Yes*Yes
Parental ControlsYesYes  Yes
Windows Movie MakerYesYes  Yes
Themed Slide Shows Yes  Yes
Windows Media Center with CableCard support Yes  Yes
Windows DVD Maker Yes  Yes
Windows Movie Maker HD Yes  Yes
Scheduled Backup of User Files YesYesYesYes
Backup User Files to Network Device YesYesYesYes
Network Projection YesYesYesYes
Presentation Settings YesYesYesYes
PC to PC Sync YesYesYesYes
Windows Aero User Interface with Glass YesYesYesYes
Windows ShadowCopy YesYesYesYes
Windows SideShow YesYesYesYes
Windows Tablet PC Features YesYesYesYes
New Premium Games YesYes*Yes*Yes
Administrator Control Over Installation of Device Drivers  YesYesYes
Centralized Power Management through Group Policy  YesYesYes
Client-Side Caching  YesYesYes
Complete System Image-based Backup and Recovery  YesYesYes
Dual (2) Processors (Sockets) Support  YesYesYes
Desktop Deployment Tools for Managed Networks  YesYesYes
Domain Join for Windows Server  YesYesYes
Encrypting File System  YesYesYes
Folder Redirection  YesYesYes
Group Policy Support  YesYesYes
Integrated Smart Card management  YesYesYes
Network Access Protection Client Agent  YesYesYes
Offline Files and Folder Support  YesYesYes
Pluggable Logon Authentication Architecture  YesYesYes
Policy-based Quality of Service (QoS) for Networking  YesYesYes
Previous Versions  YesYesYes
Roaming User Profiles  YesYesYes
Virtual PC Express  YesYesYes
Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) Client  YesYesYes
Wireless network provisioning  YesYesYes
Windows Fax and Scan  YesYes*Yes*
Internet Information Server  Yes*Yes*Yes*
All 35 Worldwide User Interface Languages Available   YesYes
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications   YesYes
Support for Simultaneous Installation of Multiple User Interface Languages   YesYes
Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption   YesYes
Windows Ultimate Extras    Yes
Windows Anytime UpgradeYesYesYes Yes
Remote DesktopClient OnlyClient OnlyHost & ClientHost & ClientHost & Client
Simultaneous SMB peer network connections510101010
Maximum RAM supported with 32-bit processor-based system4GB4GB4GB4GB4GB
Maximum RAM supported with 64-bit processor-based system8GB16GB128+GB128+GB128+GB

* Feature is optional

Windows Vista Home Basic: the operating system for homes with basic computing needs. It is easy to set up, it helps you use your PC more securely and reliably, and like all of the editions of Windows Vista, it is compatible with the widest range of software, devices, and services that you use and trust. If you simply want to use your PC for tasks such as surfing the Internet, corresponding with friends and family using e-mail, or performing basic document creation and editing tasks, then Windows Vista Home Basic will deliver a safer, more reliable, and more productive computing environment.

Windows Vista Home Premium: the operating system for homes with advanced computer needs. It will help you use your laptop or desktop PC more effectively as well as enable you to enjoy new, exciting digital entertainment experiences—all with the benefit of added security and reliability.

Windows Vista Business: designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so you will be less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day maintenance of PCs and more time adding strategic value to your organization. Windows Vista Business also offers powerful new ways to organize, find, and share information while staying better connected whether you are in the office or on the road. This helps your business to run more efficiently than ever before.

Windows Vista Enterprise: designed to help global organizations and enterprises with complex IT infrastructures lower IT costs, reduce risk, and stay connected. Building on the features in Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise provides higher levels of data protection using hardware-based encryption technology. It also includes tools to improve application compatibility and enables organizations to standardize by using a single worldwide deployment image. Available only to Volume License customers who have PCs covered by Microsoft Software Assurance. These customers are also eligible to acquire an optional subscription license for the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance. This software extends the value of Windows Vista Enterprise by reducing application deployment costs, enabling delivery of applications as services, and allowing for better management and control of enterprise desktop environments. Together these technologies deliver the most cost-effective and flexible Windows desktop management solution.

Windows Vista Ultimate: the most comprehensive edition of Windows Vista. It is the first operating system that combines all of the advanced infrastructure features of a business-focused operating system, all of the management and efficiency features of a mobility-focused operating system, and all of the digital entertainment features of a consumer-focused operating system. For the person who wants one operating system that is great for working from home, working on the road, and for entertainment, Windows Vista Ultimate is the operating system that lets you have it all.

Windows Vista Starter: Available in 119 emerging markets, Windows Vista Starter provides individuals and families with the basic benefits of Windows Vista at an affordable price. Designed for first-time PC users, Windows Vista Starter is easy to learn and includes help features tailored to beginner users.