What are Windows 10. What are the versions of the Windows operating system. For educational institutions

The Windows operating system has always been offered in a variety of solutions for different categories of users. It can be used not only on a home computer, but also in a professional work environment, in educational institutions, in the corporate segment, and so on. Everywhere the tasks that are posed to Windows differ in a number of aspects.

Now on sale from Microsoft among systems for personal computers, only Windows 10 is available, but it is presented in a number of variations, while there are other Windows families. There are various editions of Windows 10, in which we will try to figure it out within the framework of this article.

Table of contents:

Please note: Below we will focus specifically on editions and families of Windows, but you must also remember that the operating system may differ in the set of functions, depending on the assembly and version. Microsoft regularly releases updates that add new features and improve the stability of the OS.

Windows families

Microsoft has recently dropped support for a number of operating systems for personal computers - Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1. All computers that used these systems, Microsoft offered users to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. However, there are several Windows families that are used not on personal computers, but on various specialized devices.

In general, now all the variety of Windows by families can be divided as follows:


In addition to the above, it is also worth noting a separate Windows Insider family. In fact, it is part of the Windows NT family. Test versions are released for Windows Insider operating system in the public domain.

Windows 10 editions: what's the difference

Among all of the above, the most interesting for the average user is the Windows NT family, which includes Windows 10 - the current operating system for personal computers. The “dozens” have many different editions, some of which limit various functions. In this way, Microsoft makes it clear to users that if they want more features, they will have to pay more. This allows Microsoft to sell cheaper editions for educational institutions, which lack some functionality, and more expensive specialized versions of Windows 10 with many features that are needed only in certain professional industries.

Consider the currently presented editions of Windows 10 and their main differences:


  • Windows 10 Home.
    The basic version of the operating system that is recommended for home computers. Unlike the maximum (Pro) version of Windows 10, it lacks such things as possible: Group Policy Editor, Hyper-V, Bitlocker, Azure AD connection, tools for remote connection and some other functions. Also, one of the important limitations of Windows 10 Home is the inability to postpone the update of the operating system indefinitely, as can be done in more expensive professional versions.
  • Windows 10 Home Single Language. The difference between this version and the usual Home edition is that only one system language can be used here. It is about the interface language, not the input language. That is, if you do not plan to switch the language on the fly, it is better to choose this version, since it costs less than the regular Home version.

  • Windows 10 Pro.
    A version of the operating system for advanced users who require tools such as Group Policy Editor, Hyper-V, Bitlocker, and other professional tools.
  • Windows 10 Pro for Workstation. Professional version of the operating system for workstations. It can be used for servers instead of Windows Server. This version differs from Windows 10 Pro in working with file system ReFS and enhanced storage security.
  • Windows 10 Enterprise. The version of the operating system for companies. The variant has the necessary tools for system administrators to organize a corporate network. Also, this version of Windows 10 has additional data protection technologies. Unlike the versions discussed above, only legal entities can buy Windows 10 Enterprise. At the same time, the cost of purchasing the version differs, depending on how much the operating system is purchased for the company.

  • Windows 10 Education.
    The educational version of the operating system. This version is distributed at discounted prices for educational institutions. Microsoft provides this version of the operating system to some organizations in a number of countries for free, as part of a charity. It is worth noting that students can also buy Windows 10 Education if they confirm the fact of their studies. At the same time, this version is almost identical in functionality to Enterprise. A significant difference is the absence of the assistant Cortana in this version.
  • Windows 10 S. Mobile version of Windows 10 for tablets and mobile devices... It has some limitations compared to the regular Home version. Some functionality is blocked in it, which is not required on devices with touch control. In addition, this version has additional security add-ons.

In addition to the versions discussed above, you can also find variants of Windows N and Windows KN. These are versions of the operating system that are similar in functionality to the basic Home version, but lack some of Microsoft's native applications, such as Windows Media Player, Groove Music, Skype, and others. These versions have been released to comply with the laws of various countries and territorial jurisdictions.

Each of the versions of Windows exists in several editions (editions). Older versions released in the 90s had significantly fewer of them. The evolution of the operating system, the adaptation of Microsoft to the modern sales market, and other circumstances led to the emergence of new varieties of Windows. The latest version 10 is the leader in terms of their number. Its distributions - both functional editions and assemblies that fix this or that state of the system - exist in a huge variety. Below we will try to understand them.

What are the varieties of Windows 10

Before starting to review the distributions of the Tens specifically, I suggest looking at the initial structure of Windows flavors first. So let's understand the grandeur of the scope of Microsoft's main product.

Windows families

The dominant criterion for dividing Windows is families. The main families are:

  • Windows NT is a line of desktop (for PCs, laptops and tablets) and a line of server systems, starting with Windows NT 3.1 and ending with Windows 10 (and, accordingly, its server counterpart Windows Server 2016). The desktop NTs are the ones that are ubiquitous;
  • Windows Embedded - a type of system for terminals, ATMs, other machines and various equipment;
  • Windows 10 IoT is the operating system that has come to replace Embedded for production devices, but already with a large list of their support. Among such devices are “Smart Home” automation systems;
  • Windows Mobile, it is in an earlier release Windows Phone- a platform for mobile devices.

Each family may have its own lines (as is the case with NT), its own versions, its own editions, its own sub-editions, etc. The "Ten" has even more divisions. If we download its installation ISO image not using the official utility from, but, for example, using the program, we will see a lot of possible distributions in the selection list.

In the case of the Ten, we have not only a stable branch of the operating system, but also a branch within the project - a program for testing innovations in the operating system. Plus, since Microsoft said that at least in the near future there will be no new versions of the system, and the company is going to work on improving the "Ten" in parallel with its use by the masses, as a result of this work, today we have a lot of assemblies and versions of version 10 itself We will return to all these varieties later, but for now we will consider what editions of the system exist.

Windows 10 editions

Revisions are the fourth generation of Windows NT division. There are two lines in the family, the lines have their own versions, and each version has its own editions. Editions are provided primarily for the convenience of Microsoft itself, since it is more profitable for it to trade in licensed copies of the operating system. The basis of trade is the Pro edition, from which it is already dancing in one direction or another. By cutting back on some functionality, the company lowers the license fee for using the operating system, thus making it affordable for more people. And by offering additional options in editions for certain market segments, the company manages to trade the same thing, but according to the principle “For the poor, the price is a ruble, for the rich, two”.

In terms of cutting opportunities, by the way, the company needs to be given its due. Unlike processor manufacturers who are pushing models for "bottom" notebooks to the market, knowing that such processors are unsuitable for use in modern conditions, Microsoft knows the measure and does not go too far. The basic Home edition of any version of Windows is capable of fully satisfying the needs of the average person.

So what editions of Windows 10 are there?

Home - a basic set of Tens features with stripped-down Pro features such as Group Policy, BitLocker, Hyper-V, remote connectivity, Azure AD connectivity, and more. Home is also limited in its ability to postpone system updates for a certain period, as can be done in the editions above. This is a budget option for legitimate use of the system, but not the cheapest.

Home Single Language

The Home-derived sub-edition of Home Single Language is limited to using Windows within one system language only. She has the cheapest license key.

Pro (Professional) - edition with an optimal selection of functionality for advanced users.

Pro for Workstations(Professional for workstations) - an advanced sub-edition for powerful computers, in particular, for server hardware. It appeared quite recently, together with a major autumn update. Its key feature is improved data storage reliability, in particular, work with the file system.

Enterprise

Enterprise (Enterprise) - edition for organizations, providing on top of the Pro capabilities enhanced security technologies and functionality designed for professional systems engineers. The "Corporate" has a functionally cut back and with a long-term delay in the delivery of updates for enterprises and services that need a stable environment for the operation of technology. Microsoft does not sell Enterprise to regular users, only to legal entities by subscription. The company declares that it is impossible in principle to buy this edition by individuals, but on the Internet you can buy a license for Enterprise all the time. And, of course, not all points of sale of digital keys will require us to confirm our involvement in the economic sphere.

Education

Education is essentially the same Enterprise edition, only with the missing Cortana and the inability to switch to LTSB. The main difference between Education is its focus on the market of educational institutions and, in this regard, its distribution at a price that is several times lower than Enterprise. Universities, vocational schools, libraries, museums, charitable organizations, the teaching staff of educational institutions and the students themselves, if they are not part-time students, can purchase the editorial office. A condition for purchasing the edition is the right of Microsoft to require documentary evidence of the respective status of the purchaser.

Windows N is not a separate edition, not even a sub-edition, it is a kind of Home and Pro without Windows Media Player and some other components. Microsoft was forced to create a stripped-down assembly in 2004 in accordance with the requirements of the European Commission, which began to protect the interests of third-party European developers that released their multimedia products.

Windows KN also appeared forcibly. A couple of years after the European precedent, the South Korean Trade Commission made a decision against Microsoft, satisfying the claim of the developer Daum Communications and obliging the software giant to release an assembly of the operating system to the South Korean market without a regular player and Instant Messenger (a messenger on board Windows XP).

Windows 10 builds N and KN do not come pre-installed Windows applications Media Player, Groove Music, Movies & TV, Voice Recorder, and Skype. Also, system sync functions, webcam, Cortana, opening PDFs in Microsoft Edge and other things do not work. Windows 10 N and KN are for Europe and South Korea, respectively, the territorial jurisdictions of the authorities that ruled against Microsoft. And since the existence of these assemblies is forced, naturally, the company does not disseminate information about them unnecessarily.

Windows 10 builds and versions

If we open the properties of "Tens", in the graph of characteristics we will see a mark about its version and build.

The build number reflects information about a specific set of Windows 10 functionality and changes frequently, as updates are introduced to the stable branch after they are "run in" within Windows programs Insider. The Tens' version numbers change less frequently, their change is timed to coincide with a series of updates. The serial numbers of the versions are not sequential, they contain information about the date and month of release. In addition to numbers, versions have names - technical (for Microsoft developers and insiders) and marketing (simple concepts for ordinary users). There are several versions of Windows 10:

  • 1507, Threshold 1, abbreviated as TH1 - the first cumulative update of the Top Ten, released in July 2015;
  • 1511, Threshold 2, or TH2 for short, the November Update, the second cumulative update released in November 2015;
  • 1607, Redstone 1, or RS1 for short, Anniversary Update is the third cumulative update released in July 2016.
  • 1703, Redstone 2, or RS2 for short, or simply Creators Update - the fourth cumulative update released in March 2017;
  • 1709, Redstone 3, or RS3 for short, Fall Creators Update is the fifth cumulative update released in October 2017;
  • 1803, Redstone 4, or RS4 for short, is a cumulative update scheduled for March next year, which is currently under development. Some of the upcoming functional improvements of the system can already be tested as part of the Windows Insider program.

Here's how many tentacles a giant octopus called Windows 10 has.

Everyone is wondering when will the final version of Windows 10 be released? Yes, everything, finally, this moment has come. Now there is no longer any test version of Windows 10. There is only the latest edition, which will now only be finished for greater compatibility with applications and computer components. But what does the user get in the end? Different functionality for different money. The operating system itself is distributed free of charge, but its configuration depends on the one that was already purchased on the computer. For example, if Windows 7 Home was installed, then Windows 10 will also be Home. Let's consider all the options in more detail.

Home

The home version is the most basic, there is no domain joining, no group policies, no remote desktops, no special store for business, no granular user interface controls, no Bitlocker. In general, very little can be done. Nevertheless, this configuration is quite satisfactory for typical users of such systems. What do they get for their money?

They can manage mobile devices, they can use the Microsoft Passport option (of course, if there is special equipment), encryption (of course, also if there is special equipment). So that is all. The rest depends on the applications that the user installs on his computer. Will you say a little? Who uses all these additional services? Many will do it anyway. Next comes the Pro version.

Pro

Here, as you might guess, there is a certain increment of options to the previous version. Users can manage Group Policy, run remote desktops, join cloud storage, use the Windows Store for Business, protect corporate data, and use Bitlocker. Is this a lot? Well, naturally a little more than it was. Nevertheless, there is no point in using all this if the computer does not work in any enterprise. It is immediately clear that all additional options are designed for corporate employees in order to pick up work orders from special information branches as soon as possible and immediately take on their implementation.

It makes no sense for the proud owners of their personal home computer to plunge into corporate madness and try to customize such a system for themselves. Although schoolchildren are very fond of the abbreviation Pro, it will not give them any special advantages over their friends. Microsoft only offers basic capabilities that are always complemented by third-party applications. And no matter how much you want to solve everything with standard Word, you still have to install the office suite.

Corporate

This version has an even greater increase in options. So, in addition to all of the above, the Pro package adds direct access, AppLocker, BranchCache, Group Policy Start screen control and granular user interface control. It also adds credential and device protection. Of course, such a set will greatly delight businessmen.

For educational institutions

Microsoft makes a very big bet on education, so here the package bundle is the same as in the corporate version. Of course, who is there in these educational organizations looks at what software product they are offered. However, a huge number of options are already included in the package. Usually, such products have a big discount, so no one understands the essence. Moreover, this package will not be sold to an ordinary commercial organization, no matter how they ask for it.

Which version to choose

It all depends on the tasks and desires of the user. If there is no point in digging into a huge number of functions, then you can opt for a home package. Of course, many had such a version, and it was quite satisfactory for everyone. Will the advanced version be safer? No, it won't, besides, modern consumers are only engaged in sitting on the pages of social networks and printing abstracts. For such possibilities, the basic kit is quite suitable. There are no obstacles for games either.

Great opportunities are provided for those people who are going to use them. Having a fast car in your garage and never driving it is a dubious pleasure. In addition, all of these newfangled technical features imply additional equipment. If there are no fingerprint readers and key generators, then the rich bundle will be idle.

Analyzing all of the above, we can come to the conclusion that it is better to stay on the previous version of Windows. This is not always correct, as support for previous versions is starting to gradually end. Therefore, new vulnerabilities found in old software help attackers take over any computer. On Windows 10, the codes are newer and the design is nicer. Plus, there are many interesting features that make the job easier.

So opinions can be divided here. Naturally, advanced users themselves are able to determine what packages they need and what they can do without. Typical consumers won't even notice that something has changed fundamentally. Yes, the appearance has become better, the work has become faster, but what is inside, it does not need to be known. So right, why bother digging in a car if it drives itself perfectly.

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The Windows operating system is the most popular in the world. It works on 90% of devices owned by housewives, office workers, large companies, schools, IT professionals and developers. Each category of users uses the computer differently. Someone needs a web browser and Office suite, someone needs more fine tuning systems, and some just need powerful defense mechanisms. In this regard, several editions of Windows appeared, differing in different functionality, license price and purpose. In this article, we will analyze how they differ, as well as explain what these or those terms mean that you may encounter on the Internet.

What are the editions of Windows 10

There are only 6 main editions of Windows 10 desktop:

  • Home Single Language (Home SL)- Home for one language.
  • Home- Home.
  • Pro- Professional.
  • Enterprise- Corporate.
  • Education- For educational institutions.
  • S- a publication for students and educational institutions.
  • Lean- not yet officially released, but only under development for tablets with 16 GB of internal memory. Information on it will appear later.

Of course, there are other highly specialized editions. For example, the working conditions for IT companies in China are slightly different than in the other world, so Microsoft has created a special version of Windows 10 - Windows 10 China. Nevertheless, an ordinary user from a CIS country is unlikely to encounter this, so we will not disassemble such systems.

Note that Windows 10 Mobile is often included in the list of editions of Windows 10, which is available in two versions:

  • Windows 10 Mobile.
  • Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise.

In fact, Windows 10 for smartphones is a separate operating system, so we will not talk about it here either.

How different editions of Windows 10 differ

There are quite a few differences between editions, but not everyone can understand them. We'll look at the editions available based on a couple of criteria that can influence your choice of a particular Windows 10.

Where to buy a license for Windows 10, and how much does it cost

In this section, we will consider the possibility of purchasing a license for a particular edition of the system from the point of view of an ordinary user.

  • Home SL: This edition is the cheapest, but a regular user cannot buy a license for it. Microsoft licenses Windows 10 Home SL only to manufacturing companies that can preinstall it on tablets or laptops.
  • Home: The most widespread version of Windows 10 in the world. The license for it can be purchased by any user in the Microsoft Store or Microsoft partner stores. The price in the USA is $ 120, but in other regions it may differ due to the difference in exchange rates. The Russian Microsoft Store offers to buy Windows 10 Home for 8699 rubles.
  • Pro: A more expensive edition designed for IT professionals, developers, and small organizations. Also available to every user. The original price is $ 200, but the Russian Microsoft Store sells Windows 10 Pro for 15,299 rubles. We also note that a paid upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro is possible - for this, just type the request Windows 10 Pro in the Windows Store.
  • Enterprise: edition created especially for corporate clients. The license for it can be purchased only by legal entities.
  • Education: edition for educational institutions. The subtleties of its licensing are rather complicated, but the main thing is that it is also not available to the average user.
  • S: This edition is also aimed at educational institutions and is not available to regular users. However, it can be preinstalled on laptops and tablets (in particular, Surface Laptop). In this case, the user can upgrade to the Pro edition for $ 49.99.

In which editions can you disable Windows 10 updates

Windows 10 users quite often complain about automatic update systems. Windows 10 itself downloads and installs security updates, bug fixes, and new driver versions. Many want because of possible problems with the latest builds of the system and drivers. Let's figure out how you can influence this process in various editions of Windows 10.

  • Home SL: no way. There is absolutely nothing you can do with updates. The system will automatically download updates and install them within 7 days.
  • Home: Similarly with Home SL, there are no ways to manage the update center here.
  • Pro: in this edition, you can disable driver updates, postpone any updates for 35 days, limit automatic downloads of updates, and switch to the corporate branch of updates - Current Branch For Business (instead of the standard Current Branch). New builds of Windows 10 get into the business branch only after thorough testing by Microsoft and ordinary users, so the probability of errors in them is minimal.
  • Enterprise: In addition to the Pro edition features, you get the option to switch to the Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB). Updates come here with long delays, and large updates with huge ones. All for the sake of stability.
  • Education: here everything is similar to the Pro edition.
  • S: update settings in Windows 10 S are also completely similar to the Pro edition.

What are the features of Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise and other editions

Let's take a look at other functional differences between Windows 10 editions.

  • Home SL: This edition is the most limited edition. You get only the basic features of Windows 10. A rather unpleasant aspect is the lack of an official option to change the system language. However, it is still possible.
  • Home: The functionality of this edition is absolutely similar to Home SL, except for the change of the main system language: in Home it is possible without any problems.
  • Pro: Compared to Windows 10 Home, you get quite a few extra features. Note the availability of the group policy editor, which allows flexible system configuration, the built-in Bitlocker encryption mechanism, the ability to activate, etc. There are also some corporate chips available that will not be useful to the average user.
  • Enterprise: the most functional edition. In addition to the capabilities of Windows 10 Pro, there are powerful protection mechanisms (although you need to learn how to use them), Direct Access, Windows-To-Go (the ability to create a USB flash drive with Windows 10 that can be used on different computers), BranchCache, and more.
  • Education: Functionality is the same as Enterprise edition.
  • S: The main feature of this edition is blocking the installation of classic programs. You will only be able to download apps from the Windows Store. In addition, the ability to change the standard browser (Microsoft Edge) and the search engine (Yandex in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkey, Bing in the USA and European countries) has been programmatically disabled. All other functionality is similar to the Pro edition, with the exception of a few branded chips created specifically for educational institutions.

How to download Windows 10 Home SL, Home, Pro and Enterprise ISOs

We have already described how from the official Microsoft website. Let's figure out which sites listed in the corresponding article can be used to download specific editions.

Official site

On this site, any user can download ISO Windows 10 Home SL, Home and Pro without any problems. To download the desired edition, select the following image:

  • Home SL: Windows 10 for one language.
  • Home / Pro: Windows 10. You can choose a specific edition when installing the system from this image.

TechBench website by WZT

On the resource created by amateurs, you can seamlessly download images of Windows 10 Home SL, Home / Pro, and Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education. You will not need instructions for this: everything is pretty obvious.

Third party resources

If you are using other image sources, look at the ISO name or description. Usually its author specifies embedded editions.

What do the letters N, KN and LTSB stand for in the name of the image?

Even on the official Microsoft website, you can see images of Windows 10 N or Windows 10 KN. Also on various resources there are Windows 10 LTSB. Let us explain what these letters stand for.

What is Windows 10 N

Postfix N denotes a different set of programs built into the system, in particular, the absence of Windows Media Player components. This subset of revisions was created following Microsoft's litigation in the European Union.

Microsoft provides ordinary users with images of Windows 10 Home N and Pro N. People from most of the CIS countries need only know that Windows 10 N is not available in Russian or Ukrainian, so its use in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine or Kazakhstan does not make sense. If on some third-party resources you still saw the N-image in Russian, then know that this language is integrated into the image by its author, which is why you may have problems later.

What is Windows 10 KN

KN editions are similar to N with the only difference: if N-images are for EU countries, then KN-images are available only for Korea and only in Korean.

What is Windows 10 LTSB

We already mentioned the term LTSB above as one of the Update Center options in Windows 10 Enterprise. Windows 10 LTSB images are designed for enterprise users only. Their main features are as follows:

  • Lack of any built-in metro programs, including Windows Store and Microsoft Edge.
  • Update Center is set to LTSB branch by default.

If you don't want to deal with the lack of metro programs, then you definitely shouldn't use these images. If you want Windows 10 to be as clean as possible, there is no better option. Just keep in mind that licenses for this version of Windows are sold only to legal entities, and you will have to do something with the activation.

What does OEM, Box, Retail, FPP and VL mean

While downloading images online or just discussing them with someone, you may stumble upon terms like OEM, Box, or Retail. They are usually used in the context of Windows 10 editions, and many consider them to be some kind of separate editions. In fact, all these names have nothing to do with the editions of Windows 10 and, accordingly, with the functionality of the system, but denote Windows license supply channel... Let's analyze this moment in more detail.

What is an OEM license

OEM license- Windows license, which is tied to the device's motherboard. An ordinary user cannot purchase such a license, it is available only to PC manufacturers at fairly low prices (usually $ 10-20, depending on the Windows edition).

The catch with an OEM license is that, according to the license agreement, it cannot be transferred to other devices.

What is a Retail, Box or FPP license

Retail license- Windows license, which is not tied to anything and can be transferred to other devices. Regular users get this type of license when buying Windows 10 Home or Pro.

Since most often such licenses are sold in boxes (with a disk or flash drive), the name is also common Box (box license) or FPP (Full Packaged Product)... Note that in the context of Windows 10 licensing, the concepts Retail, Box and FPP mean the same thing.

What is a VL license

If we consider licenses for Windows 10, then VL denotes a volume license that is not available to regular users: it is intended only for large corporate customers. Its feature is the ability to activate several hundred systems at once with the same license key.

What is a Not For Resale license

If you stumbled upon a similar term somewhere (although it is quite difficult to come across it by chance), then know that Not For Resale means literally Not for resale.

Is the functionality of Windows 10 OEM and Retail different

No, it is not different. The functionality and customization of Windows 10 OEM or Windows 10 Retail does not depend in any way on the channel for supplying the license for it.

What is RTM, Final, RC and Insider

In addition to abbreviations denoting distribution channels for licenses for Windows 10, you can come across the terms RTM, Final, RC and others. As with OEM / Retail, they have nothing to do with Windows 10 editions, but indicate the system version... Here are the decoding of the main designations.

What is RTM, Final or Gold

RTM (Release To Manufacturing, release) - the final version of the system, which is released as the official one. The words Final or Gold in this context mean the same.

What is RC or Insider

RC(Release Candidate) - beta version of the system, which may contain flaws and bugs. This abbreviation was applied to Windows 7 and Windows 8. Starting with Windows 10, the notation is used Insider or Insider Preview... Insider builds are often unstable, so you shouldn't install them unless absolutely necessary.

What is TH1, TH2, RS1, RS2 or RS3

These terms refer to the codename for the version of Windows 10. We will provide information on all versions of Windows 10 known to date, including the codenames, version numbers, and assembly numbers.

  • TH1 (Threshold 1)- version 1507 - assembly 10240 ... Released July 2015 as the original Windows 10 ( IR). Status - RTM.
  • TH2 (Threshold 2)- version 1511 - assembly 10586 ... Released November 2015 under the November Update (November Update NU). Status - RTM.
  • RS1 (Redstone 1)- version 1607 - assembly 14393 ... Released in July 2016 under the title Anniversary Update (Anniversary Update AU). Status - RTM.
  • RS2 (Redstone 2)- version 1703 - assembly 15063 ... Released March 2017 as Creators Update (updates for designers CU). Status - RTM.
  • RS3 (Redstone 3)- version 1709 - assembly 16299 ... Released in October 2017 as the Fall Creators Update (Fall Creators Update) FCU). Status - RTM.
  • RS4 (Redstone 4)- version 1803 - assembly 17134 ... Released in May 2018 as April 2018 Update. Status - RTM.
  • RS5 (Redstone 5)- version 1809 - assemblies 17xxx... At the moment it is in active development, the update is expected to be released in September-October 2018. Status - Insider.

Now you know exactly what is the difference between Windows 10 Home and Pro, and you can also distinguish the edition of Windows 10 from the channel for supplying the license or the version of the system.


There are many flavors of Windows 10 and each version has its own characteristics. We will tell you about the main differences between assemblies, and you will understand how they differ from each other.

The new operating system of a well-known corporation has already made a lot of noise. Today Windows 10 has already been released in several editions, each of which has its own peculiarities. And an ordinary user does not always manage to understand which types of OS are better than others today and what kind of differences this or that version has. Therefore, now we will understand this issue a little and try to briefly describe each edition of this OS.

Differences between Windows 10 and previous versions

First, you need to touch on some of the features inherent in all varieties of the operating system from Microsoft, which appeared only in a dozen, and which were not in earlier versions of the OS:
  • The "Start" button has taken its usual place;
  • A new browser has appeared, called;
  • Cortana - new voice assistant that are more relevant for mobile OS versions;
  • It is possible to configure multiple virtual desktops;
  • Switching between mobile and desktop options for displaying information is implemented through the Continuum function;
  • Other changes and innovations.
If you start listing all the innovations of the "top ten", then it will take a lot of time. Therefore, let's move on to a short description of each version.

Mobile Windows 10

This version of the OS was developed directly for mobile devices and its name speaks for itself. Devices with screens less than 8 inches work under its control. Thanks to the use of this version, the user has the opportunity to fully implement the synchronization of his data with a desktop PC. The difference between such an OS is that it is installed.

Other types of mobile “ten” have either enhanced security parameters (mobile corporate), or are specially designed for the same payment terminals and similar devices (IoT Home).

Home multilingual

This is a simple Windows 10, which has a certain standard set of applications installed. This version of the OS is designed for devices sold in the retail network - laptops, tablets and other devices.

Here it is possible to identify the user by a face picture, a fingerprint, etc. There is a Home version, in which the user does not have the ability to change the system language. It was assumed that a similar version of the OS will be implemented for poor countries, due to which the cost of the operating system itself can be significantly reduced.


Despite all the limitations and cuts, this build is nevertheless the most popular. Perhaps this is due to its price, which is at least 2 times lower than the cost of professional assembly. Which you will learn about below.

Professional (Pro)

This type of Windows 10 isn't just installed on premium hardware. But also on ordinary PCs, whose users want to get full access to all the functions of the system. The main differences from the standard Home version are in some additional features that are received by representatives of medium and large businesses. For example, there is a group security policy here that is not found in other assemblies. Other tools are also available.

Architecture differences: 32 and 64 bits

The most common question is what is the difference between 32 and 64 bit types. This question is not idle, because both versions can be installed on almost any PC. We recommend choosing exactly the 64-bit version, as it is universal. The 32-bit version, it supports only a limited number of utilities that were created specifically for it. And if you can find for both flavors, then some specific and rare / special programs are only available for a specific build.