Lame.  They just need one version for desktop/laptop (in 32 and 64 bit flavors). 

limited availability on Ultimate?  what the F#$% does that mean?

(will have to research MUI language packs...  since professional doesn't have it and I don't really want to loose the option to switch to asian languages or whatever that does.  It seems a strange feature to drop.)

Glad that they put both media center and remote desktop in Pro this time, so there's no huge use for Ultimate.

Volume licensing is always limited, because you can't buy just one.

I would love to see prices before making judgements on whether this is good or bad. Choice is always good for the consumer.

But 'limited' doesn't just mean not volume licensing, it's Ultimate (which doesn't have volume licensing anyway)   I mean I understand that purchasing a volume of linceses isn't going to change the price per license (that is what volume licensing is), but that doesn't explain why its 'limited'  > normal retail shouldn't be 'limited' by any means.  I should be able to get as many retail copies as I want.

It'd be nice if you could get the Professional version and then give Microsoft $5 to add BitLocker to it. (random example)

I got Vista Ultimate but it's looking like I'll only want Home Premium for 7. Ultimately I don't think I used very much of the Ultimate goodies in Vista.

As Heavenfall says though, the pricing needs to be seen first. If the step from Premium to Professional is reasonable it may be more worthwhile. Of course there'll always be Ultimate to tempt us with its goodies...

Okay question for someone in the know.  What's the confidence factor that what we are reading is represetative of what actually will be released?

This appears on the surface to be what was wrong with the release of Vista, way to many versions for a software company to maintain and a sonsumer market to feel comfortable with.  Given the pricing of Vista when it was first released I imagine that the cost of Windows 7 Ultimate will be between $r00 to $500.   Just speculation on my part. 

With five version, which one is going to be the front runner (not a fair question at time I know) that not only consumers by also developer and programer and companies like Stardock going to support.

Tell me why I feel like all they did was take the 'pig with lipstick' and put a different dress on it?

Hah, you're right. Such a simple example on paper, and already I got it wrong. Doh!

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_skus.asp

I think that Windows needs two versions only like XP did.  Home and Professional editions, although each edition would have a 32bit and 64bit version but including both versions in it's specified version would be great...

So I take it the confidence fact is high.  Oh well.

Hmm, so it would appear that my personal upgrading to Windows 7 will depend on when my current computer, which is running XP Home, stops working. 

XP had 3 versions.   Home, Professional, and media center edition  (media center is often missed because it came like a year or 2 after the 1st two)

you're looking for Win2000 (which only had 2 versions as you describe)

I found this and it may help a bit.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1890&tag=nl.e589

I'll bet "Pro" will do a major wallet "biopsy", even though we should have been paid as the Beta testers (Vista). 

thanks davebax > that does help a bit.  

if only they would tell us more about their price deals or release dates.  I guess this is more info then what we had. I just want to know if I'm going to have to uninstall my win 7 beta or if it is going to come out in time for me to just upgrade.

With 64 bit being the default if the system supports it.

They're not going to do that. Starter edition won't even be sold as OEM; starter edition is for emerging markets (China, etc), as a way to stem piracy.

Starter Edition made me lol.  Have fun multitasking all 3 of your apps on your brand spankin' new netbook!