6 replies to this topic

[MaLing]

In the past, each change, either major or minor, to a programme was designated by 'Version', eg DOS version 1, 2, 3, Windows 1, 2, 3.1 etc.

From Windows 95, Microsoft uses 'Edition', Windows 98 second edition, Windows Millenium Edition, etc.

That makes me confused! I have looked up in my dictionary for those words but I cannot get a clear picture from it either.

My question is: What are the differences between Version and Edition?

[Jito463]

Version means a specific revision number. There is still specific revision numbers assigned to Windows, but they no longer use them for the naming scheme. Edition is just a tagline thrown in for the name, that's all. In the case of 98 Second Edition, they were simply trying to infer it was the second release of Windows 98. In the case of Millenium Edition, it was released in 2000, so "Millenium Release" in essence. If you want to see the specific version of your Windows, type winver from the command line or Run menu. In the case of my XP Pro x64, it's version 5.2, build 3790. In the case of XP Home/Pro (32-bit), it's 5.1, build 2600 iirc.

[MaLing]

So it sounds like Microsoft uses the word 'Edition' just for marketing purposes rather than the real meaning of the word.

Thank you Jito.

[shawn_nee]

So it sounds like Microsoft uses the word 'Edition' just for marketing purposes rather than the real meaning of the word.

Thank you Jito.

Yeah they do, to them it helps distance themselves from the prior release if it wasnt that great. Each new "Edition" they put out is just the next version.

Win 3.5 (or whatever it was called was Version 1
Win 95 Version 2
Win 98 Version 3
ME Version 4
XP Version 5
and I would venture to guess that Vista is Version 6

And then each sub model like Win 98 SE was Version 3 revision 2 or Version 3.2

It makes more sense to title each OS a different name so marketing can play with it and say " Oh this has all the new and improved features you want and is so much better for you then (insert previose release here)"

AOL is the only company I can think of that just uses Version #'s I think they are up to Version 71.2 right now (LOL)

[MaLing]

Version 71? Is that a record?

Edited by MaLing, 01 May 2007 - 09:40 AM.

[shawn_nee]

Version 71? Is that a record?

For them to still be around for what they offer and the number of people that make fun of them Yes.

[Charalambos]

Win 3.5 (or whatever it was called) was Version 1
Win 95 Version 2
Win 98 Version 3
ME Version 4
XP Version 5
and I would venture to guess that Vista is Version 6

In fact Windows 3.x was really version 3, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me were version 4.x, Windows 2000 is version 5.0, Windows XP 32 bit is version 5.1, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP 64 bit are version 5.2 and, yes, Windows Vista is version 6.0. Just for the shake of history .