Which Windows 10 Edition is Right for You?

Did you know that Microsoft's mainstream support for Windows 7 ended in January 2015, with extended support ending in January 2020?  This means that Microsoft will no longer provide software patches or security updates for Windows 7.  Windows 10 is rapidly becoming the platform of choice among Windows users.  But did you know there are 6 Editions of Windows 10?  Yep!  

1. Windows 10 Home
2. Windows 10 Pro
3. Windows 10 Educational
4. Windows 10 Enterprise
5. Windows 10 Mobile
6. Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise

So which Edition do you choose?  Most people need only be concerned about the first 4 Editions which pertain to PC's.  But which one is right for you?  All of the first 4 Editions support the following: the much awaited Cortana, the Microsoft Edge browser, Windows Defender, Fast Start with HiberBoot feature, TPM support, Battery Saver and basic Windows Update feature.  Continuum is also available in all editions so you can switch from PC to tablet mode and vice-versa.

All Editions support:  Personalization settings such as Lock Screen, wallpapers, themes, and customizing of sounds etc are also available in all Dditions of Windows 10. You can also download and add themes to your computer or tablet.  Basic security is available to all editions in form of Windows Defender and Windows Firewall.  Device Encryption will be available to all editions if the device hardware supports it.

Beyond these basic features, things vary according to which Edition of Windows 10 you select with Windows 10 Home being the most basic.  The good news is that you can upgrade from Windows Home to Professional and from Professional to Enterprise Edition if the version you buy winds up not meeting your software requirements.

To find out more, read this FAQ and this article.