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Hello Microsoft, I purchased Windows 10 Pro Retail from Bestbuy while on vacation last month and installed on a new build. I realized it was not version 1703 when Windows decided to update to anniversary update. Why should I have to wait for all the 1607 updates and then the 1703? - Create Windows 10 installation media Carey Frisch You have. Microsoft Windows 10 Professional, 32/64 Bit, Full Retail Version for 5-10 PCs Upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10. With Windows 10 Pro, you’ve got a great business partner.
Skip to main contentFind the right fit for your needs. Check out our list of product offerings to see which Windows 10 version checks all of your boxes.
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Windows Security
Windows 10 changes the game for security by protecting user identities, devices, and information with a comprehensive solution driven by intelligence that only Microsoft offers.
|
Feature | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
---|---|---|
Using facial recognition, a fingerprint, or PIN, Windows Hello is a fast, secure, and password-free way to unlock your compatible Windows devices. | | |
Device encryption is available on a wide range of Windows devices and helps protect your data by encrypting it. If you turn on device encryption, only authorized individuals will be able to access your device and data. | | |
Your Windows device comes with comprehensive, built-in security features, including firewall and internet protections to help safeguard against viruses, malware, and ransomware. | | |
App & browser control in Windows Security provides the settings for Windows Defender SmartScreen, which helps protect your device from potentially dangerous apps, files, websites, and downloads. | | |
Manage screen time, limit access to mature content, control online purchases when you connect your family's Microsoft accounts, and check to make sure the family’s devices are secure and up to date. | | |
Secure Boot helps prevent malicious software applications and unauthorized operating systems from loading during the system start-up process. | | |
If your device is lost or stolen, BitLocker and BitLocker To Go put everything on lockdown, so no one else can access your systems or data. | | |
WIP helps to protect against potential data leakage without otherwise interfering with the employee experience. WIP also helps to protect enterprise apps and data against accidental data leaks on enterprise-owned devices and personal devices that employees bring to work, without requiring changes to your environment or other apps. | | |
Windows Defender Antivirus uses the power of the cloud, wide optics, machine learning, and behavior analysis to protect your devices from emerging, sophisticated threats. | | |
Windows Fundamentals
Windows 10 comes with automatic updates enabled, which means you get all the latest features at no extra cost.+
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Feature | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
---|---|---|
Take notes, navigate, draw, doodle, edit, and create. Improve what you do with a digital pen.6 | | |
Get faster browsing78 and better battery life89 across your devices with Microsoft Edge, the browser built for Windows 10. | | |
All you have to do is ask Cortana. Your digital assistant on PCs and mobile devices can schedule a meeting, tell you when it’s time to leave for an appointment, or check the weather, news, and traffic. | | |
Extend battery life by limiting background activity and push notifications. | | |
Get instant access to your Android phone’s texts and photos on your PC,11 or connect your iPhone for seamless browsing, calendar and app experiences.12 | | |
Free up time and your hands by talking to your computer. Get information and reminders or listen to music and manage your emails and calendar.13 | | |
Business Management and Deployment
Built-in security, productivity, and management features save you time, money, and hassle.
|
Feature | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Pro |
---|---|---|
Windows 10 mobile device management (MDM) provides an alternative to traditional PC management processes: you can transition to cloud based management at your own pace. | | |
Manage PCs, user accounts, and groups, and get easy access to files and printers when you pair Windows 10 Pro with Windows Server.** You can even define specific security and networking policies for your users and devices. | | |
Available to any organization with an Azure AD Premium or Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) license, Enterprise State Roaming provides users with a unified experience across their Windows devices and reduces the time needed for configuring a new device. | | |
Your one place to find, manage, and distribute apps to Windows 10 devices in volume. | | |
With Assigned Access, Windows 10 Pro devices run different applications depending on the user and keep individual identities separate and secured. | | |
With Dynamic Provisioning you can take a new PC out of the box, turn it on, and transform it into a productive organization device, with minimal time and effort. | | |
Windows Update for Business can help businesses reduce management costs, provide control over update deployments, enable more efficient delivery of updates, and provide access to the latest innovations from Microsoft. | | |
Configure a device in kiosk mode in a very simple way. You can do this locally on the device or remotely using Mobile Device Management. | | |
Domain Join + Group Policy: IT staff can easily manage PCs, user accounts and groups, security policies, and get easy access to files and printers when you pair Windows 10 Pro with Windows Server.** You can even define specific security and networking policies for your users and devices. | | |
Employees can use a single login across Windows 10, Office 365,*** and other Microsoft services, making logons and passwords easier to manage. The shared logon works on PCs, tablets, and phones with minimal IT involvement. | |
Go ahead, get creative
Edit photos and spice up presentations. Windows 10 has the apps you need to get in touch with your creative side.
Microsoft Office
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more—get everything you need to create and present your ideas with an Office 365 subscription.***
LEARN MOREDigital pen and touch
Scribble down a headline, draw a chart, add bullet points—design an entire presentation with a digital pen. And on new Windows 10 touchscreen computers, you can zoom, scroll, and sign documents with the touch of a finger.
Learn moreSHOP PEN-ENABLED PCSPhotos
The new Photos app makes it fun and easy to enhance your digital memories. If you liked making videos with Windows Movie Maker, you’ll love what you can do with Photos.
Learn moreDigital pen and touch
Scribble down a headline, draw a chart, add bullet points—design an entire presentation with a digital pen. And on new Windows 10 touchscreen computers, you can zoom, scroll, and sign documents with the touch of a finger.
Learn moreSHOP PEN-ENABLED PCSPhotos
The new Photos app makes it fun and easy to enhance your digital memories. If you liked making videos with Windows Movie Maker, you’ll love what you can do with Photos.
Learn moreMicrosoft Office
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more—get everything you need to create and present your ideas with an Office 365 subscription.***
LEARN MOREPhotos
The new Photos app makes it fun and easy to enhance your digital memories. If you liked making videos with Windows Movie Maker, you’ll love what you can do with Photos.
Learn moreMicrosoft Office
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more—get everything you need to create and present your ideas with an Office 365 subscription.***
LEARN MOREDigital pen and touch
Scribble down a headline, draw a chart, add bullet points—design an entire presentation with a digital pen. And on new Windows 10 touchscreen computers, you can zoom, scroll, and sign documents with the touch of a finger.
Learn moreSHOP PEN-ENABLED PCSMore efficiencies, less energy
Windows 10 has apps and features to help you have fun and get more done with less hassle.
Timeline
Scroll through time to find documents and websites.17
Voice, pen, and touch
Interact with your Windows 10 computer in new ways.
Windows Hello
Log into your Windows devices three times faster by using your face or fingerprint.*
Gaming
Windows 10 is built for the games you love.
Get Windows 10
Speed, security, durability, and great design—you really can have it all.
Get a new Windows 10 device
Find the right deviceView All DevicesGet the Windows 10 OS
Windows 10 ProWindows 10 Home1 To use Windows Hello with biometrics specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor, or other biometric sensors is required. Hardware based protection of the Windows Hello credential/keys requires TPM 1.2 or greater; if no TPM exists or is configured, credentials/keys protection will be software-based.
2 Requires modern hardware (InstantGo/AOAC/HSTI-compliant). Review this doc for more details on Device Encryption.
3 Requires TPM 1.2 or greater for TPM based key protection.
4 Windows Information Protection requires either Mobile Device Management (MDM) or System Center Configuration Manager to manage settings in Windows 10 Pro. Active Directory makes management easier but is not required.
5 Windows Information Protection supports Mobile Application Management (MAM) for use in Home edition only.
6 Pen capable tablet or PC required. Pen accessory may be sold separately.
7 Performance claims based upon Jetstream 1.1 tests using Microsoft Edge 18 vs. Chrome 69 and Firefox 62. Go here for more details on this performance claim.
8 Availability and functionality may vary on non-Windows devices.
9 Based on average times; battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors. Go here for more details on this battery life claim.
10 Cortana available in select markets; experience may vary by region and device.
11 Users must link their Android phone to their Windows PC in PC settings. Users will receive an app from Microsoft which they must download to their Android phone and follow the setup prompts, including being signed into same Microsoft Account across mobile apps and Windows 10 PC.
12 Users must link their iPhone to their PC in PC settings. Users will receive an app from Microsoft which they must download to their iPhone and follow the setup prompts.
13 Hardware dependent. Available on limited select devices supporting far-field capabilities. Connect email accounts in the Cortana Notebook; works with Outlook.com, Office 365 and Gmail. Office 365 requires a subscription.
14 Not all MDM capabilities are available in the Home SKU. MDM requires an MDM product such as Microsoft Intune or other 3rd-party solutions (sold separately).
15 Separate subscription for Azure Active Directory Premium required.
16 Available in select markets. Functionality and apps may vary by market and device.
17 Timeline shows 3-5 days of past activities, including activities done on a tablet and mobile phone when users are signed into their Microsoft accounts. To see up to 30 days of activities, users must choose this option in settings. Available in select markets. Functionality may vary by device.
* Based on average time comparison between typing a password and detecting a face or fingerprint in order to successfully authenticate. Requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors and capable devices.
+ Additional requirements may apply for ongoing updates.
** Sold separately.
*** Office 365 subscription sold separately.
Ever tried to buy a Windows license from Amazon or Newegg? If only it was so simple. You’ll encounter cheaper System Builder (OEM) and more expensive Full Version (Retail) licenses. But the difference isn’t immediately apparent.
System Builder licenses are available for both the “core” and Professional editions of Windows. In other words, there are four different consumer versions of Windows to choose from.
Can I Use a System Builder License?
RELATED:Microsoft is Misleading Consumers With Windows 8.1 System Builder Licensing
First, let’s get one thing out of the way. Microsoft’s been all over the map when it comes to whether System Builder licenses can be used by normal computer enthusiasts building their own machines. On Windows XP, Vista, and 8, this was allowed. On Windows 7 and now 8.1, it’s not allowed. But you wouldn’t know it unless you read the fine print. For the purposes of this article, we’re just going to assume that you can actually buy and use a System Builder (or OEM) edition of Windows and use it on your own computer.
Technically, you can do this. The System Builder installation media will install just like a standard retail — or “Full Version” edition — of Windows will.
They’re For Different Audiences
The two types of licenses here differ conceptually. One is for normal Windows users, at least in theory — most Windows users don’t actually buy boxed copies of Windows. Another is for people building computers and preinstalling Windows, or maybe building their own PCs — it seems to go back and forth with each Windows release.
- Full Version/Retail licenses of Windows are the standard “consumer” version of Windows. If you’ve ever walked into an electronics store and saw a boxed copy of Windows on a shelf, you were looking at a retail license of Windows. These are designed for sale to average computer users who may be buying a new Windows license to upgrade their computer to a new version of Windows. It allows them to take their copy of Windows and install it on any PC they like — but it can only be installed on one PC at a time.
- System Builder/OEM licenses of Windows are used by computer manufacturers — “Original Equipment Manufacturers.” Not only are they used by large computer manufacturers like Lenovo, Asus, Dell, and HP, they’re used by the local computer shop you might buy a custom-built computer from. Microsoft has swung back and forth on whether “enthusiasts” can use System Builder licenses of Windows when building their own PCs. This type of license is designed to stay tied to a single PC forever.
As you might expect, System Builder copies of Windows are cheaper — but they are more limited.
The System Builder License’s Limitations
Here are the ways a System Builder license is limited:
- It’s Tied To One Computer/Motherboard: After you install your System Builder copy of Windows, it’s tied to that single computer you install it on forever. Specifically, it’s tied to that model of motherboard. The System Builder license of Windows becomes associated with a single system, while you can take a Retail copy of Windows and then install it on another computer in the future. Of course, it can still only be installed on one computer at a time.
- No Free Support From Microsoft: You don’t get any free support direct from Microsoft. This means you can’t call a Microsoft phone line and get help with any problems you experience. The System Builder license states that the system builder is responsible for providing support — so, if you buy a computer with a System Builder copy of Windows, the company or person who sold it to you is supposed to provide support. If you build your own computer with a System Builder copy of Windows, you’re responsible for providing your own support. This is only an issue if you want to call Microsoft — you still get updates from Windows Update, of course.
- Choose 64-bit or 32-bit At Time of Purchase: When you purchase a System Builder edition of Windows, you have to buy either a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the installation media. When you purchase a Full Version, both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows come on the same DVD. Because the software is designed to only run on one PC, it’s expected you’ll just choose 32-bit or 64-bit at time of purchase. (You probably just want the 64-bit edition of Windows at this point, anyway.)
- Can’t Be Used to Upgrade: The System Builder copy of Windows can’t be used to upgrade from an older version of Windows — for example, to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 or from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1. That’s because it’s designed for installation on new PCs that don’t yet have any operating system.
So, Which Should You Get?
RELATED:Do You Need the Professional Edition of Windows 8?
Assuming you’re fine with the gray area of licensing, a System Builder copy of Windows makes a lot of sense if you’re a geek building your own PC. If you’re willing to tie that copy of Windows to your hardware and you don’t need to call Microsoft for support, you can save money.
How much money depends on the deals you find. On Amazon at the moment, the retail version of Windows 8.1 costs $106.53 and the System Builder edition costs $92 — a $14.53 savings. For Windows 8.1 Professional, the retail version costs $175.49 and the System Builder edition costs $129 — a more sizeable $46.49 savings.
Windows 7 isn’t officially available in retail form anymore, although Microsoft is still selling System Builder licenses. This leads to the ridiculous current pricing of $96.89 for the System Builder edition of Windows 7 Home Premium, while the few remaining retail copies of Windows 7 Home Premium are going for $398 each — a $311.11 savings for buying the forbidden System Builder edition!
![Windows 10 professional retail version boxed Windows 10 professional retail version boxed](http://www.pc-computersoftware.com/photo/pl17491903-100_activation_online_windows_10_pro_oem_key_retail_box_english_version.jpg)
The System Builder license for the original Windows 8 works differently, but we didn’t cover it here. You won’t often find System Builder licenses for Windows 8 these days — just System Builder licenses for Windows 7 and 8.1. Microsoft fixed the System Builder licensing problem with Windows 8 before reverting back to the old broken system with Windows 8.1.
Image Credit: Alexey Ivanov on Flickr, Martin Abegglen on Flickr, Brian Timmermelster on Flickr
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