Difference between Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise

November 2022 · 4 minute read
Key Difference: Windows 8 Pro is similar to the Windows 7 Professional and is designed for enthusiasts and business users. It offers all off the features of the Windows 8 along with extra features for small business owners. Windows 8 Enterprise is the most expensive edition and offers all the features of the Windows 8 Pro including a few extra features. Windows 8 Enterprise is not available for retail and can be purchased only through volume licensing by Microsoft’s SA clients.

Windows 8 is the latest operating system by Microsoft and was launched in October 2012. The company has revamped the look of the start menu and eliminated the menu bar and in place has introduced Live Tiles similar to the ones that have been launched on the Windows Mobile phones. Similar to all its older operating systems, this OS was also launched with different editions that allow the people to choose. However, unlike older editions, the company has only limited the editions to 4 variants. Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise are two different variants that are available for purchase.

Windows 8 Pro is similar to the Windows 7 Professional and is designed for enthusiasts and business users. It offers all off the features of the Windows 8 such as Start screen, Live tiles, Internet Explorer 10, Windows Store, connected standby, Windows desktop, etc. In addition to these features, it also has features such as Remote Desktop, ability to participate in a Windows Server domain, Virtual Hard Disk Booting, Encrypting File System, Hyper-V, Group Policy, BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. These features are important when working or running a small business. It does not offer built-in Windows Media Center, which can be purchased as a separate package for a small fee. There is also a specific upgrade path that must be followed when upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro. All of the Windows 7 editions, except the Enterprise can upgrade to the Windows 8 Pro edition.

Windows 8 Enterprise is the most expensive and the highest edition available on the market. This edition is offers all the features of the Windows 8 Pro and more features. In addition to all the features mentioned above, it also has additional features such as AppLocker, Windows To Go, DirectAccess, BranchCache, the system can be virtualized by RemoteFX and services for the Network File System. Some of the features are quite helpful in terms of big corporations such as DirectAccess, which allows users to access resources inside a corporate network without having to launch a separate VPN. The Windows To Go allows the user to store the whole desktop on a bootable external USB stick for seamless shifting and moving. BranchCache allows the PCs to cache files, websites and other content from central servers so that it is not downloaded again and again. However, this edition also lacks Windows Media Center. The Windows 8 Enterprise is not on the retail market and is only available through volume licensing from Microsoft’s Software Assurance (SA) clients.

The following table has been taken from Wikipedia.

Windows 8 Pro

Windows 8 Enterprise

Availability

Most channels

Volume License customers

Architecture

IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit)

IA-32 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit)

Maximum physical memory (RAM)

4 GB on IA-32

512 GB on x64

4 GB on IA-32

512 GB on x64

Trusted boot

YES

YES

Picture password

YES

YES

Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles

YES

YES

Touch and Thumb keyboard

YES

YES

Language packs

YES

YES

Updated File Explorer

YES

YES

Standard apps

YES

YES

File History

YES

YES

Refresh and reset of OS

YES

YES

Play To

YES

YES

Connected standby

YES

YES

Windows Update

YES

YES

Windows Defender

YES

YES

Better multi-monitor support

YES

YES

New Windows Task Manager

YES

YES

ISO image and VHD mounting

YES

YES

Mobile broadband features

YES

YES

Microsoft account integration

YES

YES

Internet Explorer 10

YES

YES

SmartScreen

YES

YES

Windows Store

YES

YES

Xbox Live (including Xbox Live Arcade)

YES

YES

Exchange ActiveSync

YES

YES

Snap

YES

YES

Can connect to a VPN

YES

YES

Desktop

YES

YES

Supported third-party apps

Windows Store and desktop

Windows Store and desktop

Remote Desktop

Client and host

Client and host

Storage Spaces

YES

YES

Windows Media Player

YES

YES

Encryption features

BitLocker and EFS

BitLocker and EFS

Sideload Windows Store apps

Partial

Partial

Boot from VHD

YES

YES

Can join a Windows domain

YES

YES

Group Policy

YES

YES

Hyper-V

On 64-bit versions only with SLAT capable CPU

On 64-bit versions only with SLAT capable CPU

AppLocker

YES

Windows To Go

YES

DirectAccess

YES

BranchCache

YES

Can be virtualized by RemoteFX?

YES

Services for Network File System

YES

Subsystem for Unix-based Applications

Deprecated

Windows Media Center

Via an add-in

Can be purchased separately

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