14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Vista Enterprise is for businesses the equivalent of Windows Vista Ultimate for home users. In this sense, the Enterprise SKU of Vista is positioned as the premium edition of Microsoft's latest operating system for corporations, delivering extra value compared to the Business edition. The sole caveat of Vista Enterprise is that access is limited exclusively to the Microsoft Software Assurance customers via volume licensing. The Redmond company is advertising Vista Enterprise as a solution that would tailorfit any business environment bringing to the table flexible desktop computing, enhanced security and mobility and a lower cost of ownership.
"It helps global organizations and businesses that have complex IT infrastructures lower IT costs, reduce risk, and stay connected. Windows Vista Enterprise includes all the features in Windows Vista Business as well as extra capabilities designed to help reduce the cost and complexity of deploying and managing corporate computers. It provides higher levels of data protection, easier application management, and improved standardization for global operations. Windows Vista Enterprise also offers stronger data protection for a growing, mobile workforce, including more protection for sensitive data if a portable computer is lost or stolen," reads a fragment of Microsoft's description of Vista Enterprise.
The Redmond company is offering business users a demo of Windows Vista Enterprise built in Flash and centered on the operating system, as well as on the extended control and flexibility delivered by the product. But when advertising and marketing fail to convince, a hands-on approach is sure to do the trick. This is why Vista Enterprise is the sole edition of the operating system available as a free download straight from Microsoft. If a Flash-based animation failed to sell you on the Enterprise SKU then go ahead and grab the real thing and give it a spin. Microsoft is offering a Windows Vista Enterprise VHD, and an Office 2007 Professional VHD, both virtual images set up for integration with Virtual PC 2007 or with Virtual Server 2005 Enterprise R2 SP1.