Windows Vista brings a collection of new features and capabilities to the table. The actual list that enumerates the features in every edition of Windows Vista is a mile long. An exhaustive comparison between Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate is available here.

But there is also an alternative perspective on the six editions of Windows Vista. One that is focused less on the actual features and more on the new fields that the operating system will deliver to its users. As you know, Windows Vista Starter is the edition aimed at emerging markets. As such, it is a stripped down version of Vista Basic but it also introduces enhancements in the following areas Searching and organizing, Security, Internet Explorer, Sync Center, Ease of Access Center, Parental Controls, Networking and Pictures.

The new Search capabilities are common for all the Vista editions, as is Internet Explorer the Sync Center, the Ease of Access Center and the Network and Sharing Center. In this regard, Home Basic delivers extra sharing options as well as Windows Easy Transfer.

Starting with Windows Vista Home Premium, users will be getting their money's worth. Home premium offers on top of the Home Basic features: Windows Media Center, Windows Aero, Mobile PC and Tablet PC features.

Windows Vista Business has a Backup and Restore Center, Windows Easy Transfer, Windows meeting Space Small Business Resources on top of what Home Premium offers, but without Windows media center. And Windows Vista Enterprise builds on top of the Business edition with features such as BitLocker.

Windows Vista Ultimate delivers the whole Vista package, including Searching and organizing, Security, Internet Explorer, Windows Aero, Sync and sharing, Windows Easy Transfer, Ease of Access Center, Parental Controls, Backup and Restore Center, Networking, Windows Meeting Space, Windows Media Center, Pictures, Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, Mobile PC features and
Tablet PC features.