Features |
Windows RT |
Windows 8* |
Windows 8 Pro |
Windows 8 Enterprise |
Maximum physical memory |
ARM limit |
4 / 128 GB |
4** GB (x86) / 512 GB (x64) |
Instant start (hybrid shutdown) |
Features common
to
ALL editions of
Windows 8 |
UEFI secure boot |
GPT > 2 TB boot
partition |
Picture password |
Start Screen + Live Tiles + Snap |
Windows Store Sandboxed apps |
Semantic Zoom |
Touch & Thumb keyboard |
Ribbonized File Explorer &
file transfer management |
File History |
Refresh and
Reset of OS |
"Play To" devices |
Connected standby |
Better multi-monitor
support |
New Windows Task Manager |
ISO image and
VHD mounting |
Mobile broadband features |
Microsoft account
integration |
2x IE10: modern & desktop |
SmartScreen (file checker) |
Xbox Live (incl. Arcade) |
Exchange ActiveSync
(EAS) |
VPN client |
Traditional Desktop |
Very Limited |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Executables Supported |
Store apps only |
Windows Store + desktop apps
(x86/x64) |
Remote Desktop (RDP) |
Client only |
Client only |
Client & host |
Client & host |
Storage Spaces
software-defined storage
|
|
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Windows Media Player |
|
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Windows Media Center |
|
n/a!! |
req.
Pro Pack |
n/a |
Microsoft Office bundled |
✓ |
|
|
|
Encryption features |
Device encryption |
n/a |
BitLocker and EFS |
Boot from VHD |
|
|
✓ |
✓ |
Domain join |
|
|
✓ |
✓ |
Local Group Policy (GPedit.msc) |
|
|
✓ |
✓ |
Hyper-V |
|
|
x64 only, req. SLAT CPU & mb |
VirtualPC is no longer supported in all editions |
Offline
Files |
|
|
✓ |
✓ |
Sideload
in-house modern apps |
Partial |
n/a |
req. Enterprise Sideloading key |
AppLocker |
|
|
|
✓ |
Windows To Go |
|
|
|
✓ |
DirectAccess |
|
|
|
✓ |
BranchCache |
|
|
|
✓ |
virtualized by
RemoteFX |
|
|
|
✓ |
Services for NFS |
|
|
|
✓ |
*the moniker "home premium/basic edition" has been drop. It's now
simply known as Windows 8--AKA Windows 8 Core (unofficial)
in some tech circles.
**In reality, 4 GB limit really means something close to 3.1 GB due to
the upper gigabyte region being allocated to ROM and other I/O purposes.