Windows 8 將只有三種版本問世
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根據 Windows Blog 公布的消息，Windows 8 問世的版本將只有三種。其實提供給 x86 電腦或平板使用的只有 Windows 8 以及 Windows 8 Pro 兩種，而另外一種則是提供給 ARM 平台 (Windows on ARM: WOA)的則是 Windows 8 RT。這些版本都會有觸控功能、Live Tiles 介面。
Windows 8 Pro 可以由目前的 Windows 7 Pro/Ultimate 升級，而 Windows 8 則可由 Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium 升級。這兩種版本的 Windows 8 都可安裝一般的 x86/x64 應用軟體，也都內建 Windows Media Player (Windows 8 RT 則沒有)。Windows 8 RT 則無法安裝一般的 x86/x64 應用軟體，但內建了 Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote)。這些版本的 Windows 8 也都將搭載 IE 10。
以下便是這三種版本 Windows 8 功能比較。
| 功能名稱 | Windows 8 | Windows 8 Pro | Windows RT |
| Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium | ● | ● | |
| Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate | ● | ||
| Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles | ● | ● | ● |
| Windows Store | ● | ● | ● |
| Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, Video) | ● | ● | ● |
| Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote) | ● | ||
| Internet Explorer 10 | ● | ● | ● |
| Device encryption | ● | ||
| Connected standby | ● | ● | ● |
| Microsoft account | ● | ● | ● |
| Desktop | ● | ● | ● |
| Installation of x86/64 and desktop software | ● | ● | |
| Updated Windows Explorer | ● | ● | ● |
| Windows Defender | ● | ● | ● |
| SmartScreen | ● | ● | ● |
| Windows Update | ● | ● | ● |
| Enhanced Task Manager | ● | ● | ● |
| Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs) | ● | ● | ● |
| Better multiple monitor support | ● | ● | ● |
| Storage Spaces | ● | ● | |
| Windows Media Player | ● | ● | |
| Exchange ActiveSync | ● | ● | ● |
| File history | ● | ● | ● |
| ISO / VHD mount | ● | ● | ● |
| Mobile broadband features | ● | ● | ● |
| Picture password | ● | ● | ● |
| Play To | ● | ● | ● |
| Remote Desktop (client) | ● | ● | ● |
| Reset and refresh your PC | ● | ● | ● |
| Snap | ● | ● | ● |
| Touch and Thumb keyboard | ● | ● | ● |
| Trusted boot | ● | ● | ● |
| VPN client | ● | ● | ● |
| BitLocker and BitLocker To Go | ● | ||
| Boot from VHD | ● | ||
| Client Hyper-V | ● | ||
| Domain Join | ● | ||
| Encrypting File System | ● | ||
| Group Policy | ● | ||
| Remote Desktop (host) | ● |