Is W10/11 Enterprise Edition Sold For OEMs/Retail?

Discussion in 'Windows 11' started by PolidelticusFire, May 24, 2022.

  1. PolidelticusFire

    PolidelticusFire MDL Expert

    May 7, 2020
    1,013
    401
    60
    Windows 10 and 11 Enterprise both support Digital Entitlement, meaning no volume license or software assurance needed as was in the past.

    On Media Creation Tool there is also the "/Retail" license switch to download Enterprise in Retail mode instead of VL.


    That made me wonder... Does Microsoft actually sell this SKU for OEMs and/or Retail, which would make it a replacement for Ultimate?

    And can you theoretically buy a new machine with this edition preloaded?
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  2. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
    50,320
    106,579
    450
    ?
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  3. PolidelticusFire

    PolidelticusFire MDL Expert

    May 7, 2020
    1,013
    401
    60
    Enterprise is, AFAIK, the SKU with the most features, most RAM support... Making it IMHO a direct successor to Vista/7 Ultimate.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  4. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
    50,320
    106,579
    450
    I don't really get all those comparisons, it's 10/11 that has it available as OEMRET or VL, not 7 nor Vista.

    And why would that depend on licensing?
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  5. PolidelticusFire

    PolidelticusFire MDL Expert

    May 7, 2020
    1,013
    401
    60
    The SKU is no longer restricted to SA or VL. It can be obtained and used by anyone. Just like Windows 7 Ultimate/Enterprise, which were feature-wise identical, the only difference was the licensing.
    With Windows 10 and 11, that licensing difference isn't there anymore.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  6. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
    50,320
    106,579
    450
    For quite some time now, yes.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...