New Firefox and Vista

Firefox, the browser that every Microsoft basher loves to use (though personally I still prefer the IE), has been updated and on Friday released a test version with improved security, navigation, and privacy features was released. Firefox 1.5 is expected to follow shortly.

7 different versions of the next OS from the microsoft stable:

Starter Edition: (like XP Starter Edition) aimed for anyone dumb enough to take it.

Home Basic Edition: (like Windows XP Home) a well defined system minus the things that a basic user (read net surfer, music listener, etc) will be happy to use.

Home Premium Edition: (like Windows XP Pro ^- ) Basic plus addons for gaming, Media Center capabilities ,HDTV, DVD etc will be thrown in. This might be the most popular verison in the end.

Windows Vista Professional Edition: (like Windows XP Pro ⁺ ) Aimed purely at the business environment, minus the frills in HPE but with addons for business use.
Microsoft is also planning both a Small Business Edition and an Enterprise Edition, which build upon pro by adding (seemingly minor) features aimed at appealing to each market. SBE, for instance, includes a networked backup solution, while EE will include things like Virtual PC integration, and the ability to encrypt an entire volume of information (go figure *sighs*).

Last but not least, there's Ultimate Edition: supposedly personalized on per user basis with the best of each edition plus personalized servicess (exclusive access to music, movies, services and preferred customer care). This version is aimed at high-end PC users and technology influencers, gamers, digital media enthusiasts, and students.

All these editions are just going to create confusion in the market and make it more difficult for MS to manage the products. Besides a key deciding factor would still be the pricing of the product. The wait continues...