The most apparent differences are that it does not come with the concurrent application limit. Other advantages are 64-bit support and the inclusion of the Desktop Window Manager, Windows Mobility Center and partial support for Windows Aero.

Processor Required: 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

Hard disk: 16 GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit); for the download version, an additional 3 GB is required

Memory Required: 1 GB RAM (32-bit) / 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

Video card: DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or later driver

Other: Additional requirements to use certain features:

• Internet access (fees may apply)
• Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
• For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
• Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
• HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
• DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
• Music and sound require audio output

Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware.