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SQL Server 2014 delivers mission critical performance across all workloads with in-memory built-in, faster insights from any data with familiar tools, and a platform for hybrid cloud enabling organizations to easily build deploy, and manage solutions that span on-premises and cloud.

Compare the features of Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2012.

Review and compare Office 2013 editions: Home & Student, Home & Business and Professional.

This whitepaper from Microsoft and IDG delves into intelligent systems and how they are connecting data, devices and people--driven by trends involving the "Internet of Things" and consumerization of IT.

 The Mobile and Embedded Communications Extranet (ECE) is the website for Microsoft Embedded customers and distributors where they can access announcements and download licensing documents and product updates.

Common Terms and Acronyms associated with Microsoft.

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Field Upgrades  allow OEMs to install Microsoft Embedded to systems that are already field deployed. The cost for upgrade runtimes is the same as the full runtime but have differnt part numbers. Field upgrades require an additional agreement between the OEM and Microsoft.
Migration Rights allow OEMs to purchase newer Embedded runtimes (like WES7 ) but install an older Embedded image (like XP Embedded) with the ability to upgrade the deployed system's image to the newer version at a later date at no additional cost.

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Microsoft Embedded runtime licenses can only be purchased by OEMs who have a signed OEM Customer License Agreement (CLA) with Microsoft.

Ordinarily, Microsoft Embedded is delivered pre-installed on systems. However, OEMs have the ability to have Microsoft Embedded installed on systems that are already deployed by way of a "Field Upgrade" license.

"Migration Rights" enable OEMs to purchase a newer OSs runtime license yet temporarily  deploy the system with a older OS (for example, purchase Windows Embedded Standard 7 runtimes but deploy the systems with XP Embedded installed).  

An Outsource Manufacturer (OM) is a third party that the OEM can contract to do any of the following: Install an Image on an Embedded System Manufacture an Embedded System Prepare the Embedded System for distribution Distribute Embedded Systems.
A Third Party Integrator (TPI) is a company that the OEM can engage with to create and/or test an Image, applications, or software drivers for the OEM systems using Microsoft Embedded products.

Outsource Manufacturers and Third Party Integrators must be pre-approved by Microsoft.

Unlike Windows Embedded Standard, the componentized version of XP and Windows7, the For Embedded Systems (FES) versions require individual system activation.

XP Pro For Embedded Systems (FES) comes in both 32bit and 64 bit versions.

Vista FES has both 32bit and 64 bit versions that also come in "Business" and "Ultimate" versions.

Windows 7 FES comes in "Pro" and "Ultimate" versions, with the 32bit and 64 bit sharing the same SKUs.

There are no "Home" or "Basic" SKUs for "For Embedded Systems" (FES).

"OEM Activation" (OA) allows OEMs to pre-activate licensed copies of Windows Embedded OSs at their factory and eliminate the activation process.
OA can be used to pre-activate the For Embedded Systems versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and the Embedded versions of Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

OEMs using Windows Embedded are permitted to create media for image recovery, update or field upgrade. Creating a disk with the Microsoft Windows binaries is not allowed for non-embedded Windows.