Microsoft Product Reviews
Microsoft plans and products reviewed against Microsoft's published service descriptions.
53 articlesWindows 11 Pro Review 2026: The Features Home Users Never See
Our Windows 11 Pro review covers BitLocker, Hyper-V, domain join and Remote Desktop host, and whether upgrading from Home is…
Exchange Server SE CAL Review: Standard vs Enterprise CAL, Explained
A review of Exchange Server SE CALs: what the Standard CAL covers, what the additive Enterprise CAL unlocks, and how…
Windows 11 Home Review 2026: Enough for Most People, Until It Isn’t
A review of Windows 11 Home: everyday performance, security defaults, account requirements and the exact points where Pro becomes genuinely…
Office Home 2024 Review: A One-Off Purchase That Still Makes Sense
Our Office Home 2024 review covers the apps included, the one-PC perpetual licence and how it compares with a Microsoft…
Windows 11 Pro for Workstations Review: Who Needs ReFS and SMB Direct?
Our Windows 11 Pro for Workstations review covers ReFS, SMB Direct, multi-socket support and high core counts, and which workloads…
Windows 11 Enterprise Review: What You Get That Pro Simply Cannot Do
A review of Windows 11 Enterprise: Credential Guard, AppLocker, LTSC options and how per-user licensing through Microsoft 365 changes the…
Windows Server 2025 Standard Review: Core Licensing and Two-VM Limits
Our Windows Server 2025 Standard review covers core-based licensing, the VM entitlement, hotpatching and when Datacenter becomes the cheaper option.
Windows Server 2025 Datacenter Review: When Unlimited VMs Pay for Themselves
A review of Windows Server 2025 Datacenter: unlimited virtualisation, Storage Spaces Direct, SDN and the VM count where it overtakes…
Windows Server 2025 Essentials Review: Small-Business Server, No CALs
Our Windows Server 2025 Essentials review covers the user limit, hardware ceiling and CAL-free licensing, and which small offices it…
Windows Server 2025 CAL Review: User or Device, and How Many You Need
A practical review of Windows Server 2025 CALs: how user and device CALs differ, counting rules, downgrade rights and the…
Remote Desktop Services CAL Review: The Licence Everyone Forgets to Buy
A review of RDS CALs for Windows Server 2025: why they stack on top of Server CALs, per-user versus per-device,…
SQL Server 2025 Standard Review: Core Licences, CALs and the Memory Cap
Our SQL Server 2025 Standard review covers the memory ceiling, availability features, server-plus-CAL versus core licensing and when Enterprise is…