I'm having a hard time seeing where Windows 7 Starter version for netbooks is going to work...
Category Microsoft
I'm not to the point of following Microsoft product releases the same way I follow Notes/Domino upgrades, so I haven't been keeping track of all the different variations of Windows 7 that will probably end up being released. But yesterday was the first time I had heard about Windows 7 Starter, a scaled-down (some would say "crippled") version of the operating system for netbooks.
From ZDNet: Living with the limits of Windows 7 Starter Edition
If you’ve read anything about Windows 7 Starter Edition, your first reaction was probably the same as mine: Is Microsoft nuts? This ultra-cheap edition is intended for use on netbooks, but its biggest restriction sounds like a complete deal-breaker: it only runs three applications at once.
But I prefer to form my opinions based on facts, not press releases. So, for the sake of research, I’ve spent the last three weeks running Windows 7 Starter Edition on an ultra-portable Sony notebook. Here’s what I learned.
I realize that netbooks (small and *cheap*) are growing as a viable hardware option, and that Linux (the "cheap" option) has been doing quite well. And when you look at retail costs of Windows operating systems (does *anyone* pay retail for those?), you can end up spending as much on the OS as the hardware to run it. So Microsoft really does need to have an option in this area...
But a crippled version of Windows 7 that only runs three apps at a time? This sounds reminiscent of the stripped down versions of Windows that Microsoft offered to other countries in order to combat piracy. It also seems to follow the model of shareware apps... "Ok, you've used the application x number of times. If you want to continue using the application, please pay us for it." Fine for a particular application, but would I want to run my entire operating system in that mode?
Time will tell as to how Windows 7 "trial edition" plays out. But I can't think that this will meet with too much approval in the geek world. The other option would be to have it accepted by default as that's the only option available (or the upgrade price is real cheap). But with Linux as a viable alternative and geeks/road warriors being the initial primary market for netbooks, that doesn't seem to work well either.
Ah, the trials and tribulations of protecting cash cows...
I'm not to the point of following Microsoft product releases the same way I follow Notes/Domino upgrades, so I haven't been keeping track of all the different variations of Windows 7 that will probably end up being released. But yesterday was the first time I had heard about Windows 7 Starter, a scaled-down (some would say "crippled") version of the operating system for netbooks.
From ZDNet: Living with the limits of Windows 7 Starter Edition
If you’ve read anything about Windows 7 Starter Edition, your first reaction was probably the same as mine: Is Microsoft nuts? This ultra-cheap edition is intended for use on netbooks, but its biggest restriction sounds like a complete deal-breaker: it only runs three applications at once.
But I prefer to form my opinions based on facts, not press releases. So, for the sake of research, I’ve spent the last three weeks running Windows 7 Starter Edition on an ultra-portable Sony notebook. Here’s what I learned.
I realize that netbooks (small and *cheap*) are growing as a viable hardware option, and that Linux (the "cheap" option) has been doing quite well. And when you look at retail costs of Windows operating systems (does *anyone* pay retail for those?), you can end up spending as much on the OS as the hardware to run it. So Microsoft really does need to have an option in this area...
But a crippled version of Windows 7 that only runs three apps at a time? This sounds reminiscent of the stripped down versions of Windows that Microsoft offered to other countries in order to combat piracy. It also seems to follow the model of shareware apps... "Ok, you've used the application x number of times. If you want to continue using the application, please pay us for it." Fine for a particular application, but would I want to run my entire operating system in that mode?
Time will tell as to how Windows 7 "trial edition" plays out. But I can't think that this will meet with too much approval in the geek world. The other option would be to have it accepted by default as that's the only option available (or the upgrade price is real cheap). But with Linux as a viable alternative and geeks/road warriors being the initial primary market for netbooks, that doesn't seem to work well either.
Ah, the trials and tribulations of protecting cash cows...
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It includes mention of that 'emerging markets' version you mentioned, though why they officially title it 'Home Basic' is beyond me.
No mention in the 'Starter' tab of only being able to open 3 apps. Wonder why?
Posted by Greg Walrath At 13:30:32 On 21/04/2009 | - Website - |
Win7 Starter edition is not the only Win7 to run on Netbooks. It is the only one targetted at NetBooks.
And it is the version that was sold as the anti-piracy product to "emerging markets". What MS have done is to make the Win7 version of Starter edition available internationally and angling as a really low-cost version of Win7 for netbooks, while making Vista Home Basics successor Win7 Home Basic the "emerging markets" product and not internationally available, and without the 3 product limit the emerging market found insulting.
It should be noted that Microsoft did not just cripple XP and Vista Starter and make the price really low but it was as far as I understood it also translated into many regional and local dialects.
Basically, what they do is they swap the two products for intended markets, giving emerging markets a slightly more compelling product.
The appeal of the light Windows version to consumers is mostly dependant on how cheap they intend to make it IMO ;)
Posted by Tom R. At 08:21:56 On 25/04/2009 | - Website - |