| Windows 7 Starter Edition
Windows 7 Starter Edition may be the most evil version of Windows as to date. It imposes a restriction on all users that only allow three simultaneous applications. Microsoft's defense behind the restriction was that it ensures that users can get the best possible performance from limited netbook hardware. But seeing that Windows 7 Beta – which is the Ultimate edition – already runs so well on even the lowest spec netbooks, many are wondering why Microsoft would impose such a restriction. Microsoft should know that such a restriction is unideal in today's computer environments.
Imagine you were running Starter Edition; you have your messenger running, you're browsing on the net, and you're listening to music. You have Skype running as a background process but when someone attempts to call you, you're unable to receive the call because then you'd be running four simultaneous applications. So did Microsoft really impose this restriction to benefit its users? Let's take a look at the likely scenarios Starter Edition could cause.
Drive up netbook prices:
This seems to be one of the more popular stances on the Starter Edition issue right now. PCPro recently reported that Starter Edition could drive up prices of Windows-based netbooks.
The company announced last week that it was launching
Windows 7 Starter Edition as a low-cost option designed specifically
for netbooks.
However, the company�s decision to impose a three-app limit could
force many manufacturers to opt for the more expensive Home Premium.
The three-app rule includes applications running in the background,
meaning that a user running Windows Messenger and Skype, for example,
could only use one further application on their machine. Antivirus
software is excluded from the app count.
Microsoft says the restriction is designed to ensure that users get
the best possible performance from limited netbook hardware. However,
it admits it will encourage netbook manufacturers to install the
unrestricted Home Premium in the UK.
Microsoft's response was simply:
�We would expect the limit of three applications wouldn�t affect very many people.�
Microsoft told consumers on its Engineering Windows 7 blog that 70% of its consumers� have between eight and 15 windows open at any time. Depending on how much of the remaining 30% will be netbook consumers, this could force OEMs to install Home Premium (rumored to be $260) to avoid discouraging customers because of the 3 concurrent application restriction.
Drive down Netbook prices
On the other hand, Starter Edition may end up driving down netbook prices. Microsoft had stated that all versions of Windows 7 can be upgraded from one version to the next. Assuming this applies to Starter Edition as well, the starting price of a netbook is now much lower. Netbook vendors have a lot less to risk because if a customer opts for Windows 7 Starter Edition but is unsatisfied, they can easily upgrade through Microsoft.
The result of even lower netbook prices will increase sales, which also means increased sales of Windows 7. The dirty trick here is that users are tempted into buying these cheaper netbooks equipped with Windows 7 Starter, only to find that they need to upgrade to Home Premium because Starter wasn't suitable for them. They end up purchasing a Home Premium netbook anyway. Whereas if there was no Starter edition in the first place, the high netbook prices as a result of Home Premium may not have attracted them to consider purchasing a netbook in the first place. HP has already announced that they will ship three versions of Windows 7 with their netbooks: Starter, Home Premium, and Professional. Will it just be a matter of tiem before other vendors follow suit?
Users opt for Linux instead
The other argument behind the application limit is that the majority of apps have online alternatives and can be accessed through the browser instead, which is just one application. For example, Google Docs allows you to use Google alternatives to Word, Excel, and Powerpoint all in the browser with just one application open. But if Microsoft isn't to drive the price of the Starter Edition to be competitive with Linux, users may just opt for Linux instead. A user planning to purchase a budget netbook solely as an online surfing device does not necessarily need to deal with the extra cost that comes with a Windows-based machine.
With the lack of a Windows 7 Home Basic edition in non-emerging markets, the big gap between Starter and Home Premium makes it difficult for OEMs and customers to choose between the two versions.Windows 7 Beta Ultimate already runs well on netbooks so Microsoft does not have to worry too much about strained performance on Windows 7-based netbooks. But any one of the three scenarios may happen and Starter Edition may change the netbook market for the next couple of years. The one scenario Microsoft absolutely wants to avoid is for users to opt for Linux instead due to all the confusion. What do you think of Windows 7 Starter Edition? Please let us know in the comments.
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