Thank god. The absurd and arbitrary limitation of running three apps at a time on Windows 7 Starter edition has been lifted, although all the other ways in which it sucks are still intact. When they announced the six different flavors of Windows 7, everyone gaped at the punishing 3-app limit, wondering how Microsoft intended to justify it when so much rides on Windows 7 being a good choice for netbooks and nettops. There are still many pieces missing, and the blog post announcing the change goes out of its way to make this clear.
So for the record, just what isn’t included in the Starter edition?
- Aero Glass, meaning you can only use the “Windows Basic” or other opaque themes. It also means you do not get Taskbar Previews or Aero Peek.
- Personalization features for changing desktop backgrounds, window colors, or sound schemes.
- The ability to switch between users without having to log off.
- Multi-monitor support.
- DVD playback.
- Windows Media Center for watching recorded TV or other media.
- Remote Media Streaming for streaming your music, videos, and recorded TV from your home computer.
- Domain support for business customers.
- XP Mode for those that want the ability to run older Windows XP programs on Windows 7.
As you can see, it really is the poor man’s version of the otherwise sweet-looking OS, but at least you won’t have to shut down your browser in order to watch a movie. No DVD playback, though? I don’t remember that from before. Did they sneak that in there?
Aww. That sucks. I was hoping for a while they would royally piss off their users so people could plainly see the benefits of running Linux on their laptops.
Starter is just a clear indication of the flawed tiered system they’re using.
Not bothered with W7 though personally. I have a OS which has worked flawlessly for just over 10 years, why would I care about an OS which is only just beginning to be on the same level? Maybe Windows 8, if they don’t rush it (which they will.)
you’re an idiot…
I agree. Even XP is newer than 10 years. What are you running, Windows 98?
And Windows 8 won’t be rushed. Windows 7 is already out. That was rushed (3 years) to get the bad taste of Vista out of people’s mouths. In all honesty, Vista was pretty good after SP1, on a decent computer.
So I guess this means gone are the days of Netbooks with VGA outputs….
Although it seems kinda odd to disable DVD playback too….
Whatever I got a netbook with Win 7 Ultimate anyway
Whats the point of Windows 7 Starter? It seems to be an OS that is made for…. browsing the internet and checking email? Does that pretty much sum it up? I guess I won’t mind so long as they don’t charge for it, because that pretty much sounds like a really basic version of Linux. Hell, even Ubuntu has more features and options than W7S.
Free like a bird… in a cage.
Windows 7 Home
Windows 7 Business
Windows 7 Media Center
Boom. Done. Why can’t it be that simple??
How about this: Just “Windows 7″?
Programmers should be payed for their work, and I don’t want to pay for things I don’t need. The price usually goes up about twenty dollars with each expansion, and thats just for XP, I don’t know what Vista is at the moment. I also don’t want my OS filled with things I don’t need.
It makes sense to create different versions geared toward different needs, all I was pointing out is that there doesn’t need to be so many different versions. At some point, you’re just creating different versions to make more cash, which is what I think MS is doing here. Not that there is anything wrong with making mulah, it just seems unnecessary and not in the best interest of the consumer. It seems more like a “how can we screw you over” type of deal. Its important to maintain a positive company image in the eyes of your consumer, they’re the ones who are paying you after all, and they don’t necessarily have to these days.
Why would I pay more for Ultimate if I don’t need the extra features? I like the different prices. It’s cheaper and there’s no wasted space on my hard drive.
(not admitting to buying software)
I think Microsoft has the right to do what ever they want, but that might cost them some customers for not listening to their needs and wants.
Joshua: I agree…to a point. Having 100 editions of an OS is just crazy though…maybe 2 versions would be ok…a stripped-down one and a more feature-filled one.
I think having 7 different flavors makes sense considering the wide audience that microsoft caters to.
It covers the systems that can barely run the os through to the gear heads who want everything available at their finger tips.
As for the 3 app limit, they should have left it how many “netbooks” can smoothly run 3 apps at the same time anyway? Also the lack of dvd drives in most “netbooks” gives an obvious reason for cutting out dvd playback these computers are meant for surfing and light typing not as all purpose multimedia players.
they made 7 versions because their main focus is on money not happy customers. they have enough money, they should really focus on happy customers. they should make 2 versions. Client version and Server version. they should include ALL the ultimate features in the client version, and they should give us the ‘7 options’ as the first question during installation.
What I really don’t get is why, with the availablilty of everything that the internet brings us, they don’t make the features a la carte. Have an ultimate edition that includes everything. Have a business version that includes everything business related, but leaves out things businesses won’t need, and then have a basic verstion that includes everything you need to run your computer at a basic level.
But say I want the Aeroglass interface. I go to the microsoft store and plunk down $1. Say I want business-class back up capability. $1. Say I want a pack of 50 special screen savers. $1. A buck is probably too low, maybe $2.99, but you see my point. If I don’t want to drop a full load of cash on the ultimate version for features I don’t need…get basic and then buy the little features I do need/want.