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Microsoft drops 3-app limit from Windows 7 Starter Edition
The team of Microsoft developers working on Windows 7 have written a blog post spelling out exactly what features will and will not be available in Windows 7 Starter Edition. And the company has decided to drop one of the most talked-about restrictions: the ability to run just three applications at once. You'll now be able to run as many programs as your computer's limited RAM will allow. We first saw rumors that the company would drop this restriction last week, but today it's official.
Microsoft has been making "Starter" versions of its operating systems since Windows XP. But in the past, these editions were only sold in the developing world. Windows 7 Starter is the first to be available in developed countries like the United States. The goal is to give netbook makers a cheaper alternative to Windows 7 Home Premium to include on low cost mini-laptops.
Windows 7 Starter will cost significantly less than other versions of the operating system, but Microsoft wants to give customers an incentive to upgrade. Windows 7 Home Premium and Ultimate are perfectly capable of running on slower systems like netbooks. But you'll have to shell out some extra money to purchase them. If you do pick up a machine with Windows 7 Starter you'll have to live with the following restrictions:
- No Aero Glass effects
- No ability to switch between users without logging off
- Fewer personalization features (you won't be able to change desktop backgrounds, sound schemes, or window colors)
- No support for multiple monitors
- No DVD playback support (although I imagine you'll be able to add this with 3rd party software)
- No Windows Media Center support
- No support for streaming local media remotely over the internet
- No domain support for business customers
- XP Mode for running older programs is not included
Comments
18
Subscribe to commentsToddMay 29th 2009 6:53PM
Blogger on blogger crime is so sad:
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/05/22/microsoft-dumps-3-app-limit-on-windows-7-starter/
Brad LinderMay 29th 2009 6:54PM
At the time it was just a rumor. This time it's coming straight from Microsoft. I meant to say that in the post, but that's what I get for blogging in a hurry. Post updated to reflect the distinction.
KeegdnaBMay 29th 2009 8:12PM
I have to wonder how many netbooks are gonna end up actually shipping with Starter. OEMs usually offer some kind of incentive for upgrading to a higher version (ie Home Premium > Ultimate) and I'd bet most of them will push for people to go with a non-gimped 7 as much as possible. That would end up leaving Starter only for the cheapest of cheapskates.
SamMay 29th 2009 8:12PM
Um... this is supposed to be for netbooks so... why no support for streaming online media? Basically we're saying you can run Office and that's it.
Brad LinderMay 29th 2009 8:14PM
You can stream online media. What you can't do is stream media stored on your computer over the internet to other computers using the tools that are baked into other versions of Windows 7.
Matthew W.May 29th 2009 11:02PM
This is one of the things about Microsoft that just drives me nuts. Why have all these versions of Windows at all? Apple has OS X and OS X Server...and that's it! No Starter, No Basic, No Premium, No Ultimate, No Business. It's a totally unnecessary and artificial complication...no one liked it when they did this with Vista and it's exactly the kind of thing Apple's annoying "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials love to jump all over Microsoft for.
RockyMay 30th 2009 8:43AM
Didn't know that OSX only costs OEMs $10. Wait.... nevermind, I just realized you don't get it at all. Choice, it's always better.
hazardMay 30th 2009 10:25AM
I know Matthew isn't it just crazy. What about all those different distros of Linux, that just drives me nuts. I mean why can't they just be more like Apple and have one distro for the Desktop and another for the Server .. and that's it! No Red Hat, No Ubuntu, No Knoppix. It's a totally unnecessary and an artificial complication.
HelloJun 1st 2009 1:05PM
They have all those different versions so you can choose a nice pretty prepackaged system to start from and work off of there. Instead of Apple's approach where it installs all kinds of apps right out of the box. Same reason there are so many Linux Distro's out there. So you get closer to what you need on the first install, install a few programs and your running. Instead of a catch all "here's everything you never knew you needed" OS.
Matthew W.Jun 1st 2009 6:18PM
First off, every Linux distro isn't put out by the exact same group of people, so that's not a fair comparison. Secondly, while some people may feel that Apple has simplified their product line too much, at least it's perfectly clear to the customer what they are getting, which is a complete and full featured product that can do what they need/want it to do (and yes, also some things they didn't think of.) Does every Microsoft customer need all the bells and whistles? Probably not, but do we really need 4 or 5 different versions of the same OS? I know Microsoft is serving a much larger customer base, but I really think 2 or 3 different versions of 7 would get the job done here. How about Windows 7 Basic (or "Netbook"), Windows 7 Home, and Windows 7 Business...3 straight forward names that tell the consumer what/who the product is for. Look at all the people who bought Windows Vista "Ultimate" who were promised extra features ("ultimate extras") that either came really late or never materialized at all...and then tell me how good a job Microsoft's been doing giving their customers good choices.
Danny BoyMay 29th 2009 11:03PM
I can live with those restrictions, but I hear Starter may have restrictions on installed RAM and processor cores. Those are deal breakers.
MattMay 30th 2009 11:12AM
Deal breakers? What deal? This isn't going to be sold on its own, only included on netbooks. The point of the restrictions is to keep OEMs from including it on regular laptops and desktops.
Danny BoyMay 30th 2009 11:55AM
Uhm, deal breaker for using Starter instead of XP or another OS.
MorganMay 30th 2009 8:44AM
For me:
PLUS - No Aero Glass effects
PLUS - No ability to switch between users without logging off
PLUS - Fewer personalization features (you won't be able to change desktop backgrounds, sound schemes, or window colors)
MEH - No support for multiple monitors
VLC - No DVD playback support (although I imagine you'll be able to add this with 3rd party software)
PLUS - No Windows Media Center support
PLUS - No support for streaming local media remotely over the internet
PLUS - No domain support for business customers
MEH - XP Mode for running older programs is not included
A plus is I suppose contingent on whether it means the associated services are not running. Also as someone said, restrictions on RAM and processor speed are deal breakers. Otherwise this is mostly beneficial to me.
ScottMay 30th 2009 11:50AM
So I'm assuming "multiple monitors" doesn't include switching to display on a projector etc... as this would make the vga ports on netbooks pretty useless.
Terry FrankMay 30th 2009 7:42PM
Well, I don't know how accurate this is? I am currently running Windows 7 RC1 on my computer.
I am able to do this: Fewer personalization features (you won't be able to change desktop backgrounds, sound schemes, or window colors)
I am able to do this: XP Mode for running older programs is not included
Actually i am able to run every possible compatibility there is ( That is it will allow me to run a program in every possible OS Compatibility)
And i use VLC anyways and also im a Computer Tech so im not too worried about support. I'll call the company if i cant fix it myself.
Brad LinderMay 30th 2009 7:50PM
The article is referring to Windows 7 Starter Edition. Windows 7 RC1 is basically Windows 7 Ultimate, which is the unrestricted version.
rogercddungaraniiiMay 30th 2009 11:06PM
need to now more about window 7