What If Windows 7 Starter Isn't Meant to Just Stop Linux on Netbooks?

by Kristin Shoemaker - Apr. 20, 2009Comments (4)

Over at ComputerWorld, Seth Weintraub waxes poetic about Microsoft's decision to offer a Windows 7 Starter edition to keep its presence strong in the netbook arena, and why this is a huge advantage for Google's Linux-based Android.

Windows 7 Starter edition is designed to run no more than three applications simultaneously -- purchasing an upgrade allows users to run, presumably, as many apps as their netbooks can handle at one time. Now, three concurrent applications at a shot might be sufficient for a number of users; it might be all that some netbooks can handle, depending on the applications and system resources running in the background. Microsoft isn't hiding the fact it is experimenting with a limited Starter, and hopefully netbook manufacturers will also make buyers aware of this. But awareness and being almost sufficient in even most cases is irrelevant. It's the concept that there is a limit, and purchasing an upgrade for functionality that most won't need every day (but when it's needed, it's really needed) that will make netbooks running alternative operating systems increasingly attractive. It's an advantage not only for Android, but any Linux distribution netbook builders optimize for their hardware.

Weintraub wrote that he couldn't imagine that Microsoft could come up with a faster way to lose market share. I agree wholeheartedly, and truth be told, I think Microsoft probably feels the same way. Does it think it will sell upgrades? Will it sell upgrades? Yes, on both counts, and probably not nearly enough. The question is, then, is Microsoft trying to get the upperhand in the netbook operating system market, or stomp out the netbook market completely? You don't need to worry about market share when there's no longer a market.

The true motive, again, is really almost irrelevant. What's clear is that Microsoft is greatly underestimating the capabilities of open source operating systems on these devices. What's more troubling is its apparent confidence that consumers won't look for, consider, or try these alternatives. Perhaps some will prefer Android over Ubuntu's Netbook Remix -- but it doesn't mean there is any shortage of viable, fully functional, user-friendly platforms to choose instead.


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4 Comments
 

Of course MS would love to stamp out netbooks. Netbooks singlehandedly caused them to have to keep XP around far longer than they wanted. Any low-priced computer means that the cost of Windows will have to come down as well, eroding their profits. It's also much harder to continue bloat - and bloat is a strategy MS definitely uses to increase the perceived value of newer versions of Windows. Netbooks just can't handle overburdened OS's. Netbooks also point to the network- and browser-centric trend that will eventually make the OS fairly irrelevant. This is going to happen, it's just a matter of when. MS needs more time to figure out how to make money without Windows as a main cash cow.


So sure, netbooks are a huge threat to MS. The question is, can they stop this trend? Hardly seems likely. The pricing and versioning of Windows 7 is a huge problem for them, and they would desperately like to know how to make Win7 the dominant netbook OS without actually giving it away. That may simply be beyond possibility.


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Microsoft stated in its most recent recap of quarterly financial performance that netbooks are causing a hit to its revenues. It's a problem for them.


Sam


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Article on arid.net (http://digg.com/d1pTAK) that talked about windows 7 starter edition and had suggestions on a better way to implement the starter edition for netbooks.


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Microsoft knows that there was little profit by infiltrating the netbook market, they just desperately needed to stamp out a potential entry point of mainstream Linux. Which they did, but this had the unfortunate side effect of prolonging Xp's shelf life, and popularizing a product that Microsoft gets chump change from. So now, Microsoft will try to make netbooks look like crippled half computers, that are toys, and not worth serious consideration. SO then greedy Microsoft can get its paws all over Windows 7 Premium and Ultimate dough.


This is true Microsoft bullshi+ for you. They completly bomb an OS release, make a really good OS perfect for netbooks, and then cripple it on purpose. Apple make a netbook, not a monster iPod Touch, a real netbook, NOW. Microsoft is acting like a greedy fool, and it would great to put out the perfect sleek netbook out among all the cripples.


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