Microsoft: Netbooks Essentially Changed Win 7
Microsoft's Laurence Painell said that the sudden netbook explosion changed the scope of Windows 7's scalability.
Microsoft's resident OEM product manager Laurence Painell recently told TechRadar UK that the sudden netbook explosion changed the scope of Windows 7's scalability. They spoke during the press launch of the Windows 7 Release Candidate, where Painell explained to the website that it was vital Windows 7 had the ability to run on a wide variety of devices, including netbooks. This is certainly no surprise, especially after the netbook market exploded with the introduction of Asus' Eee PC, many of which came with Linux pre-installed.
"There was an increase in other operating systems being installed on netbooks, and there was a big push from our partners to have XP Home for that type of device," Painell told TechRadar, referring to the decision to extend the support of Windows XP in order to claim a stake of the market. Because of the hardware limitations offered by netbooks, Windows Vista was not the ideal flagship for Microsoft; Windows XP is a lot less demanding on the system resources to operate. "Obviously the netbook explosion happened 18 months after the arrival of Vista," Painell said.
He went on to boast about how the Windows platform has skyrocketed in the netbook market in a small amount of time, mainly because the public and Microsoft partners wanted a Windows operating system. While that may or may not be totally accurate, it does serve as a backdrop for the eventual migration of the upcoming Windows 7 operating system. Unfortunately, many skeptics are left with a bad taste in their mouth considering that Windows 7 Starter Edition can only run three applications at a time.
However, the good news is that Windows 7 Home Premium may actually run on netbooks without bogging down the hardware. "A lot of focus has been put into performance in a number of areas," Painell said. "One is around the memory usage--and being able to run Windows 7 on a netbook. So there is a commitment to making sure the OS is more efficient from a memory management perspective." He also said that while quality takes priority, performance is definitely high on the list.
As for three apps at a time: Web Browser, IM client, Email client. What exactly are you using a NETbook for anyway?
The man has a point. Would be nice if they only counted programs that populate the main part of the taskbar though.
As to what Microsoft was thinking, it's probably something like: How can we make money on this product if we have to sell it at such a low price point that it cannibalizes the sales of higher featured Windows 7 versions?
Microsoft wants people to ignore the Starter version, thus the reason it will only be available through OEM's. They would prefer to only sell a higher priced option because they don't really make much if any money on the Starter version, especially when you consider how much it cost them to develop it in the first place. If they give it too much functionality then no one will want to upgrade to a more expensive version.
Of course this may turn some people off of buying a machine with Starter on it, which is almost as good in Microsoft's eyes. This may even cause some people to change to a different OS, but people who will do that are the vast minority of Windows users. Bottom line is Microsoft knows that the average user will be used to using Windows and will probably chose Windows over another option going forward because they are used to it, or just don't care enough to want something else.
What it all comes down to, is that the Starter version of Windows 7 exists solely for the purpose of obtaining new customers that are only able to afford a netbook, or another type low cost machine. This way when they finally need to / or can afford to they will hopefully be biased towards Windows.
But what do I know anyway...
As to what Microsoft was thinking, it's probably something like: How can we make money on this product if we have to sell it at such a low price point that it cannibalizes the sales of higher featured Windows 7 versions?
Microsoft wants people to ignore the Starter version, thus the reason it will only be available through OEM's. They would prefer to only sell a higher priced option because they don't really make much if any money on the Starter version, especially when you consider how much it cost them to develop it in the first place. If they give it too much functionality then no one will want to upgrade to a more expensive version.
Of course this may turn some people off of buying a machine with Starter on it, which is almost as good in Microsoft's eyes. This may even cause some people to change to a different OS, but people who will do that are the vast minority of Windows users. Bottom line is Microsoft knows that the average user will be used to using Windows and will probably chose Windows over another option going forward because they are used to it, or just don't care enough to want something else.
What it all comes down to, is that the Starter version of Windows 7 exists solely for the purpose of obtaining new customers that are only able to afford a netbook, or another type low cost machine. This way when they finally need to / or can afford to they will hopefully be biased towards Windows.
But what do I know anyway...
I would assume... and will be testing my theory in a month or so, that Windows 7 will have the same responsiveness running on a netbook with 2GB of RAM.
i dont think people with a netbook will be doing windows xp vm, their hardware is not up to it, and if you could would be very slow. yes there will be netbooks with 2gb and 160 gb harddisk. i can buy one right now and 2 ghz atom cpus will be available even before windows 7 ships, but from the stuff ive read and seen windows 7 is a tweaked out windows vista, yeah they have made improvements and it will take those 2 ghz machines with 2 gb to run anything well, sure it will run with 1 ghz and 1 gb. i guess if all you are going to do is surf the web performance will be acceptable, but try to start windows office and things will quickly get ugly, maybe this is why windows 7 starter has 3 application limit, ;-) and if you have one of those older netbooks, forget about it, the pain will be great, i for one can't wait to get off vista and install windows 7.
If they have a Vista driver it will work on 7. Also its not MSs responsibility to make that happen its on the manufacture, and if they havnt made a Vista driver yet after 3 years then they are slackers plain and simple and you should stop doing business with them.
As for what will work on a Netbook. You can use premium easily and not have to go with the starter kit. All you have to do is go to Control panel>Programs>Programs and Features and over on the left you will see "Turn Windows Features On Or Off" in there you can completely disable things like IE8,Media Player, Windows Gadget Platform, Windows search etc. etc. etc.
This will reduce alot of whats running in the background. Plus will most likely already be running with Aero off after install.
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard... I bet even my grandma could blow past 3 applications in no time. What a worthless OS version.
I believe it will be good since my Core 2 Duo with 4GB of RAM got a lot faster with build 7100.
About the three apps story, it's not like it's the only SKU Microsoft is rolling out, at this point, we will get a PC for a lot cheaper than we do now since licenses will be less costly for the OEM's and after we can decide, do we need Home Premium or Pro? Or we want to take it all and go Ultimate? Also, an upgrade is ALWAYS cheaper than full retail version.
Thats because of a (well known) licensing issue with Microsoft limiting 1 gig of RAM on Netbooks with XP. Some Netbooks (those with the Z series Atoms) are limited to 1 gig of memory because its soldered on a daugher board with the CPU. All other Netbooks that just use a SO-DIMM for memory are capable of using up to a 2 gig stick of RAM. My Dell mini 9 has 2 gigs of RAM. Those who havent used a Netbook shouldnt underestimate what it can do without first trying. I find that its capable of most tasks except for high end gaming and video editing (smart computer users dont do these on any kind of laptop anyway).
That said,my Mini 9 can play some older games just fine. It lags a lot(but smooth as can be when no other characters are on screen),but KOTOR is pretty playable,its an RPG,some lag wont matter.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/running_windows_7_rc_on_a_netbook
Though it seems like he would have had better experience with 2 gigs.
and btw, if 2/3 of the populace is using something, then most comps cannot come with home premium or ultimate can they? dumb point to argue as we have no figures on anything and are months away from seeing any form of migration.