bobpeers -> blog

It’s all over the news but I’m happy to see that Microsoft have lifted the artificial 3 application limit on Windows 7 Started Edition. As much as this would have made life easier for Linux to compete it’s also ironic that to some extent the threat from Linux has forced this decision.

If there was no completion in the OS market do you really think that Microsoft would have done the same?

On the other hand they are still severely limiting the capability of the Starter Edition, to quote from the Windows Blog it DOES NOT include the following

• 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.

I’m pretty sure that with Googles Android and Intels Moblin under heavy development, with some big players behind them, there’s still room for competition in the netbook OS market.