Windows 7 Starter Edition - Is It Really That Bad?

[raj11650]

Well many of us here will be using the Ultimate versions of Windows 7 RC build

but what about other lite versions

The Cheapest version of Windows 7 (Starter Edition) has a limitation that it can't run more than three application at a time!!!

Windows 7 Starter Edition's three-app limit is real, but is it really that bad?



The Windows 7 beta and release candidate that some of us have been running are the Ultimate versions. Given the option to test any SKU that we want, why not go for the best one?

The thing is that the version that most of us will be using won’t be the top one. Microsoft said before that it expects that the Home Premium version to be the most popular one – especially bundled with decent pre-built machines. While Home Premium will be enough for most of us, what about lesser versions?

Windows 7 Starter Edition is expected to be the OS for low-cost netbooks. With the lowest licensing fee, OEMs wanting to keep costs low will go for the cheapest version of Windows 7. But will Starter Edition do? With the three-applications-open-at-a-time limitation, many users are already writing Starter Edition off as something unusable. To find out more, Ed Bott last month blogged on ZDNet about his time with Starter Edition, and some of his findings might surprise you.


“For starters, that three-app limit isn’t as cut and dried as it sounds,” Bott wrote. “Well, for starters, you can open as many windows as you want from a single program. So if you want to open 15 tabs in your browser, six images in your photo-editing program, and a couple of instant messenger windows, you can do it.”

System applications such as Windows Explorer, Control Panel, Task Manager, Command Prompt and even desktop gadgets do not count as applications, so you can navigate through your system tools as much as you like without stepping into the three-application limit. Antivirus software also seems to live outside the three-app limit, as does some system utilities that start up and reside in the system tray.

Bott concluded that Starter Edition proved adequate for netbooks when used as the way they are intended. “In short, when I used this system as a netbook, it worked just fine. On a netbook, most of the tasks you’re likely to tackle are going to take place in a browser window anyway. … If I tried to use this system as a conventional notebook, running multiple Microsoft Office or OpenOffice aps, playing music in iTunes or Windows Media Player, and using third-party IM programs, I would probably be incredibly frustrated with the limitations of Starter Edition.”

How do you use your netbook? Would Windows 7 Starter Edition be good enough, or will upgrading be one of the first things you'll do?

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[digg]http://www.sevenforums.com/news/9316-windows-7-starter-edition-really-bad.html[/digg]

 

[Airbot]

Windows 7 Starter Edition's three-app limit is real, but is it really that bad?

yeah.

:roflmao:

 

[raj11650]

yeah three application limit is really something no one wants!!!

so better go for Home Basic or Home Premium,unless they want to try it on netbook!!!

 

[fakeasdf]

A netbook is worthless anyway I've used the Dell mini, and I've kept it mostly up to date with Windows 7 on it. It currently is running 7077 x32. I used it to check my email. Besides that, it's too small and lame for anything else of interest. I guess that's a lie, once we mounted it on a gas powered remote control car and hooked a camera sensor on it and had it recording video while it was driving. Besides that, it's worthless. 3 apps would be enough for me on a mini. I doubt any of us will ever be faced with that software though, seeing as it's aimed at poor countries and people who don't care about good powered laptops and just want a cute lil 7 inch screen with a lame atom processor

 

[The Cool Guy]

The Cheapest version of Windows 7 (Starter Edition) has a limitation that it can't run more than three application at a time!!!

:shock:

:roflmao:

 

[Dinesh]

3 apps at a time? is MS kidding me?:sarc:
Ultimate is the best.

 

[abuttino]

They still have time to fix that if they get overwhelmingly bad press.

 

[Dragor1]

A netbook is worthless anyway I've used the Dell mini, and I've kept it mostly up to date with Windows 7 on it. It currently is running 7077 x32. I used it to check my email. Besides that, it's too small and lame for anything else of interest. I guess that's a lie, once we mounted it on a gas powered remote control car and hooked a camera sensor on it and had it recording video while it was driving. Besides that, it's worthless. 3 apps would be enough for me on a mini. I doubt any of us will ever be faced with that software though, seeing as it's aimed at poor countries and people who don't care about good powered laptops and just want a cute lil 7 inch screen with a lame atom processor

Well, You may not realise, but The Atom is where the future lies. Sooner or later, you will see Atoms being used in everything from Cellphones, MP4 / MP3 players, DVD players, etc. etc!

And the reasons are pretty simple:

1) The computing power of a single core desktop processor in an extremely small package,

2) Long battery life (TDP of 4W to 8W! Try and compare the TDP of your normal desktop processors!),

3) Scalable as required; from a nettop to a PDA as and however its required!

Its still early days for a technology such as The Atom.

As for Windows 7 Started edition, lets hope that it stays on net books!

The three app limit is perfectly fine for a net book.

Cheers!

 

[Adamd]

This is really painful to see Microsoft do this.

Why would anyone buy this? Regardless if you have a old computer or a brand new one. No one would want this installed on a computer they bought.

I bet they sell under 10 copies of this useless OS edition.

I have a netbook with Xp loaded on and I am easily run more than 3 things and it is still running. 3 apps at a time is pointless and useless.

 

[fakeasdf]

Well, You may not realise, but The Atom is where the future lies. Sooner or later, you will see Atoms being used in everything from Cellphones, MP4 / MP3 players, DVD players, etc. etc!

And the reasons are pretty simple:

1) The computing power of a single core desktop processor in an extremely small package,

2) Long battery life (TDP of 4W to 8W! Try and compare the TDP of your normal desktop processors!),

3) Scalable as required; from a nettop to a PDA as and however its required!

Its still early days for a technology such as The Atom.

As for Windows 7 Started edition, lets hope that it stays on net books!

The three app limit is perfectly fine for a net book.

Cheers!

lol, no way man! I don't mean to sound rude, but that atom is definitely not going to grab those markets. Those markets are heavly owned by ARM processors and there is no way they are going to get in on that market without a humongous price drop of the atom processor! When the atom starts selling for a few dollars then they might get in, but until then they have no chance...

 

[RST101]

3 apps at a time? is MS kidding me?:sarc:
Ultimate is the best.
View attachment 10210

Ultimate is best if you need the extra services for work etc etc. Home premium is as good if not better for home use. I will be going for home premium as I have no need for the extra bloat ultimate offers.

 

[DrWho]

Is this the one you're talking about?


Intel Atom is the brand name for a line of x86 and x86-64 CPUs (or microprocessors) from Intel, previously code-named Silverthorne and Diamondville processors, designed for a 45 nm CMOS process and intended for use in mobile internet devices (MIDs), smart phones and ultra-mobile PCs meant for portable and low-power applications. Ultimately, it ended up being a preferred processor for netbooks. Because they were targeted for low power consumption rather than performance, the Intel Atoms benchmark significantly lower than processors designed for laptop and desktop use. The rough benchmark used by Intel is that the Atoms have about "half the performance" of a Celeron 430 1.8 GHz processor

Sounds pretty lame to this old dog! I've spent the past 29 years trying to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of every computer I work on.

I think I could get more performance out of my old C-64 than that Atom and Mini win-7.

It sure doesn't sound like a top-seller to me.

Fear not.....before the ink is dry on the full and final release of Win-7, it will be available for FREE, all over the internet. XP is, Vista Ultimate 64 is, and so forth. Sorry B.G., but that's just life in the fast lane.:sarc:

The Atom may be just fine for a programmable refrigerator, Microwave Oven or a Mr. Coffee, but I sure as heck don't want one in my personal computer.:sarc:

 

[Lordbob75]

While I would never (and COULD never) use that OS with that limit, there are some that would.

What you guys are missing is the old market. Older people (like my parents) who only do a few things at a time on a computer, like check email, and go on the web. That's only two apps..... While people like us (almost by definition) and younger people (me), could never live with that, there are plenty that could.

~Lordbob

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Oh well just keep XP or even a Linux distro on it.

Actually a 1GB RAM netbook can run the RC quite nicely -- can even play a DVD OK as well (or a DVD ISO image since there's not usually a built in DVD device).

They are quite good for even running Office 2007 as well.

The 3 application idea is just crazyness.

I'll bet the CEO that thought of that one had just been using some of this.


Cheers
jimbo

 

[raj11650]

lol, no way man! I don't mean to sound rude, but that atom is definitely not going to grab those markets. Those markets are heavly owned by ARM processors and there is no way they are going to get in on that market without a humongous price drop of the atom processor! When the atom starts selling for a few dollars then they might get in, but until then they have no chance...

but intel atom processors can run Windows 7 smoothl and Arm processors cant!!! atom processors will overtake arm in future and its nice to know windows 7 works great in intel atom processors!!!

 

[fakeasdf]

but intel atom processors can run Windows 7 smoothl and Arm processors cant!!! atom processors will overtake arm in future and its nice to know windows 7 works great in intel atom processors!!!

Hah, actually, that's not entirely true, but I'm not talking about an arm processor running windows 7 I'm talking about atom processors not entering into the small electronic market. right now arm processors own 98% of the cell phone market and 3/4 of the 32 bit market is ARM processors. This is because an ARM processor in a phone, or MP3 player etc is all you need. You don't need a full blown atom processor which is 20x the price for small electronics which just decode mp3, or just deal with the temperature in your house, or your remote control etc etc etc...

 

[Dragor1]

Point taken, fakeasdf!

Well, I went a little too overboard when I said MP3/MP4 players and DVD players!

The Atom is great, I think, because it seems to offer huge computational power in an unusually small package.

While it may not replace ARM everywhere, Mobile phones (high end), PDAs, Windows Mobiles could actually use Atom for a phenomenal speed boost.

Having said that, I really have no idea of the computational power and/or the power usage of ARM processors, and I also totally agree with you that the Atom's just too expensive at this point of time.

But, as I originally stated, Atom is the future and not the present!

Cheers!

 

[JerzeyLegend]

While I would never (and COULD never) use that OS with that limit, there are some that would.

What you guys are missing is the old market. Older people (like my parents) who only do a few things at a time on a computer, like check email, and go on the web. That's only two apps..... While people like us (almost by definition) and younger people (me), could never live with that, there are plenty that could.

~Lordbob

Yes. I think they are missing an entire market all together. The entire population of PC users are not power users.

What about your kid? Does MySpace need three applications? 1.) Firefox. 2.) Multi-messenger 3.) iTunes. Looks like everything a kid does.

What about grandma? 1.) Email application or email on the browser. 2.) Microsoft Office 2007. 3.) ??? (Don't really need that one do they?)

How about schools? Cheap licensing (maybe even free) means school can afford to upgrade. 1.) Microsoft Office 2.) Internet Browser 3.) Possibly Windows Media Player (if it applies to the task at hand)

I am only using three programs right now. 1.) Firefox 2.) iTunes 3.) Thunderbird. Oh wait 4.) Windows Fax and Scan (however this is a system utility that can be run without the limit).

I don't think Starter Edition would be that bad. It will come OEM anyway. I think if Windows Starter Edition was free, it would be a hit. A legal free Windows OS. That would gain Microsoft some good karma. I only use Vista/Seven Ultimate because I like the way it sounds. Makes me feel more secure, although the differences between Ultimate and Home Premium aren't that much. Home Premium just sounds like something I would put on a HTPC.



EDIT: Atom coupled with NVidia ION graphics are the future. Check out the Acer AspireRevo. http://hothardware.com/Articles/Acer-Aspire-Revo-SFF-NVIDIA-Ion-PC/ I'm thinking about waiting for this to make a CarPC.

 

[Lordbob75]

Yes. I think they are missing an entire market all together. The entire population of PC users are not power users.

What about your kid? Does MySpace need three applications? 1.) Firefox. 2.) Multi-messenger 3.) iTunes. Looks like everything a kid does.

What about grandma? 1.) Email application or email on the browser. 2.) Microsoft Office 2007. 3.) ??? (Don't really need that one do they?)

How about schools? Cheap licensing (maybe even free) means school can afford to upgrade. 1.) Microsoft Office 2.) Internet Browser 3.) Possibly Windows Media Player (if it applies to the task at hand)

I am only using three programs right now. 1.) Firefox 2.) iTunes 3.) Thunderbird. Oh wait 4.) Windows Fax and Scan (however this is a system utility that can be run without the limit).

I don't think Starter Edition would be that bad. It will come OEM anyway. I think if Windows Starter Edition was free, it would be a hit. A legal free Windows OS. That would gain Microsoft some good karma. I only use Vista/Seven Ultimate because I like the way it sounds. Makes me feel more secure, although the differences between Ultimate and Home Premium aren't that much. Home Premium just sounds like something I would put on a HTPC.



EDIT: Atom coupled with NVidia ION graphics are the future. Check out the Acer AspireRevo. Acer Aspire Revo SFF NVIDIA Ion PC - HotHardware I'm thinking about waiting for this to make a CarPC.

Exactly. Thanks for embellishing and backing me up. Have some rep.

~Lordbob

 

[LarryS]

Too basic

I installed the Starter Edition today on an Dell D630 laptop. Although I can see how for a low end netbook type device this may be useful, it was just too basic for my liking. One of the 1st things I do when I setup a new system is right-click the desktop and pick "personalize" in order to add the "my computer" icon and tweek the theme. I was surprised to find the entire "personalize" menu option missing.