Microsoft confirms: no three app limit in Windows 7 Starter
By Darren Murph 
posted May 30th 2009 3:58PM
posted May 30th 2009 3:58PM
We'd heard it through the grapevine that Microsoft was gearing up to right the wrong and nix that ludicrous three application limit for Windows 7 Starter Edition, and sure enough, it did just that via The Windows Blog. The company admitted that it was removing the three application at-a-time limit previously slated for inclusion in Win7 Starter "based on the feedback it has received from partners and customers." (Psst... thanks for yelling, people!) That said, the OS is still severely gimped, with no multi-monitor support, DVD playback, Windows Media Center, remote media streaming, XP Mode or network connectivity. Just kidding on that last one... we think.
Who needs network connectivity?
i do.
Clever didn't read the article or didn't get the joke.
classic engadget and their "anything windows" hating...three app limit on netbooks would be a legitimate gripe....but seriously...
media center, xp mode...MULTI MONITOR?!?! honestly, can anyone name any netbook you would WANT to run multi monitor on based on the maximum specs that MS is using for Win 7 Starter? i mean, for christs sake...rather than spending 250, spend an extra 150 and get a really cheap laptop which'll run circle around the weeeeee little netbook and give you all the functionality. we all have to make sacrifices, either really portable/cheap vs more expensive and full featured. hell i wish i could have an insanely hot girlfriend who wasn't psycho...and could actually hold a decent conversation, but we all know that aint happenin.
Either way he's not very clever.
I think Microsoft's downfall in this is simply a matter of names. (granted, three-app-limit would have been ridiculous, but the rest are fine) Had they called this "Windows 7 Netbook" or something, and made it very clear that the purpose of this is for under-powered devices to be able to take advantage of Windows 7, then I think people would get the picture. Instead, they've named it "Windows 7 Starter", and now people look at it as simply a ploy to trick people into paying for an upgrade path. There should simply be two versions of Windows 7, a regular version, and a lite version. The lite version should be the same as the regular version, with some decisions made/functions removed that make sense on today's current generation of underpowered ultra-portables.
i'd hardly call say engadget was 'hating' simba.
maybe read the article again, it was by no means a bash on windows, it was just reporting on what starter will lack in comparison to the other versions of windows 7.
Don't give them ideas... you never know.
SNEAKERNET!
@ Nate
I read the article, and trust me, i understand the way it was "reported" i dunno how often you frequent engadget, or if you know how much they're well, known for bashing on things from redmond, while loving the stuff from the other Fruit company...
if you want to report about a product missing features in a neutral tone, you would never say it was "severely gimped". think about it...saying a girl "isn't your type" sounds a hell of a lot better than "jesus christ she's beat".
my only point is, it makes no sense for someone to think that a piece of cheap hardware will be able to run products as well as the more expensive cousins. i would never expect my cell phone to run the same programs as my desktop, but i guess someone people would.
@ hexydes - you might be right about the naming, the problem is that if they call it Windows 7 Netbook, it's going to sound like it's optimized for netbook use, with a UI formulated for small screens, etc., which it's not. Actually, if they wanted to be really smart about this, that's what they would do. They'd create a version that was slimmed down more, with fewer features that had a "wow, that looks cool!" factor on netbooks. Problem solved, then they can market it as a plus instead of a hampered version of something they already make, and can use that to cheaply fight the threat of Linux on cheaper computers. That would require thinking about their business differently, however... and of course, they'd have to create a team to implement it, but it would be better than dealing with the ridiculousness that articles like this create.
Still, while I hope that W7 works well, I'm still not planning on leaving Linux for it anytime in the near future, no matter what "starter edition" looks like.
"MULTI MONITOR?!?! honestly, can anyone name any netbook you would WANT to run multi monitor on "
Not sure if I'm missing the sarcasm, but a netbook is exactly the device I'd want multi-monitor with.
I agree on multimonitors. I've used mine for a presentation as well as using it with a larger screen when at the office and I was happy for the multimonitor support.
I hate to post a comment to the first post when it doesn't have anything to do with it but... once again let it be known; I'm running windows 7 RC Ultimate on my Acer Aspire one netbook and it runs better than XP did.
Simba, stop being such an apologist.
You don't have a problem when Engadget criticises Apple for lacking functionality in their devices, so why do you have a problem when Engadget criticises MS for lacking functionality in an OS?
Because you are so convinced of the truth of three lies - that Engadget loves and is biased towards Apple, that Apple's products lack functionality because they're an evil corporation trying to make people live horrible lives, and that Microsoft's products lack functionality because they're wonderful and they're trying to save us from ... um, something.
Get over yourself - a lack of DVD playback, Media Centre and XP Mode *ARE* valid reasons to be criticising this OS version, and since Engadget criticises Apple often enough, they ought to be able to criticise Microsoft without apologists like you trying to pretend that such criticism only arises due to "bias".
Great! Windows 7 gets better and better..... to bad it coming out during the holidays instead of the school season
I'm pretty sure that if you buy a vista pc after June 30 you get a free upgrade to the corresponding version of windows 7.
@Inect: I've heard this too. If that's the case, Microsoft needs to make that VERY clear, and they need to do it now. To hell with cutting out sales of Vista, they're really going to miss out on a big period of computer sales (back to school season) if people aren't aware of that fact, and in order to make them aware, they need to do a progressive ad campaign MAKING people aware now, not two weeks before the season starts. The LEAST they could do is come out with an official word on the subject, so that geeks can start spreading the words out into the mainstream.
Also, you can't change your wallpaper.
LOL, okay, that was funny.
I think the limits, posted here are reasonable. After all it is meant to be just a netbook (most do not have DVD trays anyway, multimonitor spport is not needed either...)
I am sure there is something that peopel will complain about missing that they couldn;t use anyway... If you want more get a laptop!
M
Also BigDaddyM it's true, an ugly grey fish is the standard wallpaper, doesn't meen someone won't find a workaround.
It's all fine they probably will remove the oddest limitations, but I keep thinking; why would Microsoft be so mean to the developing countries BACK THEN?
Something is rotten..
No DVD playback is kinda lame, but the rest isn't too bad for a starter edition.
Please keep in mind before people blow up (again) about this version:
This is not what will be installed on netbooks. What will most likely be installed is Home Basic or Home Premium.
As an average consumer you do not need to worry about this
no, Home Basic is sold in developing countries only. Home Premium is going to be the bulk of 7 installs, but Starter is still going to be the low cost netbook option.
So exactly what type of user is this crippled version geared to since you're saying this is even lower than a netbook? A mid-device? Personally, I could live with this version to run in Parallels or VMWare Fusion on a Mac, so I don't think it's that bad as long as it's inexpensive. I think a fast and lite version is okay for older hardware. Not exactly sure about that XP mode thing unless it's just some absolute XP compatibility sort of thing. I'd be hoping Windows 7 will run most apps that WinXP can.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but this may very well be what we will get on most netbooks. Home Basic is geared towards emerging markets (parts of Asia and South America), so unless you live in one of those places you won't be touching it with a forty yard pole.
With these lameass restrictions, though, I don't see many netbook OEMs offering Starter.. especially with these machines becoming more media-centric by the day. With Ion being the future of netbooks (hopefully) I don't see Starter having a large acceptance rate with manufacturers, what with the lack of external display support, DVD playback etc. I'm only afraid this might directly translate to higher prices.
Let's hope for the best.
I think what articpenguins is saying is that most manufacturers are going to choose Home Premium as the standard operating system for their Netbooks. I mean, why not? Most netbooks can handle it. Manufacturers aren't going to want their product to be limited. I think you'll find only sub-$200 netbooks will be running Windows 7 Starter to compete against the free linux options.
Don't need DVD support if they are ripped to mp4 or something like that.
Can we still use VLC to play DVDs?
I would presume so, the only reason for the DVD playback limitation is because of licensing.
It will be like XP. XP doesn't have DVD codec pre-installed. So you need VLC or a codec pack with DVD support or purchase a codec.
My thoughts on all these points:
Background/Taskbar Colors: Still just stuipid...I know I get tired of the Windows 7 Backgrounds, and I like my slate transparent
DVD Playback: For me, this isn't much of a problem. Since this would be on netbooks (which generally don't have drives), the external drive itself usually comes with DVD playback/burning software.
Media streaming over Internet: Again, this is on netbooks, and I wouldn't really want it on there--unless it means it also can't receive streaming.
Media Center: I don't use this, mainly because TV up here in Alaska generally sucks, and I don't have a tuner on my computer (I usually just use Hulu to catch up on shows).
At any rate, these will all be moot points once I get my netbook and I promptly install Windows 7 Ultimate on it...At least until March.
good points.
On a netbook, the removed components won't make much of a difference, unless someone bought a netbook to use as a desktop.
who cares anyway, a crack for something like this would come out almost INSTANTLY.
Everyone that would want to crack it I doubt would even buy a netbook with starter. Just saying the few extra dollars are worth the hassle.
Maybe, but i'd bet there's a ton of people who would highly disagree with your second statement, just saying.
Got Linux and forget about limits!
Tonz of software you can use and share with others too.
Cheers!
I rather get something useful , like windows 7 ultimate.
Or get a Mac, since OSX the best operating system on the planet and it only comes in one flavor. No need to choose which OS is right for you.
Usually I would go on and on about how you people shout shit your pie-holes and just use what you like, but I have to agree with the Linux guy.
I don't really feel like buying a Netbook just to figure out that the shit version of Windows built-in has a bunch of crappy restrictions. Instead of giving Microsoft more of my hard-earned cash, I'd rather go with a hassle-free (at least on this hardware ;) Operating System for free. OS X is still kinda hard to get up 'n running, as much as I like it.
Sorry, Microsoft.
Whoops, I meant shut your pie-holes and use what you like...
Oops? O_o
@iKurt 5D
i've used OSX for about a week, and thrown it out the fking window. its all smoothness and omg it just works... as long as you're using their overpriced apps. If you want to be able to choose your own software, OSX is NOT the way to go. About the flavor thingy; OSX is like OEM windows vista ultimate install, loads and loads of crap you dont need but do pay for. I would rather have a butt-ugly featureless stock install which costs much less.
You make it all sound like apple knows whats best for you. A human being is instinctively egocentric, so would never let someone/something else choose whats best for you without it being beneficial to you in a way. Which basically means you're either
1. a zombie
2. not a human being at all
3. a apple employee who is payed by the troll
or 4, the apple-version of a Jehovah's witness.
Which version of OSX has Bluray support?
kmilo: Which distro? Red Hat? Ubuntu? Kubuntu? Debian? Or one of the others? You need to make a choice between all of those, as I assume they are all different in some ways, and if they are different, wouldn't those differences be limiting when picking just one?
iKurt: So we must have choice (Windows vs. OSX vs. Linux vs. ....) but when Microsoft gives choice, then that is bad? What about the choices Apple gives? If I want to get an Apple media player, I have to pick between iPhone 8GB black vs. iPhone 16GB black vs. iPhone 16GB white vs. iTouch 8GB vs. iTouch 16GB vs. iTouch 32GB vs. iPod Shuffle 4GB white vs. iPod Shufle 4GB black vs. iPod Classic white vs. iPod Classic black vs. 9 colors of iPod Nano 8GB vs. 9 colors of iPod Nano 16GB - those are all choices people need to make depending upon which options they want. Choices I don't know how people make, being that list is so extensive and complicated. I mean, come on, 28 different options? Apple should offer just one option, all for $79, the lowest price among all of them. After all, if one company should not be giving choice, then none of them should, right? Or maybe there there are different options in iPods to suit different tastes and requirements, just like different Windows versions (or distros, for kmilo)?
@ultimatepwnage
70 apps in 7 hours:
http://wakoopa.com/thomanjones
All were free except for Office suite, Crossover, VMware Fusion, Warcraft, and Visualhub.
I get that you hate some operating systems and love others, but saying any OS has no free software/only expensive software means that you don't really know anything about computers.
Does no multiple monitor support mean that VGA port on the side of most netbooks would be useless?
No, because your netbook wont have Windows 7 Starter.
While it's debatable if this version needs to exist at all, I think it's dumb to think that the low cost version of windows would have everything a power user needs.
no multi-monitor support (are you presenting at your board meeting with your netbook?),
DVD playback (this does kind of suck, unless 3rd-party software can do it, ie WinDVD, in which case XP didn't have the MPEG codec to decode DVD Video either),
Windows Media Center (kind of useless for any computer not being controlled with a remote control. does anyone hook up a netbook to their big screen?),
remote media streaming (just use file sharing?),
XP Mode (this is only going to work with CPUs with virtualization support, right?)
Granted, I would rather have all of these features than not have them, but I could certainly live without them on my netbook.
Plus I would think multimonitor support means no support for LINKED monitors, not multiple monitors outputting the exact same thing.
Well this version of Windows isn't for power users, its for netbook users, who really don't need, have a use for those extra features, or not supported on a netbook.