According to Retrovo, a major online shopping site, there are many Netbook users who are less than enamoured by Microsoft’s latest operating system.
The problem lies in the fact that Windows 7 starter edition was never meant to be a saviour for the Netbook anyway, not if Microsoft and others have their way.
Retrovo’s blog post entitled “is Microsoft trying to kill the netbook market” says it all. Retrovo analysed responses from over 1000 users and the overwhelming response is crystal clear.
More than half the users in the survey, sixty one percent in total, were unaware of the fact that they had limitations with Windows 7 starter edition that they didn’t have with Windows XP.
This figure is somewhat surprising actually as Microsoft hasn’t tried to keep that fact hidden; indeed they have openly said that Windows 7 starter edition won’t be able to do everything.
The problem seems to lie in the fact that most of the new netbooks on sale are running with the starter edition and upgrading to the more sophisticated Windows 7 Home Premium version is going to cost somewhere in the region of $80, something than many are not happy to pay.
“I think most users will feel angry with having to pay the $80 for an upgrade to get those features,” said Andrew Eisner, a director with Retrovo.
Eisner also reckons that the whole affair could cause more bad feeling towards Microsoft. One thing that Microsoft may not have anticipated if their intention was to kill off Netbooks was the possibility that their actions might turn users towards Linux, a free open sourced operating system.
Latest reports are predicting that Linux Netbooks could grab over 30 percent of the share of netbook sales in this year alone and that isn’t good news for Microsoft.
So far Microsoft haven’t commented on Retrovo’s study directly but have referred to a statement they put out nine months ago in February.
“Small notebook PCs can run any version of Windows 7. For OEMs that build lower-cost small notebook PCs, Windows 7 Starter will now be available in developed markets,” said Microsoft according to a report in PC world.
“For the most enhanced, full-functioning Windows experience on small notebook PCs, however, consumers will want to go with Windows 7 Home Premium, which lets you get the most out of your digital media and easily connect with other PCs.”
So what do you think? Is Microsoft effectively trying to crush the Netbook and if they are, will the Netbook fight back through Linux?
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[...] the rest here: Netbook users not happy with Windows 7 Starter Edition By admin | category: Object, netbook | tags: actions-might, free-open, frequently-written, [...]
I recently updated my netbook with Windows 7 home premium and only have one complaint. My Asus 1005HA laptop monitor goes 1024×768 but the driver for Windows 7 only goes to 1024×600. Asus says they are not making any special driver to accommodate Windows 7. This affects anyone who wanted to use their Asus EEE PC for photo and graphics editing as both Photoshop and Illustrator require 768 as a minimum.
Other than that, Windows 7 is a spritely, intuitive and interesting interface upgrade from XP.
As shown on my website, Windows 7 Home Premium will do fine on a netbook.
My few weeks old HP 311 netbook came with Win 7 Home and it runs great!
For a comprehensive guide to everything about Windows 7 read this:
http://ninjarabbits.blogspot.com/2009/11/hopefully-very-comprehensive-guide-to.html
[...] over 30% of the share of netbook sale, which isn’t a good news at all for MS. Read more at GeekWithLaptop Posted by ketyungon Fri, Nov 13th, 09at 10:21 amvar addthis_pub="49fda67f77a9e9df"; [...]
[...] 11. Netbook users not happy with Windows 7 Starter Edition [...]
A netbook is NOT intended to be a replacement for a Notebook – if anything, it is more of a replacement for a PDA or maybe a smartphone. People shouldn’t buy a Chevy and expect the features/comfort of a Cadillac. The netbooks with Windows 7 are functional and work as intended. If you want the full features of Windows, buy a notebook with Windows 7 Home Premium – in the end, the cost will be about the same as upgrading a netbook and you will have a lot more frills on the computer itself.
Netbooks rock – whether Linux or MS or better still both (Linux keeps updating itself for free)
AVOID Win7 starter – it is a waste of time and deliberately hobbled by MS to get you to pay for an upgrade – cheapskates!
Yes, but what if that Chevy was limited/restricted, disabling anything above 3rd gear or 3000rpm unless you fork over another $5000? (equivalent to paying an extra 1/4 to 1/3 the price, like +$80 on a $289 netbook) Welcome to “Starter Edition” Windows 7 is quite decent otherwise (Premium) and netbooks are great for convenience and portability.
[quote]
I recently updated my netbook with Windows 7 home premium and only have one complaint. My Asus 1005HA laptop monitor goes 1024×768 but the driver for Windows 7 only goes to 1024×600. Asus says they are not making any special driver to accommodate Windows 7. This affects anyone who wanted to use their Asus EEE PC for photo and graphics editing as both Photoshop and Illustrator require 768 as a minimum.
Other than that, Windows 7 is a spritely, intuitive and interesting interface upgrade from XP.
[/quote]
^^ This is not true. I ran Photoshop perfectly on my Acer Aspire One at 1024×600. Just because it *says* it needs 768 doesn’t mean it can’t run on 600. There were VERY few programs that this mattered for, however I recommend getting a 11.6″ netbook-laptop hybrid that can get 1366 x 768
[quote]
A netbook is NOT intended to be a replacement for a Notebook – if anything, it is more of a replacement for a PDA or maybe a smartphone. People shouldn’t buy a Chevy and expect the features/comfort of a Cadillac. The netbooks with Windows 7 are functional and work as intended. If you want the full features of Windows, buy a notebook with Windows 7 Home Premium – in the end, the cost will be about the same as upgrading a netbook and you will have a lot more frills on the computer itself.
[/quote]
^^ Wrong AGAIN. Netbooks are AWESOME and POWERFUL. They also get ^^^GREAT^^^ battery life, as opposed to most notebooks. If a netbook can run world of warcraft and photoshop (AT THE SAME TIME), I say hell no is it merely a replacement for a smart phone. I’m a proud owner of an HTC Touch Pro 2 and my netbook was my ‘notebook’. And it was damn perfect. And it ran Windows 7 Ultimate at lightning fast speeds. I was surprised how powerful netbooks are. Windows 7 Starter is just stupid.
Why buy a more expensive netbook with a highly restricted version of windows on, when you can get the cheaper one with linux on? I don’t understand it. I use ubuntu for everything other than games (windows 7 ultimate, boot time has doubled after installing all the utils), and it does it all perfectly fine.
Plus, windows 7 (vLited, so it’s lighter than it should be) uses close to 600mb of ram, where ubuntu uses 280. Cheap netbooks, with 512mb of ram, will struggle with windows 7.
I am not sure what all the fuss is about Windows 7 Starter Edition. If a person is too stupid to install their own hard drive, memory or operating system then maybe they shouldn’t be using a computer in the first place. Besdies, Windows 7 Home Premium is available for little or no cost. Sheesh! Newbies! I have seen a few netbook brands running Windows 7 Home Premium. In fact, I’m running Windows 7 Ultimate on my Sony netbook. It is possible to run any version of Windows 7 on any computer as long as the computer was made in the last year or two. But then if we were allowed to do that then we would not be buying the bigger and more expensive computers now would we? Don’t hate Microsoft..hate the computer makers….they make very little money selling netbooks. Gates and company make a very large profit on their software. Considering that it only takes about $5 to manufacture, package and market a program…the cost is even less for software giants like MS then they are making money left and right..piracy or not! Piracy is just an easy cop out to make inferior products and charge more for them. The computer makers have not grown as much as they have liked and yet they can’t cry piracy. After all, how does someone pirate a computer that I built myself? See the absurdity?
I purchased a Toshiba N205-N330BL and decided to upgrade Win 7 Home Starter with Win 7 Home Premium. I didn’t know I purchased an upgrade from XP or Vista. The software loaded and accepted the Validation Code. Now it’s asking for the validation code again and will not accept it and will expire 12/21/09. After researching I discovered I made a mistake. When it expires, will it revert back to Win 7 Home Starter or lock up my netbook. What can I do to correct the situation?
You have a few options.
1. Phone up microsoft and tell them what happened.
2. Install XP/vista and upgrade.
3. Give up and install linux, you don’t need windows on a netbook anyway.
How do I save everything to an external hard drive, load XP, upgrade then return everything to the netbook?
People who need to run Powerpoint presentations on a netbook during conferences etc, cannot use Linux because OpenOffice presentations software is not fully compatible. It will open files but certain features and animations won’t function as intended.
Then create it with openoffice
I haven’t used microsoft office in months.
I purchased Lenovo Laptop with Window 7 starter, but cannt understand that why this product is provided that hve problems and not statisfied their customers. For better solution it is required to offer an up-gradation from the provider free of cost, otherwise its customer moves to other due to bad reputation.
Windows 7 Starter works great on new and old Netbooks. A NETbook is NOT a NOTEbook and is not advertised as such. It’s advertised a Webbrowsing toy basically. Although the NETBooks can run any flavor of Win7, the manufacturers nor MS should be obligated to upgrade anyone for Free. If you want Free then go to Linux (which runs so-so on the early NETBooks where Win7 is actually more favorable). The analogy to a Chevy and a Cadillac is absurd and the remarks of charging for a Chevy to go higher than 3rd gear is also absurd. The analogy is more like if you buy a basic standard Chevy (i.e. “starter” version), then you get cloth interior, basic suspension, smaller tires, and probably a V6. If you want to do more/go faster, then yes you do have to fork over the $5000 (probably more) for the bigger engine, bigger tires, Leather interior, Power Everything, sunroof, etc… Is it still a Chevy? yes. Does it still drive? yes. But you have to PAY to get the extras – Microsoft is using the same model. Why has the world turned into a bunch a whiny little…etc that wants everything handed to them and then complains when given a cheaper – BUT Still highly functional – option?!?
Slap Linux Mint on it and go on your merry way.
I’m running a new netbook with 7 starter edition, and I’m okay with what I got. If you really need more capability or power, get a dual or quad-core laptop, upgrade the RAM to +4 gig, and call it a day. I might consider upgrading, but that will be after I upgrade my desktop from Vista. Which I probably will considering how pleased I am with 7 starter edition.
Don’t buy a subcompact and gripe because you can’t tow a boat.
Was not informed that my wife’s new netbook had a limited windows 7 “starter” op system. It was just talked up as “windows 7″ You can not even change the desktop background on this windows 7. My wife said “even my cell phone can do that” Thanks Microsoft for making my Christmas gift look like a piece of doggy poop. Will be thinking about the change to Apple now. 1st Windows Vista junk now this confusion in Windows 7. Do you guys just not “get it”
wow
I just recently purchased an HP Note book with Windows 7 Starter Edition and will promptly re-sell it on Ebay if I can not install Windows XP-pro on it. What Microsoft should have said is that “Windows 7 ” is for dummies. It is “the one less olive sell” .
Windows 7 does not require nearly as much resources as its poor counterpart the vista nightmare. I don’t see a 4+ year old laptop with a single core having any issues running it.
Win 7 “starter” winning the best deception award in OS
Categories.. LOL
Windows 7 starter edition is also not good in virtualization management. I had Ubuntu on my netbook.
Microsoft and Intel have been trying to kill the Netbook for 2 years. If they can’t kill it, then they would try to cripple it. This all started when everybody just said NO to Windows Vista. Vista was too bloated to run on a Netbook that could run XP just fine. So what does Microsoft do? They force vendors to stop shipping XP in September 2008. Big mistake. That’s when Linux Netbooks started taking away Microsofts’s market share. By March of 2009, Microsoft had no choice but to bring XP back from the grave. Now disgruntled Vista users had their XP back, at half the price of a new Vista system. Microsoft and Intel weren’t happy about this. That’s when they conspired to cripple the Netbok by placing artificial Maximum System Requirements on it. Now they are trying to cripple Netbooks with Windows 7 Starter Edition. Windows 7 Home Basic seems like the obvious choice to replace Windows XP Home Edition. But Microsoft says NO WAY and says it will only sell Windnows 7 in developing markets. I’ve looked everywhere and it seems impossible to find Windows 7 Home Basic anywhere on Earth. It’s probably easier to find Aliens in Area 51 than find a copy of Windows 7 Home Basic. Microsoft wants to keep Windows 7 Home Basic a big secret. Why? Because they want to kill the Netbook. I fought by buying a Dell Mini Netbook with Ubuntu Linux preloaded. I’m glad I did! It still has an Intel Atom processor though. I plan to buy another Linux Netbook as soon as I can find one with an AMD, VIA or ARM processor, so WinTel can Kiss My Butt!!!
yeah.. i got a Dell mini 10v .. Slapped OSX on it … Awesome!
It came with Win7, but as soon as i realized i couldn’t even change the wallpaper… WTF?
As an Apple user, i hear a lot of crap about Apple not being about “choice” .
B.S. about how they tie their operating system to their hardware.. Which is their right.. and it’s MY BAD for having a hackintosh… BUT Windows 7 starter isn’t even gonna let me choose my Desktop Wallpaper? FAIL
I thought i’d give Windows a chance.. Mostly because so many use it and i know who my friends will call when they need help… but that is just rubbish. i may dual boot for that odd application that is Win only… but Win 7 starter reminded me why I switched to OSX and never looked back. At least Microsoft is gonna LET me run more than 3 applications, now …. Out of the kindness of their little hearts. Pffft.
[...] comes with Windows 7 Starter which most of you will find it unsatisfactory compared to Windows 7 Home Premium. It basically stripped down too [...]
I really don’t mind all the limitations. I really am using the netbook for what it is intended to do. I just really don’t appreciate not being able to personalize my OWN pc. I know it’s silly but asthetics really is important to me. And really, how easy would it be to fix that (if it is most of the compaints)? A simple download here and there could solve everything I think. People pay hard earned money for something and they feel like its borrowed from the library or something.
I like 7 Starter, it runs Telnet, Wordpad and Explorer fine.
I’d like to be able to buy it as a retail OS, maybe rebrand
it as Win7 Amish edition.
Man I payed an extra $30 for the ‘privilege’ of using Windows 7 starter. Now sure I can understand that it’s not a full featured product. As the car analogy went, it doesn’t have a big engine or leather seats. But when they won’t even let me repaint the damned thing, I really start to wonder. Could have saved myself 30 bucks and had a perfectly good XP running. Guess I should have read up first, caveat emptor.
Pretty much any version of Windows 7 will work fine on Netbooks. For a while I even ran 7 Ultimate on my Eee PC 701 (although I did have to use vlite.) Microsoft should lighten the licence deals with manufactures or should allow a few more starter features (like changing the wallpaper.)
I don’t agree that a netbook can replace a notebook in every case. Sure, if you want to just type, browse the web, and maybe play WOW, then maybe. However I think a lot of people need at least a little more power, an optical drive, a larger hard drive, and a bigger screen for something that will be their only computer.
nlited XP still rules for netbooks.
I upgraded to windows 7 and tryed to connect the laptop (asus PRO31 series) to my TV as I have many times before but the OS will not recognise that the TV is pluged in. The TV doesn’t come up on the display settings and the hot key on the laptop makes the TV screen flicker although its looking for it but still will not connect
@tom et al: Sorry, wrong. Netbooks ARE notebooks, they’re just small. They’re still not nearly small enough to replace a PDA in any way (that is a statememnt of fact based on experience). They CAN run home premium, so installing starter is just needlessly hobbling them. No we SHOULDN’T have to either put up with it or buy a “real” notebook. Though I blame the makers, not Windows, for spec’ing starter. Maybe they’re misreading the netbook market, which is anyone who wants the small form factor, not dummies who want a simple computer.
Though maybe I should replace my eee 701 now, while I can still get an Aspire One with XP and before the product class all but disappears like PDAs did.
I have just bought my dell inspiron 1011 with windows 7 starter edition and it has everything i need. I can even change the wallpaper i have installed a programme http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html and it works. I dont expect anything more from a netbook just the basic, and its more than enough.
I see here a few people (Nerds without common sense) with puple blinders that think MS can not do wrong no matter what. I have a friend who is an IT and he also defended MS Vista till the end but now since MS droped Vista he finally agrees it was junk. To the guys who say do not buy a netbook if you want a note book, you guys a out to lunch and unreasonable you guys are so narrow minded that do don’t get it what the issue is. The issue is somthing simple as the GUI that can not be changed. Heck what are you guys talking about? it has nothing to do what a netbook can do or not, MS 95 allowed me to do that and 98 and ME and 2000 and XP. I bet half the people including myself would be happy with the starter if we could change it. I do not want anything fancy I just want my interface look like Classic windows very simple User interface that works, I do not need a background picture I do not need a fancy startup menue KISS keep it simple stupid.You nerds can bitch and laugh what ever you want but you guys miss the point that in some cases we are trading off somthing good for somthing bad. I still have a dos based Database that will outperform any windows database and I’m using it ha ha ha, here you got it I’ll laugh for you. dont worry I know how you guys think , like I said a friend of mine is an IT. Ieven installed win 98 on my old P3 600 mz Laptops yes laptops I have 3 of those, if it is up to you guys you think we should throw thoose out right.
Well that make me think you guys have to much money. Didn’t the nerd of the nerds once said 640 kb of ram what a computer will ever need? The bottem line I’m not a Gamer.
I use my netbook in XP for:
GPS, MP3’s,Ipod, Iphone, Internet, Online Banking, Internet radio, Dos based Recipes Database, Office 2003
all rograms ( here again I do not like Office 2007 even I got it because of the UI) Copiing DVD’s whatching DVD’s, Bluetooth,Networking and so forth.
am I asking for to much that a newer OS should give me at least the same options? It apeeres that you Nerds think I do. Btw I use the term nerds for the people who are unreasonable and think they have to force feed us the new os and we are not allowed to criticize.And the biggest Idiot of the Nerds here who thinks people who can not change a Hard drive should not have Computer, well can you rebuild an engine? if not you should not drive a car, Can you repair a TV? well if not than do not watch TV, boy are you dumb. People do not need to fix the things they buy.
Anyways today is the 24th of jan. 2010 and I bought another Asus eeePC 1005 with XP.
windows 7 starter is like a chevy with 3 wheel intead of 4 you can not raely use it yet but you can stat the Engine.
Anyways I think the main reason, and that is my suspicion win 7 stsrter boots way faster than win7 home.
Bootup on eeepc 901 with XP 30 seconds on eeepc 1005HA 35 seconds Win 7 starter 45 seconds. what is it with win 7 home? and I can hera the Nerds saying why do you need it that fast booting within 2 or 3 minutes is still good. NO it is not, not for me. That is why people buy netbooks and not note books. when they are at starbucks they want the mashine to start up before they are finished with the coffee. I do not want to wait a long time at the side of the for my netbook to start up if I wnat to use MS streets and Trips to see where I’m. and I can hear the Nerds again .why don’t you buy a GPS. well I like Streets and trips as well as autoroute
I know my typing sucks, get over it! you get the gist.
And I’m loving my new and third eeepc with XP on it.
Lighting fast to boot and does everything I need it to do.
Yes Baby. I’ll wait for windows 8 lol
I HATE version 7 starter…. my husband bought it for me for Christmas… an HP mini … lovely computer but trashy operating system…. it won’t even let you run XP on a virtual drive… or let me home network to my old LG tablet, my Toshiba librettto , but hey it can see my big IMAC… so what’s up Mr. Gates… what a croc…. and what is worse , the cpu usage when on the net on applications on FB or anything else is so high…. my caffine intake has doubled while waiting for pages to load…. and I am permanently getting messages from windows looking for a solution to my problem.. which never appear… so much for version 7, it can’t even find solutions for its problems… even my dogs can do that !!!!!!!
Ok, I’m a geek, I freely admit it. I have way too many toys to list, and this Mini10v I’m using with WIN 7 Starter is working very well. The equipment is operating as designed. I have only one personal preference beef: the inability to change the color from the default blue, but ya know, it’s not going to stop me from using it. As with anything we purchase, it comes down to subjective experience, we either like it or we don’t. All the back and forth about this OS versus that OS, this box versus that box follows suit. I run Mandriva 2010, Ubuntu, XP Pro, XP Home, Vista Home Premium, WIN 7 Ultimate, and now WIN 7 Starter. And every one works as designed. Every one does the job quite well. I can honestly say as my subjective experience, I happen to enjoy them all. They do not all do the same thing, but then I didn’t want them all to do the same thing. I will say one thing; I did do a tiny bit of research on each OS and system before I committed, after all Caveat Emptor is in effect. Knowledge is our friend.
Oh, and yes I have some experience with Mac OS’s and while I have no problems using them, the hardware is a tad bit pricey…
i swear to god this works. if u hav win 7 starter, upgrade to win 7 home premium 4 free. i payed 4 this, and i am alowed 2 upgrade as many pc as i want. since i did, may as well post it. click start, then search 4 windows anytime upgrade, than click use xisting key, then type
RHPQ2-RMFJH-74XYM-BH4JX-XM76F
wait 20-30 min while it upgrades. u hav2 hav web.
will restart auto a few times
then right click my comp.
then cklick properties, then in bottom, 30 daays 2 activate, click it 2 activate now.
key is
7JQWQ-K6KWQ-BJD6C-K3YVH-DVQJG
i swear this workes. i showed my freiend who did this too, he posted vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baK8HxEtLoc
this only workes on win 7 starter, it will tell u that it is an invalid upgrade key if u use it on vista, or win ult. DUH
OMG avery kucames solution actually worked on bolth of my pcs. i am so supprised!!!
it worked yay
thx avery, u saved me 80 dollers
it worked thank you, iat first i thought it was not true