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!