Netbooks are getting a hard time from Microsoft just now. Anyone would think they didn’t like these pesky little machines that keep getting in the way of profit.
Netbooks to date mostly come with Windows XP operating system. It wasn’t always that way of course, the first Netbooks ran with Linux based operating systems.
Microsoft soon put a stop to that when they brought Windows XP out of the cupboard and licensed it at cost to vendors for Netbooks.
We snapped these devices up and Microsoft pushed Linux out the door and have dominated the Netbook operating market ever since.
No one could have foreseen the popularity of these little machines back then and now Microsoft with the benefit of hindsight has said it was a mistake to offer Windows XP at a cheaper price.
Wait a minute, Windows 7 is about to be unleashed and Microsoft of course want to make sure they get maximum return for that. They don’t want to offer that at a cheaper price but they can’t afford to ignore the Netbook market either. What do they do?
They limit the type of computer that will be allowed to run Windows 7 starter edition, basically machines with low processors and tiny screens, in other words Netbooks.
They would much prefer you to buy laptops running with Windows 7 Home Edition instead. This is more profitable of course.
If you already have a Netbook, you won’t be able to buy Windows 7 Starter Edition to upgrade, no, that will only be sold to Manufacturers.
Vendors will also have to pay more for Windows 7 starter edition for Netbooks (although we don’t know exactly how much more yet) than what they pay for Windows XP which effectively pushes up the price of Netbooks at a time when they should be coming down.
Netbooks are either going to be forced off of the shelf because of price or vendors will have to find another way to keep the cost down.
One way would be for Linux to make a comeback. Dell is certainly looking to Linux to expand its netbook presence.
If Dell is happy with Linux, then why wouldn’t other companies be? Particularly now that they will now have to pay more for Windows on Netbooks which will eat into what is an already pretty tight margin.
Is it possible for Linux to make a comeback? Well in theory yes. In practice, we’ll have to wait and see.
Nothing remains stable where Netbooks are concerned.
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Definitely if the Linux gets back to the netbook i will follow them first & grab the first launch!