Maximum specs for Windows 7 Starter Edition revealed
In an age where lightweight, undersized netbooks are all the rage, Microsoft is most definitely wise to manufacturers’ game. That game, of course, is to keep netbook pricing as low as possible while slowly but surely raising the bar where specs are concerned. One of the many ways manufacturers can keep netbook pricing down is by taking advantage of a cheaper edition of Microsoft’s OS, which means less revenue for Redmond. As such, Microsoft instates a set of maximum specifications a PC must not exceed in order to offer its base OS. Above to the right, you’ll find said maximum specs for Windows 7 Starter Edition. As compared to XP/Vista’s max specs, we can see that processor speed has been doubled and 90GB has been tacked on where HDD space is concerned. Nice. On the flip side of the coin, max display size has been cut from 12.1 inches to 10.2 inches. Not so nice. In the end we’re certainly left with a pretty capable netbook but if you’ll be looking for a netbook that raises the bar without breaking the bank in the near future, it probably won’t be running Win 7.
first! suckers!
It will probably be running 7 just not the “starter” version… and BTW only tools say First!
What use is it to say first and not add anything to the discussion?
I’m not totally up on netbooks and their operating systems; does this mean there will be a scaled down version of Windows 7 on netbooks in the future? If so, what will be left off that is on the normal versions? Looking at the maximum specs, I don’t really see a problem since netbooks aren’t meant to be primary computers anyway. Now if they have some key features left off the OS that will be another story.
Something seems wrong saying “maximum” specs though then again I think the whole netbook thing is odd. Oh well, this would be bashed/loved by the respective fanboys no matter what the final specs were. Don’t think it will really effect me in the end as I like a more well rounded computer.
I admit to being a little baffled by those “maximum specs” for Windows 7 Starter Edition.
I have a Acer Aspire One with a 160gb HD and the 1.6ghz Atom with 1 Gb of RAM – Running Windows 7RC1 and it runs beautifully on it… I had Windows 7 Beta on it and had to turn Aero off to get decent performance, not the case with RC1. Now is this Microsoft’s game in trying to get people to get the Ultimate edition of Windows 7?
(I will admit that when Windows 7 is released that I will be buying the Ultimate edition anyway)