• Windows 7 Starter to Drop 3 App Restriction?

    Posted on May 23, 2009 at 09:07 CDT by • Comment in the Forums

    That’s the hot topic in Windows 7 land.

    Windows 7 Starter Edition – which will only be available pre-installed on laptops – was hobbled by Microsoft. Among other restrictions, Starter Edition only allows thye consumer to run a  maximum of three programs concurrently. As Ed Bott explained ages ago, that three application restriction didn’t include many apps that most people use all the time. It wasn’t – and isn’t – clear which apps Microsoft includes in the three application count.

    The three app restriction has always been a red herring – as best I can tell it was invented by a committee that said, in essence, “We have to find something to differentiate our more-expensive versions of Windows 7, to convince people to pay for an upgrade.”

    That’s precisely the wrong way to approach the feature set decision. Somebody should’ve asked, “What does it take to make sure every new netbook ships with Windows?” That’s the crux of the matter.

    Hobbling the maximum number of concurrent applications doesn’t add to Microsoft’s coffers. Ensuring every new netbook ships with Windows 7 has all sorts of good side-effects. Good for Microsoft, that is. MS would also benefit from ensuring that every hardware manufacturer offers Windows 7 Home Premium as an inexpensive upgrade to the Starter package: if I have to spend an extra $30 to get Home Premium, instead of the Starter edition, with my new netbook, I’ll open up that vein and send more lucre Microsoft’s way.

    (Remember I’ve been running Windows 7 Ultimate on a plain ol’ everyday Asus Eee PC 1000H for the past three months, and it works like a champ.)

    As things stand, Paul Thurrott claims that Microsoft has just decided to lift the three app limitation in Windows 7. Ed Bott tweets that the matter is under discussion, and not decided yet. (Ed’s in Redmond right now in a Windows 7 briefing/lovefest. I think Paul’s in Redmond, too.)

    My guess is that Paul’s sources have trumped Ed’s. We should know for sure soon enough.

    Windows News ,
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