Is Windows 7 Starter really just Windows 7 Trial Version?
Some comments in our article and forums about the possibility of a Windows 7 Starter $200 netbook inspired me to take a deeper look into the issue. If Windows 7 Starter is keeping companies from pushing out $200 netbooks, then why aren’t free Linux alternatives already doing so? Although Linux has zero costs when it comes to licensing and code, there are still a few other expenses OEMs have to cover when building a Linux system:
- Testing and creating drivers
- Hiring and training staff that are ready to work on Linux and provide tech-support
- Costs in repackaging due to the increased return rate on Linux machines
There are many other factors I didn’t list but these three points give you an idea of why Linux netbooks aren’t cheaper than they are. If Linux netbooks are still in the $300 range and Windows says they can offer a $200 netbook, how much are they actually charging vendors for Windows 7 Starter? What if Windows 7 Starter is really a cloak for what is actually Windows 7 Trial Version?
The possibility of that being true isn’t unrealistic. If you think about it, Starter contains a few inconvenient restrictions that draw away from the complete Windows experience, particularly the inability to have three simultaneous applications open.
One of Windows 7 Starter's restrictions include the inability to change your wallpaper
What saves Microsoft from being bashed upon for these restrictions is their Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU) program, which allows a user to upgrade to a higher-level version of Windows at any time. As bad as many of us think Starter can be, there’s virtually no risk in purchasing a Starter-equipped machine at all. Seeing that Starter is the cheapest version of Windows you can ever put on a computer, why wouldn’t OEMs be willing to put it on their machines. It would allow OEMs to have much lower list prices and WAU would reduce the fear of customers of not being satisfied with Starter. This begs the question of whether Microsoft really intended for you to stay on Starter permanently. Let’s take a look at a possible scenario:
- You walk into the store to look for a cheap and affordable laptop
- The cheapest laptop is $200 and has Windows 7 Starter. You can upgrade any time so there’s no risk, why not buy it?
- After a couple of days on your netbook, you’re about to explode after the 100th notification from Windows telling you need to keep the app-count to less than three
- You want to upgrade. The price is less than the laptop but it might be more than what you want to pay. You’ve already got a laptop but you’re not completely satisfied, so you opt for the upgrade
If you haven’t spotted it yet, the trick being used here is upselling. After being stuck with a Starter netbook you’ve purchased because if was “no-risk” and cheap, you now want to upgrade. People are also more likely to go through small changes or make smaller transactions than large ones. Meaning that most people are probably more likely to upgrade to Home Premium or a higher edition like Microsoft originally planned to.
Is Windows 7 Starter really just a trial version? Let us know in the comments.
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Tags: windows 7, windows 7 starter, windows 7 trial
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19 Responses to “Is Windows 7 Starter really just Windows 7 Trial Version?”
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It makes a lot of sense. The next step would be Windows Starter to become the “punishing version of Windows” for all pirates out there, and with Microsoft essentially 1. giving for free Starter to pirates and 2. selling OEM updates and support with a super-duper-cheap license (think MS Works, MS has done this before). Later, legitimate customers will be able to upscale their Windows to Home Premium or whatever, and pirates will be downgraded easily to Starter. Smart.
Why would pirates want to pirate Starter though? If anything it’d be ultimate
Pirates would not pirate starter, they could be downgraded to it when MS finds out they are using a pirated copy. Thus forcing them to come up with a new way to pirate it or pay for an upgrade.
I’m perfectly fine with built-in prevention measures to try and stop people from stealing software. But the minute that my software can be analyzed, controlled, and modified by the publisher, without my consent(If they do it to pirates then they can do it to me.), while it’s installed on my machine… there are some very real privacy issues with that.
“Those who have done nothing wrong have nothing to hide.” is not the philosophy that I think a software company, or any other company or government, should have.
The Starter Edition is wrong any way you slice it.
I have a pirate friend that was actually going to purchase Windows 7 because it’s the best Windows he’s ever used, until he heard about Starter. He told me that, on principal, he can’t buy it because of this intentionally crippled joke of an “”Edition”" that could just as easily be replaced with Basic if Microsoft made their pricing scale more realistic.
I love Windows 7, but I everything about these Starter Editions.
Is it possible to install another verson of vista or W7 instead of windows 7 starter or would this cause major problems?? Any help would be great, thanks in advance
Call it Starter or call it trial, eitherway, don’t get stuck with it!
You cannot really place Linux in this discussion because Linux is not for the home user market and never will be, Linux will never come out in the market to compete with Microsoft Windows, Huge differences, Windows will always win due to money.
I agree that Linux is not a real alternative to Windows as it is now. I have yet to find a version that is as easy to install as Windows.
The lack of drivers support is also a major issue, even tho it has gotten much better, it still is not as good a Windows
The final issue is a lack of standards among the many distro’s, this means that programs may not work on other version with out knowing how to tweak code.
I wish Linux was at the same level as Windows or even Mac, but it is not and as long as it remains at the expert user level it will never be a true alternative.
If you think Linux is not easy to install, you are stuck twelve years ago, try kanotix live CD, or Sidux, you will be blown away at how easy to install, and how fast it is, I have an aging AMD athlon 2.2 ghz machine, 768 mb ram and a 128 mb video card, Kanotix installed in less than 15 minutes, everything works, and have had not a single crash,reinstall or problem since 2004, now, my wife’s machine have had so many crashes that I lost count ( windows XP)
hanya akal-akalan microsoft aja
Windows Starter is a bait and switch setup.
It is a completely useless OS and is only meant for OEM’S to market sub-300 netbooks and for MS Windows Anytime Upgrade program.
In a way it is bait and switch, on the other hand I think it can be beneficial for some. It may open the doorway for younger and lower budget individuals to finally get a laptop.
Thats a good point, but 3 programs is a bit to limiting in my opinion, but I an more of a power user.
It would be good for schools.
Why would you want to spend $200 for a pda and even think about upgrading the OS after that??!! That pda will not run any other version of W7 because it will not have the power behind it.
Suck on my balls if you’re gong to go with the pda and upgrade the OS later. At least someone will feel good out of this deal.
not being able to change the desktop is the most stupid idea ever. So glad I got W7 Home Premium instead. Sadly it seemed like 97% of all the market here in the U.S. is W7 Starter and it took me 1 month to find Home Premium. Don’t get caught with Home Basic or Starter-unless you don’t want everything Windows 7 is about!
This is so true i just got a new laptop with windows starter already on it. so i try to personalize and realize i can’t change wallpaper or theme. Then i read this artical and it all made sense.
i am so glad i got my net book in September and got xp screw starter
i might upgrade to home premium though
Yep, I am one of those broke ppl who is glad to afford a cheap laptop and 7 starter will have to do for a long while………..
Have any of you heard of Windows XP Stater or Vista Starter. Yet they exist. The Starter Editions where meant for developing country’s where every cent counts and the hardware is limited. To change your background try http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html it’s free and works very well.