Filed under: OS Updates, Hardware, Windows, Linux, Microsoft
Microsoft fires another shot at Linux netbooks by extending XP availability
by Lee Mathews Apr 30th 2009 at 4:00PM
Linux advocates had a lot of fun recently taking shots at Windows 7 Starter version, which Microsoft has positioned as an option for low-cost netbooks. What could Microsoft possibly offer in response to the "Starter is a comically bad attempt at an operating system" comments?
They could announce the continued availability of Windows XP for netbook manufacturers for a full year after the release of Windows 7 - which exactly what they've done.
If what Acer said earlier turns out to be true, that means OEMs will be able to sell XP-powered machines until October 2010, and that decision is sure to have repercussions for Linux on netbooks.
After all, one of the key weaknesses of Starter Edition was the three application limit - something that can't be said about Windows XP.
Though it will still add a bit to the cost of a system, the amount has been pegged as low as $15. That's a negligible amount and one most consumers will be willing to absorb to have access to an operating system that is far more familiar to most than any Linux distribution.
The extension will give Microsoft an entire year to build public awareness of Windows 7 and showcase Starter Edition - or scrap it and offer better pricing on another more complete version. Either way, today's announcement could mean a continued rough road ahead for mainstream Linux.
[via PC World]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Todd said 4:42PM on 4-30-2009
Also in the news...
"Ford announces it will install a used Pinto engine, leftover from the 1970's, in your new 2010 car - as an incentive to get you to buy. Not many details yet, but Ford hopes to entice new buyers into dealer show rooms with the promise to "back date" any brand new SUV, cross-over or luxury sedan. The used engines were thought to be drivetrains put out to pasture long ago because of their inefficiency, low quality and poor performance...
...a Ford CEO said, on the condition of anonymity, "People are idiots, if we tell them a used Pinto engine is just as good as a 2010 Honda motor, they'll believe it. Besides, building brand new modern engines similar to those you see in todays imports from Japan, is expensive, and not really our area of competency."
Whether or not new car buyers will like the idea of paying for a brand new car with a decades old engine in it remains to be seen.
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r3loaded said 5:47PM on 4-30-2009
OMFG *smashes head into wall*. Microsoft, just get rid of the 3 application limit (don't change anything else on Starter edition) and KILL XP FFS!
DIE, YOU ALMOST A DECADE-OLD OS ALREADY!!
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Saint Seminole said 8:06PM on 4-30-2009
It's just another masked admission by MS that XP was the better OS. Hey, I'm not a "fanboy" (or whatever you're calling it these days). I'm just a guy who's tried a lot of different operating systems and considers himself a power user.
If it's not broke, don't fix it. I can't stand the theory of "planned obsolescence." I don't need a new TV just because Sony made a new TV. If my old one still shows me what I want to see, I can spend that money on something else. Same thing goes for my OS.
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whiskey said 5:08AM on 5-01-2009
The big question here is: Why should we keep buying the same licenses over and over again?
I bought a desktop PC with XP preisntalled in 2003, it broke down (my fault) so I went out and got another one with XP preinstalled (that makes it two licenses), then got a new laptop and used less and less the desktop (three licenses), so then my laptop got stolen, i went and bought a new one (four), then by 2006 the damned thing died on me, bought a new one (five). Since my desktop wasn't fast enough by now, i decided to get the parts and build me a new one and guess what? I needed another license (six).
This is not my case though but could very well be a scenario where over a period of 9 years i might have bought six Windows XP licenses... Why? I kept to the letter of the License and it ended up costing $600 (let's call it worst case scenario).
Multiply that if you have a business that needs more than one computer by a factor of 1.5 for every three computers (laptops or desktops) just to be fair (not all my laptops will get stolen, not all my hardware will get fried)...
Does desktop Linux (say, Ubuntu or Fedora or Opensuse) start making sense?
I get it, though, there's a Windows XP downgrade with some versions of 7 (Vista has that too). How much it cost though?
(Note: There is a reason I didn't include Office productivity suits, the Licenses are tied on a per seat basis mostly, per user in worst case scenarios, so they can get transfered to a newer computer if my hardware died or got stolen. Even then, 50 to 250 bucks for a minimal edition per computer is a hefty sum that could very well be spent in something else around the house or at work. THIS is why freeware/cheaperware makes sense).
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hnzw_rui said 11:21PM on 5-22-2009
"I get it, though, there's a Windows XP downgrade with some versions of 7 (Vista has that too). How much it cost though?"
Technically, free. Those with XP Professional licenses can downgrade to Windows 2000. Those with Vista Business and Ultimate licenses can downgrade to 2000/XP Pro. Caveat, you need to provide your own installation disc. I think on Toshiba's online store, they were offering to pre-install XP Pro if you have Vista Business or Ultimate for only $10 additional. It really isn't Microsoft's fault if Dell is charging $100 for the convenience.
Aussie_Sheila said 5:22AM on 5-01-2009
I'm an XP fan and if I ever get a netbook it will be with XP. Linux is a cool option, but I need Windows for work.
Will never ever buy a netbook with Vista!!
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Ed Borasky said 11:14AM on 5-01-2009
All Microsoft needs to do on workstations and conventional laptops is fix the performance issues on Vista. There's nothing else wrong with Vista -- I've got a HP Pavilion DV4 laptop with Vista Home Premium 64 bit and except for the ghastly performance, it's fine. I don't plan to "upgrade" it to Windows 7 unless the upgrade is free.
But on netbooks, it's a whole other story. A netbook needs to run Office 2007, IE 8 and Skype. Period. The Windows version doesn't really matter.
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NetbookorLaptop said 7:06PM on 5-01-2009
"A netbook needs to run Office 2007, IE 8 and Skype. Period" Are you on crack? It's 2009. With the internet and Linux, MS products are no longer required.
My netbook runs Firefox, OpenOffice and skype. My kids love it and use it all the time. They don't don't care that it does not have Windows. They give me strange look when I ask them if they want Windows on it. I would then have to slow it down with anti-malware software....
Only people who refuse to adapt MUST have MS apps....