Three Reasons Windows 7 Will Fail On Netbooks

The Var Guy reports:

Originally Posted: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:21:37 +0000

As it continues to develop and polish Windows 7, Microsoft has made three fatal mistakes that will kill the operating system’s chances for success on Netbooks. Skeptical? Take a look at this reasoning from The VAR Guy.

First, a little applause for Microsoft. The company has done a reasonably good job developing Windows 7, according to early beta testers. There is some concern about security, but what else is new when it comes to a Microsoft operating system?

Now, onto the Netbook topic. Microsoft plans to offer Netbook makers Windows 7 Starter — a basic operating system with a serious (and artificial) limitation. It only runs up to three applications at once. Three applications? One, two, three reasons Windows 7 Starter will fail. Heck, even The VAR Guy’s kids run up to five applications on their Linux-based Asus Eee PC Netbook.

In its infinite wisdom, Microsoft has tried to counter Linux on Netbooks with Windows 7 Starter. But in the end, The VAR Guy predicts, the three application limit will kill all customer interest in Windows 7 Starter. And users who accidentally purchase Windows 7 Starter will be turned off by Microsoft’s artificial limitations.

By the way: WorksWithU — The VAR Guy’s sister site — predicted last week that the mainstream media would start to more aggressively mention Linux as they began to discover Windows 7’s limitations and flaws. Sure enough, that situation occured today when The Wall Street Journal pointed out Windows 7’s three-app limit and spent some ink on Linux.

I suspect that I would be less than happy to be limited to running only three applications at a time on a Netbook (not Notebook/Laptop). It seems that if this is the case, one would be better off getting something like an openmoko, iPhone, G1, Nokia, etc. It certainly would be more convenient to carry in one's pocket, as well as providing what would appear to be comparable functionality.

And with that, I am off to see the wizard...