Microsoft releases Windows 7 SKU info.. but what SKU come with your next netbook?
The picture just got significantly clearer for Windows 7. Microsoft announced the product SKU details today – announcing that the majority of users out there will settle around two SKUs – Windows 7 Home Premium for consumers and Windows 7 Professional for businesses. Sounds awesome right? Well not so fast – there will still be a total of six different editions of Windows 7 however, only two of them will be purchasable by customers – the aforementioned Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional. The six editions are as follows – Windows 7 Starter Edition, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate. But you’re wondering – this is a netbook site.. so what’s in it for netbooks?
Good question and in some ways it’s not clear what manufacturers will do.
First, it’s important to note that Microsoft has spent time optimizing the OS by having “a smaller OS footprint; an improved user interface that should allow for faster boot-up and shut-down times; improved power management for enhanced battery life; enhanced media capabilities; and increased reliability, stability and security.”
Secondly, if you really want Windows 7 Home Premium, you’ll be able to go out and purchase the OS yourself for installation on your netbook. In fact, according to this Microsoft press release, “For the most enhanced, full-functioning Windows experience on small notebook PCs, however, consumers will want to go with Windows 7 Home Premium, which lets you get the most out of your digital media and easily connect with other PCs.”
Cool.. so we can go out and buy Windows 7 Home Premium.. but will it come bundled with new netbook systems?
That’s not so clear.
You see, Microsoft is also expanding the reach of Windows Starter Edition. This version of the OS which used to be only available for emerging markets will now be available worldwide on new “PCs limited to specific types of hardware.”
Sounds ok thus far.. but there’s a catch with Windows Starter Edition. The OS will only run three applications at a time (it will ignore background services like anti-virus apps). That’s a huge limitation in our opinion (but your usage may vary) which poses a greater question – what will hardware manufacturers do? Will the pricing of Windows Starter Edition and Windows 7 Home Premium force vendors to choose Starter Edition by default? Let’s hope not.. but one gets a feeling that’s what will happen.
Of course maybe all of this won’t matter to you since you’re going with Linux anyhow..
[Check it out via PC Magazine]
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