NetbookTech

Microsoft has stopped the distribution of a tool designed to make installing Windows 7 on netbooks easier after allegations surfaced that the tool could be using source code from ImageMaster which is licensed under GPLv2.

The allegations first surfaced courtesy of Rafael Rivera’s Within Windows blog here after which Microsoft confirmed with News.com that they were launching a review of the matter. The tool in question allows users to take a Windows 7 ISO image and create a bootable USB drive out it – allowing netbook users in particular a convenient means of installing Windows 7 since netbooks typically do not come with DVD drives.

So what to do in the meantime? I’ve always been of the opinion that one should get a decent external DVD burner. You’ll never know when you’ll need a burner I tell ya!

[Check it out via News.com]

Want another perspective on Windows 7 RC performance on a netbook system? Check out David M. William’s article over at iTWire where he takes the release candidate for a spin on a “modern Acer Aspire One” netbook. The system specs are pretty much like the NC10 I installed the RC on – an Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a spacious notebook hard drive.

After booting the OS up, Williams compiles another of interesting statistics. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the stats:

• Windows 7 consumes around 465MB of RAM after boot – similar to what we got with NC10 (we hovered around 420MB or so)
• Windows 7 rating was a 2.1 (out of 7.9). (we also got a 2.1 on our NC10) Note you can’t compare this number against Vista because the max rating has changed. It’s only comparable against other 7 machines.
• As expected, the video performance was the weakest (but of course given the Intel integrated graphics)

The final word? He could help but feel that his system needed more ram and processor (speed I think?)

[Check it out via SlashGear]

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]

WinHEC just finished last week and News.com has some interesting additional tidbits about Windows 7 – especially with how it relates to netbooks.

First off, a Microsoft rep at the show floor portion of WinHEC confirmed that there would be a “lite” version of Windows 7 for netbooks. A trade show picture shows a booth with the title “Windows 7 for Netbooks” although it’s not clear if this is the working title for the lite version.

As expressed at the PDC and now at WinHEC, one of the design goals for Windows 7 is to shrink down resource consumption – making sure it will run on all platforms – from low end netbooks/nettops to high end server boxes. Given that Microsoft would love to see the death of Windows XP, making sure Windows 7 works well on a netbook seems like an obvious path for the company.

The same rep stated that the lite version of 7 would run on 1GB of memory and 16GB of SSD. You can bet that the OS will be optimized for SSD platforms too.

Also, to no one’s surprise, expect dual core Atom netbook systems at some point next year. The interviewed Microsoft rep stated that vendors would indeed be rolling out dual core Atom netbooks – even if they were going to use processors designed for nettop systems. Be damned Intel! (OK, I added that one). While vendors wait for a mobile dual core Atom, it makes complete sense for them to utilize the desktop version – especially if the market demand is there.

I’m just salivating at the thought of carrying around a sub-3 lb, sub $500 dollar dual core Atom netbook.

[Check it out]