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Cut-Rate Windows 'XP Starter Edition' in Thailand

Posted by michael on from the includes-free-starter-virus dept.

zlel writes "Microsoft has decided on an official name - 'Windows XP Starter Edition' - for the stripped-down, cut-rate version of Windows that it first began offering in Thailand last summer."

9 of 478 comments (clear)

  1. Analogy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is this the software equivalent of those first cigarettes behind the toilet block? You know, the ones that get you hooked for life?

  2. And the difference is? by rms_nz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Good to see good journalism is going out the door - it would be nice for it to mention what makes it "cut-down".

    I know it says "As part of the deal, Microsoft also stripped out some unspecified features from both products" but surely there must be more details available than that?

  3. The Microsoft mentality by jdkane · · Score: 5, Insightful
    We don't want to provide a version of XP without Media Player to the EU. That would be catastrophic to our business.

    However Thailand can have this nice stripped down version of XP.

  4. No Product Activation by Anita+Coney · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've read several stories about this stripped version of Windows, and what they all fail to mention is that it also lacks Product Activation. Sure, Product Activation in Asia is like duct taping your BMW's door shut in Detroit, but it's still significant.

    People in Thailand can share their copies with their friends and family. But those of us in the rest of the world cannot. It just makes NO sense. We pay MORE for restrictions!!!

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  5. The Good and the Bad.... by CommanderData · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A stripped down version of Windows XP and Office XP could be infinitely better than the full versions in the USA if the right features were removed- remove active scripting and VBA from these products, take out a good percentage of the obscure features of Office that no one uses, and presto- a less bloated, more secure computing environment that just happens to have the MS logo on it.

    Hell, for 38 bucks I would give it a try if they rolled it out here. Of course they won't do that, because this whole tactic is about training the next generation of PC owners (developing nations) to become dependant upon MS crack.

    --
    Urge to post... fading... fading... RISING!... fading... fading... gone.
  6. And so it begins... by Garwulf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually, I'm not surprised something like this has happened.

    Microsoft is starting to see Linux as honest competition for the desktop market, and acting accordingly to become competitive again. I think you'll see something similar happen here - it wouldn't surprise me if the asking price for Microsoft software is cut dramatically in the next twenty-four months, and it also wouldn't surprise me if the quality starts to improve again.

    All in all, this is a good thing, not a bad thing. The end users can only benefit from this.

    --
    Robert B. Marks
    Author, Demonsbane in Diablo Archive
  7. Re:Faux Pas! by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You haven't used XP, have you? Both XP and 2k were great about restarting. And not needing to when you install things.

    Some things require reboots (Like Direct X), but that's because they modify files currently in use.

    Oh wait, this is /. where blind attacks against the "Evil" Microsoft gets you rewarded.

    --
    Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
  8. Re:Faux Pas! by bgeer · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I use 2K/XP nearly every day unfortunately, and virtually every time I install something it asks me to reboot. Whether it's InstallShield's problem or Windows's problem is irrelevant.

    Also, your argument about DirectX is laughable. You don't even have to restart Linux to upgrade LIBC! ***LIBC***! Even the package manager that is actually upgrading libc is using libc! And it works just fine. This has been true since ELF was introduced way back in what '96 or so?

    The whole reason behind the rebooting problem is the registry, and if MS gets rid of it I'll gladly stop making fun of it. Until then you and the rest of the MS-defender crowd will just have to keep stretching your credibility trying to defend it.

  9. So they really could make a stripped down version by foniksonik · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I was under the impression that MS wasn't able to make a version of Windows without all the bells and whistels... I guess it's okay now that all of their lawsuits have been settled. So they are guilty of anti-trust and they are liars, this isn't news.

    When will the US see a version of Windows that is JUST an Operating System? I wouldn't even mind it if they included a separate disk with 'bundled' but optional software, like a music player, a photo album tool, and maybe some video editing software... heck for the good PCs they could even include some sort of DVD authoring tool. ;-p

    --
    A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.