XP Starter Edition Examined

de la mettrie writes "C-Net reports that analysts do not recommend using Microsoft's new 'Windows XP Starter Edition', a low-cost XP version aimed at the Asian market (and previously covered on Slashdot). The report notes that numerous networking features are removed, and the Starter Edition allows only three applications to be run concurrently. According to Microsoft, this limitation 'helps [users] stay organized and reduces confusion.'"

Comments

Re:I'm going to be laughing at this one for days

[lysander]

Starter Edition allows only three applications to be run concurrently.

Wouldn't that make it a great gaming OS? That's all I use windows for anyway nowadays. Maybe kiosks and net cafes will start using it.

Re:I'm going to be laughing at this one for days

[1u3hr]

In other words, this won't reduce piracy; it's just a way for Microsoft to say "see, we care about the Asian market's needs! really!"

It's a way to sell a Windows license at a low price, without creating a product that can be sold through grey markets in the West. (This was made to compete with the Linux-installed PCs as part of the Thai govt's cheap PC plan.) Now Thais can buy a Windows PC, take it home, install Win XP full version. They've paid the "Microsoft tax" even though they're using pirated software.

Re:I'm going to be laughing at this one for days

[Ianoo]

I doubt it, since display resolution is limited to 800x600.

Re:I'm going to be laughing at this one for days

[Blue Stone]

John Lettice of The Register has an interesting take on the 'starter' edition:

...as Microsoft builds relationships with the local system builders it will become less and less feasible for businesses to get away with running pirate software. They'll be offered special upgrade deals to full versions, pulling them further into the 'ecosystem' too, and you can see clear parallels with the way Microsoft's sales efforts have progressed in the developed world.

The plan, therefore, is not to eradicate piracy in consumer markets, but to fuel the development of a 'legitimate' market in government and business while throttling any prospect of open source developing its own markets in the area. Government and business will, as in the developed world, pay a goodly price to Microsoft for its software, while Microsoft will be able to increase the number of PCs that ship with its software (any software will do) and hence yield it the Microsoft tax. The actual entry price paid by government isn't (as in the developed world) particularly relevant, so long as it enters) and whatever the end user shoves on the machine isn't anything like as important as it is for Microsoft to pick up the rent from them as part of the machine's price (as, also, in the developed world).

Maybe not so wrong after all

[Lispy]

I find this offer as inacceptable as the rest of the Slshdot crowd, but wouldn't it be possible that Microsoft knows it's market? I bet they made extensive research in Asia and it turned out that most people will be satisfied with an operating system as crippled as this. I am not really sure if I wouldn't try it if I was really short on money but wanted to run my favourite games or office app.

Maybe Linux might be 10 times more powerful but some people just like to use Word and IE? Maybe not everyone needs network because there is no broadband or LAN-Party around?

I know it sounds totally insane to us but maybe not so much to your mother or a thai. And don't forget that dealing with free operatingsystems still takes some time for a newbie, WinXP is commonly known...