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Average User Only Runs 2 Apps, So Microsoft Will Charge For More
Barence writes "Microsoft's decision to limit Windows 7 Starter Edition to running only three concurrent applications could force up the price of netbooks as many manufacturers opt for the more expensive Home Premium. The three-app rule includes applications running in the background but excludes antivirus, and the company claims most users wouldn't be affected by the limit. 'We ran a study which suggested that the average consumer has open just over two applications [at any time]. We would expect the limit of three applications wouldn't affect very many people.' However, Microsoft told journalists at last year's Professional Developers Conference that 70% of Windows users have between eight and 15 windows open at any one time."
Source:TheOnion.com?
Princess Leia: The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers
Lurking in the desert
before Windows starts crashing.
This means that 2 cores should be enough for everybody !
839*929
Of course, the obvious alternative would be for people to just dig out their old copies of Windows 3.1.
;-)
That could cope quite well with running two applications, just so long as you didn't sneeze or look at the machine sideways. But the proviso of course applies just as much to later releases. The advantage here is that your two applications will run (or crash) blazingly fast...
*ducks*
What do you mean "IF" they get a virus?
I sat down to write a new sig tonight and all I did was make the chair warm.
Is it April Fool's day already ?
Wait, Internet browser is not application, it is part of OS. At least thats what Microsoft told us.
839*929
Does the Ubuntu installer count as only one app?
Have gnu, will travel.
Princess Leia: I'd rather kiss a Wookie.
Genesis 1:32 And God typed
Firefox with >150 tabs (using Tree Style Tabs for nesting)
multiple VLC video players
That is a lot of porn!
www.purevolume.com/martyd
task manager has 36 entries in the applications tab, 66 Processes, 37 open Windows.
Easy: you are running 139 applications.
839*929
Yes but now they can only be infected with 3 viruses, and then subsequent ones will fail to install!
http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
Hi! It looks like you're trying to run more than two applications, which is currently not allowed! Would you like to:
- shoot yourself in the other foot (you brought this upon yourself in the first place)
- throw a chair at the nearest bystander
- do the monkey dance while yelling "applications applications applications!"
- write an internal memo whining about your new netbook not being able to do actual work
Just install Cygwin and run Emacs.
Citations? Since when was slashdot wikipedia? Slashdot has never been known for verifiable facts, whereas wikipedia.... oh... wait..
Microsoft should call this Windows Mid-Manager edition, since the only people using 3 apps are enterprise level office drones doing data entry via Excel or Word, Possibly Powerpoint. They are so locked down that they can't listen to music, or use IM or anything except the tools for their job. Even receptionists would balk at this... but the mid-manager's would be okay, they just want to go play golf anyways....
A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
Retro is in right now.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
Sounds like a standard genie agreement to me: You are allowed 3 wishes. I guess Virtualisation software is like wishing for more wishes.
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Not only that, but you could just install Linux and virtualization software and have three Windows VMs open at once for a total of 9 running apps.
This is typical of MS though--something not completely thought out that's going to have unintended consequences and where they'll change their policy after the outrage turns into a tidal wave of discontent... kinda like Congress.
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Windows did never multitask proper, it can run only 3 apps at once, now we have the proof.
At last made sense the advertising that Windows 7 is more secure. You just need to open at first browser, IM, and music player and your PC is safe from virus, trojans, spyware, botnets, etc.
A Microsoft study has shown that users seldom use all 26 letters during a session, and so the economy-priced Windows 7 Functional Illiterate Edition will only support A through W and the numerals 0 through 7. However, the software will be endorsed by Sesame Street and today is brought to you by the letter "/".
Anything else I'm missing?
Items 4 and 5?
Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
If they do Starter Edition again, I agree that it is unlikely to be targeted to or even released in the US. Even excluding AV/Firewall apps from this completely fucktarded 3 app limit, I'd imagine that the group of people in the US getting computers from OEMs like Dell, particularly laptops, could include a sizeable amount of high school and college age people. These people are very likely to use media player, a web browser, and MS Word simultaneously all the time. a 3 app limit is completely bonkers. They may also want to run background apps like AIM, Skype, Bittorrent, email client (If they don't just use gmail web interface), etc etc. Restricting the main stream Windows would be epic fail for MS in that kind of market. If it really is targeted as the generic OEM version like Vista Home/XP Home is now, it should support at least 5 or 6 concurrent apps so students don't have to close AIM to write a paper, or ever have to choose between totally normal behaviour or restricted crap like that. It'll just drive up piracy of WinXP even more, or drive up support calls and angry customers.
Don't worry. No one will ever think to crack this version to allow unlimited applications to run concurrently.
Disclaimer: The opinions and actions of the US Gov't are in no way representative of those held by this author or its ci
I don't know you, but I love you.
isn't limiting the number of win32 apps your OS will run a pretty fucktarded move?
IMO it's right up there with throwing chairs.
Free Martian Whores!
How long before they go back to that model?
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of virtualized Windows 7 Starter Edition workstations! Then I could get some real computing done!
I wonder how many applications Cygwin would count for on this hypothetical edition of Windows?
A Microsoft study has shown that gamers seldom use all keyboard keys; and thus, Microsoft will release Windows 7 Gamers Edition, which will only support the following keys:
Users will still be able to spray their logo.
What they need is Windows 7 Solitaire edition which only runs Solitaire, this would probably satisfy a good 75% of users.
No, this is the early 21st century and all - it's just that MS after two decades of trying is finally giving up on this "multitasking" thing that they could never get quite right anyways.
A small, but vocal, group with the company, however, has successfully convinced upper management that they are fairly certain that they'll be able to run two applications side-by-side, because, as they pointed out in internal memos: "Most computers these days come with multi-core CPUs anyways, so we can just run one app on each processor, and not have any of that multitasking hassle."
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you can see screenshots here
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Side effects may include gullibility and temporary retardation
I heard that wasn't true.
Windows Starter Edition = Starter Windows User.
That does not make sense. Acer is capturing marketshare from Dell, Lenovo and HP indicating that atleast a few users are actively switching down from high end laptops to net books. Since many of these users have significant experience with computers, these are the users who are likely to be able to switch to Apple and Ubuntu. Giving them anything less than the best won't stop the attrition.
Then there is the "emerging markets" where the choice is really between pirated windows and crippled windows. I am guessing most will continue to pirate.
That leaves the "first time computer user in developing markets" -- if they have anyone with any sense around them, these people would be convinced to buy Apple (or if they have a geek around, Ubuntu).
Either way, this is a bad move. Why couldn't Microsoft simply make a starter version of Windows by stripping out all eyecandy (no Aero), removing business accesories (no netmeeting, no remote desktop etc.) ? That'd stop this from competing head on with the regular windows.
http://slashdot.org/submission/1062723/Cheap-mobile-data-plan?art_pos=2
I'm sure nobody would need 3 applications ?
2 would be plenty ...
BitTorrent (to download a pirate copy) .torrent file required)
Browser (to find the
New for Windows 8 will be the "Time Sharing" version. This version of Windows will be cheaper yet, you will get 1 hour tiwce a day of computer time, you get to run 1 program at a time and get 10 megs of file storage. All for the low price of $29.99. If you wish to get more time on Windows, you can just call Micro$oft at 1-666-666-6666 and buy more time, they take Visa, Mastercard, American Express and PayPal.
The Truth is a Virus!!!
If Windows would impose a limit preventing all those useless helper apps from running, I'd consider it a feature and may forego upgrading from Starter Edition.
-- I prefer the term "karma escort."
IT:This latest version of Windows 7 is so unstable it will only run three applications before crashing. Marketing: Relax we'll box it up and just call it 'Starter Edition' *Winks*
However, the software will be endorsed by Sesame Street and today is brought to you by the letter "/".
I suspect that MS's software is most likely to be brought to you by the letters "F" and "U".
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