Windows 7 Starter Edition

With its artificial restriction on performance (you can only run three simultaneous programs) will be available for sale worldwide, but only as a preinstalled operating system on OEM-built PCs "limited to specific types of hardware."
Microsoft is clearly confident that it has pared down the resource requirements of Windows 7 Home Premium so that it will run acceptably on the generation of netbooks that will be current when Windows 7 arrives later this year.
It's hard to imagine the Windows 7 Starter Edition name being much of a selling point. Microsoft may even be taking the calculated risk of discouraging Windows 7 from being installed on underpowered notebooks and triggering disappointing reviews.
The crucial element missing from today's announcement is pricing. Microsoft's Mike Ybarra, General Manager for Windows, told me yesterday that we can expect "aggressive price points and some very good offers" when Windows 7 is released.
In my estimation, the biggest news in this announcement is the change in how the upgrade process works. Microsoft's Anytime Upgrade program was a complete failure in Windows Vista. But the revamped version has a much better chance of drawing in upgrade dollars, a topic I'll look at more closely in a follow-up post.

Windows 7 Starter has been specifically designed by Microsoft for the low end market that includes most netbooks and other PC hardware that has to be sold for the cheapest price possible.
The main reason for this edition is to provide manufacturers with a Windows 7 edition that they can put cost effectively on their low end products.
Windows 7 Starter has caused lots of controversy after the publication of the feature differences between this edition and the other - more expensive - Windows 7 editions.
Here is a short overview of what users can expect to get when purchasing a computer that is running Windows 7 Starter.
3 Concurrent Applications
32-bit only support
Home Group join only
Windows Internet Explorer 8
Windows Media Player 12

The limitation to three concurrent applications running on the system has been the focus of criticism.
Some application types, antivirus software for example, are exempt from the limit.
It still means that users will face serious difficulties and often disappointment when they reach the limit. Additional limitations are 32-bit support only and the ability to join Homegroups but not to create them.