Microsoft Responds To Netbook Windows 7 Criticism
If you recall, last week, I criticised Microsoft for their plans to make a netbook specific version of Windows 7, citing it as frivolous and yet another example of Microsoft not understanding why Vista failed so spectacularly.
Jeff of the Windows Outreach Team was gracious enough to respond to our story, explaining Microsoft's side:
Goodday Den Den Boy-
Jeff here with the Windows Outreach Team. Calm down, calm down, this "netbook" version that you speak of will not confuse customers as much as you think it will. Microsoft has a customer base of over 1 billion people, so it does not make sense to have one or two versions of Windows OS to serve everyone. Home Starter and Home Basic editions are both aimed at emerging or developing markets. Home Basic will not even be available in the US. Starter will be available via OEMs who preinstall this version on netbooks before they are sold to consumers. The majority of netbook users in the developed markets like the US and Europe will see Home Premium as the main option for their netbook's OS. I hope this clears some confusion.
Cheers,
Jeff
Windows Outreach Team
While I appreciate the candour in the response, I count at least three versions of Windows 7 in that statement, all with vague names. The "Home" in the names also implies there are other, non-Home versions that are forthcoming, so I presume there will be another subset with its own "Basic," "Starter," and "Premium" versions. So that brings it up to six possible versions?
*sigh* I'm not sure that's making it any easier than the Vista confusion.
Den Den Boy
Posted to Hot Stuff, On Your Desk on 2 March 2009
· Comments (1)
Other stuff like this: Microsoft, netbook, Windows, Windows 7
3D iPhone glasses. Why?
A netbook, in no way, shape or form equals a PC, it barely equals that of a laptop.
So then why would you put a OS on something that won't be able to run it as smoothly? It seems to make perfect sense to have an OS that caters this "new" type of computer.
And what's confusing? Do you have a netbook, no? Okay then you don't get this version of Windows 7.
Multiple Versions didn't hurt Vista. Launching it too soon did. That coupled with all the bad press by people who didn't even run it. Or the people too ignorant to learn how to use it properly.