Be Aware Windows 7 Starter Edition and Netbooks
Anyone shopping for a new mini notebook computer Netbook knows that the Windows 7 Starter Edition is being offered on almost all new netbooks. Windows Xp has been the recent Microsoft OS being offered on Netbooks and potential new owners of netbooks have been looking forward to the new Windows 7 becoming the OS on netbooks. Most do not know that the Windows 7 starter edition is "dumbed down" feature wise, and doesn't have some of the bells and whistles that the Windows 7 Home Premium Edition comes with as standard. As an example the starter edition lacks the following:
No DVD Playback
Netbooks do not come with DVD drives and everone knows that. The solution is to purchase an external drive and connect to the netbook via the USB connection. What many do not realize is that Windows 7 Starter edition won't allow you to play back the DVD even on the external drive.
No Aero
The neat Aero interface introduced with windows Vista and Windows 7 isn't available with the Starter Edition. It's not that the hardware isn't capable, it's that the software doesn't support it in the costed down version of Windows 7.
Multi Monitor Playback
If you want to connect a second monotor, you can, but it will be a duplicate of the image on the other monitor it won't be a different display image.
No Desktop Personalization
If you want a screensaver of your family or favoite person as a screensaver, forget it. The standard Microsoft desktop background is all that is available on the standard edition.
No XP Mode
Don't expect to be able to run XP software in the XP mode with the starter edition.
There are other limitations with the Windows 7 Starter Edition, but the preceding are the features that most will probably expect to be available in "state of the art" portable mini notebook computers. All of the missing features can be added back by an $80 dollar upgrade. Most potential buyers would be well advised to include the upgrade in the initial netbook purchase since the netbook's lack of a DVD drive makes the upgrade a little more of a hassle than in the past. Consider the limitations before you decide to take the standard new netbook and Windows 7 offering.
