Windows 7 starter edition beefed up

or you could just get linux

"the Vole changed has its tune."

Fantastic! I'm going to submit this to Fail Blog!

'JOUNALISM FAIL' is almost as good as 'your a real genious, huh!'

Would that be before or after I installed the proper CODECs required to playback DVD's in the first place?

IIRC: There isn't a single Windows Version available today that could play DVD's ~out of the box~

So what does this mean exactly?

Sounds like more FUD to me.
But, then I use Linux / Video Disc Recorder to get my HTPC stuff done. I would've used x(x)MCE, but the fact that it doesn't work with DVB-C / S or S2 is enough reasion to ditch it for Linux which does!

Why doesnt the EU let microsoft release their browser and their media player and their msjava and their IM client and their dvd maker/cd burner/movie maker & all their 2nd rate ripoff applications and stick it all in Windows 7 ultimate,

then strip out all their crap add-ons and sell the underdeveloped stripped down(***faster more secure) version with say....
firefox,winamp, sunjava(optional) and yahoo messenger for cheaper.

sell that as the limited/restricted edition for little monies, and charge more for their microsoft homebrew apps

alls fair in the éire land of 'ultee Minor

Why does Microsoft feel they need to take over our lives with their software?...
In my opinion windows should just be the bare essentials required to manage the operating system.

Why do they need to provide Internet Explorer when FireFox is as good as it is? Why do they need to provide Outlook Express when Thunderbird is as good as it is?

I'm not saying MS is evil, SQL Server and the free visual studio products are fairly good but their free bundled stuff are a bit crap and the lack of foresight behind ie6 updating is a plague upon the internet... working as a web developer with many of our clients based in the travel industry - where the end users are not tech savy i feel the pain of ie6 every day.

Give the development of such aspects to the open source community where the focus is to provide a better user experience.

XP Media Centre Edition plays DVDs out of the box, and I assume the MCE component of Vista and Win7 does likewise...

"Based on the feedback we’ve received from partners and customers...", yeah, as in, if you, M$, don't stop with this crippled version crap, we're going to use (enter favorite Linux disty here).

Only dweebs and feeble-minded corporate types give a rat's arse about M$.

M$ is just like GM - arrogant, overpriced and full of crap. Ballmer is a loud-mouthed cretin who has no idea how to run a successful business. Any ignorant moron can be a corporate executive, just look at GM and Chrysler.

People need to stop complaining about including IE and windows media player their free and you can stop using them as soon as you download an alrternative its not like its doing anything other os's dont do I dont see you complaining about apple including safari and quicktime with macs.

Only neckbeards and 14 year olds use the $ symbol when referring to microsoft. Yawn.

Sorry, so how are they going to stop you streaming music? They can stop it in Windows Media Player I suppose but what's to stop you installing VLC or something?

Finally someone who gets it. Here's a question for all those who are sooo upset about MS including IE. If they didn't provide you a browser, how would you get online to download firefox? They obviously wouldn't include another companies software as that complicates distribution licenses and such, so then everyone would end up with a PC that could connect to the internet but not do anything on it because OOPS, no browser comes with it! No one complains that Safari comes on OSX, or as Keleus mentions Quicktime, which if you want to load your iPod, you need iTunes which means you HAVE to have Quicktime. Why on earth does it matter what it comes with if you can go download what you want?

I don't mind they install IE and WMP by default BUT they need to give me the option to un-install them if i want to. I do not like or use them un less i have to and they drag the system down.

Winamp works just fine for managing an ipod, itunes is the software equivalent of a one-button mouse.

Actually i dont think the minimalist windows seven is about a smaller footprint. I think its about upgrades.
@different chris
yeah nicely put on the itunes there, but lets not forget that open source apps also support ipod. Songbird is actually icrap compatible, and even in Linux. As far as playing DVD's i have like 10 dvd licenses, one for each thing i get. Like one for each burner, one from each video card, etc.

I thought Vista 7's timing was off on Britain’s Got Talent - no control, and I don't think Ballmer has an amazing voice.

He can sling, but it's not about talent with Microsoft, is it?

It's more how totally mondo stoked they are in bits of musical chairs and in fringing on child cruelty.

At the end of the day, we should send them packing on their way home in the black cab. Sir Allen will realise that as well. I think that Microsoft of all, should realize the peril of being all mouth and no trousers on the wonk.

We got back and our flat had been burgled. The knackers all but told us we were cretins for using that particular company, that there were many previous reports of a similar nature and that there was more chance of seeing the Queen's arse than proving a damn thing against them. Nowadays I get taxi-drivers to pick us up on the corner of our street and tell them to mind their own damn business.

Where do I want to go today? Indeed!
I'll reckon the chemist shall have to do!

"Users will not be able to ... run Windows XP software."

Like that would run on a netbook, or even most full size notebooks.

@Me. True, IE and WMP should be removable like normal apps.

I don't mind downloading another media player. Many of the things they are removing are trivial to me if I can find software to do what it will not. And well, okay... with Vista I couldn't run some XP software either... ::shrug::

I just want to have a good web browsing experience, play music and video, and do word processing on the go. And of course run new software designed well on the platform that I cannot imagine, but will be good!

Would you trust a company who systematically failed to program correctly one of the simplest and easiest things to get right across generations of the their operating systems?

Microsoft cannot even program "minutes remaining" counters correctly, their programmers are idiots.

Microsoft seem to be the only people that consider 2minutes remaining to be different to 120seconds and thats just the start of it, never mind the fact that the time fluctuates wildy is usually so wildy inaccurate as to be simply comical.

So why would you use any of their products?

""It is important to note that Windows 7 Starter still includes only a subset of the features offered in the higher editions of Windows 7," the bog notes. Users will not be able to play DVDs, stream music or run Windows XP software, for example. µ"

even a MAC can do THAT - and linux does it better : create the need create the market that kills you huzzah!

A setup could be included to download stuff from the internet, kind of like valves steam... why do we need a full blown browser to go get 1 file?

The problem is, users are lazy... that's why we are still having to develop on IE6, cause people are just using what is there. If everyone had updated to Windows Vista then we wouldn't need to even discuss this as while IE7 is not anywhere near perfect it is better than IE6 at rendering a somewhat near version of what is being displayed on proper browsers such as Gecko and Webkit engine based ones.

The same people who defend having IE in windows are the same idiots that complain about websites being unusable... its the modern day equivalent of someone using a horse and carriage on the motor-way, insane.

If you had the option of installing windows and there is an icon on the desktop that is in essence a setup file to go off and download the web-browser of your choice so that you aren't stuck with IE as a default browser unless told otherwise then we can move past the limitations of Microsoft and their IE development cycle.

Or just provide firefox straight off the bat, I don't hear many linux users complaining that is on there by default??

You want a company to include a product of their competitor? Perhaps they should also include a distribution of Linux with their Windows installation CD? Sounds saucy, aye?

When was the last time you came out of your cave?

Beware of Linux trolls!

Here's the thing, unfortunately most computer users don't know what they are doing. I work in a small computer shop and most of the people I help have NO clue what they are doing, they just know they want to get online easy and fast. I'm sure if I told them about your suggestion when they asked if it will get them online, that they would be confused as to WHY they have to pay for a computer and then install something to be able to basic functions like web browsing. I use Opera both at work and at home, and while I do like the alternative of other browers, nothing at all stops you from going to download them yourself, which to be perfectly honest only the people who know anything about computers actually care about.

They can't include other software with their packages without having a huge load of issues. What if one of them has a flaw that allows something nasty to get in? If it was packaged with Windows than MS would be responsible. Its rediculous to expect a company to include competitors software in their packages. I have this hope that MS will remove IE completely. They don't have to provide you a way to DL another browser. I'm sure that will go over real well and drive the point home. Or they can just refuse to license anything for build with a system in the EU. I'm sure soooo many people will be thrilled to have learn to use linux when they can't even figure out how to plug their monitor in, or to have to install Windows on their own due to laws that make no sense.