Comments

• Will

  2009-03-11 15:06:13

  It continues to amaze me how much Microsoft is spouting off about their vaporware to anyone and everyone. I mean, marketing a product is fine, even giving teasers about it before release is fine. But getting everyone to write articles about how "Windows 7 will kill Linux" when we haven't seen the final release version and don't even have a solid time line for the release date is just silly. Until Windows 7 ships, Linux has about as much to fear from it as it does from the bogeyman.
  
  I know. I know. The whole "evangelism" quote. You know, if the Duke Nukem Forever team could have hired Microsoft to handle their publicity, that might already have become the highest selling game in history due to pre-orders alone.

• Renan

  2009-03-11 19:52:47

  The "Starter Edition" of Windows is sold here in Brazil with low-cost PCs, in an attempt to fight piracy.
  
  However, it backfires, as most people replace it with a pirated copy of Windows XP Professional/Vista Ultimate. :)

• Dave Stewart

  2009-04-10 15:24:06

  That isn't a backfire. Microsoft would rather you use their software without paying them for it than use the competition's software, because using their software increases their installed base, while using *BSD or GNU/Linux would reduce it.
  
  As far as they are concerned, those unauthorised windows installations are a loss leader for future lock-in, and by extension, future profit.

• Roy Schestowitz

  2009-03-11 20:00:50

  Renan,
  
  

  The “Starter Edition” of Windows is sold here in Brazil with low-cost PCs, in an attempt to fight piracy.

  
  
  GNU/Linux, not 'piracy'.
  
  What Microsoft does in Brazil may be considered illegal in some places.

• whatever

  2009-03-11 23:34:44

  OEMs have never sold starter editions in non-emerging markets and I don't expect any netbook in north america, europe or japan to even have that option. What I do think will happen is that netbook manufacturers will either try to cut a deal to get win 7 licenses in the $50 range and either keep non-win7 prices the same or slightly lower. And despite whatever your ultimate hopes might be, if faced with a choice between linux or an identical system for $50 more with windows 7 -- the vast, vast majority will choose windows 7. That's just the reality.