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Microsoft to Increase XP Starter Edition Saturation

By David Worthington, BetaNews

July 30, 2004, 1:53 AM

At Microsoft's financial analyst meeting the company announced its intention of broadening the Windows XP Starter Edition program to quell the rising tide of software piracy and abate the rising popularity of open source alternatives. Windows XP Starter Edition is a stripped down, no-thrills distribution of the operating system that was originally available exclusively in Thailand and Malaysia through social welfare programs.

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By bourgeoisdude

posted Aug 2, 2004 - 10:02 AM

...

Score: 0

By melkor

posted Aug 2, 2004 - 4:20 AM

How can they cripple it more then the home edition? I'm at a loss to how.

Score: 0

By gcbetaman

edited Jul 31, 2004 - 9:19 PM

"No-thrills distribution"??? I've never heard an operating system described that way, but ... ok.

Score: 0

By GoodThings2Life

posted Jul 30, 2004 - 4:07 AM

Hmmm... not exactly a lot of detail in this article, but *if* this is planned on being a universal release it would be a good thing.

However, I'm not sure how anyone can justify saying it will quell piracy. In my experience, I've generally seen that people pirate software because they want the functionality without paying for something... not because they less functionality for lower price.

Still, it's a good idea, and I'm sure there's exceptions to my experiences. :)

Aaron

Score: 0

By ConceptJunkie

posted Jul 31, 2004 - 1:16 AM

Don't hold your breath waiting for it to come out in the Western world. MS is trying to combat rampant piracy in places like Asia, where people run off thousands of copies of MS software and sell them for a couple dollars a piece. Piracy in America doesn't even register on the radar compared to places like China.

I think it would be nice if MS deeply discounted Windows 2000, allowing all those poor saps still stuck with Windows 98 to upgrade. I help out at my church maintaining a few Windows 98 machines and it's a nightmare to configure (especially since I only have non-trivial experience with Windows 2000 and XP). They'll be upgrading eventually, but it would be nice if non-profits, students and other poor folks could take advantage of one of the things MS actually did right: Windows 2000. Of course, all us regular folks with up-to-date machines will pony up for XP.

Just a thought. It will probably happen about the same time MS releases the source to Windows 3.1 (could be a huge benefit in the 3rd world), and Bill Gates gives up all his worldly possessions to become a disciple of Linus.

Score: 0

By GoodThings2Life

posted Jul 31, 2004 - 4:04 PM

All Microsoft products have academic-pricing for students... You should contact your campus bookstore.

Score: 0

By ConceptJunkie

posted Aug 1, 2004 - 9:46 PM

Well, not me certainly. I stopped being a student 17 years ago.

However, my wife is working on her master's...

I think the real interesting story will not be MS vs the pirates. MS will hopefully win that battle. The real interesting thing will MS vs. Open Source, and that's where they will get down and dirty. Look out for the FUD.

Score: 0

By Maxwolf

posted Jul 30, 2004 - 6:12 PM

WHen in the world is that all suppost to happen?

Score: 0

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