RSSVista Starter Edition Also Due Jan. 30
by Ed Oswald
When Vista launches on Tuesday, Microsoft will simultaneously release a version of the operating system aimed at developing markets. The operating system would be designed for lower-end processors and include tutorials for those who may be using their first computer.
Microsoft did something similar in June 2004 when it released Windows XP Starter Edition. That version was initially made available in Southeast Asia, Russia and India, although was eventually sold in 130 countries in 24 languages.
Unlike its bigger brother, which requires at least an 800MHz processor to run effectively, Vista Starter Edition recommends a 300MHz processor be used, although it may be run on processors as slow as 233MHz.
The tutorials would guide users through all facets of computer use, including how to use a mouse and perform other functions. Microsoft says such guidance is necessary as many users of the software have never used a computer before.
According to Microsoft, customer interest in XP Starter Edition gives it hope that adoption of Vista would be quick even in developing countries. While it took 18 months to sell the first half million copies of XP Starter, it only took six months to sell the next half-million, and three months to sell the third half-million.
20 Comments
I only wished they would provide this edition in the US. I have relatives who would benefit from this. They would benefit from the simplicity while maintaining the wide functionality of the windows world. (no...no asinine mac usage for me and my relatives) :D
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Vista Basic is just an experiment by MS. Yes, MS experiments on live subjects! (people)
See, if the world's poor will NOT go for Vista Basic due to sh*tty limitations (but instead jump on the Ubuntu bandwagon), MS will just lift off some of those limitations and retry the experiment, until they'll give up on the notion of Vista Basic and just reduce the price for Vista Home for those markets OR simply turn a blind eye on piracy in some countries, while enforcing it in others (some people aren't poor, they're just cheap - they'll buy Windows if FORCED, but won't go for Linux/Mac).
MS can do that. They'll do whatever they need to do to grab the most money while not losing too much marketshare EVEN in poor/piracy-infested countries.
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Lets just hope they make is known on the box that nforce 1, 2 and 3 owners are stuffed because nivdia see then as dead. I cant see any retailers taking the software back once it is opened.
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The (doubled) price they're looking to charge for Vista in the UK compared to the US price is an absolute disgrace.
Just as big a disgrace in fact as the doubling in price between a Japanese PS3 and a UK PS3.
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Gotta be able to pay those fines the EU is levying somehow.
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If they'd knock off that £200 premium I could live with 'rationalise' being erroneously spelt with a 'z' (zed).
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europe has to have a way of maintaining wealth...so their fines give them that wealth.
without these fees, what would europe have to define its economic position?
The US dollar should be more valuable than the UK pound...but is not. Why? I don't know.
It should be US, Japan/China/Singapore/Taiwan...then UK somewhere after...lol. Artificial values...go figure
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Yep, people can just attribute it to the higher cost of doing business in those countries.
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I really appreciate the move made by the Microsoft being in the developing country (Sri Lanka) struggling a lot in war sure this will help the people to make use of Microsoft OS. Many flavors of Linux are available free of charge Sun is making solaries for free download via http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/get.jsp How Microsoft still going to justify the price in the developing countries and how much will it cost what about customer support and what about activation and other hassle what about Internationalizations?. One of the best thing Microsoft done is the LIP (Language Interface Pack) for Windows XP and Office 2003 and I am sure they will be doing it with the community support for Vista as well. If so forthcomming LIP will it work on this Starter Edition or is it just with Professional?. What features have been cutoff?. If Microsoft could explain clearly it would help many people on making purchasing decision.
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No refund guarantee at all. Instead of it: A) Periodical pays to MS. B) MS control over your computer every time you start. C) TPCA and DRM control over all your files. D) No zero-virus guarantee. Theirs is the part of the lion, for you the role of the lamb. We are in a free country. It is for the consumers to decide if they buy it or not. In the beginning some of us believed in ads: we are back now.
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Empty post.
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I guess all the chicken little cries about the codebase getting too large were all a bunch of BS.
They CAN code a leaner Windows, they just don't WANT to code one for the rest of the world... just those "in need".
You thought hardware sales and sales of Windows were just coincidentally codependant... HAH.
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Yes, because every software application in the world runs on very low system requirements these days. *rolls eyes*
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You missed the point. M$ has claimed over and over when criticized over the requirements of Vista that the code has gotten out of hand, etc, etc, like they really can't control how big the OS has gotten. Clearly they can.
I shouldn't need a GB of RAM to play solitare.
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You can only run 3 apps at a time and the resolution is limited to 800X600, plus there are many other built in limitations as well. Windows 3.11 is better than this.
This edition is less than worthless and definitely won't be an incentive for them not to pirate a real version of Windows.
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You don't need a GB of ram to just play Solitare...just get a deck of cards..
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Why would you buy Vista simply to play Solitaire?
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RE: Why would you buy Vista simply to play Solitaire?
Why can't you people recognize sarcasm when you hear it. Use your brain for goodness sake.
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Brain?
Oh yeah - I remember those!
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You don't know much about OSes or software it seems. Windows is large for it's inclusion of driver databases for the hardware and software made for it...to make it easier and more convenient for consumers. These things could be as they were before, where the consumer had to rely on the hardware/software manufacturers to provide the drivers. It is like luggage...you could bring just a handbag on a trip...or you could pack all your needs in 8 suitcases. Choices and flexibility.
MS could in 10 years decide to write a completely new OS with no backward support...but provide legacy support on the side and/or through emulation. They could...and they probably will.
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