Comments on: Can Microsoft’s OS Versions Survive the Netbook Challenge? http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/can-microsofts-os-versions-survive-the-netbook-challenge/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:59:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: James Kendrick http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/can-microsofts-os-versions-survive-the-netbook-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-217 James Kendrick Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:12:36 +0000 http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=5396#comment-217 I'd say they stuck with a 10" screen due to cost and to keep it in the netbook category. HP sells many other notebooks and OS choice likely wasn't a factor in the specs for this one. I’d say they stuck with a 10″ screen due to cost and to keep it in the netbook category. HP sells many other notebooks and OS choice likely wasn’t a factor in the specs for this one.

]]> By: Tom Reestman http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/can-microsofts-os-versions-survive-the-netbook-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Tom Reestman Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:35:46 +0000 http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=5396#comment-214 James, HP's new 5101 may be an example of a machine hampered by the new MS restrictions. A nice 95% size keyboard in a machine that could easily support an 11- or 12-inch display. But, no, it's got a 10" screen swallowed up by the large bezel. Did HP use 10" to ensure it'd be eligible for Starter Edition? I'd say there's an excellent chance of that. While the ridiculous RAM and hard drive restrictions can be overcome by the user -- though they should not have to be put through that hassle -- the screen size is permanent. The user is stuck with it. It's nuts. James,

HP’s new 5101 may be an example of a machine hampered by the new MS restrictions. A nice 95% size keyboard in a machine that could easily support an 11- or 12-inch display. But, no, it’s got a 10″ screen swallowed up by the large bezel. Did HP use 10″ to ensure it’d be eligible for Starter Edition? I’d say there’s an excellent chance of that.

While the ridiculous RAM and hard drive restrictions can be overcome by the user — though they should not have to be put through that hassle — the screen size is permanent. The user is stuck with it. It’s nuts.

]]> By: James Kendrick http://pro.gigaom.com/2009/06/can-microsofts-os-versions-survive-the-netbook-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-213 James Kendrick Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:45:59 +0000 http://pro.gigaom.com/?p=5396#comment-213 This hardware restriction is madness but is nothing new. Windows XP has similar hardware restrictions now and has for some time. For example, HP sells several netbooks with either Linux or XP installed. If you configure a Linux version, you can order with up to 2 GB of memory. The same netbook configured with XP however can only be ordered with 1 GB of memory due to the licensing restrictions of Microsoft. HP's newest netbook announced just today gets around this by making the memory access door "tool-less". HP can only sell you the netbook with 1 GB of RAM but you can get to the memory slot with just a couple of levers and upgrade to 2 GB yourself. Isn't this silly? This hardware restriction is madness but is nothing new. Windows XP has similar hardware restrictions now and has for some time. For example, HP sells several netbooks with either Linux or XP installed. If you configure a Linux version, you can order with up to 2 GB of memory.

The same netbook configured with XP however can only be ordered with 1 GB of memory due to the licensing restrictions of Microsoft. HP’s newest netbook announced just today gets around this by making the memory access door “tool-less”. HP can only sell you the netbook with 1 GB of RAM but you can get to the memory slot with just a couple of levers and upgrade to 2 GB yourself. Isn’t this silly?

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