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Rumour: Intel told MS to limit Win 7 netbook specs
Author: Tim SmalleyPublished: 26th May 2009
According to rumours coming from Taiwan, Intel persuaded Microsoft to change the maximum specs for Windows 7 Starter Edition.
Earlier today, we reported that Microsoft had decided to limit the maximum screen size for netbooks to 10.2 inches instead of the original 12.1in screen size proposed by Microsoft.
The anonymous sources, cited by Digitimes, say that Intel persuaded Microsoft to change its mind. They also said decision may have a negative impact on VIA’s push into the low-cost market, as the company doesn’t restrict vendors to a certain set of specifications.
Take Samsung’s NC20, for example, which sports a VIA Nano processor but would need a more expensive license from Microsoft because it has a 12.1in screen.
The newly announced Lenovo S12, which is based on Nvidia’s Ion platform, will also be affected by Microsoft’s change of heart – you could say it’s a second knee in the nether regions for Nvidia after Intel’s Atom pricing strategy came to light last week.
We’ve asked a number of questions of Intel in light of these rumours, but the company has not answered them before publication – the representative we spoke to was quick to push us in Microsoft’s direction though, saying that “it is a Microsoft issue” and that “[Intel was] unlikely to answer any questions on the matter.”
It’s understandable how these rumours have come to light because Intel is desperately trying to prevent its Atom processors from further cannibalising the market for faster, more expensive laptops. However, it’s disappointing to see the progression towards more usable netbooks essentially extinguished in one fell swoop with Microsoft’s new licensing terms.
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Thank you for not using the erroneous "in one foul swoop". I had to correct Tech Radar on that today!
Nah they'll give you what you want, just charge you for the privilege!
consumer? what consumer?
Hopefully the big software giant M$ does impose limits. Maybe ones that are too limiting. This I would actually like to see. Who really needs to use windows on a netbook anyhow? You can't really play games on them and the ones you can run better on linux anyways. And as far as office goes, there is openoffice and outlook replacements. As for the rest of the useability, it pretty much handles like a mac. And if you've got a decent GPU (like any netbook these days) you can probably run compiz fushion, which will make your experience even sexier than vista/win7 or even osx.
Yeah, yeah. I'm on an anti-microsoft crusade lately aren't I? I can't help it if linux is just better. More people just need to open up their eyes and give it a serious chance. The biggest set back is that linux is different and thus the old saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" tends to apply to people when it comes to software all too well.
:)
Yeah right. Maybe for some users, but not for most.
Very true - I suppose we shouldn't be suprised at all.
Anyways, I wouldn't put it past Intel to do something like this but I honestly think it's good to finally give netbooks a spec list as it just seemed that ASUS tried to merge the netbook and ultra-portable sector, don't even get me started on ultra-thin which in my eyes is nothing else than ultra-portable but thinner.
It feels like an upgrade because it's newer and runs at least as good as the old one if not better.
Depends, if you call a P4 2.8 GHz (HT) laptop low-spec then yes, but my point was that for 10 + inch screens, you will have to pay for a full-sized version of W7, and if the rumoured price increases over Vista are true, then the value of a Windows netbook will be negatively impacted.
they do, but you'll have to pay for it
It's a good point, originally netbooks were meant as an adjunct to a 'real' laptop, but many people have realised that they don't need the power of a full sized lappy, and thus buy netbooks as their main portable machine, hence the desire for larger screens.
In the meantime, Intel have a OMG moment and realise that the wee Atom could start seriously cramping its big brother's sales. I do think that a large proportion of people are wrongly sold netbooks, instead of a cheap C2D lappy, unless you need a portable pc on a daily basis, a netbook is the wrong choice as a sole machine, in fact a smartphone would better suit most people's need for e-mail and web access on the go.
I agree that most people don't need the beef of a C2D just to check their mails, browse the interwebs or watch the rare YT video [HD on anything that can't even display HD is a no-go anyways] and that's why I think it's quite good to draw a line to make netbooks easily recognizable for the average consumer.
Win7 SE = netbook, Win7 Home Basic/Premium = [sub-]notebook
In the end I guess it's very much a question of personal preference as so many things nowadays are.
This is, after all, "just" my opinion and I won't try to persuade anyone into thinking my way though I invite everyone. ;)
I'm loving it to be honest, and imposing a limit is only going to hurt the market. what's with the 1GB ram limit????
They deliberately brought out a low power (in all senses of the word) and expect us to eat it up.
I got me a Turion x2, with 780G chipset....
Would have bought a Sony P-series, if only it had a better chipset and a CULV....the size was perfect for me...and an HDMI out.
My Lappy currently replaces my MAIN machines desktop, so I can use Web, watch films, even BluRays, and output that via analogue to my AMP in 5.1. (need an external Asus sound card for that, currently stuck with stereo).
That way i'm not using an OC quad for surfing the web and watching southpark... ;)
people want netbooks for just that, many people just want to surf web, email, and maybe do Skype...
I know my parents would probably be better off with one or two netbooks than their great big PC...