[hotrodminis]

I was sad to see that the version of win7 available with new minis is the win7 "starter".

Windows 7 Starter includes only a subset of the features offered in the higher editions of Windows 7. Windows 7 Starter does not include:

• Aero Glass, meaning you can only use the “Windows Basicâ€� or other opaque themes. It also means you do not get Taskbar Previews or Aero Peek.
• Personalization features for changing desktop backgrounds, window colors, or sound schemes.
• The ability to switch between users without having to log off.
• Multi-monitor support.
• DVD playback.
• Windows Media Center for watching recorded TV or other media.
• Remote Media Streaming for streaming your music, videos, and recorded TV from your home computer.
• Domain support for business customers.
• XP Mode for those that want the ability to run older Windows XP programs on Windows 7.

I can understand the logic of most of those limitations (from a hardware requirements standpoint), but the loss of ability to personalize backgrounds and colors??? Is it me or is that just silly?

[WolfKeeper]

Source?

MS has been saying Starter will only be offered in "developing" countries.

Edit: NM, I see it on Dell's site now. Interesting. I can see about half of those items being good to be gone, but not being able to change colors or wallpaper? WTF?

[holmes4]

MS changed its story on Starter for Win7 - Starter Edition will be for sale everywhere and, indeed, is likely to be what's on netbooks.

XP mode is in Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions only.

[iggygdi]

i can vouch for the starter editions on netbooks.. i work for bestbuy and all the netbooks sitting in lockup have starter..... im running ultimate on my mini10v... funny when the os is worth more then the pc.

[anguish]

Nice to see another Detroiter on here..

[mldennism]

Isn't there an option to upgrade any of the versions of W7 to a higher version by just paying for the upgrade online and it is activated?

--M

[holmes4]

Yes, the "Windows Anytime Upgrade".

[hotrodminis]

Originally Posted by holmes4

Yes, the "Windows Anytime Upgrade".

I don't know windows well at all. How does that work? Do you pony up the $30 for starter and then the standard upgrade fee online later? Or is it the upgrade fee minus the original $30?

Is it easier/cheaper to just go with a version higher than starter from, well, the start?

[holmes4]

The $30 is gone. You pay the standard upgrade fee (to Microsoft) later. I believe it will generally be cheaper to start with the edition you want, if it's available from the manufacturer. In the case of the Minis, it does not appear that it is at present.

[hotrodminis]

At the risk of finding myself booed out of the hackintosh threads , I'm very interested in playing around with windows 7 (RC has been nice, but I want something that doesn't have an expiration clock ticking on it). $199 is steep, especially compared to $25 street price for leopard. Is it reasonable to expect a price drop (from MSRP to a "street" price) on Win7 after a week or two? I can certainly wait if we're talking $20+.