• Windows 7 Starter Edition: First Look

    Windows 7 Starter Edition: First Look

    Rohan Naravane, Jan 10, 2010 1000 hrs IST

    Know what's good and bad while getting the latest version of Windows in your netbook

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The Good:

Here's what you will get if you opt for a netbook pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter over Windows XP Home Edition.

The Taskbar


Windows 7's re-designed taskbar is a big improvement over XP and Vista too. All open applications appear as icons without the name, thus occupying less space than before. Gone is the 'Quick Launch' sub-section. Now you can 'Pin' applications and even files to the taskbar which will appear irrespective of whether the program is open or not. Multiple instances of the same application will be clubbed under a single icon by default. Right clicking the program icon also displays recently opened files with that program. Microsoft likes to call these 'Jump lists'. The 'Show desktop' button has been moved to the right corner. Lastly, the hidden notification icons are now clubbed and displayed in a better way. 



The Start menu

The start menu is similar to the one found on Vista. A search bar at the bottom lets you instantly search for programs and files instead of opening a special 'Search' window in XP. It is also observed that Windows 7's search is better optimized at finding results more accurately and faster. Like the taskbar, you can 'pin' items to your Start Menu, so that they will show up every time you access it. Hovering over program also shows recently opened files in the pane next to it. This information is contextual - thus hovering over an internet browser shortcut will show 'Most visited' or 'Recently closed' websites. 




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Discussion Board
(10) Comments
Helen Buchanan
,Hopetoun. , on Jul 07, 2010 01:44 PM
Could someone please tell me what programs are installed with Windows 7 Starter Edition? is microsoft works installed, or only a free trial?
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scarlett
,south gate, on Mar 03, 2010 11:44 AM
i can't do anything with windows 7 starter. it doesn't let me put backgrounds and it doesn't let me use my own webcam. it says i have to buy this new software for it so use it. recommend not getting windows 7 starter edition.
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Neil Moran
,Sault Ste. Marie, on Jan 11, 2010 07:22 PM
Does Windows starter edition include a word processing program?
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Matthew
,Tak, on Feb 10, 2010 09:27 AM
It does include Wordpad, which actually received a nice refresh in Windows 7. Depending on your needs, it may be sufficient. Then, some netbooks will come preconfigured with Works, so that gives another option. Otherwise, Office 2007/2010 or an alternate suite will run fine.
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Sandeep Murthy
,Belgaum, on Jan 11, 2010 07:36 AM
tried installing and working this on my friends netbook. runs quite smoothly. MS are on track with Windows 7(in different flavors), probably ?!?
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JohnSmith
,Lancaster, on Jan 11, 2010 04:47 AM
You claim at the end it's a good replacement, saying it adds a lot of functionality. However, you didn't actually demonstrate any significant improves functionality. Also, it imposes absurd limitations. As far as I can tell, windows 7 starter is a disgusting ploy to get people to spend $80 on an upgrade after they've already paid for an operating system and received far less than they should have gotten. I will be purchasing another netbook this year, and the one I want only comes with windows 7 starter. I will be promptly formatting its hard drive and installing windows xp, rather than letting it persist with this foul excrement posing as an operating system.
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mihedin
,dubai, on Jan 10, 2010 09:56 PM
so good
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sri
,chennai, on Jan 10, 2010 08:18 PM
better go with ubuntu or joliecloud or mobilin. better than windows 7 comparison in performance. because netbook works with small and medium apps well.
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adisal
,Pune, on Jan 10, 2010 07:36 PM
No wallpaper customization, is just ridiculous! Even windows 95 had the feature, then where is the problem?
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Aditya Mundra
,Jodhpur, on Jan 10, 2010 07:17 PM
In my office Windows 7 RC is installed and the comp confi is 700 Mhz processor and 256 Mb RAM!!! :)
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