Windows Open For New Users

Sounds like a crap deal. By not providing it on disc, what happens should it need to be re-installed due to it crashing like M$ products are famous for? Also by providing limited networking features, are they saying that it's not possible to gain access to the net or maybe the inability to set up a home network. Such limited functionality means that n00bs would stay n00bs, and wouldn't be able to learn about more advanced features through experience and experimentation. Sorry I would still advise a n00b to go with XP Home, and not fall for the cheap price of a PC with crappy Starter Edition, which works with a maximum of 256MB RAM and 80Gig hard drive, basically leaving no room for upgrading to newer technologies. Somehow I see this as a way of M$ helping vendors get rid of old hardware stock thats outdated.
 
Linux is free and its not crippled - 'nuff said.
 
More controversially, Starter Edition can’t be used to establish a network.
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Microsoft hopes to provide the software to 4000 of SA’s 8000 public schools.
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So no network? What are the teachers supposed to do? Manually copy all assignment questions on to each computer individually and copy all the answer back from each one to a stiffy disk (perhaps you can plug in a flash drive)!! This is really stupid.
 
The no network things sucks, how are they gonna use internet other than usb modems/dial up.
 
Yeah, with no network stuff, how do they want to make it easy for schools to have a small network which makes everything so much easier :/
 
The company hopes that PC vendors will be able to use the cheaper software to sell PCs in SA for as little as R2000.
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Would the cheap windows software necessarily bring down the price of the hardware to that level?

I just purchased a bunch of laptops from Dell in the UK - definitely low end models but they were only £299 each with XP home. I'd be hard pressed to find the equivalent here in desktop or laptop form.

No networking? Must be a mistake. What school would buy this crippled Os?
 
Just my interpretation, but I think what they mean is that it cant Host a network. I would think it could be a network client but not share is own resource. Otherwise would be useless to anyone.
 
 
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What a load of BS. It's the same operating system that has been nerfed so it doesn't run properly.

I hope MS loses money on this. Infact I hope it blerry well bankrupts them.
 
Maybe its just a marketing stunt like a demo version of xp so people would be able to explore xp and then when they want to do more advanced stuff they will go out and buy/pirate the standard xp
 
I still think that M$ have some kind of deal with the vendors to help get rid of old outdated hardware to all the n00bs, and they take their cut. Look at the hardware constraints - 256MB RAM maximum, 80Gig HD maximum. WTF? Besides the limitations on the OS itself (which are already numerous and poor), the OS is now placing constraints on hardware and hindering any chance of upgrading.
 
256mb of ram isn't exactly very much to work with. Trying to run anything more than office 97 will chew that up so fast that you'll miss it if you blink.

And making the OS run at 800x600 is nothing less than actively breaking the OS. Why don't they just lower the price of XP home instead?
 
I think it's an insult to our country that Microsoft thinks that people in 3rd world contries will only need 256mb Ram and 80 gig Hdd. Those specs are for Pcs three years old - at least! People are not going to settle for cheap disfunctional OS's. I don't want to sound like a user with a gripe, but you don't see them offering it in the States or Europe. I know it's aimed a combatting piracy, but piracy happens everywhere and people are not going to change from a pirated Wndows XP professional to some downgraded OS.
 
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And Microsoft SA is falling for this ... At least Ivy & Co. will be able to play Solitaire on it!
 
Microsoft hopes to provide the software to 4000 of SA’s 8000 public schools

Schools should be using Linux and nothing else. It is the ideal place for it.

In fact, the company wants to work closely with governments around the world to increase the penetration of Starter Edition

Yes they want to screw the taxpayer out of even more money. Instead of lowering the excessively high prices of their actual OS they release a thoroughly crippled version, as though Home Edition was bad enough.

Linux could be viable for home users if it ever becomes easy to use and install. It still retains a little too much unix weirdness. There should be an interface that hides that.

better [...] usability and manageability

Finally proper control and maintenance of the registry? I doubt it.

An estimated 37% of software in use in SA is thought to have been installed illegally

Definitely far too low. Overpriced software should be pirated until the maker either lowers the price or goes out business. It is your responsibility to kill off greedy companies that abuse their customers.

How many suckers elsewhere in the world have put down good money for this Starter Edition garbage?
 
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