Microsoft has confirmed that it will not introduce any kind of limitations with Windows 7 for netbooks, which has been implied earlier. There have been discussions that netbook manufacturers would be forced to installed crippled versions of Windows 7 and that Windows 7 Starter Edition would be limited to three active applications. Microsoft has now confirmed that this will not happen.
OEMs and system builders can do whatever they want when composing their netbooks and can install any version of Windows 7, or older versions of Windows for that matter. It will skip the three program limitation of Windows 7 Starter, though it will still only be available as 32-bit without functions like Aero Glass and Aero Peak.
Other bits of the OS that have been switched off include desktop personalization, fast user switching, multi-monitor support, DVD playback, support for domains and XP Mode. Windows Media Center is not available and Starter machines can join a homegroup, but not set one up themselves.
Thus Windows 7 Starter is a pretty mediocre version, but the good news is that there is no one forcing anyone to actually use this version with netbooks.
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