Windows 7 Starter

The least-featured edition of Windows 7; the Windows Aero theme is not included, and it won't be available in a 64-bit variant. This edition will be available pre-installed on computers through system integrators or computer manufacturers.

See link for more.

Here is a link that might be useful: wikipedia

zep516 I went to the website you posted. I had planned on
buying a new computer with Windows 7 Premium at some point
in the future. After reading the different features I now
believe I would like Windows 7 Professional.
cg

I posted a tip from windows secrets newsletter recently on how to get the extra features from the higher end versions on some of the lower end versions, it is on a windows 7 titled thread.

here is the article with a lot of good info about 7.

Here is a link that might be useful: windows 7 info

Zep and RC, Thanks for the links. I saved them both to my desktop to read over again.

I really like the Lifehacker site and they did a whole spread on Windows 7 today.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lifehacker on Windows 7

WOW! That a overload of information:-( So 1GB of ram will run Windows 7 on a netbook. Correct?

Yes it will run but with the low prices of memory it would be best to add another gig for far better performance. Linked below is a small program that can be installed to tell you if your current hardware meets the minimum requirements of Windows 7

Here is a link that might be useful: Windows 7 compatibility adviser

owbist, Thanks for sharing this neat tool.

No problem, it is a good tool for anyone wondering if their current set up is good enough for windows 7.

If you go for Win 7 I think you will like it.

I ran the release candidate for a few months then yesterday installed Windows 7 Professional. I then installed Windows Live and Microsoft Essentials. After XP it takes time finding where things are but Vista users should have an easier time because much of it is Vista based. Luckily all my software can run on the new machine although for a while Skype acted up but Skype issued new drivers and we are off to the races now.

owbist, Good to know I have XP. Why did you go with W7 Professional? Just wondering and picking your brain :-)

Owbist, I ran the compatibly tool on my computer which has XP Pro and the tool told me I would have to have it professionally installed. Listed 37 things which wouldn't work. Also said I'd have to upgrade the graphics card. I'll have to stick with XP.

Jane where did you find the compatibly tool?

Look at the post above from Owbist. 9th post down there is a link.

Tumbleweed, I bought Windows 7 just because I could. My main computer was at least 5 years old and had been given to me because the motherboard caught fire. As it was 2 years old at the time of the fire it was prudent for the company who owned it to buy a new machine rather than repair because of downtime. So I got a machine with XP Pro free and for the price of the replacement motherboard and a little of my time rebuilding I had a reasonably good machine.

It has probably been close to 8 years since I built myself a new computer and Win 7 was my excuse to be extravagant, hee hee. There was no need for a new computer or operating system, just an I want situation and computers are my only vice

Jane_ny, if this computer is the one you refer to on this thread then you probably would be well advised not to try upgrading it. What would you gain? Your comments on that thread suggest this is a very good computer for your needs even if it is 4 years old. To pay to have things like the install and replacing the video card would likely cost over half the price of a new computer plus you would have a worthless copy of XP because it is tied to that particular motherboard and cannot be used in any other machine.

One more small note to consider, as your machines are used in business the XP computer has a book value of almost nil now and any new computer will be bought with pre tax dollars

For those thinking of doing an upgrade you should consider doing a full clean install
Windows 7 upgrade paralyzes some PCs with endless reboots

and of course using an imaging program to image the drive so you can go back should you need to is always a good idea, there are some decent free programs now.
8 free software to image/backup/ghost your computer (free alternatives to Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost, etc.).

Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media

and remember if trying to go from a 32bit OS to the 64bit you do clean install not upgrade.

Thanks Jane, I will run it, but probably won't help me. I will never be able to do an install or upgrade, don't understand half the instructions. All I know is a computer tech told me I should put 7 on because my computer is new and 7 is better than Vista.

Jane, I'm stuck XP to many ISSUES and not compatible results. I was unhappy that Toshiba products and software played roles in the findings. The compatible advisor tool says I have Windows XP Professional> news to me. All paper work, online specs, system checks, Belarc, Secunia and SIW say I have XP Home SP2. Don't know what's up with that.

I am four purchase days away from getting a free disk for windows 7. I would try it if it were free. I don't have many issues, but they are expensive issues. I think I will stick with Vista, I like everything about it except the start/search/files folders change from XP.

the latest windows secrets newsletter today had some extremely informative articles about windows 7 that anyone making the move would likely benefit from.

Fully install Windows 7 from the upgrade disc

there are several excellent articles on that one page.
As stated in the article there really is no reason to pay the higher price, the upgrade version will do the same thing and costs less.