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The 3-month lag between RTM and GA for a major operating system release is, unfortunately, about right. But at least it's not as bad as it was in the old days when the impending release of Windows 3.1 meant a floppy disk shortage in the US after Microsoft bought all existing and pending supplies to have enough to cover the release.

Very nice. Now businesses can jump in on the bandwagon and hop in. Although I doubt major businesses with very large IT environments are going to hop in on the 22nd, at least they have an additional server option to use.

Re: Windows 7 Starter? That's How They Get You

Paul - 2 things you missed in this article:

1. third-parties and OEMs *cannot* change the desktop background.  Raphael Rivera has articles about how the Starter edition background is encrypted and cannot be replaced.  Even by OEMs.  So users will be forced to get the default Starter edition wallpaper from Microsoft (which is not the black and white one shipped in the RC, by the way!).

2. Isn't it obvious why MS doesn't allow changing the background on Starter?  So users will upgrade!  Upgrade = serious $$.  MS would be stupid to provide full functionality on Starter, they'd lose lots of cash by lost opportunity for upgrades.

Also note that you're not stuck with the default background image on Starter; you can still change it to any solid color you'd like through the Display control panel.

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@joey,

No, you're so wrong! The encrypted desktop is for users who CHOOSE an encrypted unchangeable desktop. Microsoft is all about --choice--.

In comparison, you'll notice that Apple doesn't even OFFER an encrypted unchagneable desktop, instead insisting on inserting the complex and confusing variable wallpaper "feature" in every version of OS X. In fact, they only offer a single version of the OS, will all features enabled, leading to endless confusion amongst their users.

Win7, especially with this killer feature in an attractive low-priced version, is just going to wipe the floor with "Snow Leopard".

Kudos to Microsoft for responding to the thousands, if not millions, of user pleas for an encrypted, unchangeable desktop. And, making it black and white is an unexpected bonus! Much less distracting, which will further enhance the Zen-like minimalist design that Microsoft is known for.

Windows not walls, or wallpaper. Your pain is our passion. How much do you want to pay today?

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Chuckles

Wow. The ultra low end version of Windows 7 is missing some features available in Apple's $129 upgrade version of OS X. And that's news to you?

So how does it compare to versions of OS X that you can choose if you'd rather not spend full price?

How does OS X compare with that version after I've spent $129 upgrading it to a higher feature version?

"In fact, they only offer a single version of the OS, will all features enabled, leading to endless confusion amongst their users."

....especially when they look at Snow Leopard and realize that nothing has changed and they blew another $139.

Seems to be a lot of foolish speculation from both camps regarding the price of the "enemy's" next upgrade. Until we know both, this discussion is meaningless...just like a lot of the discussions here.

--tayme

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Mike,

You are so right on this one. I just can't dispute it.

The feature crippled versions of Win7 will just flat out trounce the over priced crap that Apple sells.

Yessireee, Apple has missed a major market for crippled versions of their OS. There's NO DOUBT that Microsoft has a major marketing success on their hands with this locked encrypted desktop. Users have been just clamoring for that. The simplicity. The elegance. The clarity. The predictability. Above all, the CHOICE.

I'm sending an email to Apple (and encouraging you all to do the same). It's time, and way past time,  to end this nonsense of including every single damn feature of the OS in every single copy they sell.  This one OS version thing is basically just communism.

And really, even Microsoft is guilty here, even if they are much better than Apple. They should lock EVERY feature in the OS, with a web-based interface to unlock them------for a fee of course-----feature by feature. Why should people who don't use every feature subsidize those who do? Is this free ride fair? Is that the American Way?

Microsoft has made much more progress than Apple in eliminating this glaring inequity, but they still have a lot of work to do.

In truth, what we really need is a subscription version, "Windows Monthly". You can use Windows as much as  you like-----totally unlimited----as long as you pay every month. This nonsense of "selling" on OS is so antiquated. No one wants to "own" an OS anyway, they only want to pay for exactly what they need, when they need it. Anyway, "owning" an OS is just one step removed from "open source", which is even more heinous than what Apple foists off.

My god, it's the future. And Apple is so far behind on this version thing. I hope you can convey my suggestions to Microsoft on your next consulting gig, because, while I admire their work, they really haven't even gone halfway to the real solutions....

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