Microsoft planning skinny Windows 7 for netbooks

By Will Stapley on Thu 26 February 2009

Microsoft has been raving about how the full-fat version of its forthcoming Windows 7 operating system will run without a hitch on the majority of netbooks.

But with Vista slowing most netbooks to a crawl, it’s hard not to be sceptical about this claim, especially where low-end models are concerned.

Now Microsoft head honcho Steve Ballmer has come out saying that there will actually be a skinny version of Windows 7, designed specifically for netbooks. More after the cut.

Microsoft’s announcement could be in reaction to Google’s apparent plans to launch an Android-based operating system for netbooks.

Despite an early Linux charge, Windows XP now powers the vast majority of netbooks. But if Google manages launch a successful assault on the netbook operating system market, it would be a serious threat to Microsoft’s core business.

Microsoft has already said there will be a special Starter Edition of Windows 7 that, among other things, will be limited to running three applications concurrently, but there are no details as to how this netbook version of the OS will look or operate. Nor is it clear whether it will arrive at the same time as the standard versions of Windows 7, which should make an appearance later this year… or possibly the year after.

[Gizmodo]