netbook with windows 7 starter

gingerchick

Looking to get 2 netbooks for my boys.
Been reading on here about all the different ones and keeping my eyes on argos/ebay refurbished ones.
Seen the msi U135 here and have read good reviews on here and on other sites.
My only concern is the windows 7 starter.
Alot of reviews don't rate it.
Any advice as to whether it's ok, or to upgrade when netbook arrived, or get a different netbook with other windows on?

Thanks in advance.

debitcardmayhem

Most Netbooks will come with starter, they are ok you don't need the aero effects, not wallpapers etc. They are ok for a lot of tasks plus you can install Ubuntu or other Linux as dual boot. I would from personal experience say 2GB of memory is a must for Win 7 even with starter, get rid a lot of any bloatware. If Win 7 use a free a/v eg Avira/Avast/MSE although mine came with Norton 360 for 1 year free and was no noticable load. I/we have two Samsung N140's had them just over 1 year. They are not suitable for hi res graphics, but I watch You tube vids using Handbrake to resize to more workable resolution. My own opinion only of course others will proffer theirs in due course.

free4440273

I really do dislike Windows Starter.

Miró

free4440273 wrote: »

I really do dislike Windows Starter.

Me too!!!

I resent the fact that I can't change the wallpaper (without a lot of faffing and then it disappears when an update arrives) and I especially hate the 'arc of buttons' at the top (sorry don't know how else to describe them) that I keep hitting and opening up by mistake. I would love to find a way of getting rid of 'em!

free4440273

Mir! wrote: »

Me too!!!

I resent the fact that I can't change the wallpaper (without a lot of faffing and then it disappears when an update arrives) and I especially hate the 'arc of buttons' at the top (sorry don't know how else to describe them) that I keep hitting and opening up by mistake. I would love to find a way of getting rid of 'em!

there are probably third-party workarounds but I just find Starter too limited. I end up throwing XP Pro onto my netbooks sometimes -- on netbooks it seems faster

poppy10_2

Windows Starter is fine for netbooks. It doesn't have the visual fanciness of the Aero interface, but to be honest most netbooks are too underpowered to be able to run Aero smoothly anyway. The other limitations are also unlikely to affect most netbook users - no multimonitor support, no bulit-in DVD playback, no fast user-switching, no XP virtualization.

Essentially the only real difference for most netbook users will be the fact that you can't change the wallpaper. It still runs programs as fast and as efficiently the same as more expensive versions of Windows 7. And for the person who suggested using XP instead, Win7 (without Aero) runs much faster on my netbook than XP did, and has extended my battery life by 20%.

Mir! wrote: »

I especially hate the 'arc of buttons' at the top (sorry don't know how else to describe them) that I keep hitting and opening up by mistake. I would love to find a way of getting rid of 'em!

That's not part of Windows Starter, your manufacturer must have preloaded some software - just uninstall it.