Thursday, January 11, 2007 Ng: Windows Starter Edition By Wilson Ng Wired Desktop
THE PC industry is now more than 25 years old. The cell phone is about half as old as that, but worldwide, there are now more than two billion cell phones.
Various estimates peg the number of computers at about 800 million worldwide, and is expected to hit one billion by around 2008 or 2009.
While we can argue which is more useful or easier to use, undoubtedly the cell phone is more portable and affordable.
In the Philippines, the difference is even more striking. While the number of cell phone users is estimated to be over 25 million, computer ownership is still around three to four million (although there are an estimated 10 million Internet users, many of them through Internet cafes and schools).
Although computers have gone down in cost every year, it is nowhere as cheap as a cell phone. I believe that every time there is a new price drop, a new market opportunity opens.
This was why we were so thrilled when, finally, Microsoft Philippines decided to introduce Windows Starter Edition in the Philippines late last year. This is a legal windows version that can be had for less than P2,000!
I have also heard many rumors about it being “cheap” or “crippled.” It is a sad state in technology that many people, most of them have not even used or seen the product, would be so quick to put down such a noble endeavor.
Windows XP Starter edition started off as a project with the Thai Government, to introduce low cost PCs to underprivileged citizens. A team was formed, which talked to over 500 computer resellers and over 6,000 first-time PC users.
“It is important to understand that while using a mouse and keyboard are second nature to us, to many, these are mysterious and daunting,” said Mike Wickstrand, Microsoft group product manager. “So it is important to design the product to match the unique needs of first-time users in developing tech markets.”
In the last two years, the Starter edition has been introduced in Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. Last October 2006, Microsoft announced the sale of its one millionth copy.
The Starter Edition includes some features that are not normally found in the higher editions like local help, local screensavers, wallpapers, special menus, pre-configured settings, and video guides. It can pretty much run most software, including edit photographs, listen to music, watch videos, browse the Internet, and do chats.
But it does have some limitations that include:
1) Maximum screen resolution is only 1,024x768. It will run on value processors like Celeron, Duron, Semprons, and some Pentium 4s. It does not support workgroup or domain networking, and maximum memory is 512 MB and has a 120 gigabyte hard disk.
2) It can run only a maximum of three programs at a time, and each program can open only three windows. You can only run one user account in the PC.
But, other than this, it does run all Windows programs, and also includes the latest service pack supported by Windows XP on security (which makes it more secure now than Windows 98 and ME whose latest vulnerabilities are no longer fixed or patched).
So to answer the critics, is it cheap? Yes. Would I be happy to use it? No, because I am a power user. But would it be affordable and easy to use for a first-time user? Yes!
Let’s look at Windows XP Starter Edition as delivering the promise of enabling first-time PC users in our country to be introduced to a digital lifestyle at a more affordable price, which hopefully will allow people to learn more and eventually gain the skills that will be needed in furthering their career.
