Resolved Difference between Windows 7 starter and PC version

I've got a Samsung notebook that came with Windows 7 starter. It must be a stripped down version kind of like the XP version that was installed on Wyse terminals.

So far the only difference I can tell between it and the one that comes with a new PC is that it won't allow me to change the desktop background (no big deal) and there is no annoying toolbar that pops up at the top of the desktop (for lack of a better term). In some ways it seems to be more related to XP than Windows 7. Much easier to use in my opinion.

Other than that is there any other limitations of the starter version?

Another thing I noticed is it seems to be more stable than the PC version and programs written for older versions of Windows don't crash like they do on the PC version (even if running in compatabilty mode).

 

I may just be different or I don't like change but so far I haven't found anything in the Windows 7 version that Windows XP doesn't already have or do for me. It's just different and required getting used to.

And the features the Home premium version has that the starter version doesn't have, I'm not quite sure I even know what those are!

I'm one of the "hanger's on" I suppose. I ran Windows 2000 professional on an old PC I was using out in my garage (until the hard drive bit the dust) until last year, mainly to listen to internet radio, surf car forums or look up car parts on Ebay and it was the fastest computer I owned with 500 MHZ/<300 MB! I could hit Ctrl/ALT/DEL and it would only show less than 5 programs running in the background. No wonder it was so fast!

The only thing I found really useful with XP over previous versions of Windows was it's ability to find driver's easier, flash memory (SD carbs, USB drives) and wireless internet.

They really messed up networking in my opinion with Windows 7. I was able to connect to my other PCs running XP but then one day I could not. I went to Microsoft's website and tried everything they suggested time and time again and never could get the networking to work! I finally just gave up on that.

My wife's new laptop has Windows 8 and if you are on the desktop or using IE and you hit a wrong key it pulls up that new menu Microsoft came up with. I don't know what it's called.

Not to mention the built in mouse pad. She is constantly cursing her laptop because the zoom keeps increasing if you rub the mouse pad the wrong way! I tried disabling as many options with the mousepad on her laptop and disabled mine on my notebook but found using a wireless mouse much easier.

I guess it depends upon what you want. Something with a lot of bells and whistles or ease of use. I was at an electronics store the other day and seen a laptop running some operating system from Google (Andriod?). It seems much easier to use than Windows 8. Not a lot of flash.

I've heard a lot of people say Windows 8 is too hard to use over previous versions of Windows. I can't say I disagree with them. Maybe Bill Gates will get the idea one of these days if people start buying laptops with Andriod operating system.