July 21, 2009, 12:53 PM — As we get closer to the promised release date of Windows 7 (we'll see if it really does appear in October), both hype and tempers rise. Add in the netbook question, which forced Microsoft to keep XP available since Vista does so poorly on the underpowered netbook processors, and hype and tempers rub together to create some sparks. So let's take a quick look at some of the arguments for Windows 7 on netbooks and see what we can learn.
One reader claims Windows 7 is a completely new code base from Vista and therefore can't be compared to the current operating system whipping boy. I disagree. Vista provides the foundation for almost all of Windows 7. Saying otherwise means your delusions overwhelm reality, which does neither you nor Windows 7 any good.
Many readers report they're using some version of Windows 7 and love it. Several report they installed it on their own netbook, and performance does quite well even to the point of being better than the Windows XP operating system they replaced.
If these examples of high performance on the netbook platform carry forward when the official Windows 7 hits the streets, the results will be great for Microsoft and bad for the desktop Linux world. There will also be many more users disappointed in their netbook performance.
First, let's talk about the Linux lovers being outsmarted once again by Microsoft. When they first appeared, netbooks used Linux to squeeze the most performance from the weak processor and limited memory. They weren't laptops as much as mobile computing appliances relying on the browser to connect to Web sites for applications. The biggest problem is that political arguments inside the Linux community meant video format support was missing in the earliest models, making them far less user friendly than Windows XP.
Had the first netbooks shipped with media friendly Linux installations, fewer complaints would have meant a smaller chance for Microsoft to come back in and take over the market with XP. Linux groups make great software but lousy marketing plans, and Microsoft once again beat them in the marketplace where it really matters.
Second, running Windows 7 on a netbook will lead to some measure of disappointment in the users who think they're buying a smaller, cheaper laptop rather than a netbook. These people whine and moan because they can't run seven windows of PhotoShop on a 1GB netbook and give netbooks a bad name. Actually, I think they give stupid buyers trying to get away cheap a bad name. No matter what I think, however, there will be many reports of how lousy netbooks are with Windows 7 because they're being misused. Wish that wouldn't happen, but it almost certainly will.
I'm still dubious the official shipping version of Windows 7 will be slimmer and faster than the version of Vista it replaces. However, Microsoft is famous for banging their head against the wall until they finally break it down and control the market. I'm betting more than even money they'll be able to do the same with Windows 7 on your netbook.
