Windows7How

Windows 7 on Netbooks

September 11, 2009

Netbook computers are small portable computers that appeared in response to the needs of the users that wanted to be accompanied on their journeys with something more powerful than a mobile phone and not as big as a laptop. At first, the purpose of netbook computers was to allow access to the Internet, sending and receiving emails, using chat clients and run some of the office applications. Their size varies from 5 up to 13 inches and their hardware may be able to run less or more powerful operations/processes. One thing, though, is universal about them all. They’re cheap and therefore available for most of the users. Another reason for being this cheap is that manufacturers are installing open source operating systems. Up until now, the most logical choice was one of the Linux operating systems, but after the release of Windows 7, the users will have another irresistible alternative.

It’s not that this hasn’t been put to the test before. In the past years, several manufacturers offered on the market netbook machines with Windows XP preinstalled and these computers were very well accepted by the users. But then Vista appeared in all its terrors. Because of the incompatibility and other stability issues Vista immediately became the wrong choice for computers with small hardware possibilities. This, once again, paved the road for Linux and its distributions.  So Microsoft decided to repair the damage as much as possible and reclaim the position where they truly shined – On the top. And this was to be accomplished with Windows 7. But why is this operating system better than the rest, why can Windows 7 compete with Linux, and above all, why would anyone pay for something that he/she could have it for free in the first place? Here’s why.

First and foremost, Windows 7 leaves a small footprint on the hard-disk and therefore is ideal for running on machines that don’t really have large capacity and working memory to deal with numerous demanding operations.  The new technologies incorporated in Windows 7 allow starting and running of fewer processes, thus enabling faster boot and shut down time. While the OS is active, it uses minimal system resources up until you, as a user, don’t run certain application. This prolongs the life of the battery, which is one of the most important benefits of a portable computer, and lets you spend a quality time with your applications or on the net. According to the representatives at Microsoft, programs are why users will choose Windows 7 over Linux or any other operating system. Since a large number of users are using Windows on a daily basis, it is completely understandable that they would want to run the same programs on their netbooks without being afraid that there’ll be compatibility issues. Also, in Windows the installation and work of some of the Apple applications, such as Safari or iTunes, is hassle free. So why not expand your experience with Apple software?

Being fully aware of these benefits, some manufactures are working on selling their computers with Windows 7 installed. A good example for this is the latest participant in the race for the best netbook on the market – Nokia. Known for its mobile phones, Nokia decided to compete on the market by offering the model Booklet 3G. This “digital companion” is equipped with 1GB DDR2 RAM and 120GB hard disk drive and it will be distributed with Windows 7 preinstalled. Thanks to this, Microsoft will prosper on the market of mobile phones as well. Whether other manufactures will follow this step or choose another alternative (such as Chrome OS) it is yet to be seen.

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