Barney's Blog

Blog archive

Windows 7 Non-Starter Pack

If you're old like me, you've heard stories about how IBM once sold and upgraded mainframes. The stories go that customers would ask for a $100,000-plus upgrade for new functions and an IBM tech would connect an unconnected cable.

Microsoft is looking at the same approach for Windows 7. Its upcoming Windows 7 starter pack runs three apps. Once you're sick of that, you give Redmond a few more bucks and Microsoft upgrades you over the Internet.

I'm not a fan of artificially restricting software. I mean, the functions are there -- Microsoft just won't give them to you unless you have a lot of disposable income.

Posted by Doug Barney on February 11, 2009


Featured

  • Report: Cost, Sustainability Drive DaaS Adoption Beyond Remote Work

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.

  • Windows 365 Reserve, Microsoft's Cloud PC Rental Service, Hits Preview

    Microsoft has launched a limited public preview of its new "Windows 365 Reserve" service, which lets organizations rent cloud PC instances in the event their Windows devices are stolen, lost or damaged.

  • Hands-On AI Skills Now Outshine Certs in Salary Stakes

    For AI-related roles, employers are prioritizing verifiable, hands-on abilities over framed certificates -- and they're paying a premium for it.

  • Roadblocks in Enterprise AI: Data and Skills Shortfalls Could Cost Millions

    Businesses risk losing up to $87 million a year if they fail to catch up with AI innovation, according to the Couchbase FY 2026 CIO AI Survey released this month.