Windows XP starter edition for SE Asia

[ttaaee]

Microsoft to Introduce Cheaper Version of Windows

By Reed Stevenson

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said it will begin selling a stripped-down, low-cost version of its Windows XP operating system in the emerging markets of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in order to spread the use of computing and develop technology markets.....


I'm not sure if the actual package of the software would be the same as the background shown in this picture

[AMRivlin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3554084.stm

[ttaaee]

This is what the package of Windows XP Thai Starter edition looks like.

[ttaaee]

You can also find Malay and Indonesian versions on this page.

[Gigabyte]

Hi,

I'm not too sure if this will really be a success here... First of all, even if it's a much cheaper version of Windows XP, it will still be much more expensive than a blank CD used by many to make yet another copy of a full XP Professional version.

Also, according the the BBC News web site:

Microsoft's new software - dubbed "XP Lite" - will feature lower resolution graphics and limited options for networking computers together.

==> Lower resolution means that home users won't like it when they will watch pictures and "limited options for networking" will make this stripped down version not very suitable for office use, especially offices with a LAN already configured using some features that won't be supported (such as using domains).

It will also limit users to running three programs concurrently - a far cry from the full version of XP, where the only practical limit comes from the speed of the computer and the size of its memory.

==> That's a real joke... Can you imagine how patient users will be when they will have to shut down one application to start a new one? Even home users always have plenty of chat programs and browsers open all the time.

I wouldn't be surprised that as soon as this stripped down XP version comes out MS will start an anti-piracy offensive in the countries where it's distributed. Using the reason that now they also offer the cheap alternative, there are no reasons why people continue buying pirated MS software.

[Kiku99]

I'm not too sure if this will really be a success here... First of all, even if it's a much cheaper version of Windows XP, it will still be much more expensive than a blank CD used by many to make yet another copy of a full XP Professional version.

i know, the copy version is only 150 baht.

[ttaaee]

Microsoft's new software - dubbed "XP Lite" - will feature lower resolution graphics and limited options for networking computers together.

It will also limit users to running three programs concurrently - a far cry from the full version of XP, where the only practical limit comes from the speed of the computer and the size of its memory.

That sucks...

[Nekochan]

How can Microsoft fight pirated CDs?

You can go to Pantip (also Seri Centre and Futune Mall) and buy a cd full with all MS OS from DOS 6.0 Win 3.1 to the latest XP stuff for just 100 Baht!!. Buy another cd for MS office combo (Office version 95, 97, XP and 2003) for another 100 Baht!!

It is only 200 Baht!! You may buy 3 cds and get 1 free!!

XP lite? That's a joke!! Noboby will buy that when you can buy everything in full version for less money!!

MS business practice is horrible. They have BSA, a sort of software SS to snoop around your PCs!!

Don't worry, within 5-6 years from now our machines may have been preinstalled with Linux.

Resistance is futile.

[Gigabyte]

Give me 150 baht and I will give you 10 copies of XP Professional, full version. And I will still make a huge profit (in percentage, of course...)

Now in Panthip (and probably all over Thailand), one can already buy a Hewlett-Packard PC with Linux pre-installed. I bought one about a week ago. The first thing that the technician asked me when he took it out of the box to install the free floppy disk drive(which was not included originally) was what OS and applications I wanted him to install for me. I didn't even have to buy any extra CDs one floor down and install them, it was all included. You should have seen his face when I said that I wanted to keep Linux! :-)