Getting it right from day one
When ASUS created the netbook category with its first Eee PC, it launched with a Linux operating system. So imagine Microsoft's horror when they started selling like hot cakes and it was completely excluded from the party.
To Microsoft's credit, it reacted quickly and now nearly all netbooks run on Windows XP, but with Windows 7 less than a week away, Microsoft will want to make sure it gets its netbook proposition right from day one.
We spoke to Leila Martine, director of the Windows consumer division at Microsoft UK, to get her take on what Windows 7 offer the netbook user. She was quick to stress how much more "slimmed down" Windows 7 is in comparison to its much maligned predecessor Vista, and how this translates to things like faster boot times.
We discussed the potential threat to Microsoft from ARM based smartbooks, for which Microsoft currently doesn't make full Windows available, and cover some features of Windows 7 that Martine thinks will appeal specifically to netbook users. We also explore how easy it will be for current netbook users to upgrade to Windows 7.
