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Windows 7 Starter edition — Parallax Forums

Windows 7 Starter edition

LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
edited 2010-08-11 02:03 in General Discussion
I don't know if this comes with computers bundled in the USA, but I am incredulous.

It appears that I have to buy an upgrade to have ADSL or LAN access to the web. Is that really true or did I just miss some new fangled firewall configuration.

Comments

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-08-10 07:13
    Well there is internet, but so far the IE icon fails to find the net.
    But if I go to the advert for Norton Internet Security, I get a working browser page.

    From there I can redirect to a web site that I really want.

    Of course, I may not have any email software either. But I don't use it on a netbook.
  • Jim EwaldJim Ewald Posts: 733
    edited 2010-08-10 07:34
    We have a couple of netbooks with Win7 Starter Edition. They connect to the wireless clouds without any difficulties. The process to connect to a network is a bit different than with XP in that you need to tell Windows the type of network you are connecting to (Home, Office or Public). It uses that information to set the internal firewall.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-08-10 07:57
    Yes, I did a wireless test at Starbucks earlier and that works fine.
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2010-08-10 08:22
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    Yes, I did a wireless test at Starbucks earlier and that works fine.

    Are you saying it works fine using wireless but not when you connect an ethernet cable?

    I have 7 on several machines now, but not starter (and my netbooks are all running xp or linux).
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-08-10 08:27
    Starter is very restricted. I need to read more about it at the upgrade site.

    I do show a valid internet connection via my router to ADSL. And updates from M$ are successful.
    Also, shopping for Norton Internet Security and other promotional material works fine.

    At this point, if I just start up from the IE icon, it won't locate the net. Very odd. Maybe a firewall thing, maybe a push by M$ to buy the up-grade.
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2010-08-10 09:14
    It sounds like it must be a firewall setting or something. Very strange.

    Personally, I'd install Firefox (or maybe Chrome) and see what happens. I have trouble believing that MS would lock out browsing in general for 7 Starter.


    Every so often, I think about picking up another netbook (that I don't need) but as soon as I see Starter, I think about the added expense of upgrading and talk myself out of it (although there's one out there now that I like that doesn't come with Starter but it costs more to begin with).
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-08-10 10:08
    I FIXED IT!!!

    It seems Toshiba and M$ created an installation that defaults the web page to 'Toshiba.msn.....' and that is a non-existent link.

    So rather than say that, the IE comes up with a message about a bad network configuration and a referral to their diagnostics for network problems.

    I'd say it is a bit of ledger-domain. But others might insist it is an honest error.

    Just get a working web page through Norton Internet Security and select your own default. Then the world can be your oyster.

    W-7 definitely wants to make itself an added expense. I bought a $300 netbook that is immediately demanding more than that in 'necessary' software. This little guy is going to get partitioned tonight. And then, Ubuntu Linux will be installed on a dual boot with Open Office, etc. At least, I have ample room on the M$ side to install Parallax IDEs. I did have that on my other netbook.

    I am happy with it now that I can get my downloads and installations in order. I already downloaded and installed the Propeller Spin. But it is a slow slog in Windows 32-bit. The Ubuntu Linux 32-bit has a lot more zip.
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2010-08-10 23:25
    Which version of Ubuntu are you using? The standard, or the netbook remix?

    Also, if you haven't tried it, you may want to look at Linux Mint. It's basically Ubuntu with a little more polish, such as multimedia configured out of the box.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,261
    edited 2010-08-11 01:21
    I have heard mixed reviews about Win7. Now I'm extra happy that the Acer Aspire netbook I got earlier this year came with good old XP, especially now that MSoft is extending its XP support.
  • mctriviamctrivia Posts: 3,772
    edited 2010-08-11 01:29
    I like windows 7. however i have had problems with it not playing nice with Norton internet security. As soon as I installed Norton Internet Security I lose network connectivity.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-08-11 01:57
    No Norton, no thanks. I really wonder how much of a fee they pay to M$ to be so heavily positioned in a new purchase bundle. They tend to follow the M$ way and to both dominate a machine and provide bloat to the OS.

    I am planning on Ubuntu 10.4 netbook mix. I had seen Acer and Asus netbooks at the store with XP for a bit more money or a lot more money for the same with Windows 7. But this Toshiba EB250 was the cheapest of the lot and with the new Windows made me willing to explore.

    After all XP never worked right for me and cost a lot of money to protect. Vista came only in Chinese on a Home Basic bundle and my only option for English was to buy Vista Ultimate at over $600 for the up-grade. (I dedice to learn to computer in Chinese instead).

    Nothing has Norton or Office. I am using Avast! AV and Windows Defender. But I have gotten so used to having 5 desktops in Linux that I really feel under-productive in Windows. Also, Linux has free Post-it similar sticky notes - another $50USD saved for a tiny, tiny application.

    I do see that some of the SX additional software is not installing properly in W-7. I don't yet know what that is about.

    I am still is a 7-day evaluation period for return of the Toshiba, so I may not get to Linux for a week or so. I am very surprise at how popular MINT has become. Still, Ubuntu is leading the pack and I believe MINT is #4. For now, I see no reason to change
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2010-08-11 02:03
    I am a bit dumbfounded that Windows 7 takes nearly 20G of hard disk in the Starter edition, whereas I could fit a full fuctional EEEbuntu 3.0 in under 4Gbytes.

    And then, M$ has eaten up all the primary hardisk slots with 3 additional hidden primary hardisks for installation - I guess that one for English image, one for Chinese image, and one for a recovery boot. They seem to take 4025Gbytes of additional hard disk space.

    So you have a 45Gbyte hog versus a less than 4Gbyte dynamo. No wonder it runs a bit slower.
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