Microsoft accused of bias in ‘netbook’ definition
Microsoft has come under fire after revealing its definition of a netbook for Windows 7 pricing purposes. Critics claim the firm has deliberately set the criteria to benefit Intel and to eliminate the mid-price market for netbooks.
As Dave Parrack wrote on Saturday, the firm has set its maximum specifications for a computer to qualify as a ’small notebook’ and thus qualify the manufacturers to get the cheapest license fee for including Windows 7 on the machine. The upper limit for RAM remains at 1GB (which fits in with the duplicated minimum memory specs between Vista and Windows 7), while the maximum hard drive space rises from 160GB to 250GB, which seems reasonable given storage developments since Vista’s release.
However, the real controversy is with the maximum screen size. While this figure was 12.1 inches with Vista, when it comes to Windows 7 any machine with a screen size above 10.2 inches will now require the manufacturer to pay the same price for licensing Windows 7 as with a consumer desktop – which will almost certainly translate into a higher retail price.
Those figures are at least a coincidence given that Intel-based netbooks dominate the 10-inch and below market, while rival VIA is stronger with 11.6-inch screens, the next common size up. With the new Microsoft rules, those machines will be notably more expensive, particularly given that the Windows license is such a high proportion of netbook costs compared with more expensive laptops and desktops.
It may not simply be a coincidence however. A Taipei correspondent for Digitimes reports that Microsoft and Intel have “reached a consensus” to set the limits this way, while The Inquirer outright accuses Intel of “dirty tricks”.
The problem for rivals is that if they want to carry on producing larger sized netbooks, they’ll either have to put their efforts into top-end machines (which will persuade buyers to pay the higher prices made necessary by the full Windows license fee), or cut costs by producing Linux versions and hoping that open source doesn’t appeal solely to those who want the cheapest machines possible.
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