How to keep OEM's pushing XP Home

[Quackers]

Are Microsoft losing the plot ?

Microsoft forbids changes to Windows 7 netbook wallpaper ? The Register

I've already read a few weeks ago that OEM's will keep pushing XP Home on Netbooks unless MS reduce price of Windows 7 Licence, now Microsoft do this?

Users will not want Windows 7 Starter, OEM's will not want Windows 7 Starter...

[Jamman960]

I guess it all depends on how much cheaper W7 Starter edition is, Windows is still a large percentage of the cost of producing a netbook. It is a bit of a pathetic limitation but would not being able to change the background really bother anyone that much? I can't see a consumer opting to pay lets say £50 more for the "luxury" of being able to change the background.

I'm sure there are more limitations to come but if this is the only limit they plan to put in place it probably won't affect sales a huge amount. I agree that its a very odd limitation and would love to hear the justification for it though.

[plexer]

Whats the point people will just find a way around it like everything else.

Ben

[glensc]

Whats the point people will just find a way around it like everything else.

Ben

Like write a program that takes the users picture, resizes it and renames it <wallpaer default name> places it in appropriate directory.

Can't see that taking too long.

[srochford]

The Windows team blog quoted says

"Windows 7 Starter does not include:
Personalization features for changing desktop backgrounds, window colors, or sound schemes."

which suggests that the control panel bit for changing background isn't there but doesn't say "you can't change" (but knowing MS, anything is possible, however daft!!)