Get Wi-Fi Access from Your Friend’s Netbook
Ad-hoc network sharing wasn’t originally a function of the Windows 7 Starter Edition OS, but lo and behold, you can find such a feature by typing the right phrase into the Start Menu search — it doesn’t get much easier than that.
As the dialog that normally starts the ad-hoc networking process is disabled in the Windows 7 Starter Edition software, a simple search for adhoc is all it takes for you to start it up on your netbook. Viola! You’re now able to connect to other Wi-Fi enabled devices when your netbook has a network connection.
Of course this may not be as convenient as Virtual Wireless Networking, but hey, at least it works.
Via LifeHacker.
Samsung Go Netbook to Arrive in AT&T Stores on November 22
Samsung has recently announced that it will be teaming up with AT&T to offer its Go netbook. This netbook has pretty typical tech specs, including an Intel Atom processor, a built-in HSPA modem, and Wi-Fi. The Samsung Go netbook also features a comfortable yet stylish pebble-style keyboard and Windows 7 Starter Edition. If you’re interested in learning more about the netbook, check out one of our previous articles.
Pricing for the Samsung Go netbook is not yet available, but it will probably be around $200 with a two year AT&T data plan contract. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.
Via IntoMobile.
Can your Netbook Handle Windows 7?
As it is, most netbooks today ship with Windows XP and the few that actually ship with Windows Vista perform like a college student doing a problem set – i.e., procrastinatingly slow. The important question now is whether a netbook can handle the Windows 7 OS.
According to Microsoft, Windows 7 will have no problems running on netbooks. Windows 7 Starter Edition may be better than its Windows Vista counterpart, but there are still limiting features. (You can’t change your wallpaper. What?!)
Using the WorldBench 6 rating system, employees at the Washington Post tested and compared the performance of the three different versions of the Windows 7 OS with the performance of Windows XP. They used a Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and the results were that Windows 7 ran slightly slower than Windows XP.
Windows 7 Starter, the edition meant for netbooks, received a score of 31 on the WorldBench 6 test, while the other two versions of the Windows 7 OS received 30s. The Windows XP OS received a score of 33. Three points may not seem like much, but it actually represents a difference of nearly 10 percent – ouch. Ready to reconsider Windows 7?
Via TheWashingtonPost.
Windows 7 Preinstalled ASUS Eee PC Netbooks Available for Pre-Order in Italy
Fnac, an Italian retailer, has just started to take pre-orders for ASUS Eee PC netbooks preinstalled with the Windows 7 Starter Edition OS. Some ASUS netbooks may run a stripped-down model of the Windows 7 Starter software, but they also get spec upgrades.
ASUS usually manufacturers machines with different configurations in different parts of the world. Here are the three models (and their specifications) that are available for pre-order in Italy:
- ASUS Eee PC 1005HA: Windows 7 Starter, 10.1″ screen display with 1024×600 resolution, 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N280 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 250 GB hard drive for 299 Euros (~$442 USD)
- ASUS Eee PC 1008HA: Windows 7 Starter, 10.1″ screen display with 1024×600 resolution, 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N280 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 250 GB hard drive for 399 Euros (~$590 USD)
- ASUS Eee PC 1101HA: Windows 7 Home Premium, 11.6″ screen display with 1366×768 resolution, 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, 2 GB of RAM, and a 250 GB hard drive for 399 Euros (~$590 USD)
All three ASUS netbook models also come with 500 GB of online storage space.
Via EeePCIt.
Netbook Version of Windows 7 to Retain Full Features
The rumor that the netbook version of Windows 7 will have limited capabilities has proven to be untrue. According to a TGDaily report, a version of the Windows 7 software will be available for netbooks and it will have most of the “regular” OS’ functions – even though these are still unknown.
The new OS is supposed to be based on the Windows 7 Starter Edition software and Microsoft has recently announced that it will remove its three-app limit for the Starter Edition of the operating system. We’re sure you’re excited to hear more about Windows 7 for netbooks or just Windows 7 in general, so we’ll be sure to keep you posted. Stay tuned.
Via Electronista.
Image via LifeHacker.
