Archos 5IT: It's Getting Better All the Time

Sure the Archos 5 Internet Tablet is a work in progress. Firmware updates are pushing out every 7-10 days, and there are reports of this or that not working. Youtube playback was broken for over a week because of a change that Google made to its API. Yet, Archos released a new firmware update 1.3.7 with a long list of fixes. Youtube is once again working. Plus, yesterday Fictionwise announced the release of ereader for Android. The software will read books purchased from either the ereader.com or fictionwise.com sites. The newsletter offers 15% off until November 22 when you use the promo code "ANDROID15." Ereader for Android is a very basic reading app, much more so than more advanced versions for Windows Mobile, for example. Aldiko is a more elegant eBook reader, but Ereader offers the opportunity to read the latest bestsellers and commercial publishers because, at least for now, those all come saddled with DRM. A real win for Aldiko would be to license the Adobe ePub DRM. Until then, I'll enjoy my ereader books on the Archos' big screen.

Netbooking with W7SE: No Connectify!

I installed the Beta version of Connectify to turn my Windows 7 Starter Edition netbook into a wifi router for my Sierra Wireless card but I couldn't get it to turn on. I discovered that I needed to turn on internet connection sharing in my control panel, but I couldn't find the option to do that. Then, I found this in the help:

Internet Connection Sharing. A computer running Windows 7 Starter can't use Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to share its Internet connection with other computers on the network. With Windows 7 Starter, you must use a router to share an Internet connection among several computers. For more information, see Setting up a home network.

Microsoft is just taunting me for that $80 anytime upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium. Grrr!

HP Saved Me from Windows 7 Boredom

Tired of that one blue wallpaper that Microsoft so generously provides with Windows 7 Starter Edition? That badge of frugality that says I'm not paying you another $80 just so I can put a photo on my desktop? I decided to check out the software and drivers page for my HP Mini 110-1125NR and low and behold, they have a software download that installs a program called My Colors that allows me to change my desktop to one of those girly swirly ones that HP paid somebody to design or any photo in my pictures folder. Yeah!!!! Take that MSFT instead of my $80! Link

Windows 7 Starter Edition: Issues Confronted

In a previous post, I stated that the limitations of Windows 7 Starter Edition made it a non-starter for me on my next netbook. So what did I do next? Go out and buy a netbook with Windows 7 Starter Edition! Although the option for an "anytime upgrade" to Windows 7 Home Premium looms large on my start up menu, I'm resisting the urge to send Microsoft another $80 just yet. So, a week after buying my HP Mini 110, what do I think of Windows 7 Starter Edition?

First, let's start with an issue that was never an issue. Contrary to what many believe (and what Microsoft said during beta apparently) Starter Edition is not limited to running only 3 applications at a time. It will run as many as your memory and processor will allow. With an Atom processor, that's not a ton but it's more than 3. I think we're getting confused with the Holy Hand Grenade from Monty Python. Wait, I digress.

Second, Windows 7 Starter edition does not have multiple monitor support. I thought this meant no external monitors. That's not the case. What it does mean is no extended desktop. It probably will keep me from using the Mini is presenter mode when I use Powerpoint to make speeches. It doesn't keep me from plugging the Mini into the 24" LCD that I have in the home office. I can mirror displays (1024x600) or I can drive solely the external LCD. VLC also comes in handy if you download youtube videos to your computer for offline watching. I use Keepvid.com to download Youtube videos.

Third, Windows 7 Starter Edition doesn't include Windows Media Center and doesn't support DVD playback. What does this mean? Do I have to upgrade before I can watch a DVD using an external DVD player plugged into my Mini? Thankfully, you can plug in an external DVD drive and watch commercial DVDs just fine. However, you need to install third party software to view the DVD. I installed VLC Media Player and it works just great. Plus, VLC is a free download. Starter Edition does include Windows Media Player so I can still use the standard software to listen to music and view other video sources.

Fourth, Windows 7 Starter Edition doesn't include Aero glass features or permit any customization of the desktop. The pretty eye candy makes Windows 7 look stunning but it uses up precious processing power that I'd prefer to devote to other causes. Being unable to change the desktop photo is a totally lame limitation that is going to make some netbook buyers frustrated because they think they can't figure out how to do it and then angry when they realize it was a deliberate design limitation by Microsoft. I refuse to let this get to me. I am embracing the stupid blue desktop as long as it takes. Only some other limitation will get me to spend that money. I'm waiting you out Microsoft! Hopefully, enough people will complain about the desktop photo thing and Microsoft will cave.

In conclusion, Starter Edition is not as limited as my earlier post suggested since there are work-arounds to many of the limitations. I do recommend putting 2GB RAM in your netbook. Oh, and I absolutely love my HP Mini 110. I hope this helps clarify confusion that potential netbook buyers might have. My suggestion is try Starter Edition first and then decide whether you need the features of a more expensive version of Windows 7. An upgrade is just a mouse click and $80 away.