[cubicle67]

Microsoft still sells XP to Netbook OEMs, but places hard (they don't change over time) limits on the hardware they can use

[Edit: can find very little on the XP limitations, apart from a 1Gb memory limit, but found the following conditions on using Win 7 Starter

* Screens cannot exceed 10.2 inches

* Maximum 1 GB of RAM

* Maximum 250 GB HDD or 64 SSD

* CPU must not exceed 2 GHz, and have a CPU thermal design power that is less than or equal to 15 W, not including the graphics and chipset.]

[ZeroGravitas]

You've basically just listed the specs for my new Samsung netbook. I'm really not sure how to feel about the fact that it's design was dictated by the fact that it shipped with Windows 7 starter.

It's one of the best things I've bought in a while, though some level of credit for that has to go to Ubuntu which I stuck on it shortly after getting it. I did actually give Windows 7 a go and think about dual-booting, as I thought they might work better with Flash and the touchscreen, the combination of which make this a good iPad alternative for my young son too.

I was somewhat relieved to find that both performed better under Ubuntu and various other annoyances with Windows 7 led to it getting wiped completely.