Microsoft and Intel To Limit Netbook Size?

With the release of Microsoft Windows 7 around the corner there is a lot of buzz around what will qualify as a “Netbook” or a “Small Notebook PC” when it comes to licensing for Windows 7 compared that what it was for both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Among the list of flavors of Windows 7 that Microsoft plans to release are Windows 7 Starter, and Windows 7 Starter for Small Notebook PC.  These two releases of Windows 7 will be aimed at the netbook market, but there are some changes in what Microsoft considers a “netbook” when it comes to Windows 7 and to qualify for the more competitive pricing when it comes to licensing.

According to Tech ARP, the maximum screen size of a netbook will be changed to 10.2″ compared to 12.1″ as it currently is with Windows XP and Windows Vista and Intel is already on the record stating that an Intel powered netbook of having a screen no larger than 10.2″.  When Windows 7 is released, if these standards hold, it will mean the end of the Intel Atom based 11.6″ netbooks and could also cause large problems for VIA who doesn’t put any restrictions on how its processors and chipsets are used.  This would make VIA powered netbooks with screens larger than 10.2″ not qualify for reduced licensing costs associated with Windows 7 Starter and remove any advantages that they might currently have in the netbook market with screens over 11″.

Screen size is not the only stipulation when it comes to netbooks.  In addition to the limited screen size, the maximum amount of memory is currently set at 1GB, which is the same as it was with Windows XP and Windows Vista.  The hard drive size restrictions have been increased up to a maximum of 250GB HDD or a 64GB SDD.  The processor can only be a single-core processor that cannot exceed 2 GHz and have a thermal design power that is less than or equal to 15W (not including the graphics and chipsets).

The restrictions with graphics, hovever, have been removed.  Lenovo has announced that part of their new line-up includes a netbook that will include the Nvidia Ion chipset which is expected to increase the device’s ability to handle more demanding content including 1080p high-definition video.  Of course this could become a moot point when Intel releases the “pineview’ atom processor which is said to integrate graphics processing into a single piece of silicon with the main processor and is slated to be release later this year.

How much will these requirements and restirctions affect the netbook market when Windows 7 is released?  It is hard to tell, but the netbook market is currently booming and only time will tell.