Making Headlines

In the market for a newer, smaller computer with all the latest bells and whistles? Below are four changes we can expect to see in netbooks this year. Here's what Ft. Lauderdale computer repair experts say we can expect ...

1. If Microsoft has its way, you will likely see Windows 7 Starter Edition on netbooks in North America and Western Europe. Whether or not netbook manufacturers are going to want to offer Windows 7 Starter Edition is another question entirely.

Ideally, what Microsoft will want consumers to do is to buy your low-cost Windows 7 netbook with Starter Edition, then later upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium.

2. What both Intel and Microsoft would like is for you to buy a netbook that straddles the difference between the low-powered and cheap notebook.

But is this possible? With the advent of Intel's next-generation of dual-core Atom processors and 2GB standard memory in netbooks, you may soon see netbooks that will have the power to run Windows 7 Home Premium without any problems. Keep your eyes peeled.

3. Linux will be able to run on these systems as well. However, many Linux vendors are exploring another option: desktop Linux on ARM CPU-based netbooks that will be even cheaper than Atom-based netbooks.

4. Last, but never least, Google. The first Google Android netbooks have been spotted. Some say that people who would never consider moving from Windows to Red Hat or other linux may actually be willing to give a Google Linux-powered netbook a try.

With Google's might behind it, will the Linux desktop finally break into the mainstream? It's unclear as of now, but what all this will mean to you, without a doubt, is that you're going to have a lot of netbook options.