Hello! In 2001, Windows XP was released - you know that well without me.
Windows XP was initially distributed in two editions - Home Edition and Professional. But almost 3 years after the release of the original XP, in August 2004, Microsoft wanted to release a version of Windows XP, which can probably be called a budget version - this is Windows XP Starter Edition.
According to Microsoft, "Windows XP Starter Edition will give users, most of whom have never seen a computer mouse, let alone no computer experience, the ability to master PC."
The license for this product cost about $30 and this version was distributed in countries such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand.
I understand Thailand, India and so on, well. Only I don't understand why this product was needed on the Russian market, if pirated CDs with full and activated Windows XP were being sold everywhere at that time.
So, in this video we will take a look at this creation and find out what it is.
Since I do not live in Russia, and more than 15 years have passed since the release, I downloaded the image from the OLD-DOS.RU site and we will check it all on a real computer with a Pentium 4 and 256 MB RAM. And why exactly these characteristics - I will tell later.
Let's install this.
Installation, as in all NT systems of that time, is divided into two stages: a text stage and a graphical installation. Installation in a text stage contains the System Restore Console, the name of the key to launch which is shown at the beginning of all stages;
reading the EULA, partitioning disks and initial copying of files.
As you can see, the installer appears as Windows XP Home Edition. This is no accident. Windows XP Starter Edition is based on the home edition of the system of the same name.
The graphical stage of the installation is no different from the standard XP installation: entering the name and organization; computer name; setting the date and time and so on.
But after installation, we are greeted by OOBE, which differs from the usual one.
Here you can see the complete absence of the assistant on the right, which animatedly appeared and faded into the bottom edge of the screen. There is also a completely different starting text here.
It says here that this edition of the OS is the most budgetary and economical Windows XP, specially made for those who are just starting to master the computer.
And the following lists the possibilities of what a family can do with this computer using Windows XP Starter Edition.
Honestly, you can learn a computer using another version of Windows, or even Linux in general. As for me, the text from the initial setup screen is simply advertising, nothing more.
Next it is proposed to configure the operation of the automatic update system; checking your internet connection and creating a Microsoft account. But it is optional.
And that's it, the initial setup is complete.
But you ask me: where is the creation step of a computer account?
And here the first limitation of this system comes out: you cannot create an account here, you work on behalf of the system and you cannot edit it in any way, here there is even no such thing as “accounts and users” at all.
Okay, now we're done with the OOBE. After it, we are immediately greeted by the desktop, not the welcome screen: it is not here either.
Oh yes, and there are immediately drawbacks: here, according to the standard, large icons are installed and you cannot edit this in the standard settings - most likely through the registry.
Okay, big icons aren't important.
But we also cannot customize and drag the taskbar - absolutely nothing, the right mouse button simply does not give any action.
And this is just the beginning.
As you know, this edition of the system is famous for its limitations: it cannot run more than three windows from one program at the same time, work with more than 512 MB RAM and 120 GB HDD,...
...there is no password setting and the functions of the network domain are completely removed - that is, you cannot connect to your second PC while in the same local network or play any game with a friend with network.
Also, you cannot set the screen resolution higher than 1024x768. Even if the video card drivers are installed.
So now let's take a look at the other changes. Immediately striking is the photo, which depicts St. Basil's Cathedral - this is such a standard background of the system.
In addition, there are other pictures. In screensavers list, you can find a screensaver that shows a waving flag; a spiral with a Russian pattern, in the settings of which you can even set your own text and two standard screensavers from the standard Windows XP.
Desktop backgrounds and the first two screensavers are exclusive only for this language of the edition, for each country the list of backgrounds and screensavers was different.
Instead of the usual "Help and Support", the system has "My Support", which simply opens HTML help with tutorials and other documents.
There's even a tutorial on how to use the mouse. [laughing]
The system contains a huge number of tutorials of different types: both text and video tutorials.
The composition of the standard programs of the system has not changed compared to the home edition of the system: Paint is available, Windows Media Player is available, games are also in place - and thanks for that.
The control panel in the system is made only in the form of a menu, there is no classic version with the display of all settings.
Also noticeable is the absence of the item "Accounts and users". As I said, the system does not support the creation of more than 1 account, and the very concept of "user account" is simply not there.
In general, this is a completely ordinary system on which you can install any programs that are suitable for XP. Thank you for not banning it.
As a result, I can say that Windows XP Starter Edition is nothing more than a regular marketing ploy.
At that time, Windows XP was a very popular system and Microsoft most likely wanted to further popularize Windows XP in the global market. And they probably did it. At its peak in 2008, Windows XP had a record 80% market share in all systems.
In my opinion, this is the most useless version of Windows in the entire history of the system itself, because you can learn a computer on full-fledged Windows, or even on Linux with KDE or GNOME.
However, draw your own conclusions - comments are open and I will be glad to your opinions.
And that's all. Thanks for watching! If you liked it, then subscribe to the channel so as not to miss new videos. Until next time!