Microsoft developers have announced in a blog post today that Microsoft is removing the 3 application limit from the Starter version of Windows 7.

Very few users will be familiar with the Starter or Basic versions of Windows that have been available on PCs since Microsoft released Windows XP. These versions have mostly been sold in developing countries, to help keep PC costs down. Unfortunately these low-end versions are extremely limiting (and many would argue purposefully) to such a point that many people have strong incentive to shell out extra cash and upgrade to the Home edition. The Starter edition is however more lightweight than other versions of Windows, and keep costs low for netbooks.

Thankfully, Microsoft has decided to remove the most crippling factor from its next operating system, Windows 7. Users will no longer be limited to having a maximum of 3 applications open at any given time.

We are also going to enable Windows 7 Starter customers the ability to run as many applications simultaneously as they would like, instead of being constricted to the 3 application limit that the previous Starter editions included.

Windows 7 Starter will be available first the first time in developed countries such as the US – but to avoid confusion, won’t be sold at retail. Only OEM versions will be available on ready-built PCs, avoiding consumer confusion at retail.

Bare in mind however, Windows 7 has many more limiting factors, so don’t be fooled into thinking its a cheap operating system. You get what you pay for.

[via The Windows Blog]