As Microsoft Windows 7 nears final release, there is a growing consensus among reviewers and industry pundits that the new operating system will correct many of mistakes the company made with Windows Vista. The beta version has already received solid reviews, and even staunch Microsoft critics are conceding that 7 is a big step in the right direction. But ironically, the recent release of Windows 7 “Starter Edition” could actually threaten the viability of the full operating system when it is finally released.

The Starter Edition, because of its smaller footprint, is ideal for small laptops and netbooks, and may find a huge market among students and frequent travelers. In fact, netbooks are expected to grow in popularity significantly over the next several years. Their small size and easy Web access make them ideal for cash-strapped students on the go, especially during tough economic times.

And because Windows 7 Starter Edition is designed to run easily on netbooks, Microsoft could end up undercutting the viability of their own product by its release. According to ZDNet.com, Microsoft has yet to demonstrate that the full Windows 7 operating system will run seamlessly on the smaller netbooks, so the Starter Edition could be the only choice for many students and even business travelers using netbooks.

Officially, Microsoft is saying that Starter Edition users will be able to upgrade (for a fee of course) to the full Windows 7 OS; however, how well the full program will run on smaller netbooks is still a matter of some speculation. The end result may be that netbook users can either choose Windows 7 Starter Edition and maintain performance, or upgrade to the full operating system and sacrifice speed and performance. Not much of a choice really, is it?

This quandary has caused some in the industry to speculate that Microsoft may have, once again, “outflanked themselves” by creating their own toughest competitor. Of course, the Starter Edition lacks many of the features of the full Windows 7 operating system; but it covers the basics, and with the increasing popularity of web-based software programs, it seems less important than ever these days that an operating system offers lots of bells and whistles. Once you are online, you can access any number of web-based programs anyway, so what is the point in having a bloated operating system?

If current trends hold, netbooks will continue to gain ground against traditional laptop and desktop computers over the next few years. This could result in Microsoft selling fewer copies of its full Windows 7 operating system, and a lot more of the (cheaper) Starter Edition.