Microsoft and Intel hamper consumer choices with new Windows 7 netbook plan

It’s being reported that Microsoft and Intel have jointly reached a consensus to limit the screen-size for netbook PCs certified with Windows 7 to 10.2-inches, down from a previous 12.1-inch limit. The move is designed to harm the competition, primarily VIA, and to reduce consumer choice while bolstering Intel’s Atom-based platform, which now dominate this 10.x inch niche, according to Taiwan ODM notebook makers.

In addition, the move will likely end PC vendors’ current Atom Zxx-based netbook offering, that of 11.6-inche and larger products, shortly after the launch of Windows 7, meaning netbooks stay on the small end, with CULV-like products taking up where netbooks could otherwise be.

This artificial limitation (of imposed hardware specs by Microsoft/Intel) runs contrary to VIA’s standard operating procedure, the chief competition in this area, and a company that does not limit its vendors’ ability to choose any components, including CPUs, chipsets, and display sizes, for their products. VIA lets the market decide for itself.

Reducing the maximum screen size from 12.1-inches to 10.2-inches for Windows 7 validation will reportedly push VIA out of the reduced OEM-price for Windows 7 licensing rates as well, thereby lowering the advantage of choosing a VIA product (such as the outstanding Samsung NC20 I