Microsoft said on Friday it would not limit the number of applications available at one time on the Starter edition of its upcoming Windows 7 operating system, as it happened with Windows XP Starter edition. The company had originally planned that users could run only three programs at one time using Starter. The new plan would not limit the number of applications that could be used.

Microsoft looks to keep a hold on the fast-growing market for small, cheap personal computers -- known as netbooks -- which are the principal market for the most basic version of Microsoft's new operating system, expected to roll out later this year.

For the first time, Microsoft will be making Windows 7 Starter available worldwide on small notebook PCs and enable Windows 7 Starter customers the ability to run as many applications simultaneously as they would like.

It is important to note that Windows 7 Starter still includes only a subset of the features offered in the higher editions of Windows 7 such as Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional and above. Windows 7 Starter does not include:

- Aero Glass, meaning you can only use the "Windows Basic" or other opaque themes. It also means you do not get Taskbar Previews or Aero Peek.
- Personalization features for changing desktop backgrounds, window colors, or sound schemes.
- The ability to switch between users without having to log off.
- Multi-monitor support.
- DVD playback.
- Windows Media Center for watching recorded TV or other media.
- Remote Media Streaming for streaming your music, videos, and recorded TV from your home computer.
- Domain support for business customers.
- XP Mode for those that want the ability to run older Windows XP programs on Windows 7.