Announcing a reversal of its earlier strategy of imposing the three-application limit on Windows 7 Starter, the world's largest software company Microsoft Friday urged users to upgrade the Starter edition, with the limit on capabilities being officially removed.

Mentioning the removal of the Windows 7 Starter's three-application limit, WIndows Team Blog said that the Starter will be globally available for use on "small notebook PCs," thereby hinting that it will be specifically geared towards netbooks.

Initially, Microsoft had planned that the Starter's users would be allowed to run only three programs simultaneously, using the operating system. However, after being criticized for the limit strategy, the company now does not restrict the number of applications that users can use at a time.

On the blog, Brandon LeBlanc noted: "We believe these changes will make Windows 7 Starter an even more attractive option for customers who want a small notebook PC for very basic tasks, like browsing the web, checking email and personal productivity."

However, despite the lifting of the applications' limit, the Starter edition is still somewhat inferior to its more expensive versions, designed for use on full PCs.

Compared to the mainstream Windows 7 editions, the Starter basically lacks a number of features like the Aero Glass interface, DVD playback, various customization features, Media Center features support for multiple monitors, and some business-oriented features.