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: Microsoft’s latest PC operating system, Windows 7, is promising to reboot the PC market. Leading PC vendors expect a bigger demand for desktop and notebook PCs of lower configuration as Windows 7 can run on lower memory and processing power. Average PC prices could take a dip, if lower configurations become mainstream as widely expected.

As they refresh their PC lines, companies are waiting to check for an uptick in demand for “lighter PCs” and retune their configurations accordingly. “Introduction of Windows 7 could encourage people to chose models of lower configurations as Windows 7 is less resource hungry,” says HP director (mobility products), Rajiv Grover. Clearly, PC vendors are looking out for changes in buying patterns as they launch 100 new computers running Windows 7 in the next 30 days. “I would not be surprised if people were to go for models with lower specs because Windows 7 requirements are quite modest,” agrees Microsoft India chairman, Ravi Venkatesan. Operating system, itself starts at Rs 5,899 for the basic home version and goes upto Rs 11,000 for Windows Ulitmate.

Reduced memory seems to be topmost on the list of lowered specs. Notebooks running Vista required 2 GB memory, but Windows 7 is promising a similar experience with 1GB memory. Smaller memory, alone, could mean a price cut of about Rs 1,000, according to Grover. Systems running Windows 7 will need processor speeds of 1GHz or higher; 512 KB RAM works but one is better off with a 1GB RAM (32-bit)/2GB RAM (64-bit), 16GB of free disk space (32-bit)/20GB (64-bit) and DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. Promise of extended battery life could mean many of those who buy two batteries would stick to a single battery. “Windows Vista focused heavily on graphics among other features, thereby consuming more computing resources. On the other hand, an optimised Windows 7 offers a greater level of customisation to suit the individual PC user, hence reducing the need for larger amounts of processing power and memory,” explains IDC India lead PC analyst Sumanta Mukherjee.