This is the "emerging markets" edition, can you believe it? I am sure that Windows users in Thailand and other places will appreciate having their screen resolution crippled just because they can't afford the full blown version. Wow!"The first version of Windows Vista is also the version you're most likely never to see in action: Windows Vista Starter. The concept of a "starter" version of Windows debuted in early 2004 when Microsoft announced that it was going to release a localized version of Windows XP for Thailand and potentially other markets. Such localized versions are also crippled—limitations are placed on screen resolution and the number of programs in concurrent operation."
No wonder the rest of the world is so far ahead of the US in Linux adoption considering that type of corporate attitude.
Here's the ars article:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060227-6269.html