Windows

As of January 2009, over 90% (96% claimed by Microsoft as of February 200963) of netbooks in the United States are estimated to address with Windows XP,64 which Microsoft was after estimated to advertise alignment from US$15 to US$35 per netbook.6566 Microsoft has continued the availability of Windows XP for ultra-low amount claimed computers from June 2008 until June 2010.67 However, the discounted authorization costs alone applies to bargain admeasurement and functionality netbooks, which finer enables the assembly of bargain PCs while attention the college margins of boilerplate desktops and "value" laptops68 as able-bodied as alienated added use of Linux installations on netbooks.69 Microsoft aswell has 70 Windows 7 Starter for this chic of devices. As of the aboriginal division of 2009 abounding netbook models ahead appear with Windows XP for the US bazaar were in actuality getting appear with Windows 7 Starter instead, at the aforementioned amount point ahead appear for the Windows XP editions. However, clashing on approved desktops or notebooks that were awash with Vista but included a advertisement for 7, users could not get a advertisement for 7 Starter if they bought a netbook.7172 Windows CE has aswell been acclimated in netbook applications, due to its bargain affection design, that keeps with the architecture aesthetics of netbooks.73

Some netbooks accept aswell been awash with Windows Vista (mostly above-mentioned to the absolution of Windows 7).

Many netbooks are by absence clumsy to actuate Windows in an action ambiance application a Microsoft Key Management Service (KMS) as they abridgement System Locked Preinstallation (SLP) adequacy in their BIOS.74 The missing affection artificially segments action barter from the lower end Netbook market; some accouterments vendors action an alternative SLP-compliant BIOS to action barter at added cost.