The company introduced the cut-down, lower-cost version of Windows at a press conference in Sao Paulo, saying it hopes the software to start moving via five OEMs some time in May.
The software does not allow networking, and limits a single user to three concurrently open applications, with three open windows per application.
Reportedly, Microsoft is also courting the Brazilian government, which has plans to speed adoption of IT with a subsidized computers program. However, Starter Edition is expected to still be significantly more expensive than Linux-based PCs.
Brazil will be the sixth nation to get Microsoft’s budget offering, after Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, and India. The company introduced the program last year to help minimize piracy and woo back governments considering going the open source route.
