Microsoft to Offer Windows 7 on a Thumb Drive?

A Microsoft source told CNET News that the company might offer Windows 7 on a thumbdrive instead of the usual CD installation package. This is to make it easier for netbook owners to install the new Windows OS on their machines which we all know don’t have the usual optical drive.

Of course we all know that if indeed this plan push through, the reason behind it is because Microsoft wants to reach out to as many users as possible to boost the sales of its software.

This is a welcome development as it will eliminate the need for netbook users to download Windows 7 and create a bootable hard drive that would install the OS on their machine.

But making Windows 7 available on thumb drive is just one problem when it comes to upgrading OS on netbooks. Since installation of Windows 7 on machines with Windows XP requires a clean install, netbook users need to make a back up of their files.

Anyway, no words yet on the pricing and other details of this plan. We will definitely watch out for more developments in the coming days.

One thing is for sure though. Microsoft reconizes the fact that netbooks have really become an important factor in the PC market.