One week after rumors started to flood the interwebz Microsoft has stepped forward and via its Windows 7 Team Blog has confirmed that the Starter Edition of Windows 7 will not have the previously-mentioned limitation of running just three applications simultaneously. Yay!

"We believe these changes will make Windows 7 Starter an even more attractive option for customers who want a small notebook PC for very basic tasks, like browsing the web, checking email and personal productivity," said Microsoft Brandon LeBlanc in the Win 7 blog.

Even though able to run as many apps as it can, Starter is still the lowest-end and cheapest Windows 7 SKU so it will come will a whole bunch of limitation including the inability to change the desktop background, window colors, or sound schemes, and the lack of Aero Glass, multi-monitor support and DVD playback, the Windows Media Center, and Remote Media Streaming. Given the fact that it will mostly be aimed towards netbook use, Starter doesn't look all that feature-dry but it's obvious Microsoft is trying to 'convince' people that getting another edition - Home Basic/Premium will be the way to go.

Windows 7 is expected to become available "in time for the holiday shopping season," with a probable release date being October 15.