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Acer to make first-ever Android netbooks: Linux is back

electronista.com — Acer at Computex today said it would be the first to produce netbooks using Google's Android platform. Company IT product president Jim Wong expects the systems to appear in the summer and that the Linux-based systems will still use Intel Atom processors. They should be less expensive than Windows versions and also run faster.

Who dugg this? Made popular Jun 3, 2009

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  • warp99, on 06/02/2009, -4/+35Smart move by Acer going with a two track method of Windows and Android. This is how they've been outflanking Asus in the netbook market. Asus is taking a huge risk being wedded to Microsoft since their success hinges on the success of Windows 7 Starter.
  • kolop1, on 06/03/2009, -0/+27Where did Linux go?
  • rvaldes04, on 06/03/2009, -0/+21I think giving the consumer options is the best way to go.
  • tusseyd, on 06/03/2009, -4/+20Very smart move. Android will run well and long with a low powered processor. This is the future for netbooks. Way, way too much overhead and baggage with any version of Windows.
  • TokenBlack, on 06/03/2009, -1/+13actually no... http://gizmodo.com/5275599/asus-hey-guys-forget-yo ...
  • timlopez, on 06/03/2009, -0/+12Linux never left. They've been alternates for OEMs for a while now, and even more strongly the past couple years. Android is nice, but it's definitely not the Jesus of linux distros.
  • warp99, on 06/03/2009, -0/+10Really?

    http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/ ...

    Thanks for playing, please try again.

  • Paranoidmarvin, on 06/03/2009, -0/+9I still think Moblin will fare much better on Netbooks than Android... it has been designed from the ground up for the netbook platform, not for smartphones.
  • inactive, on 06/03/2009, -1/+9Like what?

    Rip a dvd, record a video with audio, record the desktop in full frame resolution at 25 FPS something I can never achieve on windows box using fraps etc because it sucks when you do, write an email, browse the web, edit a hd video using kdenlive, record audio using MIDI, record a band in 64 tracks using full 24 bit HD surround audio, burn a CD/ DVD easily, simply and a lot faster than Nero, recode media using VLC or a GUI to FFMpeg, Edit a picture and remove noise using Gimp, create a business card using Inkscape, edit a website using any editor you like or just Kate, run office under wine, create diagrams or flow charts for presentations using Dia, make a slideshow? Or did you want to create a 3d animation using blender, slave a pc using synergy or would you prefer an expensive KVM box?

    What did you want to do again?
  • rolf, on 06/03/2009, -1/+7Good news for me. I put off buying a netbook since Februargy because the linux offerings dried up. eeePC used to give hardware upgrades if linux was chosen, but not their latest offerings (like the 1000He). I would have bought that if linux were preloaded, not going to give redmond money just for buying a copy of windows that will be replaced.

    BTW, fta:
    "Acer's decision is a blow to Microsoft, which has managed to achieve a near-monopoly of the netbook market by consciously selling Windows below cost to reduce most of the price advantage that had led Acer, ASUS and others to choose Linux in the first place."

    If true, isn't this illegal on Microsoft's part and called dumping? I can't see how it's below "cost" though or how that gets computed in a product like this.
  • Toshibi, on 06/03/2009, -3/+9Don't call it a come back, I've been here for years...
  • yocouchdigga, on 06/03/2009, -3/+9***** yeah, Android!
  • nick9000, on 06/03/2009, -0/+6Whether running Android, Windows or Linux today’s netbooks are just small notebooks.
    I’m waiting for something with all day battery life, instant on but with a decent screen and keyboard. I don’t need a portable version of my desktop, just something I can use to access the web.

    With Snapdragon:

    http://www.hellosmartbook.com/index.html

    I think my wait may be over. The ‘Smartbook’ is what the netbook should have always been.
  • ModernDayDarwin, on 06/03/2009, -3/+9While you may be correct, typing in proper sentences and spelling would have helped your cause.
  • mrBitch, on 06/03/2009, -1/+7It must be sad for you, standing at the side of the road and watching the rest of the technological world pass you by...
  • pp7k, on 06/03/2009, -0/+5Yeah, the notion of "cost" is a little silly here. Windows has been sold at about 90% margins for a while now, meaning the development cost is nicely covered by the first few hundred thousand sales; the rest is gravy. Incremental support and development is likely more than paid for by the $15 charge. I'd bet there's still profit in there.

    But hey, you can't say Linux isn't successful. Who else could have forced so many price breaks and modifications? Think you'd see a Windows 7 beta by now without Linux? Microsoft ***** up with Vista, but without Linux they'd just tell everyone "suck it, we'll bring out the next version when we feel like it". Many corporations and governments now know that all they need to do is whisper "hey, what about Linux?" to get massive discounts from Microsoft.
  • inactive, on 06/04/2009, -0/+4what?

    most of that software in windows costs money. I can do that in linux with a few clicks of a button, at no cost......guess that makes me inferior
  • Nephersir7, on 06/03/2009, -0/+3UNR + Android Apps FTW http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/05/ca ...
  • chard, on 06/03/2009, -0/+2I don't see how selling your product below the cost it took to manufacture it being illegal... Isn't that what most video game console manufactures do? You're right though, I don't know how Microsoft could sell XP today for a loss...
  • chard, on 06/03/2009, -3/+5This is great if you are already comfortable with linux/gmail but not even android can really put a stab into why people stick with windows.
    A. It is familiar.
    B. It works with what they use.

    It is still great to have something that works with your gmail out of the box and android is a well developed OS.
  • Webjunkie, on 06/03/2009, -1/+3"Linux is back" is the new "Everything's coming up Millhouse"
  • inactive, on 06/04/2009, -0/+1Um I can do all those things on Windows. Using non open source

    Edit HD video using Acid (Sony) No problem $500
    Record a desktop video = $50
    Record a band in 64 track HD surround = $300
    Burn a DVD = $50
    Recode a video = $80
    Edit a picture and remove noise = $120
    Flow charts = $700 bucks with office pro
    Slideshow = $500 buck with Office basic
    3D gfx = $3000 bucks
    Alternative to synergy for Windows? There isn't one! So you are stuck with a KVM and at 1024 px resolution.

    Listen kid, You are a Kid right? Read some!
  • ScottyDelicious, on 06/04/2009, -0/+1Windows 7 Starter does not include:

    * Aero Glass, meaning you can only use the “Windows Basic” or other opaque themes. It also means you do not get Taskbar Previews or Aero Peek.
    * Personalization features for changing desktop backgrounds, window colors, or sound schemes.
    * The ability to switch between users without having to log off.
    * Multi-monitor support.
    * DVD playback.
    * Windows Media Center for watching recorded TV or other media.
    * Remote Media Streaming for streaming your music, videos, and recorded TV from your home computer.
    * Domain support for business customers.
    * XP Mode for those that want the ability to run older Windows XP programs on Windows 7.
  • warp99, on 06/03/2009, -0/+1I suppose you're right, you don't see MS apologists crucifying it.
  • alandanziger, on 06/03/2009, -0/+1I was thinking the same thing - they must have recouped development costs years ago, so what does "below cost" actually mean? "Cheaper than we sell it to anyone else", sure...

    And yes, I'm aware of the concept of incremental support costs. And that some netbook buyers will be less tech-savvy than even the typical Windows user. But M$ pushes off most of the tech support calls to the OEM anyway...
  • MonsterRayn, on 06/03/2009, -0/+1It's Acer's first ever, so technically the headline isn't misleading.

    I hate technicalities.
  • couponscode, on 07/03/2009, -0/+1i bought an Asus EEE linux for my son. I want to teach him how to use it. he ask me why not a windows one when we can pay $150 for a xpsp2 license when i had spent more than a week to teach him
  • inactive, on 06/05/2009, -0/+1my apologies i got confused as to who that post was aimed at, but my rational still makes total sense, to me. I make the world go round!
  • kopiwrite, on 06/03/2009, -0/+1Definitely smart move. I know what netbook I'm buying for next semester now! <3 Acer
  • inactive, on 06/05/2009, -0/+1synergy works on windows. I use it regularly between my linux and windows 7 box. And KVM switches arent all that expensive. 20 bucks on newegg.

    Granted you can do all of that, but look at your cost. I can do the same for free, much of it out of the box. and what i may NEED from windows, theres wine and i may have to pay out some, but not nearly that much. Sorry i dont like wasting my money on software if i dont have to. Its like those silly people who buy monster cables and $100 hdmi cables from best buy. Good for you, but hey the economy sucks and if i can do it for free, why the ***** not right.

    And no im not a kid, im 24, self sufficeint with a bs and ms in applied exercise physiology and run the third year medical curriculum at a major university. I simply dont like to waste my money on software, rather spend it elswhere, such as the new dell poweredge server i bought for $300, plus 2 gb ram, 30bucks, and a 1tb hard drive, 100dollars. I still come in well under your software budget and now have an esx server (ESXi is free) that runs windows xp, 7, ubuntu, BSD Freenas, Windows Home Server and Windows Server 2003r2 and several others, all for less that your stupid software budget.

    but hey, knock your socks off. makes no difference to me. Ignorant people make the world go round.
  • Jaime2000, on 06/04/2009, -0/+1No, that would be Ubuntu.
  • inactive, on 06/04/2009, -0/+1gmail is web based last i checked, so pretty much any browser with an internet connection should work, and in come cases you dont even need the internet connection.

    regardless, i dont see how the OS affects the use of gmail "out of the box"
  • mrBitch, on 06/08/2009, -0/+1@ LinuxPwns, RE: "... relentlessly devoting yourself to an operating system to augment your shriveled manhood."


    Hmm, sounds like (given your account name) you seem to be talking about yourself...
  • tux11, on 10/25/2009, -0/+1my thoughts too! as its simply all over the netbook and cell markets, why woul have gone any were?
  • Jaime2000, on 06/04/2009, -1/+1...RTFA. That's ASUS, not Acer.
  • Skurt, on 06/03/2009, -1/+1Commented on this years ago ;)

    http://digg.com/hardware/HP_Confirms_Considering_A ...

    Jan 1 2009
    http://venturebeat.com/2009/01/01/android-netbooks ...

    /internet years ago :P
  • steenmeyer, on 06/03/2009, -5/+5ummmm. YA! I think you all are a little behind the time here.

    Alpha 680
    http://www.skytone.net.cn/en/products.php?bigclass ...

    http://news.cnet.com/report-first-android-netbook- ...

    Acer the 'FIRST EVER' Android netbook - I don't think so, LMAO
  • bxcrx, on 06/03/2009, -1/+1Hooray for a 1/2 baked Linux O/S. I'll be happier when I can port any Linux app over to it.
  • inactive, on 06/03/2009, -1/+0So...because YOU are too ***** stupid to do those things on Windows without problems, that is somehow Microsoft's fault?

    Blame your parents and local school system for your inferiority.
  • McPOW, on 06/03/2009, -1/+0@ModernDayDarwin

    Why don't you go ***** yourself? How is that for a proper sentence?

    This is the internet, no one ***** cares what you think about other people's grammar.
  • Webjunkie, on 06/03/2009, -4/+1How about run Catia? Can it do that? Didn't think so.
  • inactive, on 06/03/2009, -7/+1It's even more sad for you, relentlessly devoting yourself to an operating system to augment your shriveled manhood. You lost the race before you even found the track.
  • inactive, on 06/03/2009, -8/+1Words could not accurately describe how bad your comment is. Get some fresh air.
  • seltaeb4, on 06/03/2009, -15/+2How can Linux be back when it was never here to begin with?
  • inactive, on 06/03/2009, -19/+3For the las ***** time...no matterwaht Computer World says, Windwos Starter will NOT be used on netbooks. Starter is still just for developing countries...NOT for netbooks.
  • inactive, on 06/03/2009, -21/+3yeah...sure it is.

    "Linux is back." That is what store owners say whenever a customer returns a Linux computer after realizing the computer thye bought won't do what they want.

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