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- shotgunefx, on 01/22/2009, -5/+22Of course, and if it's well played, inconspicuously getting people to use Linux (and just something besides Windows), and acquainted, very well make the thought of going to a Linux based desktop less scary down the road.
And if the economy keeps tanking, a lot of people will probably be looking to hold on to their computers a few more years (or at least you'll see them repurposed more), and getting more out of older hardware is another area Linux excels at. - schnikies79, on 01/22/2009, -1/+18I think you are going to see people hold on to their computers longer than before either way the economy goes. There is little to nothing to gain for the average user by buying a new computer.
I can play every steam game on my 3 year old pc. - MCJackhammer, on 01/22/2009, -4/+17And Windows saves you time if your money's worthless?
- jamesdew, on 01/22/2009, -0/+13lots of people buy new PCs when the only problem is they are overloaded with spyware.
- daengbo, on 01/22/2009, -0/+12I'm not going to argue that Linux is losing on the netbook or not being returned more often, but you made a grave mistake taking a random comment from a single manufacturer and extrapolating that to the entire market segment.
MSI's returns are high. It might have to do with the fact that their Linux install doesn't support all the hardware on the machine. That might be it. Unless every other manufacturer's machines are likewise misconfigured, their numbers mean nothing.
In other news, GM is doing badly, so it stands to reason that Toyota and Hyundai are going out of business. - jamesdew, on 01/22/2009, -1/+12I don't really get how this argument holds up on a netbook. Can;t do what? Browse the internet? Use instant messaging? What are you trying to do use photoshop?
- fugazied, on 01/22/2009, -2/+13On a netbook? That automatically takes Vista out of the game. It will be between Linux, OS X and maybe Win XP.
- priegog, on 01/22/2009, -3/+131998 called: they want their FUD comments back.
Seriously. If you're actually going for TIME... From the moment you get a brand new windows pc home, It's actaully FASTER (~15min) to put in an Ubuntu CD, wipe the hard-drive clean, and install it (along with most of the applications you'll ever need) than to go around the web and picking tis and tat and gathering all of your favorite software together and cleaning up all the adware and all of that... Not to mention time spent in maintainance.
How about you buy a new printer? taking out the CD, installing HP's fatass softawe (>500MB BTW) vs just plugging it in? New video card? Oh wait, your 30 day trial period for norton expired... what is more time (and money) consuming: paying them a suscription, going the lenghts to pirate it (you'd be surprised at the number of people that do) or trying to uninstall it (to either have nothing or install another AV)? (BTW good luck trying to uninstall either norton or symantec's AVs)
So just stop these cliches. The only VALID such claim right now are wireless cards in laptops, and with the newer versions, it'd be REALLY bad luck to find out you have one of the few that don't magically work...
So you know, there are valid reasons for prefering Windows (photoshop for one, or even just the fuzzy feeling you get when you see the precious start button), but time-saving just isn't one of them. - DavidTurnbull, on 01/22/2009, -1/+10I hope companies start battling it out with netbooks. They're already pretty nicely priced...excited to see how cheap they can get because I'll be picking one up so I can work whilst traveling.
- quomen, on 01/22/2009, -2/+11Maybe you fail.
Don't worry, I do too. - daengbo, on 01/22/2009, -1/+9I guess this is the cut-n-paste astroturf now. Alert to paid MS shills -- check the rest of the comment page for dupes before posting.
- Myztry, on 01/22/2009, -2/+10It will do wonders to counteract the pricing trend with Windows.
Microsoft can't exactly go charging $100+ plus for an Operating System which works on netbooks.
Not when that could be close to half the cost of the netbook.
And if Microsoft release a 37th subversion of Windows (lite or something) they'd be making a fool of themselves.
At the very least it's going to mean good things pricing wise. Though 'Ultimate' will no doubt remain a rort. - realwat, on 01/22/2009, -0/+8I went to Best Buy yesterday; saw five models of Netbook (from Sony, Dell, Acer and HP) and all of them have Windows XP. Linux on a Netbook is a good idea, but if these shops only sell Netbook with XP only, Linux has to catch up again.
- waspbr, on 01/22/2009, -3/+11yes, because learning new things is bad
- sffweb18, on 01/22/2009, -3/+10Well, i love Unix :)
- fugazied, on 01/22/2009, -2/+9After Longhorn you still have faith in that company to produce a decent OS in a short period that doesn't require twice the system specs to run? Good for you. Linux Distros and Apple are far ahead, maybe Microsoft can claw back a little by grabbing some OS X ideas for Windows 7 I guess but they still need to produce something that works well on low resource systems, which OS X/Linux already does.
- MCJackhammer, on 01/22/2009, -0/+7"Yeah, tons of companies are gonna want a piece of *that* profitless fiasco."
Can you name a company who's NOT doing netbooks.... - chourobin, on 01/22/2009, -3/+10own a netbook?
I bet if you tried it out, you would be surprised. my eepc runs every application my desktop can run for productivity and has twice the battery life of my other laptops. not only that, its twice as convenient to carry. - fandyboy, on 01/22/2009, -0/+7That's the appeal!
- ToadLeg, on 01/22/2009, -0/+6Try posting the question on the Ubuntu Forums:
http://ubuntuforums.org/
You could try the WUBI section
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=234
or the Installation and Upgrades section
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=333
or even the General Help section
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=331
But given that you decided to post your question on digg on an article about netbooks, you probably want to try Absolute Beginner Talk:
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=326
Even if you don't want to sign up and start a new thread to ask a question, you can use the search page to see if others have already asked about the same problem and found a solution:
http://ubuntuforums.org/search.php
You may want to learn a bit about Linux before doing searches for complex issues because it will help to have some idea of what you are looking for. - insanebrain, on 01/22/2009, -1/+7hmm.. that's probably why there are already millions sold.
- MCJackhammer, on 01/22/2009, -0/+6Yeah, what's wrong with using the Ubuntu LiveCD?
- jamesdew, on 01/22/2009, -1/+7you said that already, and I said use an external CD drive, it is a lot simpler and easier.
- inactive, on 01/22/2009, -2/+8Sorry but Linux and its use ***** on Windows for speed in every aspect. Its one of the major reasons I switched. I keep reading comments about how people couldn't use it because "It was too hard". Seriously If you get a new DVD player the first thing you have to do RTFM! Linux is no different and while I did not RTFM I still managed to install it, change it and now after 2 years I am happily, thankfully writing code and producing quality websites on it. Sometimes I need to RTFM on particular applications because they are complex but as in the case of Compiz Fusion and Emerald with Conky, Dock and so on it pays off!
And the near 2000 dollars I saved by not upgrading to Vista I have used to purchase a mountain bike. (Vista Ultimate + Office + RAM + AntiVirus + ?)
Keep it in mind the next time you read some "Idiots" comment about how crap Linux is and "it didn't work" Is just FUD or an excuse for ones incompetence and failure to RTFM! Sometimes Linux can be complex but its no excuse for laziness! - fandyboy, on 01/22/2009, -0/+5"It's just a smaller, less capable laptop and you'll pay for the size reduction."
That's what you want from a netbook, most laptops, maybe apart from the macbook air, are still bulky and heavy. The Samsung NC10 is an example of a netbook done correctly. - daengbo, on 01/22/2009, -3/+8Here's an idea: instead of installing a random OS on unsupported hardware, buy the hardware with the OS already installed (Xandros Linux) or at least use one that's designed to work ( http://wiki.eeeuser.com/ubuntu:eeexubuntu:home or http://www.eeebuntu.org/ ).
- Tribis, on 01/22/2009, -5/+10LOL I'm getting dugg down because people think I'm serious. Man, I don't think even 2020 could be the year of Linux.
- Ouze, on 01/22/2009, -7/+12It's not going to happen any time soon. Right now Linux based netbooks are being returned 4 times as often as windows based ones
http://gizmodo.com/5058953/linux-netbooks-are-retu ...
and the reasons are simple. People don't want to learn to do complicated different ways of getting the same results, at best, that they can already easily get with Windows. As always with linux, the cart is before the horse. Start making linux based apps that let you easily do things that you current CAN'T on windows, and you'll build an audience.
Additionally, linux desperately needs to stop ***** around and fix some of the longstanding problems under the hood. No one cares that you can have an animation of windows burning when you minimize them when you can't get your goddamn wireless working right. - darienphoenix, on 01/22/2009, -23/+27Linux is only free if your time is worthless.
- quaunaut, on 01/22/2009, -1/+5Actually, netbooks are turning a pretty fantastic profit. And while they're underpowered for more serious work, things as simple as anything in the MS Office Suite(or OO.org), browsers, or other communication pieces it works great for- plenty fast, and purpose built.
I don't have a Netbook, but I sure as hell want one after the time I've spent on a few. - quomen, on 01/22/2009, -2/+6Maybe because I have the ***** computer and Dell only released the Ubuntu with the four gigabyte SSD. Maybe you should stop making ***** assumptions. I have the Mini also. I'm on vista though. The only thing worse than a presumptuous ***** is an even bigger presumptuous *****.
- curiousgrge, on 01/22/2009, -1/+5I call ***** to those stats. If you go to Dell's Outlet website, you'll hardly find any that has Ubuntu on it (if at all like when I just checked their inventory). Everything on there is XP. So what does that say? Either everyone is buying the Linux ones to install another OS or that XP just sells a whole lot more units than the Linux ones. Certainly it isn't 50% return rate as you'd say and there definitely isn't "no complaints" for the XP.
- MCJackhammer, on 01/22/2009, -1/+5You tried a beta of a product that's being rushed to market.
Once they're done unloading all the bloatware they always put on Windows, come back and tell me it works better than Ubuntu already does on my laptop.
"Stupid comment"?....Does Windows 7 feed your family? - tmatyt95, on 01/22/2009, -2/+5I have found Linux to be great and have learnt a lot about computing through access to unrestricted software.
- MacParrot, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3Apple for one (though I wish they would)
- MrViklund, on 01/22/2009, -5/+8Hah. I have heard that since 2001...
- MacParrot, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3Netbook owner: Look, I took the liberty of examining that Netbook when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been using Windows in the first place was that it had been NAILED there.
(pause)
Netbook seller: Well, o'course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that OS down, it would have nuzzled up to those bars, bent 'em apart with Crysis, and VOOM! Feeweeweewee!
Netbook buyer: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this Netbook wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'E's bleedin' demised!
Netbook seller: No no! 'E's pining!
Netbook buyer: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This Netbook is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-NETBOOK!! - jamesdew, on 01/22/2009, -3/+6Try installing using an external CD drive, it's pretty easy then.
- Narishma, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3That report is inaccurate. Or more precisely it only applies to MSI, other manufacturers have said they have the same return rate on Windows and Linux versions of their netbooks.
- buckrogers1965, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3Easy Peasy was easy peasy for my Asus eee 4G pc.
I followed some easy directions, and installed in about a half an hour.
I did have to fix a few bugs, like the installer wanting to run at every boot up. After I logged in the screen was temporarily changing to a bright ugly green color, and that was easy to make ubuntu brown. But after that it has been good. Still working on getting gizmo project working, the mic doesn't work for some bizarre reason, even though I can record with the recording program. But everything else I have tried works flawlessly, including watching full screen videos of dvd rips. There are a few windows that extend below the screen and I have to blindly tab to the ok button on those screens.
And since this is a full copy of ubuntu, I have access to the full repository of software using the synaptic package manager. - inactive, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3Common mistake - Ubuntu may be the most talked-about, but it's not necessarily the best option for every circumstance. Important: Ubuntu != Linux. Shop about a bit (personally, I'd try Mandriva) before giving up on Linux completely.
- orph3us, on 01/22/2009, -2/+5you read about the story with the woman who thought her netbook was useless because she couldn't use ms word on it? I'm not saying that Linux has to be learned by the end user. Linux distros need a better job of having a switch campaign from Windows. Just like Apple did, Linux needs to do the same. Advertise Openoffice as THE alternative to MS Word, advertise the alternative to each application on Windows for Linux. Have tutorials, manuals whatever. People know Windows, thats the only reason they don't like Linux.
- MattBD, on 01/22/2009, -0/+3Yes it does. OpenSolaris works on the Eee. OK, it hasn't been certified as real Unix like Solaris has, but it's based on the same code base.
- daengbo, on 01/22/2009, -1/+4He's confused, since Windows sells on about 70% of netbooks right now.
- MCJackhammer, on 01/22/2009, -2/+5Let's wait until Windows 7 is actually out before we can tell if it works or not.
- hiro, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2Bad analogy lol
- HisShadow, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2>Actually, netbooks are turning a pretty fantastic profit.
No. Wrong. Stop. Do a goddamn search. 5 seconds of checking shows that Netbook margins are slim to nonexistent. There are no "fantastic profit"s just because you said so. The facts and data from the industry say otherwise. - courtjester555, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2I feel like most people who buy netbooks probably won't know how to upgrade their RAM. Plus, the other components of most netbooks (graphics card, processor) aren't equipped for Vista's demands.
- bat-21, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2If you have the money, now is a great time to buy. Most businesses lease their computers and many of them have just expired. I just bought an off-lease PC for $350. It's a Pentium 4 3Ghz with XP SP3, 1 GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD±R DL burner, 10 bays and 7 slots.
- inactive, on 01/22/2009, -0/+2Dugg for slightly awkward - but still enjoyable - adaptation of classic parrot sketch. Kudos.
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