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76 Comments
- tusseyd, on 06/03/2009, -2/+28The Android impact is the one to watch. It not only brings Google to the game (which can't hurt), but it also brings ARM.
- cannonball, on 06/03/2009, -0/+20I'd be very interested in how far RealNetworks can take proprietary media playback to the Linux OS. If I can start watching Netflix on demand with my Xubuntu machine I will be one happy clam.
- DangerCollie, on 06/04/2009, -0/+16I'm looking forward to trying Android. Only there's another trend people are missing out on. Buying a used laptop and blowing Ubuntu 9.04 on it. I got a Dell Latitude for $250 and it's zippy with 9.04. Zero configuration problems (related to the OS). It's like brand new Linux laptop and has more storage than a netbook.
So for less than the cost of any netbook, you can get yourself a really decent Linux laptop. And if you lose it, you're not out that much. It's a little heavier to carry around, but not a lot. Save yourself some $$$. - Coven, on 06/04/2009, -0/+147 SE is limited to a gig of RAM? What kind of ***** is that?
- diggduggjoe, on 06/04/2009, -1/+14Number 5:
Microsoft twists the arms of vendors to have them curb their enthusiasm for Linux netbooks. - TheZorch, on 06/04/2009, -0/+13Win 7 SE is good and all but its limited functionality even with the 3 app limit removed will turn a lot of users off. Linux is the only logical way to go for netbooks, and so is ARM since the processor is powerful but uses very little power. This is how Linux become mainstream, via a niche market like this one.
- yfph, on 06/04/2009, -0/+13Hmm, Moblin v2.0beta looks pretty slick. Looks like it will be fun to play around with..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsCpIeLLoT8 - Toshibi, on 06/04/2009, -0/+11Coven, I seem to recall XP not having that either. It's funny too, because just recently onboard the Shuttle, they wanted to watch a DVD in their down time and couldn't because their laptops couldn't play DVD's, no codecs.
And Linux does make things possible. I can build a Beowulf Cluster with linux for free unlike with Windows, where if I wanted to make any sort of cluster I would need to spend some serious dough. Or i can get the latest versions of linux to run on low powered hardware, like my MP3 player (which I do, and it is awesome!). - inactive, on 06/04/2009, -4/+15it sounds good all the way up until the RealPlayer *****.. ***** you Real! Go Buffer yourself
- FritoPendejo, on 06/04/2009, -3/+13Has there ever been a worse abomination of software than RealPlayer? Why is this company still around? I wish it would die the painful death it deserved a long time ago.
- warp99, on 06/04/2009, -0/+10@bashmohandesx
If it's just a "stupid surfing device" then why would you buy a netbook with Windows SE when you could get an ARM netbook with 8 hours battery life for a price point under $200?
You're just surfing with it so you don't need anything else, right? - mrBitch, on 06/05/2009, -0/+10Another thing about ARM, is that Windows can't run on ARM, thus Microsoft can't put pressure on ARM netbook makers...
- inactive, on 06/04/2009, -3/+13It's a very standard thing about Microsoft: If you want more power/functionality, you can pay for it.
Whereas with Linux, if it's possible... you can have it. - inactive, on 06/04/2009, -0/+9I think you misread my meaning, folks.
If it's possible doesn't mean it's immediately available. Linux isn't perfect. There's some stuff that's hard to get going in Linux but the fact remains that if you *can* do it, you are allowed to do it. The only barrier between you and things that Linux won't do for you is your willingness to get it done.
This isn't so with Windows. If Microsoft doesn't want Windows to do it, it won't. - lemur, on 06/04/2009, -0/+9I've never been a big fan of Realplayer's Windows program, but you have to understand that the Linux code base is something different. As far as desktop media players go, Helix player is really quite nice... it seems like a solid program with potential, although I never had the proper codecs to be able to make use of it.
- pinchduck, on 06/05/2009, -1/+8While MS crippling W7 for netbooks can only help linux, the "Cannot play DVDs" seems to be a bit of a red herring. How many netbooks ship with DVD players?
- wadd, on 06/04/2009, -1/+8Now *there* is a long term desktop trend you can count on!
- warp99, on 06/04/2009, -1/+7These aren't desktops, there netbooks or if you prefer "smartbooks" running ARM processors that get 8 hours of battery life, weigh in under 2 pounds, and cost less than $200.
Microsoft is out of the picture since Windows 7 will not run on ARM. This is a whole new ball game since Android ($$$) and Moblin ($$$) are involved. - 3242130193, on 06/05/2009, -0/+6Yeah, but with so many companies jumping on board, there's no way that Microsoft can stop all of them, especially when Intel, Google, and so many other companies have banded together behind it.
- sjvn, on 06/04/2009, -1/+7Licensing. When you get a netbook with the new RealPlayer on it, you're also paying for the proprietary codexes on it.
Steven - PhillyOC, on 06/04/2009, -1/+7Agreed.
It is the MacAfee of players. - warp99, on 06/04/2009, -0/+6@bashmohandesx
Microsoft already said they won't port Windows 7 to ARM. Even if they did make a port there are almost no quality apps available.
Android has an SDK plus an app-store that's growing larger every day. Moblin runs a huge library of OSS plus it will also run Android apps.
Microsoft has nothing more than Windows Mobile to compete in the ARM market. Microsoft is sidelined and they know it. Truth hurts, doesn't it?
@Slumper
What about Android? You didn't respond to that. - warp99, on 06/04/2009, -0/+6"DVD playback out of the box?"
If you buy Linux pre-installed from someone like Dell you get DVD playback just like with Windows, unless you get Windows 7 SE. No DVD playback plus some other things are missing:
http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/ ... - clickwir, on 06/05/2009, -0/+6For over 2 years now. None of my pc's run Windows. Linux is my desktop and has been for over 2 years.
2 desktops, 2 laptops, 3 servers and any testing I do, is on linux. - clickwir, on 06/05/2009, -0/+6Well, since I've actually used a netbook with Windows XP and Ubuntu Netbook Remix (and not just making generalized, uninformed FUD) , I can say that I would much rather use UNR. XP is not suited to that size screen or hardware in general. It doesn't scale down.
UNR, perfect for the netbook. I love it. So much more screen real estate than XP. - mrBitch, on 06/05/2009, -0/+5@ clickwir, another point is that the ARM based netbooks will be MS free, unless you want Windows CE on it...
@ anonymousmedic, RE: "... Netbook distros out there have a great start at this, but until you can run grandma's card creator software, or use the latest cutting edge hardware that little johnny wants to play Crysis ... "
What netbook runs crysis? - inactive, on 06/04/2009, -4/+7It was supposed to be this year, but has been postponed until next year.
- warp99, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3@b3n87
That's true, but Dell, Acer, HP, Asus, etc. all sell add-on kits that include DVD players for the netbooks like this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/616453-REG/A ...
If people didn't need them companies wouldn't sell them. So it's still an issue if only a minor one. - inactive, on 06/05/2009, -1/+4Coven, to be fair... Windows will only let you do what Microsoft allows you to do, and you don't have the legal right to mess with that. But... the stuff it DOES let you do often comes easier than the Linux alternatives. Though I am a big fan of Linux, there's a lot to be said for not having to depend on a mostly-volunteer community for everything.
- Frostek, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3Hating Real is so 1990s! Yes, they were crap back then, with their endlessly buffering, rubbish media player, but that was a long time ago. Try looking at them now - much better software and attitude.
- mrBitch, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3@ Slumper, RE: "... new Linux netbooks brake records .."
The word is BREAK, but you're right, Linux based netbooks WILL break records... and there will be zero ARM based netbooks with Windows OS, unless you want Windows CE on your netbook... - MattBD, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3I wouldn't bet on it. Considering how fast Linux seemed to lose the netbook market and how few complaints I've actually heard about the usability of Linux netbooks, I reckon Microsoft made a few veiled threats, combined with juicy incentives to OEM's. Of course we'll probably never know the whole story.
- warp99, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3Many people buy them as add-ons like this kit from Acer:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/616453-REG/A ...
Dell, Asus, and HP also sells them. So if you want DVD playback you either need to upgrade or download VLC, which is also available for Linux. So the difference between running DVDs with VLC on either platform is six eggs in one basket, 1/2 dozen in the other. - Coven, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3and netbooks, according to the article
- clickwir, on 06/05/2009, -2/+5And even if they do use the add-on DVD player, they'll get a message telling them it's not installed but gives them an option to take care of it.
XP? Basically it tells you to go pound sand. Compared to Ubuntu, XP is very complicated to get DVD playback working.
Ubuntu, one button (maybe a password entry).
XP, google it. Find an app. Download it, find it installs 15 other apps and toolbars and still doesn't give you DVD playback for free (wanna buy it?). Uninstall will remove the app but not the 15 other apps and toolbars. Go uninstall them. Then find something like VLC. Goto their website, download, install. THEN try playing DVD again. Even if you start with VLC, you still have to go find it, download it and install it. Ubuntu, you'd be watching by now. - clickwir, on 06/05/2009, -2/+5Yea, how's the weight on that Dell?
Battery life? Old notebooks usually have worn out batteries.
Yea, it's an option for someone looking for a low cost NOTEBOOK. But not a NETBOOK. - b3n87, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3They dont normally have CD/DVD drives though because their so small :S
- Twinnie, on 06/05/2009, -0/+3You can use it right now if you just boot it off a USB drive. I was trying it earlier, looks like it might be good for a touch screen tablet thing like those ones a few companies have in the pipeline but it's a bit basic for anything else, I like to be able to install a few things on a regular netbook even though it's only really designed for web stuff.
- Elranzer, on 06/05/2009, -0/+2Palm's webOS is also Linux-based. I think it would be more interesting to see webOS netbooks than Android netbooks (although both would be very cool). In fact, dual-booting them on the same machine would be downright orgasmic.
On that note, I wonder if you could run Windows Mobile on an ARM-based netbook... - DickBreath, on 06/04/2009, -1/+3Maybe there won't be a year of the Linux desktop. Maybe the "desktop" is obsolete. Everyone now wants computers to be extremely mobile. Laptops. Netbooks. Phones. Tablets. Of course, these should be pluggable into a comfortable desktop monitor/keyboard/mouse setup. But before long, your primary computer will be something you carry around in your pocket with you and will have more computing power than today's most powerful desktops. Linux is well suited to this future.
- mrBitch, on 06/08/2009, -0/+2@ Elranzer, RE: " ... I wonder if you could run Windows Mobile on an ARM-based netbook..."
Yes you can, but if you have a choice of a netbook running webOS, Android, Moblin, or Windows CE... I doubt anyone would pick WinCE. - Toshibi, on 06/06/2009, -0/+2Twinnie, I've been dealing with computers since Commodore days. User friendly to me is way outside the normal...but I switched to Ubuntu because after working on Windows boxes day in and day out that were all infected or taking a ***** on themselves in some fashion, I wanted something easy to use. Guess what, Ubuntu, to me, was a whole lot friendlier.
- esc27, on 06/05/2009, -1/+2I'm not sure how "crippled" Win 7 starter will be, but the few netbooks that have come through my office with a hardware vendor's Linux distro had the most crippled, limited versions of Linux I have ever seen.
- clickwir, on 06/05/2009, -1/+2Where's yours?
- infectaphibian, on 06/05/2009, -0/+1It was the year of XP, just like the last nine years.... (yawn.)
- chessthecat, on 06/04/2009, -2/+2"If you take everything "Linux" has done in its lifetime and put it all together; it looks decent." George Costanza.
- inactive, on 06/06/2009, -0/+0You don't have much else to fiddle with. God has dealt you a cruel hand, but you have the power not to be a dick.
- inactive, on 06/04/2009, -1/+1Gotcha there...Well time will tell...
- inactive, on 06/06/2009, -0/+0If I read it on the Internet, it must be true. Guh guh guh!
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