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136 Comments
- shinkou, on 04/09/2009, -11/+61I would go for Linux anyway if I were going to buy a netbook. But good try, Microsoft!
- buckrogers1965, on 04/09/2009, -2/+51Aren't you glad that MS is being forced to compete?
Because otherwise Vista would have come out on all the netbooks and the entire market segment would have failed because of it. - khaosx2030, on 04/09/2009, -2/+38...There are people that care about numbers?
Those who want Linux can get Linux. - inactive, on 04/09/2009, -0/+23Asus CEO Jerry Shen has denied claims that consumers are sending back more Linux netbooks than they're returning Windows-based models.
Speaking in an interview with Laptop Magazine, Shen said return rates were the same for both operating systems.
"I believe the Linux and Windows have similar return rates," he said
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/22/asus_ceo_s ... - gsenechal, on 04/09/2009, -3/+22In some cases Windows is best, in others Linux is a better option.
For home use, I've got Ubuntu loaded on 1 laptop, another laptop with no hard drive, and the server that lurks in my basement.
For work.... Windows on everything and I run around rebooting sh-t all day. - poprocksandsoda, on 04/09/2009, -18/+37Windows 7 on my HP Mini is blazing fast and uses very little RAM and storage. It's no secret MS optimized the hell out of the Windows stack in order to prepare for the netgen of convergence.
- fiddler616, on 04/09/2009, -7/+24Microsoft has a habit of thinking that if they believe something hard enough, it's true.
- jeffgtr, on 04/09/2009, -3/+18Just placed an order for a Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu. Have been running Ubuntu with Parallels it covers all the basics you would need with a netbook, without all the windows hassles.
- Ouze, on 04/09/2009, -8/+23[citation needed]
- WoollyMittens, on 04/09/2009, -1/+16Less people would use Windows or Office, if they actually had to pay for it. As it is now, Microsoft is giving away Windows XP for pennies, just to retain their stranglehold on the netbook market.
Will they be equally willing to subsidize Windows 7 on netbooks? Or will there actually be a $ difference between the Linux version and the Windows version. - darkmagician777, on 04/09/2009, -0/+14No computer system works out of the box. XP has plenty of problems, Linux can have some problems when it does not recognize your hardware. That balanced with what are you using it for. If your into Itunes XP is the way to go for sure. If you surf the web - doesnt matter what system you choose.
- coldkill3r, on 04/09/2009, -0/+14Don't feed the troll.
- LostSoul83, on 04/09/2009, -0/+14The one thing the Microsoft puppets do not understand is that a sale doesn't translate into usage. Case in point: my new laptop. It came with Vista, but I only boot into it once every two weeks to play games that are shackled to Windows. Some of us pay for Windows because we *may* need to run a given program down the line, and not to use it as our primary OS.
- dhughes, on 04/09/2009, -1/+13 What I did would squew the sales figures.
I bought a Netbook, an Acer Aspire, when I went to the store all the ones on display had MS Windows Home with a 160GB hard drive. I asked the clerk if they has any with the solid state drive and Linux, he said no but they had ones with Windows and the solid state drive, so I bought that and wiped Windows when I got home and put on Ubuntu Netbook Remix.
Everything worked right away, yes even wireless networking. I have done nothing to modify the install, other than security updates, since the install it's been perfect since then.
btw I tried it when it had Windows Home on it and it's as slow as hell, mouse clicks took 1 or 2 seconds, and to make matters worse it's obvious it's just thrown on there with absolutely no thought about what it's purpose is. It's a netbook not a PC or a laptop yet there's all this useless crap, a complete Windows install, that is installed on it anyway. - Fl0ydP1nkert0n, on 04/09/2009, -0/+10I'm glad that it's at least possible to find netbooks with Ubuntu preinstalled. Choice is always good, and it introduces many more people to an alternative that they may not have previously been aware of. In the end, technology is supposed to be about sharing ideas and improving them, and it's too bad to always see these companies bickering back and forth, instead of focusing their energy on improving the product for the end user.
- inactive, on 04/09/2009, -0/+11Windows 7 Starter edition’s built-in artificial “three app limit” where users can only run a maximum of three applications at any one time could be a pain for those looking for cheap netbooks (and could mean that they end up paying for an upgrade).
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=4074 - hozelda, on 04/09/2009, -2/+12>> If you're a primary Linux user, and you have not yet tried out Windows 7, why not give it a try? It's a free, open beta, and I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.
Why would a Linux user be pleasantly surprised? OK, my pov is primarily that of a developer, so closed source Windows offers me very little.
Looking towards business use, I can't imagine going with beta software (or with closed software, but others may not care about avoiding lock-in or having privacy and control). I don't expect the $0 for unlimited copies once Windows leaves beta. I don't expect full redistribution and customization rights either. So I can't use Windows the way I can use Linux. I'm sure there is something good about Windows 7; however, immunity from malware likely won't be it, and I also don't want to add any further to the control a single company already has over so much software.
Microsoft marketing *always* basically says we'll be pleasantly surprised. That much hasn't changed.
I wonder what they will do when their revenues dry up. Competition is going to keep getting rougher for them. - BobCFC, on 04/09/2009, -4/+14That's the whole point, most netbooks aren't sold in stores
- archer75, on 04/09/2009, -11/+21Of all the netbooks i've seen in stores I have NEVER seen one with linux.
- binaryloop, on 04/09/2009, -5/+14I wonder how many people buy a netbook with XP on it and then format it and run Ubuntu? Those numbers never show up in the official count. They just look at the number of units sold.
- Tenoq, on 04/09/2009, -2/+10No. XP is definitely better than Windows 7 on my eeePC - but that's only because the Intel graphics driver sucks ass in Windows 7.
I still use Windows 7 90% of the time. - asaone, on 04/09/2009, -1/+9I use Ubuntu Linux, WinXP and have tried win 7. I have 7 computers including a Dell Inspiron mini 9
that I am using to write this and I love it. There are no problems with any drivers or anything else. It just works and it works damn good, I recommend it highly and a few friends have gotten one and are very happy with it. Don't believe the MS FUD. - AndrewWiggin, on 04/09/2009, -0/+8@ sauron256: are you saying it's fast because it's on a SSD? Or there's no room because Vista takes up 10+ gb?
- DarkHornet, on 04/09/2009, -0/+8The *only* reason I may not recommend using Windows 7 for the moment is because of driver support. Specifically, the lack of power saving programs such as the ones that come with the EEE 1000HE. Without the underclocking capability, the battery life isn't nearly as good as with drivers + XP. However, once Windows 7 is actually released, those drivers should be readily available. At that time, I say its goodbye to XP for anyone that can afford 7 and has a computer from this century.
- startx, on 04/09/2009, -2/+10I am one of them,I put Ubuntu on my Acer Aspire One and only left 20% of space for Windows in case something didn't work.
I'm impressed that Ubuntu runs so smooth on this thing even with Compiz running and really...effects like Desktop Wall,Expo,Scale and a few others make Windows XP feel boring. - buckrogers1965, on 04/09/2009, -12/+19A lot of people bought the Windows hardware because you got more for less. Then installed Linux on it as soon as they got it home.
- InorganicMatter, on 04/09/2009, -3/+9Yes.
- inactive, on 04/09/2009, -0/+6One Third of Dell Inspiron Mini 9s Sold Run Linux
According to Dell, the the return rate of Ubuntu running Mini 9s are comparable to the XP rate, which we are told is “very low.” “Our focus has been making sure that before the order is taken is that the customer knows what he is getting”
http://blog.laptopmag.com/one-third-of-dell-inspir ... - sauron256, on 04/09/2009, -1/+7Running Win7 of my Mini 9 right now. It is blazingly fast even with Aero enabled. Works great. Everyone who tries it out has asked when where they can get Windows 7 for their own computers...
- coldkill3r, on 04/09/2009, -1/+7It all depends on your configuration.
- hozelda, on 04/09/2009, -1/+7Who are the retailers saying this? Do they have numbers? Are they selling Linux, or are they worried customers will stop buying high priced software once they buy Linux? Have these retailers figured out how to make money on Linux? I doubt it. Most just started doing Linux recently. Microsoft gives marketing dollars to retailers to keep competitors out of the market. Large retailers that depend on volume and deal with tight margins can't afford to refuse Microsoft.
- peestandingup, on 04/09/2009, -1/+7I've been thinking of doing this on my Mini 9. Would you say its better optimized than XP??
- WoollyMittens, on 04/09/2009, -1/+6That's a personal choice, why are you cussing about it?
- ethana2, on 04/09/2009, -2/+7I do not think computer vendors will realize how much they need Ubuntu until a big one bankrupts while Apple's pulling in record profits. The sooner that happens, then, the better.
I'm tired of begging for unix. I earn money, and I pay for what's worth paying for. If a company like Dell can't get their OS choice and support act together in a timely manner, my next machine will be a refurbished unibody macbook. - Ouze, on 04/09/2009, -15/+20As someone who has used at least 7 or 8 different Linux distros, claiming "it just works" is flat out *****. It might be more accurate to say "you can probably get it going".
The inroads that linux has made in the netbook market are largely due to the higher system resources XP demands over a cut down linux distro. This equation will change considerably when Windows 7 is released.
If you're a primary Linux user, and you have not yet tried out Windows 7, why not give it a try? It's a free, open beta, and I think you'd be pleasantly surprised. Competition is good. - archer75, on 04/09/2009, -3/+8I have seen netbooks by all the manufacturers that I am aware makes them aside from Lenovo.
Asus, HP, Acer, MSI. Dell, i've seen them all in store. - 4321234, on 04/09/2009, -0/+5ASUS CEO Says Linux Netbook Returns On Par With Windows
http://ostatic.com/blog/asus-ceo-says-linux-netboo ... - pandawa, on 04/09/2009, -3/+8Ubuntu and other Linux distros have one thing going that I would love to see Windows pick up on and implement in their own product: the fact that software is FREE and available too everyone. With indows, you look and look kand you might find the application you are looking for for free but it might take an hour. In Ubuntu, you ope Add/Remove, search, download, and install. The systems are also 100% safe to use in terms of malware, and also very simple. I currently boot into Vista and Ubuntu 8.01 (Vista for more advanced stuff, Linux for everyday things) and I have to say, Ubuntu is inherently faster, more reliable, and more streamlined than Vista simply because it has SO many more people testing and tweaking the final product than Microsoft could ever afford to hire. And most if not all the Ubuntu people do it for free.
- stotty, on 04/09/2009, -1/+6Oh damn, I specifically thought of the very same comment! "It just works" is another Linux evangelist cliche. LOL - From a realistic Linux user.
- Phate8263, on 04/09/2009, -0/+5Yeah, but windows NEVER just works, unless someone else has done the legwork for you.
I just reinstalled XP, and my network card didn't even work!! I had to dig up a motherboard cd from some boxes in the garage just so I could activate windows. Then I had to go search for printer drivers, and get the latest video drivers... arghh.. Way more effort than it takes me to install Ubuntu on the same machine. But yes it does take a little tweaking. - inactive, on 04/09/2009, -0/+5Microsoft has said that an anti-virus program won't count toward the three-app limit.
However, there are many other programs that computer users keep running. Just look at the icons in your tray. How many of those could you live without? What about an anti-spyware program?
Microsoft details in its help section, “With Windows 7 Starter, you can open up to three programs at the same time. For example, if you start WordPad, Paint, and Calculator, and then you try to open a web browser, you’ll see a message telling you that you already have three programs open.”
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/window-7-starter- ... - Myztry, on 04/09/2009, -0/+4You left out the qualifying words. Blazing fast IN COMPARISON TO VISTA.
Still can't believe my kids have a Acer One from school with Vista because the Victorian (AU) Education Department got conned. Guess some government employee's will be sitting in Microsoft Corporate Box this year. Cashless bribes. Gotta be. Nothing else makes sense. - shinkou, on 04/09/2009, -3/+7@WafflesIDWafflesID
"Well, if all you want it to do is browse, read email, and do a few things with openoffice, then linux is an excellent choice, save the money."
Yes, that's all I wanted to do with my netbook. BTW, are you using your NETBOOK to do some 3D rendering jobs, edit videos, or put it in the datacenter to serve a million of users? - TrancePhreak, on 04/09/2009, -3/+7This is the year of desktop linux! -2008, 2007, 2006, ...
- norman619, on 04/09/2009, -1/+5You have actual stats to back up this claim? I'm guessing the answer is no and we should view this as your opinion and not a fact.
- avaugha4, on 04/09/2009, -0/+4RTFA.
- 1packer, on 04/09/2009, -0/+41) It's pretty easy if you installed it from the repositories to start with, since they'll just update it. And for some reason it seems like any driver that is released for Linux that isn't in the repositories will take just as much work to update as a windows one. I wouldn't know though because I haven't had to go look for drivers/use install disks since I put Ubuntu on my computer.
2) And I have no idea what the hell you are talking about with an OS company with years old development tools. By the way, the repositories come from the Debian upstream for the most part, and the Ubuntu/Launchpad ones can only be called from an OS company in the loosest terms.
3) Hey, you mentioned the swap thing to start with, don't suddenly write it off because it made you look bad because somebody called you on your claim. I have been using Ubuntu for a year now and haven't found a single thing it can't do for me yet, except run Windows only games in some instances, so what featureset exactly is so limited? - darkmagician777, on 04/09/2009, -1/+5Just some helpful info - its always best to boot from the CD and check the Disk integrity before you try to install it. Also if you know what your going to install (K)UBUNTU then you should have check which versions support your equipment. Would made most of the hassle go away.
popular chipsets do get supported. Chips like Intel, AMD and Nviida prime example for open source. ATI is gonna make you search for something. Im curious which version of (K)UBUNTU you used. Older versions are very different from newer versions.
When I installed linux UBUNTU 7.10 from WUBI - it went easy.
Booting from the CD (check disk integrity) and then install also easy. I did not have to type any commands. If linux still used more commands and less GUI - I probably would not use it :-) - MattBD, on 04/09/2009, -0/+4What learning curve? The distros installed on most netbooks are so dumbed-down a retarded squirrel monkey could use them with one hand while continuously masturbating with the other. Although I have seen an HP one with Suse.
- WafflesID, on 04/09/2009, -0/+4Have to point out a problem with #4 there and #7.
The beauty of Linux is that it can be tuned for one VERY SPECIFIC TASK or for one very specific hardware profile.
You don't install a linux distro that is intended for servers (RHEL, ubuntu server, CentOS, FreeBSD, etc). and you don't install a linux distro that is intended for home desktop computers that installs hundreds of packages.
Netbooks are specific use computers, and linux CAN be tuned to match that specific use as well as anything.
There are linux distributions that use kernels that are ONLY for specific netbooks (eeebuntu eeedora, etc all use the Array kernel which has specific drivers for the Eee PC compiled into it).
And besides, Xandros (gnu/linux) was the default OS for the EEE PC for ...4 generations? -
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