theinquirer.net — On is a flash-based barebones Linux install that gets you up and running, on the Net, and with much of what you need to run the computer in instantly. Dell went to great pains to avoid saying the L-word though, it might anger the very touchy gods atop mount Redmond.
Aug 14, 2008 View in Crawl 4
Closed AccountAug 15, 2008
thank you ki77erb, you are very gracious. yes i have tried ubuntu, 3 different times and 3 different distros the last being hardy heron, i tried very hard to like it. but ultimately it was too annoying, let me list the reasonsin case of tl;dr - linux annoyed me, i love xp, the end.-too annoying to install applications, theres like 4 different dot extensions for installs-tried literally for days to get compiz fusion/beryl to work, but was basically impossible-too many bugs/in development programs-apps are too unstable, crashed all the time-no support for video card, not linux's fault i guess but thats what it was-can easily pirate xp-xp is extremely stable and familiar-linux is not supported by most software-i haven't tried wine or other emu's but i doubt they work as well as xp seeing as how most linux apps are so damn buggy-linux had no mouse scroll wheel adjust, after surfing linux for a while, my fingers ached very badly because i had to scroll fives times as much. i saw in forums that many people ask for it too but no one has made one yet for some reason.-a lot of websites do not support linux and its insanely annoying to find a way to make it work.-everytime i wanted to do anything i had to surf endless forums and screw around for HOURS before it would work. that really drove me crazy.-no game support but its ok with me because i dual booted it.-lastly and most importantly, there is no strong incentive to switch. xp is perfect and free for me. its supported. also i don't really get viruses or spyware because i know how to protect it.the only advantages to linux are that it is free, and does not have a lot of spyware/viruses. but those things do not affect me at all. i'm sure MOST people also won't trade 100 dollars for a huge amount of frustration.these are the main reasons why linux won't become main stream- too difficult to use for regular people(im probably as close as it gets to programmer without being one and i still found linux hard). all linux distros should come standard with a manual that clearly shows step by step to do most things instead of making you have to surf endless forums. - linux needs a double click install, most people can't use console. that is why GUI took off.- xp is cheap enough and comes bundled with store bought systems which is where most people get their computers.-no strong incentive to switch, americans can't even go to metric for god sakes. how can they switch something as complex as an os.-no app/game support
Closed AccountAug 16, 2008
Can't wait! An amazingly simple use of custom linux architecture to make a laptop last days instead of hours. Welcome abaord the new way of doing business. Open source.
dandoniaAug 16, 2008
M$ is just short hand for Microsoft - it isn't meant in a bad way (or at least not when I use it) But Micro$uck, that sucks. The have helped bring computers the home, OK Windows might not be the very best OS on the market in every category but it still does everything that your average joe bloggs need. And while I hate how it's a resource hog, I rarely have an issue on it that I can't solve within seconds.
slugicideAug 16, 2008
How long is it going to take Apple to put Instant-On on their PCs? Oops, I forgot, a Mac isn't a PC. It's a...a..personal c-ca..uh it's a--help me out here?
cantormathAug 16, 2008
GO DELL!!!
Closed AccountAug 16, 2008
Dell's arrogance can be annoying. After being nearly sold on a Dell laptop with 4GB of memory, then being told on the phone that "there's no WAY anyone would want to use a 64 bit operating system on a 'home' machine (32 bit can't use 4GB of memory)," I think I'll stick with HP or Gateway... who still make cheap computers, but they don't act like they know everything.