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The netbook battle is on. Microsoft XP -- and possibly Windows 7 -- are fighting it out with Linux for a place in the tiny netbook configuration. If Linux is going to beat out Microsoft as the OS of choice on netbooks, the Linux community will have to convince consumers that "costs nothing" does not mean "not worth anything." Several vendors -- including Asus, Dell, HP, Acer and MSI -- are selling miniature laptops called "netbooks." These pint-sized wonders, usually measuring about 10 inches, often feature solid-state hard drives and retail for as low as $350 to $500.
Many retailers and OEMs are still only offering the XP versions. Where GNU/Linux is a choice and especially when the price reflects that choice, many are choosing GNU/Linux. Many consumers are not OS-conscious. They look at the price and features. As the price of hardware continues to fall it will be more difficult to exclude GNU/Linux from the market.
The ASUS 5s-to-on-line motherboards should give GNU/Linux an even better shot. One will be able to pop one into a mini-case or even a re-cycled ATX case and make a working PC for peanuts. M$ need not apply. Low-end mobo = $70. Any old case=$0, and you have a working box for less than $100. No place for Vista, 7, or anything from M$, including "the tax".
The ASUS 5s-to-on-line motherboards should give GNU/Linux an even better shot. One will be able to pop one into a mini-case or even a re-cycled ATX case and make a working PC for peanuts. M$ need not apply. Low-end mobo = $70. Any old case=$0, and you have a working box for less than $100. No place for Vista, 7, or anything from M$, including "the tax".
Jack made excellent points, thank you. I would surpass his expectations for linux to get easier with focus on verbal commands and exponentially greater auto config to make "everything" work with simple normal conversation voice/verbal commands that work like star trek stuff "computer, fix". IT might come back and say "would you like to run computer diagnostic to play that video you've been fiddling with for way too long?" "why yes, thank you" biff it comes back and says it needs to access the internet to download some software that would also be reported as reliable to you verbally and then you are playing your video without having to type all sorts of commands and know where to go to get the software and how to install updates or reconfigure dependencies etc etc
the star trek voice command stuff is not beyond the computing power we use today is it? I like to load and work with the big three operating systems though I try to limit any dependancies on windows. I believe that win and mac have got us to where we are with computing but linux/open source is the next paradigm shift needed to get enough people connected in order for us to evolve as a species.
the star trek voice command stuff is not beyond the computing power we use today is it? I like to load and work with the big three operating systems though I try to limit any dependancies on windows. I believe that win and mac have got us to where we are with computing but linux/open source is the next paradigm shift needed to get enough people connected in order for us to evolve as a species.
One thing you need to mention and emphasize is that whatever the Linux installation - everything must work! For those of us used to tweaking an OS this is no big deal. But for the average user to have to struggle to find a driver to make the wireless work will discourage users and hurt Linux. If Linux is to compete the vendors must make sure that ALL of their hardware is working out of the box. Wireless, ethernet, printers, ports and connectors must be working without having to go on the internet to find posts to fix things. Media drivers that enable MP3, video, microphone, headsets, cameras, must ALL WORK!
This has been the main obstacle in my experience. While all operating systems have their glitches, the installation must do all of the things the average user does with a netbook. Set up must be easy to do and when done EVERYTHING must work. Imagine Joe the plumer opening a netbook and trying to connect to the wireless and it doesn't work? He will fiddle with it for a few minutes, poke around and after about 20 minutes max he will throw his hands up and take it back. If on the otherhand he clicks on the "Connect to the Internet" icon and the software looks for a wireless connection and then asks for the connection name or shows him all the available connections and he inputs Starbucks and the computer connects and he fires up Firefox and it starts without a hitch - he will be happy. He won't give a hoot whether he is running Windows, Ubuntu or SLED. All he wants is to reach his Gmail so he can so he can communicate with his customers or find a part for a job he is going to do.
A nice interface that doesn't work for the basic tasks that we all do is useless, however attractive. If you include a camera with the computer it must work when you click on the icon. Don't ask me to go in and set it up. It must be point and shoot. Don't ask me to set up the mp3 player - it must be click and play. Don't ask me to set up the wireless, it must be click and connect. I think you get the point here.
If the hardware vendors can set up the OS to work seamlessly with the hardware then Linux will succeed. If not it will continue to be thought of an OS that is only for geeks.
This has been the main obstacle in my experience. While all operating systems have their glitches, the installation must do all of the things the average user does with a netbook. Set up must be easy to do and when done EVERYTHING must work. Imagine Joe the plumer opening a netbook and trying to connect to the wireless and it doesn't work? He will fiddle with it for a few minutes, poke around and after about 20 minutes max he will throw his hands up and take it back. If on the otherhand he clicks on the "Connect to the Internet" icon and the software looks for a wireless connection and then asks for the connection name or shows him all the available connections and he inputs Starbucks and the computer connects and he fires up Firefox and it starts without a hitch - he will be happy. He won't give a hoot whether he is running Windows, Ubuntu or SLED. All he wants is to reach his Gmail so he can so he can communicate with his customers or find a part for a job he is going to do.
A nice interface that doesn't work for the basic tasks that we all do is useless, however attractive. If you include a camera with the computer it must work when you click on the icon. Don't ask me to go in and set it up. It must be point and shoot. Don't ask me to set up the mp3 player - it must be click and play. Don't ask me to set up the wireless, it must be click and connect. I think you get the point here.
If the hardware vendors can set up the OS to work seamlessly with the hardware then Linux will succeed. If not it will continue to be thought of an OS that is only for geeks.
