Comments on: Windows Threatens Linux’s Presence on Netbooks

By: Harry

Harry — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:10:36 +0000

It’s more than just the OS and the applications. It is also about having control of your own machine. Microsoft tries to use its control to make you upgrade the software every few years, just to keep doing the same stuff. Like a kind of tax…

They tried that with Vista, but largely failed, thanks mainly to the EEE and netbooks in general (@BriAnn about Asus being technology hero-you got that right!). Now they know they failed and are rushing Windows 7 in 2009 (which will really be Vista without the annoying stuff designed to make money for them). And they will try to make you pay again for an OS, when you already have one. Just to keep doing what you do now, whether you need the new features or not. So, if they succeed now, in a sense you won’t own your machine. Unless you keep paying Microsoft for upgrades.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:26:05 +0000

It’s not about the OS, it’s about the applications that run on it.
Netbooks are for surfing the web, accessing email and getting easy access to stuff online. They lety you work on that document or spreadsheet anywhere – but that’s it. By design.

In which case, either OS is great – on Windows, you have Office and great application support from just about everyone else. On Linux, you have a decent replacement (StarOffice / OpenOffice).
As The Wombat says, most people won’t notice the difference. Until they try to push the boundaries a little and install something a bit different – some technical or photo editing software perhaps. Then they will want the OS they are used to. But until then, either is great.

By: The Wombat

The Wombat — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:13:22 +0000

@the_garynator – “people already know xp, so why would they want to learn a new OS if they had the choice not to?” – because there is virtualy no “learning” involved with the eeepc’s basic Xandros set-up – its probably simpler to learn as an OS than a Wii or a gameboy….. I know some people took their eee’s back when they noticed that they didnt have windows on them, but most probably never noticed the difference. The OS on the netbooks is designed to be used by pretty much anyone with absolute ease.

By: the_garynator

the_garynator — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:16:23 +0000

I definitely prefer XP…As far as linux being more user friendly than xp or visa versa, it doesn’t matter. People know XP, and even if linux was more user friendly and easier to learn, people already know xp, so why would they want to learn a new OS if they had the choice not to?

By: Donn Lee

Donn Lee — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:05:38 +0000

Nice posting. I am a big linux fan/user since the early Slackware days, however I have to admit that XP on my netbook is very convenient. Specifically with: Getting my EEE 901 to work with my company’s VPN, and tethering with my mobile phone over bluetooth. The ubuntu-eee distro works nicely with the 901 and so I dual-boot xp/ubuntu and have the best of both worlds.

By: Metalx1000

Metalx1000 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:22:11 +0000

I have 2 eee pc 900.
My wifes and mine.
Although I’m not a fan of Xandros, Linux is the way to go.
I have Debian installed on mine
and My wife has Ubuntu.
As far as “Windows XP is more user friendly”
Not true. Maybe 5 years ago it was.
A Distro like Ubuntu takes care of everything for you.
Most hardware it plug and play, no looking driver CD.
No worrying about Anti Virus software
No Registry to clean.
Linux is more user friendly.

By: Kudo

Kudo — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:04:18 +0000

I use a eeepc 1000 with Ubuntu eee on it and i find it just fine for my needs.

By: BriAnn

BriAnn — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:00:35 +0000

Every once in a while, Microsoft needs to be taken down a peg, as was the case with Vista, but there’s no denying that we would not be enjoying the capabilities we have today were it not for Microsoft.

I hope that when the year end awards come out Asus will get a special award as Technology Hero! Were it not for the inexpensive netbook niche that they created, Microsoft would still be trying to shove Vista down our throats. Would WIndows 7 (which sounds like a fantastic product from early reports) be as compact as it is (reported to run quite nicely on netbooks with 1GB) if not for Asus and the netbook industry it spawned? I suspect that absent Asus, Windows 7 would be Vista’s bloated big brother.

By: Paulo

Paulo — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:18:18 +0000

For now, I think that Windows XP is more user friendly that Linux and many people I know never heard about Linux (unfortunately)… But I’m almost sure that in a few years things will change (hope so)…

At home, I use Fedora and Ubuntu but I believe that Windows XP is well suited for 90% of all computer users… I’m using it now at work :)

Bye…

By: philwil

philwil — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:55:38 +0000

My Eee PC 701 still run original Xandros Linux, although highly customized, and my Acer Aspire One still runs Linux.