Acer confirms plans for Linux, SSD-equipped 10-inch Aspire One netbooks
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jan 29th 2009 5:39PM
posted Jan 29th 2009 5:39PM
It wasn't making any promises on launch day, but Acer has reportedly now confirmed that it will indeed be offering both Linux and SSD options on its new 10-inch Aspire One netbook, though you won't be able to get either option right out of the gate. Expectedly, the Linux distribution on tap is Linpus Linux, and it looks like the only SSD option will be a 16GB drive -- no word on pricing for either, unfortunately. There's also no firm word on a released date, though it'll apparently be some time after the mid-February roll out of the Windows XP-equipped model.
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz...
Gimme bluetooth, sim card slot and a 6+ cell battery and i am happy, so long as this sits under £320.
linux FTW
I hope Linux comes preinstalled, because then you know that everything works. God help you if something doesn't work out of the box, especially wifi.
Linux? really? ... let rush right out and buy a computer that can't run any normal software!!!!
Once Windows 7 is available there is no reason to buy anything else on a netbook
Oh, right, I must have forgotten. Windows comes with vi, make, and a package manager.
what's 'normal software' exactly? web browsers? text editors? or maybe even viruses?
"Linux? really? ... let rush right out and buy a computer that can't run any normal software!!!!"
Let's rush right out and buy a computer that can't run any computer virus!!!
Low-rank @darthgault all you want, but I have to agree 100%.
Now that you Linux fanbois are pissed, yes, I've tried and tried. RedHat, Suse, Debian, Fedora, Ubuntu. My Aspire One is running Fedora 10 right now, as a matter of fact.
But seriously, if I have to hear a Linux evangelist seriously insist that Linux is a mass market product I will eat my own face.
Hibernate/suspend NEVER works correctly.
Wi-fi works most of the time, but Fedora and Ubuntu both like to randomly disable networking or forget my WPA key.
God help you if your Wifi chipset is not supported. But hey, there's always NDISwrapper. And it's oh so intuitive.
I am through going sudo and there will no more gedit-ing.
Printing? CUPS is a nightmare and I've never gotten it to work. Network printing? Virtually impossible.
I have two card readers. Why can Fedora only find one of them? Windows doesn't have any problem...
I've tried and tried. I bought the Aspire One just so I could play around with Linux, and it's serving that purpose well, but when it comes to usability for your average consumer, Linux is nothing more than an operating system designed by nerds, for nerds. I would not inflict Linux on my worst enemy, unless that enemy was a computer genius who was comfortable in a terminal screen.
Linux is great. I'll stick with windows though, for the sake of compatibility.
And I think I'll get a Macbook. I'm not too fond with not having a CD drive.
You are comparing two completely different types of computers, one will most likely cost $400, and the other (new generation) starts at $1,299. You might as well mention buying a desktop computer.
PS If a CD drive is so important, you can get a usb one for a reasonable price
I wasn't comparing them O.o
I just said I don't like netbooks.
I will buy one once they can have decent graphics, a 2ghz processor, a good keyboard, and a nice touchpad.
Then we will talk.
@AK66: And I think ill get a few books.
I dont really like computers.
"compatibility" is very relative. Compatibility for me is for a piece of software to be able to run under a Unix-based system. Compatibility for an Apple computer user would be software being able to run under an OS/X system. Obviously, if you only know Windows then your going to expect compatibility to be Windows software, until you've been corrected. That being said, you're free to pay the extra money for the Windows license.
I'd go to an 8-processor Sun Microsystems server before going to this also.. but that's just as out of the league in comparison to this machine. Everything has it's niche, and right now replacing a well-filled desktop isn't one of those niches for netbooks. Well, unless you use a desktop for work instead of gaming. In those cases, feel free to stay with the niche market... Desktops with certain video cards, PS3, Xbox, or Wii.
Yet it'll cost the same price as it's Windows counterpart. Go figure.
You'll have to ask Microsoft about that one...
Will they continue to give away the OS "free" when Windows 7 replaces XP as the netbook OS 'de jour'? Will they charge the same for a Windows 7 OEM license regardless of whether its installed on a netbook or a notebook? If Windows 7 adds $75 to the cost of a netbook, I imagine people will look at Linux a bit more seriously.
I run Vista on my desktops, and Windows 7 beta on my laptop, but have Linpus Lite on my Aspire One. With Firefox, Open Office, VLC, Audacious, and Acer's mail software it does what I need and boots faster than any of my other PCs. (
Nvidia ION, Geforce 9400M graphics PLEASE!!!! : D
I don't know much about ION, but 9400m is integrated, meaning it saps from ram. 256mb to be exact.
That means two things: Less power to run games, and the whole joint is harsher on cpu.
Finally, what would you want ION or 9400m when it runs linux. OR EVEN take things moderately serious with gaming on such a low res, small sized screen?
HD Movies.
Its kind of hard to watch HD on these things.
And the occasional game. Its better than intel integrated. Anything is.
I recommend removing Linpus Linux immediately. (and put a ubuntu back on)
That screwed up linpus just can't reflect the true ability of linux.
Im just going to get a Macbook Air and put Ubuntu on it.
There's an Asus thats cheaper than the air, and thinner, too :]
I wish they would actually commit thier fixes to Linux to get it running on these laptops upstream and not package it all up on a separate repository making it extremely difficult for most people to install extra apps since the repos aren't compatible
I have a friend that has 2 EEEs that don't work for this very reason which i just became aware of today
I have an EEE 900a and it's working fine with EEEBuntu Standard. I've had Puppeee, Debian-eee, EEEBuntu NBR, and eeexubuntu on it while testing different distributions also.
Anyone know the max memory of these things?
If it can take 2 GB Memory, and is < $400, I'm in.
It can handle 2gb, I upgraded my asus eee 900a to 2gb, along with upgrading the ssd to 64gb.
If your netbook runs Linux, you don't need 2gb of memory.
No he means normal software like Spyware, Virus Protection, Malware protection. Normal Windows Software! ;)