http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
- fast boot & run-time, always-on operation
- super long battery life
- touch-optimized UI
- smartphone functionality (cell phone calls, SMS/MMS, LBS, etc.)
- low/no OS cost & maintenance
- ...

Hopefully, both categories of devices will co-exist, so users can buy the device that fits their specific needs.]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Android-based smartbooks/netbooks are likely to be VERY popular with mobile operators, because they will be able to generate revenue from:

1. data contracts.
2. phone calls & SMS/MMS.
3. app purchases (e.g. operators get a cut from Android Market app sales).
4. value-added apps & services that leverage the capabilities of these "smartphone-like" devices.

Much like smartphones, Android-based smartbooks/netbooks are likely to usher in the era of inexpensive/free computing devices, in exchange for always-on, wireless data subscriptions.]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Course it might not but it will be a hard fight against the ubiquity of Windows. ]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 11:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Who's to say Androids development won't keep up with hardware?

The Android OS is really just the Dalvik VM and a tailor made C compiler. Making it very adaptable to different environments, plus it currently runs atop a Linux kernel which can make it very flexible when speaking of hardware.

Plus if I'm not mistaken, Microsofts biggest issue right now is Open Source and Windows is nearly irrelevant thanks to the fact that people are increasingly using the web to do their everyday computer tasks.

And last the future you speak of was already made irrelevant thanks to what the web is capable of.]]>Jun 17th 2009 5:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Too many people are seeing netbooks as 'cheap laptops'. And that's fine if ti works for them. However, netbooks should be viewed as cheap connected appliances. Thin clients to online applications. These applications require bigger screens and better input than a smartphone can provide (e.g. word processing, photo editing, etc.). With sufficiently ubiquitous and speedy Internet connectivity, all your work and information can be 'in the cloud' -- meaning access from all manner of targetted appliances: your smartphone when you're out and about (to get contact details, view photos, pull music, etc.), or your car when driving (music, pre-planned routes, etc).

We're clearly not at that stage yet, but we will be. Lugging around 10 different versions of the same data will seem anachronistic. Currently, Windows is not well placed to do this; but maybe Android is -- certainly it integrates with Google's 'cloud' applications very well, and allows access to the same data (especially if you have an Android smartphone too).

So, for now, I see room for both types of netbook. In the future, I only see sense for one. I for one, welcome our cloud based overlords...]]>Jun 17th 2009 9:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Alex: Umm. Android IS Linux. It uses a Linux kernel. And, speaking as someone who has been running Linux on the desktop and server for over a decade, it could easily be better as a lightweight system than a typical distro, which tries to herd a bunch of apps together that really don't want to get along, and all want to be full featured.

(why does Engadget's comment system suck so much? It's not rocket sciences. Cripes).]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Where I think Linux will do well is in connected appliances like MIDs. There people don't have any expectation of Windows (or Windows Mobile/CE), and the UI can be tailored to the smaller screen real estate.

At Computex nVidia said they had already inked carrier deals for the end-of-2009 distribution of their Tegra-based Windows CE-based Smartbooks which can run Firefox and Flash (albeit pending). This is an essential part of the distribution strategy as the subsidized pricing is likely to be low to free, and may be enough to give these devices a foothold. But longevity ultimately depends on applications. With some tweaks Ubuntu MID (my preference) or Android would be a perfect fit for this class of device.]]>Jun 17th 2009 6:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Andoid on netbook (or any other laptop) = bag of hurt]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
When will netbook makers learn people that they don't need to make crap 'customised' environments. A standard Ubuntu/Red Hat/Suse install will always be best. Actually I reckon puppy linux would be awesome for netbooks since it can run completely from RAM.]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 9:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
That's not what I want. That's not what my cube mate at work wants... we both want a small, light, cool (as in heat), long battery life appliance to read and do email on.

Why is this so hard to understand?]]>Jun 16th 2009 11:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
android is not made for google phones... its for any phone
none of the ~20 android phones being released this year is a google phone
the g1 was not much more than a proof-of-concept

another thing to keep in mind is that google will (very likely) never develop android into
being a netbook os companies like asus and acer want to do that and since they are
members of the oha they are free to do so

also android is neither a linux distro nor does it promote open source applications
its a specialized phone os based on open source but meant to be used
as a commercial platform just like windows mobile or the iphone os]]>Jun 17th 2009 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Why not wait and see...
Your argument here seems to be that previously users have chosen windows so there is no point in giving them any future choice.
The failure in the logic comes from the assumption you're making that no operating system will ever equal windows for power and familiarity.
So - users will always continue to choose windows in this scenario.

If 'Android' becomes a popular phone OS and gets some scaling then I think people might pick it.
99% of the people don't know what linux is or want to know.

It's a steep hill.. but I say let them climb it.
You know what they say.
"Competition is Good!"

- mike]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
I could argue that they "NEED Windows" as opposed to "WANT Windows". ;)

And that's why I have a problem with Microsoft...]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Stop me if I'm wrong (really, please do) but I don't hear much from Symbian being put on Netbooks. I haven't seen windows mobile shoved onto a Netbook either and of course there aren't many advantages to doing so, but it just goes to show what a remarkably scalable and configurable OS Android really is.]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/So you're new to Engadget? Welcome.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/02/video-tegra-based-mobinnova-elan-running-windows-ce-on-tegra-ro/
(just one of many examples)]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
A company called Celio has a device called REDFLY, which kinda-sorta turns your WinMo phone into a netbook. Not sure how successful that product is.

So, putting Andriod on a netbook... Sure, why not? Dunno how well it'll work out, but we won't find out until it's tried.]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Could it be because Android has a simple, easy to use desktop GUI (considering Linux is its foundation)? Why has the last 10yrs been the year of the Linux Desktop?

That's why Android has fared better than Linux. Moblin is heading down the same path (a highly custom Linux distro, like Android).]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 6:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 7:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 7:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
The college students I know would quickly dump netbooks for something more powerful. Why?

1. Games
2. Finite element analysis, simulations, etc
3. picture/video/music editing

Though there were certainly a lot of kids in computer labs doing work, the vast majority prefer working at their own personal machine.

In my case, I know no netbook would have lasted as my primary computer for more than my first 2 weeks of undergrad.

I don't see netbooks as the primary computing device of anyone who does serious amounts of work on a computer. Perhaps if netbooks could go back in time 10 years. . .]]>Jun 16th 2009 8:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/]]>Jun 16th 2009 10:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
Android makes sense when there is an Andriod AppStore that hosts mobile specific apps that make sense on a netbook. That is what makes the iPhone work and that is what will make netbooks take off in a much larger way. Right now Windows is popular due to the software available--but I ask this--how many Windows apps really make sense on a netbook compared to mobile apps (like games, etc.) that could be made available on android?

Andrioid without an AppStore makes no sense.
]]>Jun 16th 2009 6:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 7:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 7:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 7:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
i will concede that you will not have microsoft office, but why can you not have a decent (and cheap) desktop PC in your apartment for Office and your statistics software and use your cheap and awesome Android smartbook to take notes with Google Docs and then pull them from your google account on your desktop PC when its time to write a paper?

An android smartbook is not a full desktop replacement any more than an XP netbook is. Try and use one as your main PC and you will not be pleased with its performance.
]]>Jun 16th 2009 7:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 11:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
I don't think the advantages of having a lightweight smartbook that isn't fully functional beats the advantage of having most of the apps you may need at your disposal on a netbook.

Lets see what MS are going to do with WinCE come next year if these smartbooks do take off.]]>Jun 17th 2009 4:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
If a market does develop you can bet they will enter into it with a vengeance. They've learned their lessons from their old and now extinct line of Handheld PCs.]]>Jun 17th 2009 6:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
"You did it!
An e-mail has been sent to confirm your e-mail address, as well as a password for you to use if you comment regularly. Click on the link within the e-mail to activate your comment and password!"

whats the deal?? i can log in and out of my user page, but i cant make any more comments! i just got my N97 and all and wanted to tell the community ya digg! ya gotta fix the comments, man... goin into withdrawal here :(]]>Jun 16th 2009 7:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 8:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/
And that my friends is the problem. These manufacturers need to stop messing around with different Linux builds by putting their own customizations on it. People dont want that. They want what they are used to or something they wont have to re-learn.

Linux has a hard enough time staying/being relevant. You dont have to screw up the distros even more by putting your own spin on them. But thats Linux for you. Its really the best & worst thing about it.]]>Jun 16th 2009 7:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Go check your sources, android isn't designed for mobile phones. It's a platform open for anything; Mobile Phones, Car Computers, TV set-top boxes, Netbooks, hell, even your fridge could be running android. And because it's linked to you google account everything is synced, and it's easy. Not everyone knows how to create an exchange server. If google opens up the syncing, the possibilities will be endless. Imagine (in the near-future) your fridge and phone running android, all products have RFID-chips and your son drinks the last bit of milk. Your fridge notices this and sends that information to your google account, you get a notification on your phone or your netbook or some chip implemented in to your brain (taking the term "android" a bit to seriously).
And I think the reason people like Windows more than Linux is marketing. Everyone (except for my grandma) knows Windows, everyone with a computer knows Google. Google has the money to do some advertising about android, and if they do it in an easy way to understand there is a big chance they will succeed in beating the crap out of windows. The PCs and Note/Netbooks are cheaper (android is free), easy to understand OS (arguable, but IMO it's easy) and the syncing.
I might sound a bit of a fanboy here, and maybe I am. But this is what I think, Windows is a great OS in terms of appsupport and NO OTHER OS will ever feature the same amount of apps.]]>Oct 21st 2009 3:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 7:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/switched-on-when-netbooks-suffer-from-droid-rage/Jun 16th 2009 7:23PM