NVIDIA says Windows CE is better for smartbooks than Android

There may be some folks out there talking up Android as the OS of choice of smartbooks, but it looks like you can't count NVIDIA among them. Speaking with ComputerWorld, NVIDIA's Mike Rayfield (general manager of the company's mobile business unit) says that NVIDIA actually prefers Windows CE over Android for ARM-based smartbooks due to its maturity and lack of a "rough user interface." To that end, Rayfield also confirmed that NVIDIA is working with Microsoft to optimize Windows CE for Tegra-based systems although, as we've seen, that hasn't stopped some folks from pairing Android with Tegra whether NVIDIA likes it or not. Incidentally, Rayfield was also asked about those rumors about Tegra powering the Zune HD, and he didn't exactly issue a flat out denial, saying simply that, "Microsoft hasn't confirmed that ... so until they comment, I can't."

[Shotgun @ Jun 18th 2009 4:46PM]

I might actually agree with that

[Rob Petrin @ Jun 18th 2009 4:58PM]

In other news, butterscotch tastes better on ice cream than ketchup.

Android wasn't meant for netbooks, a netbook-oriented operating system is.

[Jeremy @ Jun 18th 2009 5:18PM]

The post was about Smart Books though. We've talking the "HOT NEW TREND" (so they tell us) BETWEEN Net Books and High-End Cell Phones.

;-)

[ZSX @ Jun 18th 2009 6:26PM]

To me the key part of that article was this:

Also, all video and graphics rendering in Android is done today by the operating system's Java code, a technique he says is too slow for HD video.

"There's no hardware acceleration. It's all software," Rayfield said. "Everyone's talking about Android for cell phones, but the reality doesn't exist for the larger displays [of a smartbook.]"

This suggests that it is code limitation, not just UI, which makes Android unsuitable for smartbooks.

[JohnTitor @ Jun 18th 2009 6:46PM]

this was quite obviously, even on WinMo, 3D graphics are completely possible, its just that Microsoft doesn't make it a standard and most manufacturers don't bother to use a GPU, with Android however, 3D acceleration for graphics is just not there even though the primary device, the G1, actually does have a GPU

[lawyer bird @ Jun 18th 2009 7:08PM]

English, quite obviously, commas and run-on sentences

[Jeremy @ Jun 18th 2009 4:50PM]

Windows CE might look more polished.

Android might be more stable.

Windows CE might have more applications out right now.

Android should be less expensive and keep the hardware sales price lower.

What to do.

[Jonathan @ Jun 18th 2009 4:54PM]

Windows CE licenses only run around $10 per device. The only major expense when developing with Windows CE is the cost of the Platform Builder which ranges around $1000 last time I checked, but that's only needed to compile custom builds of Windows CE.

[Game_playa @ Jun 18th 2009 4:58PM]

Then whats your point?

[mike @ Jun 18th 2009 5:52PM]

Linux....? Runs on Smartphones, netbooks and desktops.. why not smartbooks.. or netphones, or deskbooks, or smartdeskbooknetphones... (I could do this all day...) or whatever the industry slaps together and calls it :)

On that bombshell, given android's open source, doesn't that mean the rough (I agree.. currently, android looks like crap, letalone on a big screen) user interface could in time (given HTC are whores for making crap looking mobile OS'es look good - here's lookin at you WiMo) become something actually quite usable?

Its not like the windows CE interface would be that hard to emulate.. or improve on....

[ZSX @ Jun 18th 2009 6:30PM]

The interesting thing is that Win CE 7 (and possibly 6.5) will come with Silverlight built in for graphically rich UIs. So manufacurers don;t have to end up with a default UI which doesn't look like Windows XP. On the other hand, with these devices I think people expect the notebook paradigm, so CE's default look may not be that bad.

[CLShortFuse @ Jun 18th 2009 6:39PM]

Windows CE's kernel is open source, do your homework.

[Miles @ Jun 18th 2009 4:50PM]

They are both terrible.
Anything from Microsoft, Google, or any other large corporation is bad for everyone but them
Even then no netbook has ever touched Apple's Macbook air.

[insky @ Jun 18th 2009 4:52PM]

NO

[Templarian @ Jun 18th 2009 4:52PM]

Just report him, don't comment.

[superhobo @ Jun 18th 2009 4:58PM]

Yeah, you can't really compare the Air with anything better than a netbook.

[cj @ Jun 18th 2009 4:58PM]

Nothing to do with summer.
I think everyone just hates dumbasses.
Are apple paying you guys?
They shouldn't cuz you make Apple and all the other ppl who like Apple look bad.

[kjb434 @ Jun 18th 2009 4:59PM]

Wait, so when did Apple not become a massively huge corporation with teams of lawyers the others you mentioned?

They are all big corporations!

[Gad Get @ Jun 18th 2009 5:10PM]

@ Templarian

Just because the comment is annoying or obnoxious, doesn't mean it warrants reporting. If you don't think there's any chance of the comment being removed, you probably shouldn't report it, because it's just one more comment for Engadget to have to look at. Better to report spam or genuinely offensive comments, since doing so actually accomplishes something and doesn't just waste people's time. After all, why do you think there's a minus button?

[Alan Strangis @ Jun 18th 2009 5:11PM]

LOL @ all the hate comment, considering all the hate you piled on both MS and Google.

Hypocrite. (o_O)

[Templarian @ Jun 18th 2009 5:44PM]

@Gad Get, usually I would agree, but Miles comments like this on every post no matter the subject. It's probably just paul under an alias.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 18th 2009 6:19PM]

@Miles

It's loser. Look in the dictionary then look in the mirror.

See?

[Rollins @ Jun 18th 2009 6:43PM]

The hate's from a combination of things. Your comments border on trolling and your avatar is obnoxious. Combined, you've become one of the most hated posters on Engadget. Congratulations.

[mgsrocks1 @ Jun 18th 2009 7:11PM]

Do you use Gmail? How about Google.com?

[Homeboy @ Jun 18th 2009 4:54PM]

What the hell is a smartbook? Computer manufacturers need to stop cooking up new redundant devices with confusing names. This is dot com all over again.

[AnnoyingPoster @ Jun 18th 2009 5:06PM]

"smartbook" is a dumb device really. its a netbook (or notebook) with smartphone grade components / OSes in it.

ex: tegra contains an arm processor and was meant for portable media players / phones. A smartbook with this type of SOC would run WinCE or Android, not XP / full linux distro because of the non x86 nature.

[ryan @ Jun 18th 2009 5:19PM]

i'm going to assume a smartbook is a smartphone meshed with a netbook. if a netbook is a laptop simplified down to where it can only really be used to webbrowsing and sending emails. and a smartphone is a phone that allows basic web browsing and mobile applications.

then a smartBOOK would be a highly portable (maybe 8 inch screen) laptop with internet via mobile carrier that can do browsing and email and maybe download and specialized apps from an app store or whatever.

like a mini laptop with a sim card

[htd @ Jun 18th 2009 4:55PM]

I dont want ARM smartbook, not even with ARM Linux... I want ultra low power x86 smartbook with xp...

[KirkHamster @ Jun 18th 2009 4:55PM]

What's CE supposed to be run on?

[Alex @ Jun 19th 2009 12:07PM]

"Smartbooks"

[Greg2k @ Jun 18th 2009 8:23PM]

Dreamcasts

[Sam @ Jun 18th 2009 9:05PM]

super unleaded

[Lazarpandar @ Jun 18th 2009 9:48PM]

Actually the real answer is.. everything!

[JimboJones @ Jun 18th 2009 9:39PM]

well a lot of custom devices.... even WinMo is based on Win CE

WinCE is not OS you just use, it is set of libraries developers can use and compile for quite a lot of devices ....

[Jason White @ Jun 18th 2009 4:57PM]

Forget smartbooks, give me an HP DV2 and Win7. I mean if you want a smartbook, just get a used att tilt or something. It'll end up doing the same thing.

[Brdystyls @ Jun 18th 2009 4:56PM]

Just realized that the Android looks alot like Ike from South Park.

[superhobo @ Jun 18th 2009 5:00PM]

Yes, now I'll never unsee that.

[Michael @ Jun 18th 2009 5:58PM]

I'm NEVER going to look at the android logo the same again..

Not at least without thinking of "Kick the baby..."

Awesome.

[Brdystyls @ Jun 18th 2009 7:17PM]

LOL -Darn Canadians (j/k)

[Gad Get @ Jun 18th 2009 4:57PM]

"Microsoft hasn't confirmed that ... so until they comment, I can't."

Sounds like he's not allowed to spoil Ballmer's party. He's waiting for Microsoft to spill the beans about the Zune HD.

[Game_playa @ Jun 18th 2009 5:00PM]

"Microsoft hasn't confirmed that"
Not to you

[insky @ Jun 18th 2009 5:01PM]

Let's not forget .Net applications can be easily ported over to Win CE as well, so there really isn't any lack of applications. The problem I see is that right now Android is pretty fresh in peoples minds. If you tell the average nerd they're going to be getting Win CE their first reaction would be that it's a lousy PDA from the 90's. I think if Microsoft really wanted the smartbook market they would have to change the name. Win CE 7 is looking like it's going to be pretty good and a serious contender for the smartbook market, the only problem is the name.

[MBS @ Jun 18th 2009 6:06PM]

.net applications aren't easily ported to anything... not even a different .net version on the same platform :(

[Joe K @ Jun 19th 2009 9:38AM]

This is true for any programming language if you use libraries or assemblies not available in an older version.

[superhobo @ Jun 18th 2009 5:02PM]

They speak the truth.

[FragShack @ Jun 18th 2009 5:06PM]

I suppose the idea that MS more than likely assigned a team of drones to help integrate Tegra support into winCE for free wouldn't tilt the scales against Android?

[Alan Strangis @ Jun 18th 2009 5:16PM]

Yeah, that's it exactly... drones (o_O)

Considering that you can get CLOSER to a desktop/laptop feel with WinCE (at this point in time), it's not surprising to hear Nvidia say this.

Android might work on a smartbook in future when reskinned, but it's current phone interface is pretty asstacular and underwhelming.

Personally I don't see the value of smartbooks when netbook prices are so low, and run full operating systems. Once the battery nut is cracked, WinCE vs. Android becomes academic.

[FragShack @ Jun 18th 2009 5:32PM]

Why smartbook over netbook?
Size.
One fits in your pocket, the other doesn't. Personally, I'm a bit on the extremes with this. If I can't fit it in my pocket, it might as well be a 5 lb+, 17"+ widescreen monster because I'll be toting it in a backpack or briefcase anyway.

[Alan Strangis @ Jun 18th 2009 10:38PM]

Personally, I don't see the point in carrying around something larger than a smartphone if it's still going to be a mobile OS. If the main reason you want a smartbook is for the keyboard, you'd be better off spending the $120 or so on a Stowaway bluetooth keyboard.

[Zune Claus @ Jun 18th 2009 5:13PM]

Are you going to use that same picture for every android story? -_-