NVIDIA says Windows CE is better for smartbooks than Android
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 18th 2009 4:41PM
posted June 18th 2009 4:41PM
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."
I might actually agree with that
In other news, butterscotch tastes better on ice cream than ketchup.
Android wasn't meant for netbooks, a netbook-oriented operating system is.
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.
;-)
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.
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
English, quite obviously, commas and run-on sentences
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.
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.
Then whats your point?
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....
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.
Windows CE's kernel is open source, do your homework.
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.
NO
Just report him, don't comment.
Yeah, you can't really compare the Air with anything better than a netbook.
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.
Wait, so when did Apple not become a massively huge corporation with teams of lawyers the others you mentioned?
They are all big corporations!
@ 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?
LOL @ all the hate comment, considering all the hate you piled on both MS and Google.
Hypocrite. (o_O)
@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.
@Miles
It's loser. Look in the dictionary then look in the mirror.
See?
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.
Do you use Gmail? How about Google.com?
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.
"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.
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
I dont want ARM smartbook, not even with ARM Linux... I want ultra low power x86 smartbook with xp...
What's CE supposed to be run on?
"Smartbooks"
Dreamcasts
super unleaded
Actually the real answer is.. everything!
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 ....
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.
Just realized that the Android looks alot like Ike from South Park.
Yes, now I'll never unsee that.
I'm NEVER going to look at the android logo the same again..
Not at least without thinking of "Kick the baby..."
Awesome.
LOL -Darn Canadians (j/k)
"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.
"Microsoft hasn't confirmed that"
Not to you
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.
.net applications aren't easily ported to anything... not even a different .net version on the same platform :(
This is true for any programming language if you use libraries or assemblies not available in an older version.
They speak the truth.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Are you going to use that same picture for every android story? -_-