Acer reaffirms that Android-based netbook still coming in Q3
By Darren Murph 
posted July 30th 2009 7:14AM
posted July 30th 2009 7:14AM
posted July 30th 2009 7:14AM
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Dear God. Think about this Acer, Just think about the draw where you get your apps open that just looks just so stupid on an computer.
They'll probably have a new or heavily tweaked UI.
HTC did so much UI work...i'm sure Acer could fund similar,
If you are going to skin it why not skin Linux i mean Linux is an actual desktop operating system, Android is a mobile os, i mean it is an os meant for smart phones, Imagine that Microsoft said "hey we are going to make a laptop that will run Win Mo 6.5" and we would all laugh at them and at the stupidity, so why on earth would you put Android on a netbook.
I'm not disagreeing tbh.
But I suppose the android UI is a lot lighter weight than any linux windowing system so they can run this on really crappy (non-x86) hardware and at least you get the google apps & browser to play with.
It's not a compelling argument is it. I wouldn't buy one but I honestly would prefer one to a linux netbook. You can't dick anything up in Android, you're so walled in with your crappy Java apps. Sounds ideal for what netbooks were originally intended...pity XP changed the netbook market's expectations.
And what applications will it run?
That's probably the worst decision Acer made in years.
Well, what applications does it NEED to run? Frankly, give it a decent web browser and that's about as much as you need on a Netbook, particularly if you can use a server to do the heavy lifting when your computer is relatively underpowered.
Note: this does rather assume a constant network connection of some description (wired/wireless/cellular) or the presence of web applications that can be run off-line.
Haha. Why are they using Android for a netbook? Am I missing the humour in this?
Why not use a proper OS? Even Linux maybe?
What makes you think that Android isn't "a proper OS"? What do you think is the criteria for "a proper OS"?
While Android to date has only been used for smart phones and the likes I'm pretty sure Google was wanting to ramp it up to be an entire desktop experience. Perhaps there is more in the works than we know about so far?
I'd be interested in seeing what comes of this - even if it does fall a bit flat - as its something new and different and could lead to competition / innovation / learning or who knows. I'd be interested in giving it a test drive before I dismiss it as a marketing gimick.
I do agree with the rest of you that I don't believe Android OS is there just yet as an entire platform, but it won't be the first time Google / Acer have suprised someone (though its been a while).
Aaron
Twitter.com/CSworks
This seems silly. I love Android, but it's too incomplete to be used on a netbook. Why wouldn't you just run Windows 7? I'm interested in google's ChromeOS for netbooks, but I'm guessing once Windows 7 rolls out, most netbooks will be shipping with that, and why would you remove Windows7 for ChromeOS? Windows 7 is really good and I'm not sure what ChromeOS could do to be any sort of competitive.
If ChromeOS runs on ARM-based devices (llinux does), then that would open the door to some nice ARM-based netbooks.
I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, but who would by an android netbook??? Please, someone that says "i would" please come forward and explain what it would be used for and what advantages it would provide over a Linux or MS netbook. If the advantage is cost, have you calculated in an "inconvenience factor"?
Thanks in advance,
BC Tech
I would be interested if it turns out to be an ARM netbook. Though I don't quite answer your question because my interest is in the ARM part and not in the Android part..
IMHO ARM should have been used on netbooks since day one. Huge battery life, no annoying need for ventilation, lighter and thinner...
Just enough power to do what netbooks are supposed to do. Cost is just a plus.
If it turns out to be x86 (I remember reading somewhere about a dual-booting netbook with Android and XP) then it's existence will be a bit pointless.
I would be really excited if it was ARM-based, if not, I guess it's not different from a netbook running XP and splashtop.
I want one. By using Android they can build it with cell phone spec hardware, which means they could make this super small, light, cheap, super long lasting battery, no fans, no heat, instant on. As soon as you try to pretend this is a laptop and run a laptop OS on it, you loose 90% of those.
My use case is that I like to read long articles, blogs, documentation on the couch if I can, not to mention emailing and IM'ing, etc... I really don't need a full OS to do that.
Why is the photo of an MSi Wind? Just wondering.
Someone doesn't know their Acer from their elbow
i think a mobile OS on a netbook make sense and dual booting with windows makes it even better i meen you can now run android apps, windows apps. netbooks being that they are primarily designed for mobile web surfing it makes sense that mobile OS's like android that have made great strides with social network syncing and other aspects of the web. i think acer is awesome for doing this.
Andriod is the OS we want to like but disappoints us always