Well this is what you get when you have a monopoly. MS can throw their weight around and kill anything they don't like. Linux doesn't move netbooks like windows does, so if MS says "you can't do this, this, and that" then companies either don't, or kill things that do.
@Microlith That's not entirely true. For example, my very first netbook came with Linux and I looked forward to using it for a change, but the truth is that it sucked. Installed the newer version, tweak,tweak,tweak. It was so buggy and slow that I got frustrated and installed xp on it and it ran like a dream afterward.
Are you seriously that stupid, even Windows doesn't "just work."
There's endless driver, antivirus etc issues that stop Windows "just working."
Most of the time, especially for netbooks, devices are set up automatically in Linux. There are practically no viruses for it.
Neither of them completely "just work" but for the average consumer, Linux "just works" far better than Windows, but they're used to Windows. For the netbook market, it's not the "just work" factor since something like Ubuntu does simply work, but it's the marketing for Windows stopping people using it.
"The machine shipped to me, I updated it using Ubuntu's updater, added user IDs and in less than 2 hours had it set."
Example of NOT "just working".
What if his mother had ordered it, rather than him getting it for her? What are the chances she would have kept it?
I installed Win 7 on a netbook that didn't even have vista drivers, booted it and it "just worked". I plugged in a 6 year old USB printer, it "just worked", didn't even have to download drivers.
If you can't get Windows to work without much hassle, maybe I'm not the stupid one?
From looking at HP's website, there is no HP Mini with 2GB that comes with Vista. Maybe you got one with an XP Home downgrade? (meaning you actually still paid for Vista)
Ubuntu was my first shot at linux on my DELL mini9 and I couldn't be happier.
Everything DOES "just work".
No pre-packaged "trial-software", freeware junk and trying to figure out where to download decent software. 99% of whatever I need is free on Ubuntu and easily downloaded. Most of the time this software is fast and unbloated compared to the windows alternative.
For those looking for a device strictly for reading, the new Kobo is a nice little option. It's small enough to slip into a pocket, can do more with a PDF than the competition, and at $129, it's $10 cheaper than both the Nook and Kindle WiFi.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
It might help that the WinXP netbook license limits specs to 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard drive.
I've been hoping for a linux netbook that exceeds those specs (more RAM would be nice), but nothing so far.
Well this is what you get when you have a monopoly. MS can throw their weight around and kill anything they don't like. Linux doesn't move netbooks like windows does, so if MS says "you can't do this, this, and that" then companies either don't, or kill things that do.
MS kills innovation for their own sake.
microlith,
Hate on windows all you want.
Until someone releases a version of Linux that "just works", it's a non-starter.
I think the market for the last 10 years or so will back me up on that.
@Microlith That's not entirely true. For example, my very first netbook came with Linux and I looked forward to using it for a change, but the truth is that it sucked. Installed the newer version, tweak,tweak,tweak. It was so buggy and slow that I got frustrated and installed xp on it and it ran like a dream afterward.
Are you seriously that stupid, even Windows doesn't "just work."
There's endless driver, antivirus etc issues that stop Windows "just working."
Most of the time, especially for netbooks, devices are set up automatically in Linux. There are practically no viruses for it.
Neither of them completely "just work" but for the average consumer, Linux "just works" far better than Windows, but they're used to Windows. For the netbook market, it's not the "just work" factor since something like Ubuntu does simply work, but it's the marketing for Windows stopping people using it.
@jon btw.
T D,
From macroman
"The machine shipped to me, I updated it using Ubuntu's updater, added user IDs and in less than 2 hours had it set."
Example of NOT "just working".
What if his mother had ordered it, rather than him getting it for her?
What are the chances she would have kept it?
I installed Win 7 on a netbook that didn't even have vista drivers, booted it and it "just worked".
I plugged in a 6 year old USB printer, it "just worked", didn't even have to download drivers.
If you can't get Windows to work without much hassle, maybe I'm not the stupid one?
What are you talking about? I have a 200GB HDD and 2GB of RAM on my HP MINI and no problems at all (Win XP of course).
Loocas:
From looking at HP's website, there is no HP Mini with 2GB that comes with Vista. Maybe you got one with an XP Home downgrade? (meaning you actually still paid for Vista)
Ubuntu was my first shot at linux on my DELL mini9 and I couldn't be happier.
Everything DOES "just work".
No pre-packaged "trial-software", freeware junk and trying to figure out where to download decent software. 99% of whatever I need is free on Ubuntu and easily downloaded. Most of the time this software is fast and unbloated compared to the windows alternative.