Pie in the sky.
People want to load software on netbooks. I'm not sure when netbook started to mean "underpowered machine for web surfing in a small form factor".
People really want something like a Sony P but with nvidia graphics and multiple cores. And they will be happy to pay for that level of performance.
Android-powered netbooks predicted for 2009
Summary
According to analysts, Google's mobile OS could become the platform of choice for lower-end mini laptops, rather than full-fat flavors of Linux traditionally associated with the desktop.
Topics
Android-powered netbooks will emerge in 2009, analysts are predicting.
According to market watchers Ovum, Google's mobile OS could become the platform of choice for lower-end mini laptops, rather than full-fat flavors of Linux traditionally associated with the desktop, such as Ubuntu.
The laptop market is becoming increasingly complex, according to Laurent Lachal, open-source research director at Ovum, with a growing variety of low-cost netbooks and laptops now on offer.
While Linux netbook sales are increasingly lagging Windows ones, the analyst reckons Android could help reverse the trend.
Linux vendors should focus on "specialized distributions, especially Android", said Lachal, who predicts a new generation of 'no frills', sub-$200 netbooks will emerge later this year — for which Android is a better fit than generic Linux distributions.
"Google strengthened its position with the February 2009 announcement that it will now allow developers to charge for applications on Android Market," he said in a statement, adding that internet-connectivity and online stores will be "key to the success" of these more basic netbooks.
"From that perspective, Android benefits from increasing support from developers/ISVs [independent software vendors]," he added.
Last year software company Wind River Systems, a member of the Android-supporting Open Handset Alliance, suggested Android could find its way onto TVs, set-top boxes and cars this year.
This article was originally posted on silicon.com.
Talkback Most Recent of 17 Talkback(s)
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croberts19th Mar 2009 -
3 words:
The economy sucks.
People aren't happy to pay for anything they don't need in a down economy. They want something that gets the job done well for the least amount of overall cost.
I'm not sure Android is the answer to that, but I'm damned sure an overpowered tiny computer with ninty minutes' worth of battery life isn't the answer either.
Michael Kelly19th Mar 2009 -
Yes, economy sucks
and that will play against the netbook in general.
Come one. You have $300 to spend. Do you get a "real" notebook from a no-frills brand like Gateway, and be able to anything you want, or do you blow $200 on a cheapo limited purpose netbook?
A netbook is a luxury item period. In a limited economy, people will get the idea that have the most use - and that's a laptop.croberts19th Mar 2009 -
Your assumption only works
if you assume a netbook has to be a limited purpose tool. And that's only the case with Windows. However I would grant the point that if Android, in its current state, were to be used then it would be a limited tool as well.
There's only two things I would not attempt on my netbook that I would do on my laptop, and that's multimedia encoding and 3D gaming. Most people who would be in the market for a netbook would need neither. And we're well past the days of buying a computer because you *MIGHT* want to do something you don't really plan on doing. That's especially true in this economy.Michael Kelly19th Mar 2009 -
Cheap Netbook
Hmm, Call it something other than Linux and people will buy it 'cause it's cool?
Well, I guess I like OS X because it's Unix 8)
But seriously, I'm not going to spend NZ$500 or so on a crippled Android netbook when a full Windows XP based one is only $100 or so more. The thing is, it the netbook is capable of Windows XP, then it will easily run Ubuntu.
My Acer Aspire One is great, I can do everything I need, the only thing I cant do is use Microsoft's Applications, and apart from Office Communicator, I don't miss them at all.
iPhone shows that 3D gaming is possible on these small devices as well, you just need a good and cheap 3D chipset or feature specification and FAST open source drivers.
chromeronin19th Mar 2009 -
If it's pie in the sky...
then don't look up!
kozmcrae19th Mar 2009 -
Major app missing to make this feasible
None of the office suites available on the Android now cut the mustard. If they can get OpenOffice ported to Android then watch it take off. If they can't, well, Google Docs won't cut it for everybody, and even now Docs is not fully functional on Android.Michael Kelly19th Mar 2009 -
Since Android is Linux, it will be extremely simple to get OpenOffice
running on Android. There is really no "porting", just a recompile, and making sure the libraries it needs are present. OpenOffice will require more RAM, but, that is getting cheaper every day.
DonnieBoy19th Mar 2009 -
Another issue is the porting of a full version of Chrome to Android/Linux.
The browser for Android is not full Chrome. They could use Firefox, but, . . .DonnieBoy19th Mar 2009 -
Flash too
If we're going with a full browser we'll need all the goodies that implies.
I know there's an ARM port but I have no idea whether or not it is full featured.Michael Kelly19th Mar 2009 -
Another thought
If a full Chrome were ported then maybe that would fully support Docs, so there would be the office suite. However an offering of OOo would still bring a wider audience.Michael Kelly19th Mar 2009 -
The wild card might Androids ability to support Arm. That will allow
cheaper Android netbooks with longer battery life, and performance equal to Atom.
Combine cheaper, longer battery live with the Google brand, and there will be a lot of units sold.DonnieBoy19th Mar 2009 -
RE: Android-powered netbooks predicted for 2009
Imagine us, HAVING TO use Android market to install things like OpenOffice.
Android is not so open as Ubuntu (i.e.) or other distros are.
The fact than AMR would be bether than Athom is true (in price and power consuption), but not at the price of lost freedom to install apps.
raphael.munoz@...19th Mar 2009 -
Well, untill we see how the Android netbook OS is delivered, we won't know.
They may allow software to be installed from the standard repositories. In any case, Android is open source and OEMs can allow anything they want.DonnieBoy19th Mar 2009 -
You do not have to use Android market
Android allows for installations of programs downloaded manually. There is an option to prevent installations outside the market, but it's three taps of a finger to select or deselect this option. Just download an .apk file to your SD card and open it in a file manager, and poof it installs the program.Michael Kelly19th Mar 2009
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