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Canonical hits back at Microsoft in netbook spat
Summary
Canonical, the company that sponsors the Ubuntu Linux distribution, has attacked a Microsoft blogger's claims about why Windows netbooks outsell their Linux counterparts.
Topics
Canonical, the company that sponsors the Ubuntu Linux distribution, has attacked a Microsoft blogger's claims about why Windows netbooks outsell their Linux counterparts.
On 3 April, Brandon LeBlanc wrote on the Windows Experience Blog that, in the United States in February, 96 percent of netbooks sold had Windows as the preinstalled operating system. "A number of analysts and researchers following the space see ample evidence indicating customers really DO want netbook PCs to work like their larger brethren – and that the way the vast majority of consumers make that happen is by buying a netbook PC with Windows," he wrote.
"Both MSI – a leading netbook PC OEM – and Canonical – the vendor supporting the commercial distribution of Ubuntu Linux - stated publicly they saw Linux return rates 4 times higher than Windows," he wrote. "Why such a disparity? Because users simply expect the Windows experience. When they realize their Linux-based netbook PC doesn't deliver that same quality of experience, they get frustrated and take it back. Here's a telling stat: In the UK, Carphone Warehouse dropped Linux-based netbook PCs, citing customer confusion as a reason for a whopping 1-in-5 return rate."
"Why are consumers choosing Windows? Because it's easier to use, just works out of the box with people's stuff, and ultimately offers more choice." He went on to claim that "it's easy to stay up-to-date since Windows releases updates, patches and fixes on a regular, predictable schedule" and pointed out that "Windows supports nearly 3,000 printers, more than 700 digital cameras, more than 240 webcams and more than 180 digital video cameras".
On Wednesday, Canonical's Chris Kenyon wrote a retaliatory post, pointing out that "Ubuntu and most Linux distributions support over 3000 printers, over 1000 digital cameras and over 200 webcams".
"It also supports them without the need to search for drivers on dubious websites or load drivers from a CD," Kenyon coughed. "Just plug and play."
On the subject of return rates, Kenyon argued that the issue was not Linux, but the quality of the netbook's hardware and the quality assurance that had been carried out by the manufacturer.
"Well-engineered Linux netbooks have similar return rates to XP," Kenyon wrote. "What makes a real difference to return rates is not whether it's Linux or not, but the quality of the device's hardware and the ability to fully partake in web and media experiences." He listed three examples of things that needed to be done with any netbook:
- Adobe Flash player being pre-installed
- Basic media codecs being pre-installed (these add a few dollars to the cost of a PC)
- Extensive hibernate and resume cycle testing (many OEMS have had to develop and implement new QA processes to work with Linux)
Highlighting Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 as a (praiseworthy) case in point, Kenyon said: "When customers are offered choice on equally well-engineered computers around a third will select Ubuntu over XP."
Kenyon also reminded his readers that it was competition from Linux that "crashed" the price of XP last year. "So even if you bought a netbook last year with XP - feel free to smile when you see an Ubuntu PC," he wrote. "It's amazing what an open market can achieve."
This article was originally posted on ZDNet UK.
Talkback Most Recent of 75 Talkback(s)
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Amelioration14th Apr 2009 -
You can make up
all the BS and excuses you like, but when given a choice, people choose Windows because it works better for them.
As soon as OS morons figure that out, and give people what they want (not what OS morons want to give them), then maybe people will choose OpenSource.
Until then "users simply expect the Windows experience", which is a lot better then the alternatives.
mdemuth14th Apr 2009 -
No credence at all to familiarity having an impact?
You don't think familiarity has ANY role in it? You think that the average consumer actually puts serious thought into "what will work better for me", working from first principles? Really?
daboochmeister14th Apr 2009 -
And what is wrong with that?
The fact that they already know it means it will work better for them.
The point your attempting to make?
So every Apple user should drop Apple and go with Linux or MS because it will be different and they will need to relearn a lot, so it makes it better?
you see how idiotic that argument is?
mdemuth14th Apr 2009 -
Really man...
"Until then "users simply expect the Windows experience", which is a lot better *then* the alternatives."
Can't anyone learn in schools these days!?! Does anyone know the word "than" exists? Too many of you slobbering phonetically challenged chimps write like you speak. Slurred and gummed up...
The word is THAN, not THEN...Am I the only person out here that notices this?
Get it right...
MarketingTutor19th Apr 2009 -
it's the 'molded into the plastic' issue all over again.
the windows masses actually think windows is molded into the plastic. they've never heard of linux and many of them are surprised to find out that macs don't come 'injected' with windows. when they fire up the netbook and can't find a green 'start' button and a blue 'e'. they don't know what to do, figure it must be defective and return it. the same thing happened when walmart offered the $200 linux desktop and the $300 linux laptop. i believe if someone did a real study, we might find the same reasoning behind lagging vista sales. i talked to someone the other day that told me their brand new computer was broken the first time they turned it on. they waited and waited and the start button never appeared. i showed this same person linux xp and they were very happy with it.
truthfully, we are all victims of microsofts success.
brokndodge@...17th Apr 2009 -
heh
"'It also supports them without the need to search for drivers on dubious websites or load drivers from a CD,' Kenyon coughed. 'Just plug and play.'"
That's basically my experience in Windows 7.
I dunno about all of the wild claims by the Linux people. Sure, it's a nice OS for tinkering, and sure KDE 4.2 is a bis step forward.
But at the end of the day, I want to be productive. I don't want to tinker. Tinkering may have been cool when I was younger, but these days I just wanna work.
It's not like Microsoft is going backwards anymore. Windows 7 is looking like a solid product.
CobraA114th Apr 2009 -
you're joking right?
Having used both windows and linux extensively (on Vista now, have 12 Ubuntu web servers) I have to say, uhm, if you don't think Microsoft is going backwards, take a look at Vista
The reason I use Ubuntu servers instead of Windows servers is that when I have to tinker with something, I want it to be when I want it to be, not when Microsoft releases an update at 3AM that stops all intraserver mail transfers, as they did a few months back...
nathans214th Apr 2009 -
Vista?
Why look at Vista. Its old news. Its very similar to Windows 98 being that its just a service pack for XP (badly made, but one nevertheless). The post you are replying to mentions how the new Windows 7 is very solid and forward looking, and I have to agree, based on the beta release (I'm on it right now). Windows 7 is very solid, and will beat any Linux distribution it comes across hands down.
jamesgrimes@...15th Apr 2009 -
Vista?
Isn't a step backwards. It was a step forward, and Windows 7 will be a step forward from Vista.
And I'll agree with him. I've NEVER had to search for missing drivers on either operating systems, XP and Linux I had to search endlessly for a few missing drivers for my wireless and sound card.
Cylon Centurion17th Apr 2009 -
RE: Canonical hits back at Microsoft in netbook spat
Awww poor little linux is getting spanked on all fronts and is now having a hissy fit about it. I mean seriously, does anyone at ubuntu have a clue?
"It also supports them without the need to search for drivers on dubious websites or load drivers from a CD," Kenyon coughed. "Just plug and play."
Yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it. Just plug and play after you download the source code from the website, extract the source using complicated commands in a terminal window, take a lucky guesses at which command switches you need to go with some obscure set of commands to get it to compile cleanly, let it install the files in whatever random directory it wants, then search for an hour as to where it put the files, spend a few more hours tweaking the config files for it, then run it and watch it segfault and lead to a kernel panic. That is not easier than downloading drives and clicking on an install file or popping in a cd that will automatically install it for you.
There is a reason people are not choosing linux on the netbook, its as simple as people just don't want to deal with the hassles of running it. The limited games, being able to play only one sound at a time assuming you have drivers for your sound card,the overall lack of multimedia, and its incompatibility with the rest of the world makes it pretty much useless.
If ubuntu developers spent more time making their OS actually work instead of complaining like a 5 year old girl they *might* see a rise in their usage. But as it stands now me and millions of others are giving them the cold shoulder because they do not do what we ask.
Loverock Davidson14th Apr 2009 -
Oh wait...
You must be blind or wear way too dark a grade of sunglasses, or have failed to switch on the light in your basement, after all you can't see it.
That and you seem to think that a netbook is supposed to be a fully tricked out desktop/laptop.
Mind you, why does anyone bother with you? After all, you'd probably give up water if it was processed by Linux, or worse, Apple.
Ah well...
zkiwi14th Apr 2009 -
I see it for what it is
That linux is a piece of junk and the ubuntu guys are clueless. I thought I clearly stated that in my last post but you must have a reading comprehension problem. Maybe this post made it a little more clear for you. The same rules apply to linux for desktop or netbook. Still got to spend hours downloading, compiling, and configuring.
You would do well to take off your rose colored glasses and see that linux is not as great as you think.Loverock Davidson14th Apr 2009 -
Loverrock your post only goes to show how far your
still behind the times when it comes to Linux. Calling people clueless or having a comprehension problem when the don't agree with your FUD is to funny. Than your best quote for not using Linux is, your wasted time spent "SPENDING HRS DOWNLOADING, COMPILING & CONFIGURING" has to be the biggest joke ever.
If your really trying to be just funny, you cant even do that very good. You sound more like a Mike Cox wana be and your failing at that as well.
The grape vine from the other blogs that you post on has it is that your were ....shall we say laid off because of productively issues or was it simply because old age has caught up with you. I hope you'll find a way to recover as everone hear would miss you irrevelant view points. 
SoYouSaid14th Apr 2009 -
My posts show the truth
When you think about it the ubuntu team really doesn't understand the world around them. They actually believe linux is good and can be just like Microsoft Windows. That is simply not the case. Microsoft Windows provides an out of the box experience with a minimal of user intervention. When you look at ubuntu there are 20 extra steps required to get it installed and running. I pointed this out in my first post, go back and read it.Loverock Davidson14th Apr 2009
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