Without Windows, people no longer have the skive of "just rebooting", or "my machine has stopped responding".
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.
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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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
"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...
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...
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.
truthfully, we are all victims of microsofts success.
"'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.
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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...
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...
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.
You would do well to take off your rose colored glasses and see that linux is not as great as you think.
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.
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.
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.
One point I've always proclaimed (publicly) in your defense was this. That no matter how nasty the fan boys got, you never sunk to the level of name calling as so many of them do when they reply to you. So, I have to say, I think you stepped down a rung in this post. I may not agree with everything you say, but I've always taken note of the fact that you've kept a level of maturity that is sorely lacking in this last post. So, how about kicking it back up a bit, eh?
but he just doesn't seem to understand so I have to rephrase it for him in a language that is clear to him.
And he'll go home
Wagging his kernel behind him.
Wagging his kernel behind him.
"Still got to spend hours downloading, compiling, and configuring."
While that may have been true before and may still be true in other distros it's not the case with Ubuntu.
I installed Ubuntu 2 days ago on an old laptop I had. It took 25 minutes. I fired up the synaptic manager, picked out the software I wanted that wasn't already installed and it downloaded and installed everything for me. No command line, no compiling.
I'm completely new to linux, and wanted to try it. Ubuntu came highly recommended because it was enough like windows that I could putter around and learn things at my own pace rather then be hit in by a wall of alien terms, commands, and functions.
I think Ubuntu is a tiny piece of genius. Ubuntu gives people like me (curious Windows users) a familiar, hassle free place to explore Linux. You may not like Linux, but if you'd actually TRIED Ubuntu, you realize it's pretty silly to complain about long installations, and compiling and whatnot. It's just not the case with this distro.
While that may have been true before and may still be true in other distros it's not the case with Ubuntu.
I installed Ubuntu 2 days ago on an old laptop I had. It took 25 minutes. I fired up the synaptic manager, picked out the software I wanted that wasn't already installed and it downloaded and installed everything for me. No command line, no compiling.
I'm completely new to linux, and wanted to try it. Ubuntu came highly recommended because it was enough like windows that I could putter around and learn things at my own pace rather then be hit in by a wall of alien terms, commands, and functions.
I think Ubuntu is a tiny piece of genius. Ubuntu gives people like me (curious Windows users) a familiar, hassle free place to explore Linux. You may not like Linux, but if you'd actually TRIED Ubuntu, you realize it's pretty silly to complain about long installations, and compiling and whatnot. It's just not the case with this distro.
for you to report back how it didn't fill your needs, you had to spend hours reconfiguring it to get the display resolution correct, how you only can play one sound at a time. Don't worry, I see you reformatting your harddrive and getting rid of linux soon.
Hold it.... hold it.... hooold it.... hooooooooooold it!
What a lovely shade of blue. Perhaps you can "license" that color as a face mask.........
What a lovely shade of blue. Perhaps you can "license" that color as a face mask.........
Not sure why you are having such difficulty in installing Ubuntu. The process takes less than an hour, including updates, to install a working system (desktop or server). There is no need to compile anything (unless you are a code monkey, I am occasionally), though there is some downloading for the updates (if you bother to update your system). Don't need any rose colored glasses, just a reality check.
For those Windows users interested in trying Ubuntu but not wanting to go through the hassle of swapping hard drives (hardware) or writing over an existing Windows partition/disk, you can try Wubi - Ubuntu installer for Windows.
It creates a (maximum size) 30GB Ubuntu install "on your Vista/NTFS partition" and can be removed just as cleanly if you find it is not for you (or you decide to try Ubuntu or similar on raw metal). As it is Debian based, it may not be for everyone, but it maybe worth a try for those that are curious or wanting to learn about Linux or Ubuntu. (Uses ntldr, the NT Loader, to boot either Windows or Linux, rather than installing grub).
For those Windows users interested in trying Ubuntu but not wanting to go through the hassle of swapping hard drives (hardware) or writing over an existing Windows partition/disk, you can try Wubi - Ubuntu installer for Windows.
It creates a (maximum size) 30GB Ubuntu install "on your Vista/NTFS partition" and can be removed just as cleanly if you find it is not for you (or you decide to try Ubuntu or similar on raw metal). As it is Debian based, it may not be for everyone, but it maybe worth a try for those that are curious or wanting to learn about Linux or Ubuntu. (Uses ntldr, the NT Loader, to boot either Windows or Linux, rather than installing grub).
I'm not having difficulties installing linux, its the way the OS was built requiring more work than necessary. As an IT professional I've got plenty of experience so when I encounter a linux box I know its like asking for trouble.
Wubi has known issues and has been known to fail more than once. Its very beta, almost bordering alpha quality software. Besides there is no reason to install linux when you have a perfectly good working Microsoft Windows system.
Wubi has known issues and has been known to fail more than once. Its very beta, almost bordering alpha quality software. Besides there is no reason to install linux when you have a perfectly good working Microsoft Windows system.
This is a trivial skill, like installing Windows, Solaris and/or xBSD. Given your argument, can I presume that you are unemployed or a nontechnical employee?
although its not like they have jobs anyway, you know with them living in their parents basement and all. They will probably just hop from burger joint to burger joint.
Figures.
Do you by any chance work for Microsoft? Cause in my many years in the IT industry, I've never seen what could be described as a "perfectly good working Microsoft Windows system." They're all either getting viruses, wanting updates, wanting to get rid of viruses, or in the best case, slowing down from registry bloating and update-patch nightmares.
(satire mode="extreme sarcasm")
You will have to "excuse" LD; as he spends just waaay too much time in his bunker. Rarely, does he crawl out for a breath of fresh air; and then, he only does so at night! The bright sun would blind him permanently.
Perhaps all that he has ever had to work with in his bunker is a 20 year old computer running a Motorola 68000, and an ancient version of Linux. The only way he could get a kernel binary is to compile it.
What a sad case!
(/satire)
You will have to "excuse" LD; as he spends just waaay too much time in his bunker. Rarely, does he crawl out for a breath of fresh air; and then, he only does so at night! The bright sun would blind him permanently.
Perhaps all that he has ever had to work with in his bunker is a 20 year old computer running a Motorola 68000, and an ancient version of Linux. The only way he could get a kernel binary is to compile it.
What a sad case!
(/satire)
How much difficulty do you really have using Unix and Unix like systems (Linux, BSD, AIX, Solaris, etc.)? And how low is your wage if you are spending this much time installing from source (plus dependency hell) rather than using:
# sudo apt-get install some package
or
# yum install some package
or
# emerge some package
or
# pkg-add some package (though this one may lead to dependency hell, but it will tell you what you need to acquire, gratis Sun Micro)
Do you have similar problems using pkg_add on OpenBSD, FreeBSD and NetBSD?
Does the Synaptic Package Manager confuse you? How about the RedHat graphical front end to yum? Does Windows Update perplex you also?
Yes, I know... don't feed the troll!
# sudo apt-get install some package
or
# yum install some package
or
# emerge some package
or
# pkg-add some package (though this one may lead to dependency hell, but it will tell you what you need to acquire, gratis Sun Micro)
Do you have similar problems using pkg_add on OpenBSD, FreeBSD and NetBSD?
Does the Synaptic Package Manager confuse you? How about the RedHat graphical front end to yum? Does Windows Update perplex you also?
Yes, I know... don't feed the troll!
Other systems aren't this hard, its only linux. The system was poorly built. Using linux shows that duct taping a bunch of patches together cannot make an operating system. Other OS's work just fine, but linux doesn't. You may ask yourself why that is... because other operating systems look at it as a whole, not the sum of its parts.
installing BSD, Solaris or Windows must be nearly imposable for you. The installers are very similar, thus if you have trouble installing any one, you can not install any of them (as they are fairly similar). It's a baseline skill that any 'IT professional' should have. And if you are building the components from source (as you claim), then you should be fired! It is a simple as that.
Its not just me that has issues with linux, its the people who have tried it in the past. All other OS's provide an easy to use interface and/or a step by step user guide. The only oddball here is linux where trying to get that information results in name calling and death threats.
so that must be why none of my gui-installed and gui run linux servers have ever frozen in the last 4 years? Mac and Windows, on the other hand, have a habit of needing reboots at least once a week, maybe every month for windows server.
The installers are very similar (as per Windows, Ubuntu, RedHat, etc.) thus your argument is flawed. Thanks for playing, though. Let me know when your skills improve and you actually get some IT experience.
The installers for Solaris and Nexenta (Solaris with a Ubuntu personality) are also trivial to use. Let me know when you actually get any actual experience installing either.
Let me know when you actually install FreBSD , NetBSD or OpenBSD, so you can make a valid comment on that.
Maybe, perhaps, you have installed some iteration of Windows at some point in your career. I am betting that you have no such experience. Probably never really used HP-UX, AIX or Irix, either.
The installers for Solaris and Nexenta (Solaris with a Ubuntu personality) are also trivial to use. Let me know when you actually get any actual experience installing either.
Let me know when you actually install FreBSD , NetBSD or OpenBSD, so you can make a valid comment on that.
Maybe, perhaps, you have installed some iteration of Windows at some point in your career. I am betting that you have no such experience. Probably never really used HP-UX, AIX or Irix, either.
When all they did was to apply their monopoly's strong arm.
When it was less expensive to buy a windows netbook with twice the storage space and memory than a Linux netbook you know that it's being subsidized by Microsoft.
I know several people that bought the windows netbook just because it was cheaper so they could install linux.
When it was less expensive to buy a windows netbook with twice the storage space and memory than a Linux netbook you know that it's being subsidized by Microsoft.
I know several people that bought the windows netbook just because it was cheaper so they could install linux.
a monopoly? I see people saying it all the time like it is a fact.
There is a difference between being a monopoly and having monopoly like power.
There is a difference between being a monopoly and having monopoly like power.
Microsoft proved to be a monopoly in a court of law.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/13657/microsoft_declared_a_monopoly.html
Emails from Bill Gates showed that all he wanted to do is to kill the competition and would use his monopoly power to squeeze out anybody else. They kind of got in real trouble for it and cost them millions.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/13657/microsoft_declared_a_monopoly.html
Emails from Bill Gates showed that all he wanted to do is to kill the competition and would use his monopoly power to squeeze out anybody else. They kind of got in real trouble for it and cost them millions.
that was written prior to the trial being over. Remember, headlines are exagerated to bring in readers.
The kiddies did not learn the basics. That is why they know not what a monopoly is, along with most other things.
Evidently, they didn't learn how to use Google (or any other search engine, if they even know what a search engine is). Otherwise, they could look up the definition instead of skinning their ignorance on ZDNet.
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, a monopoly is: This article is about the economic term.
In economics, a monopoly (from Greek monos , alone or single + polein , to sell) exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient control over a particular product or service to determine significantly the terms on which other individuals shall have access to it.[1] Monopolies are thus characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide and a lack of viable substitute goods.[2] The verb "monopolize" refers to the process by which a firm gains persistently greater market share than what is expected under perfect competition.
So.... Microsoft IS a monopoly, and Microsoft exercises monopolistic power, because Microsoft controls the market. As a matter of fact, Microsoft is a control freak Corporation. They control the market, all computers that run Microsoft software, and anything and/or anyone else who will submit to them.
Get hung out to dry. Stick your neck in a Microsoft noose.
Evidently, they didn't learn how to use Google (or any other search engine, if they even know what a search engine is). Otherwise, they could look up the definition instead of skinning their ignorance on ZDNet.
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, a monopoly is: This article is about the economic term.
In economics, a monopoly (from Greek monos , alone or single + polein , to sell) exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient control over a particular product or service to determine significantly the terms on which other individuals shall have access to it.[1] Monopolies are thus characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide and a lack of viable substitute goods.[2] The verb "monopolize" refers to the process by which a firm gains persistently greater market share than what is expected under perfect competition.
So.... Microsoft IS a monopoly, and Microsoft exercises monopolistic power, because Microsoft controls the market. As a matter of fact, Microsoft is a control freak Corporation. They control the market, all computers that run Microsoft software, and anything and/or anyone else who will submit to them.
Get hung out to dry. Stick your neck in a Microsoft noose.
And then convicted of being a predatory monopoly.
That is why they have the DoJ following them around watching what they do.
And basically it has changed a few actions for the better.
That is why they have the DoJ following them around watching what they do.
And basically it has changed a few actions for the better.
In most Western democracies a Monopoly is defined in law as having a dominant market position and can be as little as 30% market share. This is one of the worst understood aspects of consumer law by the general public. It is not illegal to be a monopoly, it *is* illegal to abuse a dominant position in the market (as MSFT has found on several occasions in several countries). MS Windows and MS Office are effectively monopolies as defined by the law.
I bought the Aspire One with Windows XP for the simple reason I wanted the 160GB hard drive and they were only offering Linux on the 8GB SSD version at the time.
I was happy that their tech support said that it wouldn't void my warranty if I removed Windows. Poof....it was gone!
I was happy that their tech support said that it wouldn't void my warranty if I removed Windows. Poof....it was gone!
So far, no one has shown that they have read the article, are responding to the article, or have any understanding of the subject matter. Looks like you are all off of your meds.
I must admit on my laptop I have openSuse 11.1 and Win7. I have Windows because there are two things that just wont work in Linux, Microsoft Office Communication Client, and my old 3G card. At least with Win7, it is so much better than Vista that I don't cringe when I have to boot into it (or wait 3 minutes), but it is still my secondary OS.
On my netbook, and Acer Aspire One, is Ubuntu because it boots in 30 seconds, only needs 8GB flash and 512MB RAM to run fine, runs all of the software I need (X11 sessions, serial terminals, Citrix Client, RDP and VNC remote desktops and the desktop is completely skinable, so using tools like Maximus (removes widgets from maximised windows), and smaller widgets I get more usable real-estate from the tiny 1024x600 pixel screen. Now if only Acer offered proper support for Ubuntu then I wouldn't have had to spend a couple of hours fixing it all up 8) The linux that it came with, Linpus Lite, was crap. It was an old kenel, was based on Redhat which had dropped support for critical parts of the Citrix client making this a pain to get back in because the required libraries weren't in Redhat's or Linpus's repositories, and did not have the modules for USB serial adapters.
The only thing I wish I had done was actually buy the windows Aspire One, as it comes with 1GB RAM and a 120GB HDD, for only NZ$100 more, but I would have reinstalled Ubuntu on it anyway. Now why don't they offer Linux on that? I'd buy Dells linux Mini9 with linux, but the windows one is cheaper because of the rebate. Oh, and I cant buy it in New Zealand. I wonder why the XP one sells better?
On my netbook, and Acer Aspire One, is Ubuntu because it boots in 30 seconds, only needs 8GB flash and 512MB RAM to run fine, runs all of the software I need (X11 sessions, serial terminals, Citrix Client, RDP and VNC remote desktops and the desktop is completely skinable, so using tools like Maximus (removes widgets from maximised windows), and smaller widgets I get more usable real-estate from the tiny 1024x600 pixel screen. Now if only Acer offered proper support for Ubuntu then I wouldn't have had to spend a couple of hours fixing it all up 8) The linux that it came with, Linpus Lite, was crap. It was an old kenel, was based on Redhat which had dropped support for critical parts of the Citrix client making this a pain to get back in because the required libraries weren't in Redhat's or Linpus's repositories, and did not have the modules for USB serial adapters.
The only thing I wish I had done was actually buy the windows Aspire One, as it comes with 1GB RAM and a 120GB HDD, for only NZ$100 more, but I would have reinstalled Ubuntu on it anyway. Now why don't they offer Linux on that? I'd buy Dells linux Mini9 with linux, but the windows one is cheaper because of the rebate. Oh, and I cant buy it in New Zealand. I wonder why the XP one sells better?
People are seeing the light!
Linux is wining!
By losing every battle? You just had your a**** handed to you. Come again.
Even when "hitting back" Kenyon admits that Linux netbooks have had problems getting Linux hibernation to work correctly. And that Linux still misses codecs.
Linux is wining!
By losing every battle? You just had your a**** handed to you. Come again.
Even when "hitting back" Kenyon admits that Linux netbooks have had problems getting Linux hibernation to work correctly. And that Linux still misses codecs.
Easy to Use - To install MS Office onto an XP netbook, first, locate a USB CDROM, attach it, find the install file, run it, then enter long registration code, possibly be treated like a criminal and have to go and call MS up to ask for activation, more numbers entered, and now you're done.
To install OpenOffice in Ubuntu - well if you've done the default install, it will already be there 8), but if you want to upgrade from 2.x to 3.x, you add the OpenOffice repository in, find somewhere with a network you can use (if you don't have one, why did you buy a NET-book?) and enter two commands:
sudo apt-get update (updates the list of available software)
sudo apt-get upgrade openoffice
Job done. Can be done in a GUI client too, but this way is just faster and easier to explain.
Yes Linux is different than Windows. If it was exactly the same, it couldn't ever be be better.
Some things still need a lot of polish, but this requires the hardware vendors to play ball and write good drivers, just like they have to for Windows. (Poor drivers are pretty much what made early Vista suck, that and the Windows architecture - patch - reboot, patch, reboot, rinse and repeat)
To install OpenOffice in Ubuntu - well if you've done the default install, it will already be there 8), but if you want to upgrade from 2.x to 3.x, you add the OpenOffice repository in, find somewhere with a network you can use (if you don't have one, why did you buy a NET-book?) and enter two commands:
sudo apt-get update (updates the list of available software)
sudo apt-get upgrade openoffice
Job done. Can be done in a GUI client too, but this way is just faster and easier to explain.
Yes Linux is different than Windows. If it was exactly the same, it couldn't ever be be better.
Some things still need a lot of polish, but this requires the hardware vendors to play ball and write good drivers, just like they have to for Windows. (Poor drivers are pretty much what made early Vista suck, that and the Windows architecture - patch - reboot, patch, reboot, rinse and repeat)
I bought an Everex Cloudbook 1200v with gOS version of Linux and it SUCKED!
It was the hardware that made it so terrible. I called the vendor, got no where, contacted VIA again got no where...each would direct me to the other. It had nothing to do with the OS. I heard these were being returned like crazy....I wonder why. My personal opinion people should run from anything running a VIA C-7 processor at least if it's mounted in an Everex.
I now have a Acer AspireOne that due to the hardware I wanted came with XP, which lasted 20mins after I got home. It is running Ubuntu Netbook Remix and I haven't looked back. Acer actually has a custom version of Linpus Linux they pre-install on some of thier Aspire One line it's designed for the complete computer novice, the thing booted faster than any other OS I've put on this thing.
It was the hardware that made it so terrible. I called the vendor, got no where, contacted VIA again got no where...each would direct me to the other. It had nothing to do with the OS. I heard these were being returned like crazy....I wonder why. My personal opinion people should run from anything running a VIA C-7 processor at least if it's mounted in an Everex.
I now have a Acer AspireOne that due to the hardware I wanted came with XP, which lasted 20mins after I got home. It is running Ubuntu Netbook Remix and I haven't looked back. Acer actually has a custom version of Linpus Linux they pre-install on some of thier Aspire One line it's designed for the complete computer novice, the thing booted faster than any other OS I've put on this thing.
not the hardware that caused the returns.
Just because your first netbook wasn't up to snuff doesn't mean everybody returned theirs for the same reason.
Just because your first netbook wasn't up to snuff doesn't mean everybody returned theirs for the same reason.
I get what it is you're saying & you surely see what it is I am too. The friendly attitude is only cos I never sold a thing without making the article in question an extension of that which it is the customer already wants. The same goes for arguments- Friendly because it's counterproductive to butt heads.
It did need to be said.
It did need to be said.
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