mainly because it was the only option for awhile until MS started allowing XP on netbooks for cheap. Now Linux share is falling to where it would have been in the first place.
Linux on consumer PCs (including netbooks) still has a long slow ramp to climb, it won't be done in one major revolution. Unless Microsoft makes a big mistake (like Vista) it will continue to have the majority share for many years.
Finally the numbers don't always add up: I have six different x86 systems in my house, three of them are set up for dual-boot Windows/Ubuntu use, one is Windows-only and two are Ubuntu-only. How to you calculate "share" on a situation like that?
Linux losing ground on netbooks
Summary
Linux is losing ground on the netbook front, but there lies opportunity for it in smaller, dedicated Internet-enabled appliances, said an Ovum analyst.
Topics
Linux is losing ground on the netbook front, but there lies opportunity for it in smaller, dedicated Internet-enabled appliances, said an Ovum analyst.
Laurent Lachal, open source research director at the U.K.-based analyst firm, said in a research note, Linux is not doing as well in terms of market share, compared to when it made its debut on the netbook market.
Lachal said: "After a strong start, Linux netbooks have now been overtaken by Windows netbooks and Linux is lagging increasingly behind in terms of sales."
While the first netbooks came with Linux OSes, manufacturers started finding Windows-based devices more popular, with customers finding they could not get accustomed to the Linux interfaces.
In the Philippines, Asus dropped Linux on all of its Eee PC models in the country because Filipinos were not taking to the Linux OS well.
But Linux could find its market as an OS for smaller, handheld Internet-enabled appliances such as Apple iPod Touch, said Lachal. The iPod Touch is a device similar to the iPhone but without telephony capabilities.
Linux, having had more success and a longer history as a phone OS, may be more suitable for such devices, said Lachal.
He added that Linux-based Android could be better positioned in this segment, with "increasing support" from the developer and ISV (independent software vendor) communities.
Google's recent revenue-sharing announcement for the Android app market is also expected to help raise developer interest in the platform. The increased variety of apps may also make Android more attractive to consumers.
This article was originally published on ZDNet Asia.
Just In
What they really want to talk about is sales which for Linux makes no difference. I have run through two laptops that counted as Windows sales and will probably have more in the future but none of them will run Windows.
I have one PC strictly on Ubuntu, one dual-boot Window Vista/Ubuntu, one Window XP and one Apple OSX. I use the dual-boot Window Vista/Ubuntu machine 95% of the time on Ubuntu. Mrs. uses OSX simply because that's what almost everyone at the College she works uses. Why is it that Window machines always slow down to the point that you need to re-install windows after sometime and that it never happen to Ubuntu. I wonder?
Before it slows down. Then you try one of the other hundered Linux variants, because after all, that's what you do when you're a Linux fan.
My Dell XPS & Latitude came with 'Windows' and it never seen the light of day before it was wiped out with Logical Volumes running Centos/Fedora10.
These numbers are only what a bean counter can see and it is not the actual truth.
I do not use Windows, I use Open_Source for everything in the work_place and home.
Until there is an accurate 'true' percentile usage from all of the millions of users no one knows.
These numbers are only what a bean counter can see and it is not the actual truth.
I do not use Windows, I use Open_Source for everything in the work_place and home.
Until there is an accurate 'true' percentile usage from all of the millions of users no one knows.
with Linux, then having Windows installed?
Overall, I would wonder that even in the PC desktop/laptop market, how many systems where purchased with Linux to save 30 dollars, then wiped and reinstalled with a copy of Windows that the buyer had already owned, or used from another system?
Overall, I would wonder that even in the PC desktop/laptop market, how many systems where purchased with Linux to save 30 dollars, then wiped and reinstalled with a copy of Windows that the buyer had already owned, or used from another system?
Is it any different then the ones purchased with Linux, then having Windows installed?
Considering that buying Windows separately is MORE expensive then buying it pre-installs, even the typical drooling Windows droid isn't THAT stupid.
Considering that buying Windows separately is MORE expensive then buying it pre-installs, even the typical drooling Windows droid isn't THAT stupid.
"Windows from Another Machine" is "Theft." What you normally see when you get in a blog with OSS guys, theft.
...install something else are inconsequential wrt the number of systems sold. It doesn't make sense for a significant number of people to buy a Windows version of a netbook, remove Windows, and install Linux when Linux versions of netbooks are available. I'm sure there are some but not enough to be of consequence.
I see many people talking about deals on Windows versions that aren't on Linux versions or the vendor doesn't offer the Linux version at all. I know the local stores I frequent don't offer the Linux version in stores or online.
So its either order it from Dell or HP or buy one on sale and load Linux on to it. The good thing is that you know the drivers are available for the hardware since there are Linux versions out there.
I say its win win in a sense. MS cuts the price on XP and subsidizes some of these netbooks. I get hardware at a cheaper price and I can install my OS of choice on it with ease.
So its either order it from Dell or HP or buy one on sale and load Linux on to it. The good thing is that you know the drivers are available for the hardware since there are Linux versions out there.
I say its win win in a sense. MS cuts the price on XP and subsidizes some of these netbooks. I get hardware at a cheaper price and I can install my OS of choice on it with ease.
I know the local stores I frequent don't offer the Linux version in stores or online.
They used to until they noticed people were buying the Windows versions and decided stocking Linux versions, for the few people that wanted them, wasn't worth their time.
Like I said I'm sure there are some. But in comparison to the total number sold they're inconsequential. Otherwise stores would be stocking Linux versions too.
They used to until they noticed people were buying the Windows versions and decided stocking Linux versions, for the few people that wanted them, wasn't worth their time.
Like I said I'm sure there are some. But in comparison to the total number sold they're inconsequential. Otherwise stores would be stocking Linux versions too.
People didn't want them but they were selling like hotcakes pre XP extension? Please...
They weren't in the local stores period. And when there were Linux PC's in Walmart they sold out.
The question however is what consequences are there for installing Linux over Windows that would lead you to say its inconsequential in the first place? The fact is that it appears to happen a decent amount of times. MS gets money for nothing and Vendors get more and more requests for Linux compatible software and drivers. Once again win win if you ask me.
They weren't in the local stores period. And when there were Linux PC's in Walmart they sold out.
The question however is what consequences are there for installing Linux over Windows that would lead you to say its inconsequential in the first place? The fact is that it appears to happen a decent amount of times. MS gets money for nothing and Vendors get more and more requests for Linux compatible software and drivers. Once again win win if you ask me.
...a significant number of people are wiping Windows and installing Linux on their netbooks. I propose the number doing so is inconsequential otherwise more people would be buying the Linux version of these netbooks to begin with. And more businesses would be stocking them. The fact they're not tells me there is insufficient demand for them. Period.
You didn't list the consequences...
Some people are buying what the are comfortable with. Some are buying Windows for the hardware spec advantage on some offerings and some are buying it because of deals on Window's versions that they don't see on the Linux versions. The last two are installing Linux once they get it plain and simple.
To the contrary the fact that Dell even started selling Ubuntu machines and slowly but surely has made it easier to configure a machine with Ubuntu....and the fact that HP was hiring Linux desktop developers and heavily customizing the desktop experience tells me there is enough demand for them to do so.
Some people are buying what the are comfortable with. Some are buying Windows for the hardware spec advantage on some offerings and some are buying it because of deals on Window's versions that they don't see on the Linux versions. The last two are installing Linux once they get it plain and simple.
To the contrary the fact that Dell even started selling Ubuntu machines and slowly but surely has made it easier to configure a machine with Ubuntu....and the fact that HP was hiring Linux desktop developers and heavily customizing the desktop experience tells me there is enough demand for them to do so.
Didn't you know that Microsoft is so evil that every time somebody chooses to purchase one of their products, it is because they've been tricked or forced to do so? If Linux isn't the dominant desktop it's because Microsoft has used their "evil monopoly" powers to force their products on users. It has nothing to do with merit, the quality of Microsoft's product line, the deficiencies of Linux, or consumers simply preferring an environment they are familiar with and makes them productive.
Seriously, I wonder how many of these Linux-heads who constantly preach conspiracy are old enough to legally consume alcohol? I bet the percentage would be astonishing!
Seriously, I wonder how many of these Linux-heads who constantly preach conspiracy are old enough to legally consume alcohol? I bet the percentage would be astonishing!
Good strawman.
You sure do get distracted easily! People don't know what they want, but they know what they don't want when they see it. Bottom line! If you can't grasp that, well, I guess I am wasting my time.
Bottom line! If you can't grasp that, well, I guess I am wasting my time.
"People don't know what they want, but they know what they don't want when they see it."
Thats why people buy the Windows netbooks at the local stores or on sale and install Linux. It took you all of this to finally understand.
Thats why people buy the Windows netbooks at the local stores or on sale and install Linux. It took you all of this to finally understand.
People don't buy the Linux version because they can't get it. That's the real reason.
Otherwise they'd be selling instead of Windows netbooks. Which means they'd be stocked in addition to or instead of Windows netbooks.
LOL, great spin! Keep it up and you could have a great stand up routine! It sounds funny even though what you said makes no sense.
...although they weren't netbooks and Walmart pulled them anyway. Dell and HP sell them. They simply aren't in the local stores. Looking around the net shows no shortage of people wiping Windows for Linux so this obviously shows the outlets that the demand is for Windows. They don't know and don't care what happens at home.
Why even go that far. MS dropped the price of XP why? Because the Linux netbooks were selling. If nobody wanted them MS would not have jumped onto a platform that hurts their earnings potential. But they had to in order to keep people from becoming too familiar with Linux.
Why even go that far. MS dropped the price of XP why? Because the Linux netbooks were selling. If nobody wanted them MS would not have jumped onto a platform that hurts their earnings potential. But they had to in order to keep people from becoming too familiar with Linux.
>And when there were Linux PC's in Walmart they sold out.
And see what happened: The return rate was at least four times higher for Linux netbooks than Windows XP
The market spoke loud and clear and the dealers listened. With thin margins on hardware, these kind of return rates made it simply not worth their time to stock these machines.
Additionally: Linux is IMPRACTICAL to sell retail. First, which of the '400 popular distributions' of Linux would a manufacturer install? (And what an incredible SUPPORT NIGHTMARE would they create for themselves...)
No matter which one they choose, only a small percentage would be happy with it - the rest (assuming they had the skills) would blow it away and put on something else.
Driver support for Linux is a joke -- what manufacturer could possibly afford to produce drivers able to work in all those distributions for a start.
Compare that with creating drivers for a couple of version of Windows where they are given all the interfaces and support they need.
Really, a no-brainer...
And see what happened: The return rate was at least four times higher for Linux netbooks than Windows XP
The market spoke loud and clear and the dealers listened. With thin margins on hardware, these kind of return rates made it simply not worth their time to stock these machines.
Additionally: Linux is IMPRACTICAL to sell retail. First, which of the '400 popular distributions' of Linux would a manufacturer install? (And what an incredible SUPPORT NIGHTMARE would they create for themselves...)
No matter which one they choose, only a small percentage would be happy with it - the rest (assuming they had the skills) would blow it away and put on something else.
Driver support for Linux is a joke -- what manufacturer could possibly afford to produce drivers able to work in all those distributions for a start.
Compare that with creating drivers for a couple of version of Windows where they are given all the interfaces and support they need.
Really, a no-brainer...
Please link to information about an INDUSTRY return rate 4 times higher for Linux and not the MSI return rate being three times higher. I'll tell you now thats pretty hard to do when the CEO of ASUS is on record saying that wasn't the case for them when asked about the MSI return rate.
"The return rate was at least four times higher for Linux netbooks than Windows XP"
... provide some links. If you can't, then it's just hot air coming from the rear.
The virus rate is at least one hundred times higher for Windows XP netbooks than Linux
"Dell's Inspiron Mini netbooks come with a 30 day trial subscription of Norton Internet Security , and an offer of a 15 month subscription for $79.95."
^o^
... provide some links. If you can't, then it's just hot air coming from the rear.
The virus rate is at least one hundred times higher for Windows XP netbooks than Linux
"Dell's Inspiron Mini netbooks come with a 30 day trial subscription of Norton Internet Security , and an offer of a 15 month subscription for $79.95."
^o^
Google it! There are 3,970 results listing these statistics.
This is COMMON KNOWLEDGE for anyone who has followed the introduction of Linux into retail.
I know it is difficult, so here are a few to get you started...
http://blog.laptopmag.com/msi-wind-coming-to-major-retailer-new-models-coming-soon
http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/05/123253&from=rss
http://gizmodo.com/5058953/linux-netbooks-are-returned-4x-more-than-win-xp-versions-says-msi
http://www.uselog.com/2008/10/netbooks-high-return-rate-due-to-linux.html
http://apcmag.com/xp_leads_linux_in_the_netbook_stakes.htm
THERE -- does that make things a bit easier for you? I know -- the truth hurts...
This is COMMON KNOWLEDGE for anyone who has followed the introduction of Linux into retail.
I know it is difficult, so here are a few to get you started...
http://blog.laptopmag.com/msi-wind-coming-to-major-retailer-new-models-coming-soon
http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/05/123253&from=rss
http://gizmodo.com/5058953/linux-netbooks-are-returned-4x-more-than-win-xp-versions-says-msi
http://www.uselog.com/2008/10/netbooks-high-return-rate-due-to-linux.html
http://apcmag.com/xp_leads_linux_in_the_netbook_stakes.htm
THERE -- does that make things a bit easier for you? I know -- the truth hurts...
and it becomes accepted as truth.
The hypertext was:
"not get accustomed to the Linux interfaces."
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,62047037,00.htm
"not get accustomed to the Linux interfaces."
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,62047037,00.htm
I'm not having any difficulty with people
wanting to dump their hosed Windows boxes in
favor of "modern" Linux.
The drivers aren't that unique and are shared
between distributions. i.e. Linux Mint 6 is
based on Ubuntu, so the drivers are essentially
the same.
Mint provides a 77 page .pdf manual (very well
written) which is more than you get with MS.
No Av hassles, no spyware problems, and the OS
doesn't grind itself to death like MS does. (See
ZDNet article on bit-rot.)
Any person using the computer for school
welcomes the stability and reliability for
producing timely assignments. Windows always
seems to fail the night before an important
assignment is due.
Ever hear of 11 million infected Linux computers
running a botnet?
wanting to dump their hosed Windows boxes in
favor of "modern" Linux.
The drivers aren't that unique and are shared
between distributions. i.e. Linux Mint 6 is
based on Ubuntu, so the drivers are essentially
the same.
Mint provides a 77 page .pdf manual (very well
written) which is more than you get with MS.
No Av hassles, no spyware problems, and the OS
doesn't grind itself to death like MS does. (See
ZDNet article on bit-rot.)
Any person using the computer for school
welcomes the stability and reliability for
producing timely assignments. Windows always
seems to fail the night before an important
assignment is due.
Ever hear of 11 million infected Linux computers
running a botnet?
"Windows always
seems to fail the night before an important
assignment is due. "
Nice FUD! I bet you can do even better next time! Maybe adding an anecdote would help. After all, if you're going to lie, might as well go all out!
seems to fail the night before an important
assignment is due. "
Nice FUD! I bet you can do even better next time! Maybe adding an anecdote would help. After all, if you're going to lie, might as well go all out!
Were you all not able to read where I said links that were NOT about MSI? Or could you not quickly see that every article you all linked too specifically talked about MSI....some right in the title?
As I stated before the CEO of ASUS said he had seen no such phenomenon.
As I stated before the CEO of ASUS said he had seen no such phenomenon.
Wow.
You thought it looked nice
So you posted it twice?
You thought it looked nice
So you posted it twice?
I know its to hard for you to comprehend but its rather simple. For instance I am considering a netbook for my wife. If I find a deal that makes me take the plunge and its Windows only so what...I will get it and install Linux. There are people replying to this article that have done the same.
and I agree! There are people replying to this article that have done the same! But that's only 10 people? 20 people? Maybe once you get more people on your bandwagon it would make a difference!
I know it's hard for you to comprehend, but your scenario is pretty rare.
I know it's hard for you to comprehend, but your scenario is pretty rare.
Looking across the internet...its not rare at all. In fact its probably the most common scenario for Linux substitution now because its known that there are Linux drivers for these specific machines.
What kills me though is how it really doesn't matter on my end if its rare or not. I get what I want even if I'm the last one using it.
What kills me though is how it really doesn't matter on my end if its rare or not. I get what I want even if I'm the last one using it.
if you look in the niches, you'll find what you want, no matter how rare it is.
I'm happy that you get what you want. I certainly do the same.
I'm happy that you get what you want. I certainly do the same.
I looked in the niches and found what I wanted. I found a nice niche gaming OS and platform. Its called Windows and Xbox. They are great for games but I wouldn't do anything serious with them.
everyone else does. Except for Xbox, that's just for fun.
Yea, the two or three that they had for sale!
Let's see who the Fudmaster really is. It cuts both ways you know.
Let's see what happens after April 1st when Conficker C ravages the planet.
Maybe it will look like this:
March 31, Linux share = 2 %
April 3, Linux share = 75%
Let's see what happens after April 1st when Conficker C ravages the planet.
Maybe it will look like this:
March 31, Linux share = 2 %
April 3, Linux share = 75%
"Wal-Mart has stopped selling Everex's Linux-based PC in its stores because of a tepid response from customers"
http://www.pcworld.com/article/143343/walmart_yanks_linux_pc.html
If WalMart can't even sell your product, chances are that the (US) populous, in general, doesn't want it!
http://www.pcworld.com/article/143343/walmart_yanks_linux_pc.html
If WalMart can't even sell your product, chances are that the (US) populous, in general, doesn't want it!
he's too bound into that myth to believe it.
...ago. I did a quick check and didn't see it online. Does Walmart still offer a Linux based PC online?
If you call the bare shelves a tepid response then so be it. But their claims left many puzzled as the stores that were selling the PC couldn't keep them in stock. I also checked out their online offering and at the time the reviews were pretty good. So believe that if you want to....I also have a nice piece of real estate on the moon that might interest you.
You know when you went to Netcraft Walmart used to report running IIS on Linux. A word to the wise...
You know when you went to Netcraft Walmart used to report running IIS on Linux. A word to the wise...
What myth? The FACT that the store shelves were constantly empty?
He didn't call bare shelves a tepid response, Wal-Mart did. Good try though.
Yes, that's the myth. You're too invested in it to quit now. Stick to your guns, that's what I admire about you!
It really doesn't matter who called bare shelves a tepid response. Well maybe in your world...
It mattered enough that you keep talking about it. It also matters enough that those shelves aren't restocked. Yes, it matters in my world. It's called the real world, you should look at it again one of these days.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=926
I'm still waiting for someone to actually find information that shows they didn't sell rather than Walmart "saying" the customers didn't want it.
I'm still waiting for someone to actually find information that shows they didn't sell rather than Walmart "saying" the customers didn't want it.
Linux wants your brains to satisfy brains it lacks atm ?
Yeah I thought so.linux deserves to do well, but not when its own users can't use the 'latest' ubuntu OS due to hardware that 'used' to work, forcing them to go back to a prior release.
What do you think new uses, trying out linux for the first time are going to do?
Thats not spin those are hard facts straight from linux own userbase having trouble. You think you're kewl and that linux is, but the problem is also that linux does NOT have enough QA ( 6 months vs a known track record of 2 years??? ) to make any headway into the market, at a time when vista gave it ample opportunity to do JUST THAT.
Way to go geek heads, to spoil it for everyone else that really needs a free open source system.
Better hurry up on the next release now, in time to make sure you neglect as much hardware as possible.
Yeah I thought so.linux deserves to do well, but not when its own users can't use the 'latest' ubuntu OS due to hardware that 'used' to work, forcing them to go back to a prior release.
What do you think new uses, trying out linux for the first time are going to do?
Thats not spin those are hard facts straight from linux own userbase having trouble. You think you're kewl and that linux is, but the problem is also that linux does NOT have enough QA ( 6 months vs a known track record of 2 years??? ) to make any headway into the market, at a time when vista gave it ample opportunity to do JUST THAT.
Way to go geek heads, to spoil it for everyone else that really needs a free open source system.
Better hurry up on the next release now, in time to make sure you neglect as much hardware as possible.
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