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Let's Set Reasonable Expectations for Netbooks

Techworld has an intereresting post up today about how Linux-based netbooks are becoming a big driver for business adoption of Linux. We've been covering how netbooks are helping fuel a relatively healthy market for new computer buying, but there are some naysayers. Reports are coming in that many people are returning the netbooks that they purchase. How solid is the netbook trend?

Techworld's interview with the chief technology officer for Novell includes this:

"People typically don't care what operating system is on the netbooks, because they don't buy them to run a suite of applications like Microsoft Office, but to be on the web using a web browser," said Nat Friedman.

That may be the case, but there are increasing reports that many netbooks are being returned, and the Windows XP-based netbooks are becoming increasingly prevalent. Wistron chairman Simon Lin says that the position of traditional notebooks will not be affected by the rising role of netbooks over the next two years, even as many netbooks are showing up running Windows, as reported here.

I've made the point several times that netbooks are useful as adjunct machines, and the Asus Eee PC that I use is primarily for web browsing and light writing (which I like it for). I think business adoption of Linux will benefit from these machines along with adoption from individuals. At the same time, though--especially given the relatively minimal resources these systems usually come with, and the increasing presence of Windows XP on them--there are good reasons not to get too breathless about Linux netbooks.  

• linux
• novell
• Asus

by an anonymous user on Oct. 10, 2008

Maybe belt tightening that's going to happen will push netbooks for another two years. It's going to be hard to add a secondary laptop... into personal budgets.

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by The Manufacturer is not SHARP on Oct. 12, 2008

Manufacturers like Asus and Acer is not doing themselves and users a favour.

They are using a "highly customized" version of Linux aka dumbed down version of Linux.

Windows users have minimum problem if they were to install KDE.

To the next manufacturer, just install Kubuntu, Mepis or even better, Debian with KDE (and synaptic) and things should be fine.

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by an anonymous user on Oct. 13, 2008

Supposedly a large percentage of the netbooks are equipped with Ubuntu. As stated on another site that is covering the same subject, one issue was the color of the Ubuntu desktop.

As long as the desktop of a new and unfamiliar system is the color of feces, those new/er to Linux who don't immediately change the desktop background color will continue to return the units at a higher rate than if the desktop background color were a deep blue or kde blue or default blue or some similar appealing color/design.

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