Linux Laptops: Despite Minor Annoyances, They're Improving

by Sam Dean - Mar. 11, 2008Comments (3)

 

 

 

The new Asus Eee PCs, as reported in Laptop Magazine, will offer Intel's new Diamondville CPUs instead of the VIA chips they've been based on. That's sure to bring some speed and power consumption benefits.

I'm even happier to hear that the size of the display on the Eee PCs will increase to 8.9 inches from 7 inches, with 1024 x 600 resolution. That should take care of a major annoyance I've discovered with the Eee PC which is that you have to keep scrolling to the right because of the machine's tiny display and ultra-low resolution.

Among other details, Asus will be delivering some of the new systems in April, and a 12GB or 20GB model will be available with Xandros. Those will still have solid-state local storage, but Asus has gone on record saying that they may offer hard drives as an option--and I would take that option. Also, while the Eee PC's slick-looking white case is nice, the company will offer more colors and styles in coming months.

Hopefully, these systems will still be available in the $400 range, which is awfully cheap for a Wi-Fi-enabled, reasonably powerful laptop. A big catalog of open source software, including OpenOffice, several Google applications, Firefox, and more comes with these machines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also priced at $399, Everex's Linux-based Cloudbook laptops are worth a look. I haven't tried one of these yet, but they're based on VIA processors, and I would tend to prefer a system based on Intel's Diamondville chips.

I haven't found a consumer-focused Linux-based laptop that I would use as my primary machine yet, but for lightweight systems that I can write on and tote to meetings, some of these are looking great. If Asus can massage the display and local storage problems they've had, Linux laptops may become a hit with consumers.

Do you think these Linux laptops have a future? Would people be better off just slapping Ubuntu on an inexpensive system?


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Randy Clark uses OStatic to support Open Source, ask and answer questions and stay informed. What about you?



3 Comments
 

How does Dell's Ubuntu system hold up? You do raise that question towards the end of your post - how does their system stack up? It is hardware that people are comfortable in dealing with. Do we really need dedicated hardware too, and not, like you said, just an inexpensive system with linux?


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Dell's Ubuntu Linux laptops go for $500 and $600 and up--much more expensive than the Asus and Everex laptops: http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=e...


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I use a Dell Inspiron 1505 with Ubuntu and am very happy with it. Only minor problems/inconveniences which were quickly and easily resolved. It is a strong and capable machine used mostly for software development and the Web. I haven't tried any of the "ultra-mobile" units yet, but from what I've seen in pictures and read about them and their limitations, I'll stick with my Dell + Ubuntu machine, thank you.


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