The netbook belongs to Linux

David M Williams
Monday, 29 June 2009 14:42

Business IT - Technology

Not long afterwards ASUS Australia consumer market product manager Gordon Kerr said Linux would be phased out entirely from ASUS’ products.

Kerr was not content to stop there, although I’m sure he now wishes he had. He continued, “People bought the original seven- and eight-inch Eee PCs for a computer to give to the kids.”

“If you want the full functionality of a notebook you are going to go with Windows,” he said.

This amazing change in ASUS’ attitude betrayed the fact it was Linux which had given their netbook its success in the first place.

After all, let’s consider the operating system alternatives.

MacOS is out. Some crafty hardware hackers have rigged up their own MacOS installation on Dell netbooks but this isn’t supported by Apple. Some speculate it contravenes Apple’s licensing policy to install the operating system on non-Apple hardware.

Then there’s Linux. That’s a given; it’s what I’ve been referring to. With Linux you had no licensing fees to pay plus it performs well on low-powered hardware.  I tried out Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04 on an Acer Aspire One and it performed stunningly.

Ubuntu 9.04 is the very latest edition of Ubuntu Linux available. Its version number – 9.04 – actually refers to the month (April, 04) and year (2009) of its release. So, an absolutely modern leading-technology operating system ran admirably.

The other alternative, at this time, is Windows XP. Although Windows Vista is the latest edition of Microsoft Windows for desktops and laptops it’s a memory and CPU hog and will bring any netbook to its virtual knees.

So, Windows XP – approaching 10 years age – has been the light for Microsoft users worldwide. Even the Lenovo/Microsoft DET tender pitched Windows XP.

Make no mistake, Windows XP costs money (as does Microsoft Office which is never included in the base price) although Microsoft cut a deal with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to greatly reduce the licensing fee for XP on netbooks only.

Microsoft has promised the upcoming Windows 7 will be much more netbook friendly. Microsoft knows a succession plan is required to continue the market dominance.

Yet, at the same time, Microsoft is keen to recoup the discounted licensing cash it forewent. Microsoft is going with a strategy to sell cheap cut-price software licenses but put such burdens and restrictions on users that they will ultimately stump up for an upgrade.

Windows 7 will be available in several different forms such as home and professional editions, just like previous Microsoft operating systems.

It will also be released in a so-called netbook-sized edition known as “Starter edition.”

I have problems with the name from the beginning. Is Microsoft saying that people who buy netbooks are new to computing?