Follow the Australian Telecommunications scene NEWSLETTER- FREE TRIAL
The Linux distillery
Bringing the world of Linux to you, David cuts through the tech and shows you how it works and how to use it, in terms that apply to any distro. RSS
Technology news and Jobs arrow The Linux distillery arrow How to sell Linux netbooks to the world
How to sell Linux netbooks to the world E-mail
by David M Williams   
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
The web browser is the key to the future of netbooks.

In one sense this is no surprise. The Internet began as a Department of Defence project many decades ago. It grew to encompass Universities and research institutions and some big businesses.

Back in 1990 I was online as a student at the University of Newcastle. I mucked around with text-based MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons, the forerunners of today's MMORPGs) and IRC. All those I came across were mostly fellow students from around the world.

But 1994 came and the World Wide Web was invented. Graphical web browsers appeared. By 1996 the concept of regular people and families subscribing to an Internet Service Provider was well entrenched.

Suddenly, to my surprise, I was stumbling across 13 year olds and 70 year olds alike. The Web was the "killer app" which made the Internet go mainstream.

Likewise, the Web is once again bringing about a revolution where "the cloud" is what matters. We are turning from client-based apps like Microsoft Outlook for e-mail to everywhere-accessible Web-based apps like Google Gmail.

In a similar fashion, social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are becoming the place to hang out and interact - once again, in opposition to traditional client-based apps like mIrc.

Google state that a motivating factor for their Chrome web browser was to enhance the experience of people using web apps like these because they recognised their growing importance and popularity.

Here's how Linux vendors can capitalise.

CONTINUED

 
< Next story in category   Previous story in the category >
iTWire user statistics Visitors last 30 days
694,279
Subscribers 15,210
#1 independent technology news advertise here
  •   *  
  • Search
  • AdvSeach
  • Login
  • Events
  • FreeStuff

- Advertisement -

Featured Whitepapers

Follow iTWire on Twitter

About iTWire

iTWire is all about technology news, information, jobs and community for the IT and telecommunications industry professional. Subscribe to our free ICT daily newsletter