Comments on I' Been to Ubuntu: Linux Lost the Netbook War

I was in a store where the salesman introduced a L...

2009-06-05T09:48:40.343+07:00

I was in a store where the salesman introduced a Linux based netbook to an older lady as "Microsoft Windows Linux". I cringed and just had to intervene...

The OEM's failed. The OEM's were bought (bribed, t...

2009-04-02T20:16:16.325+07:00

The OEM's failed. The OEM's were bought (bribed, threatened etc) by Microsoft, this is why Linux on the netbooks failed. It is that simple. If the OEM's put as much effort on Linux as they do for Microsoft products, Linux on the netbooks would be a success. The local electrical retailer has a dozen netbooks, they are all Windows XP.

Linux is great for the desktop. Has been for years...

2009-04-02T10:00:13.390+07:00

Linux is great for the desktop. Has been for years. The problem is your average users which are stupid as shit.

These are the users you could plop on a kde4 linux computer and they'd just think it's vista.

Windows is a usability nightmare, but that wasn't ...

2009-04-01T11:34:26.542+07:00

Windows is a usability nightmare, but that wasn't my point.

If you think camera and printer support is better on Linux (actually, with libgphoto and CUPS) is near perfect, then I have news for you: it just isn't. You can verify this by going to http://openprinting.org and looking at the *140* Lexmark printers rated as paperweights or partially working. In fact, there are ten more

You just do not know what you are talking about, s...

2009-04-01T08:54:21.088+07:00

You just do not know what you are talking about, so I tell you: Linux is not good enough for all the people who want to use windows, because they have been taught that it is "computing". "Linux can not compete with windows when it comes to camera and printer" is about the most absurd statement ever said. In our research group we had a girl - graduate student of physics who never have used windows

Nathan,The war wasn't Linux's doing -- it was MS's...

2009-04-01T07:06:46.572+07:00

Nathan,

The war wasn't Linux's doing -- it was MS's. MS woke up and decided to eradicate Linux on the netbook. For all intents and purposes, they did that.

I'm a Free software advocate of over ten years, so I understand that Linux will never disappear, even from netbooks, but MS has driven Linux back to the same level as other forms -- the notebook and desktop.

What war? Linux is not a company. It's not competi...

2009-04-01T06:57:05.221+07:00

What war? Linux is not a company. It's not competing with Microsoft. Linux is an idea. It can't win and it can't lose. It can't go bankrupt and it can't get rich. No Linux user stands to benefit in any way from converting average computer users. That said:
"People expect all the same functionality... and that requires Windows software."
Ok, what can windows do that I can't do on Linux?

I agree with Anonymous. The first thing in finding...

2009-04-01T01:42:24.194+07:00

I agree with Anonymous. The first thing in finding a solution is realizing the problem. I simply think that the Linux options were marketed for the cheapest hardware, and since for most people this was their first experience with Linux they instantly associated poor usability with Linux.
Add to that the fact that people are more accustomed to the well known and ubiquitous XP, it became too

Just wait till they all get trashed with viruses a...

2009-03-31T20:25:06.014+07:00

Just wait till they all get trashed with viruses and then you can buy them cheap, load your favorite Linux distro and have a real nice netbook. Right now they are just a fashion statement. Sort of a gateway drug to the Iphone if you will. Once the fad wears down, the wannabes will move on to the next shiny bobble. Besides, it's XP Home; the os Microsoft has already said is dying. And I doubt 7

I just bought a Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu 8.04 pre-i...

2009-03-31T19:40:27.418+07:00

I just bought a Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu 8.04 pre-installed. It works great, no driver issues at all. This is our first Linux computer (other than playing with Live CDs once in a while), and I would recommend it for anyone, even beginners.

People have invested time 'learning' to use Window...

2009-03-31T12:38:35.816+07:00

People have invested time 'learning' to use Windows. For example, my parents can 'use' their windows machine for basic tasks but they don't realize how the actions they're taking are leading to the outcome on the screen... they've memorized the actions rather than understood what is really going on.

Pair this with poor communication of what OS these netbooks are even coming with leads

Socceroos,I read your post, and agree with a lot o...

2009-03-31T12:31:57.514+07:00

Socceroos,
I read your post, and agree with a lot of it. I think the "MS woke up and flexed its muscle" argument falls under my point #2 -- the machines aren't on shelves. Even the ones in stores didn't get promoted by the salespeople because they were unfamiliar.

The "John Smith wants to plug his camera in" argument just emphasizes my point that netbooks moved out of the appliance

I agree that many of your points are factors in th...

2009-03-31T11:56:37.015+07:00

I agree that many of your points are factors in the demise of Linux on netbooks, but I disagree that they are the most important factors.

I've explained exactly what I think here:

http://socceroosd.blogspot.com/2009/03/netbooks-missing-bleeding-obvious.html

May be it is time to stop blaiming the universe fo...

2009-03-31T11:00:59.819+07:00

May be it is time to stop blaiming the universe for not wanting to pay money for Linux PC???

May be it is time to get the fact that "Desktop Linux" is simply not good enough. When you stop denying the problem you jusy might come up with the solution

Well, for all intents and purposes, it really is o...

2009-03-31T10:57:27.650+07:00

Well, for all intents and purposes, it really is over. Linux notebooks have settled into the share that they're likely to keep. Call it a stand off at this point, then. MS has the remaining Linux soldiers cornered in the highly-defensible mountains.

My point was not so much that it's over (which it is, in my opinion), and will never start again (which I hope it will with Android and ARM)

Who declared the "war" over? As long as netbooks ...

2009-03-31T10:42:43.073+07:00

Who declared the "war" over? As long as netbooks are selling, no matter what OS is loaded, the war is still on.