Comments on: MSI: Wind Coming to Major Retailer, New Models Coming Soon

By: Roynux

Roynux — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:31:44 +0000

I bought the first version of the MSI Wind.
The Suse Linux installation on this computer was pure lame. The only decent thing was the background picture.

The hard drive was split into / and /data, most part of the disk was on data but it was not writable by the user! It was impossible to install/update software.

The only think I could do was typing letters.

I tried one day then gave up and installed Ubuntu (8.04). I just needed a bit of search for the wifi.

So the problem was not Linux, no the computer, and no the user. The fault was MSI’s.

Tell me what the problem for the manufacturer is to
1) Select a free mainstream Linux distribution
2) Install the latest version on the computer and verify that everything is ok

Success guaranteed at low cost.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:30:20 +0000

I never really like microsoft os on pdas, it seems tacky at time to me further more they are pretty expensive at that and nothinhg really to make up for it either and again thats my opinion, i prefer the blackberry over any other phone available at online retailer

By: laptop

laptop — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:01:30 +0000

Nice interview. Microsoft needs to improve more alternativies for cell phones…

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:51:44 +0000

I bought Wind 100 with Windows couple months ago. I’m quite familiar with Linux but linux is still not able to compete with Windows in terms of ease of use (desktop). Every times something is wrong it is not possible to diagnose it without much deeper knowledge or google. And google answers are sometimes just plaing wrong, moreover there is so many versions of linux and so many versions of packages that getting correct answer is matter of luck.

By: j0nn0

j0nn0 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:23:11 +0000

Echoing Ron and Randy (re: Lies, damned lies and statistics)

How many Linux Winds were sold vs. Windows? If there were 4 times as many Linux ones sold, then they are about even.

Also, what was the SUSE DE like? People are used to Windows running slow, but if they are confronted with XFCE for the first time, they may just have a panic attack. Even if it does run faster.

Was a manual included in the box? I doubt it.

By: Wilson

Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:13:20 +0000

I think most people won’t return their cell phone because it is not running Windows Mobile. In fact, I never have a cell phone/PDA running WinMobile.

Linux is still in a up hill battle on Desktop market. Most customer position Netbook (Wind, AspireOne, Eee…) as a “smaller, lighter, & cheaper” notebook. They still want to “install” application on it.

If the build-in program on a netbook can satisfy all my need, I won’t try to install new program on it. it doesn’t matter what OS it uses.

As long as users treat netbook as desktop, not appliance, the issue is always there.

By: carlleigh

carlleigh — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:10:04 +0000

“Our internal research has shown that the return of netbooks is higher than regular notebooks, but the main cause of that is Linux. People would love to pay $299 or $399 but they don’t know what they get until they open the box.”

They bought the wrong box. It is hardly surprising that they return it. This is just a FUD article. If I was SUSE I’d be dropping MSI quick.

By: A-DI

A-DI — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:47:07 +0000

I think the return rate stuff might be true.
People are too used to play around the Windows.
I just bought a eee Linux version. No kidding, not as familiar as I think (comapre with Windows)
My daughter asked me to return it, so I did it.
Well, nothing wrong with it, just not familiar

By: Mrs. M

Mrs. M — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:15:02 +0000

They dumped Linux Debian on us at work without training, explanation or warning and we hate, hate, hate it. I have been using computers at work and at home since the 1990s, Windows and Mac, and this is the worst thing I can imagine. Huge amounts of time spent trying to figure out the most basic things about computer operation now – instead of working. Can see NO advantage from a user standpoint and their version of PowerPoint really stinks! Why couldn’t they have just used Linux for the server and left our XP interface alone! Gnashing of teeth!

By: DK

DK — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:13:40 +0000

Of course the Linux version is going to be returned more often. Many consumers haven’t even heard of Linxu, they don’t realise the difference between it and Windows. The salesman in the store just wants to make the sale, they might not realise what Linux is either.

Even if the implementation of Linux was good, even if Linux was tweaked to be a better desktop OS, people would still be returning them just because their windows software/hardware doesn’t work.