Comments on: Ubuntu Confirms Linux Netbook Returns Higher than Anticipated http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated News and views on today's hottest laptops, cell phones, and other mobile devices. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:43:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dan http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-2#comment-170381 Dan Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:16:03 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-170381 Perhaps people who are used to linux based systems are used to a level of performance from their netbooks/laptops that the atom chip cannot deliver. Perhaps people who are used to linux based systems are used to a level of performance from their netbooks/laptops that the atom chip cannot deliver.

]]> By: spookie http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-2#comment-113972 spookie Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:51:37 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-113972 @bond The point is that, though people are used to the MS way of doing things, it's not necessarily the ideal way. Sometimes it is. Sometimes another way is more efficient. Sometimes there are several ways that are equally simple. FOSS offers CHOICE. And as others have pointed out, there are front-ends for Linux distros that make your box look and act a lot like a Windows box. There are others that are different in subtle ways but are pretty intuitive for the Windows user. Many think the KDE desktop is easier for Windows users to adapt to, so maybe Kubuntu is the distro you speak of. I've had good luck with plain vanilla Ubuntu for my Windows friends and family--it may look different (the browns have turned off some and enthralled others but the color-scheme can be changed) but the functionality is similar, and a few of the geekier have really liked Puppy for it's newbie-friendly forums. I don't think the answer is to make Linux distros into Windows clones that geeks can hack to do what they want. There are, and should be, Linux distros for geeks and Linux distros for the more tech-challenged. I would love to see Puppy distributed on netbooks, especially low-powered netbooks. It's maybe the easiest distro I've ever used. @bond

The point is that, though people are used to the MS way of doing things, it’s not necessarily the ideal way. Sometimes it is. Sometimes another way is more efficient. Sometimes there are several ways that are equally simple. FOSS offers CHOICE. And as others have pointed out, there are front-ends for Linux distros that make your box look and act a lot like a Windows box. There are others that are different in subtle ways but are pretty intuitive for the Windows user. Many think the KDE desktop is easier for Windows users to adapt to, so maybe Kubuntu is the distro you speak of. I’ve had good luck with plain vanilla Ubuntu for my Windows friends and family–it may look different (the browns have turned off some and enthralled others but the color-scheme can be changed) but the functionality is similar, and a few of the geekier have really liked Puppy for it’s newbie-friendly forums.

I don’t think the answer is to make Linux distros into Windows clones that geeks can hack to do what they want. There are, and should be, Linux distros for geeks and Linux distros for the more tech-challenged.

I would love to see Puppy distributed on netbooks, especially low-powered netbooks. It’s maybe the easiest distro I’ve ever used.

]]> By: spookie http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-2#comment-113954 spookie Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:18:06 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-113954 I think the problem with netbooks with Linux preinstalled, at least in the beginning, was they were locked down so tightly--at least the ones I bought. (And returned.) I ended up buying netbooks running WinXP and installing Linux myself--one with Ubuntu and another with Puppy. The netbooks with preinstalled Linux I purchased had VERY small software repositories which included NONE of the FOSS applications I routinely use on my other Linux boxes or my Mac OSX and Windows boxes. I NEED the functionality of OpenOffice.org and the lame-a$$ed substitites offered would not suffice. I'm accustomed to the GIMP, and would prefer to use it since I don't need to learn several interfaces for image editing. YES, GoogleDocs and Picasa/Picnic ARE available in the browser--but NOT at 35,000 feet! Local editing MUST be available, and it just WASN'T on the Linux netbooks I tried. They were virtually useless as delivered, unless you were 4 years old! Installing Linux isn't for the non-geek just yet, so my option just isn't viable for a mainstream audience right now. The Ubuntu install was rougher than the Puppy install--I had to futz with with drivers quite a bit to get my hardware running on Ubuntu while Puppy was pretty smooth. I can't necessarily blame that on the the distros, though. The hardware was not identical nor even from the same OEM and it's possible, had I reversed the installs, that the Ubuntu would have installed smoother on the other hardware and the Puppy would've stumbled in the same places Ubuntu did. Canonical is in a good position to push the install of more mainstream Linux pre-installs on big-name hardware. Ubuntu is as easy to use as Windows and I find Windows users willing to use it. They are not willing to use the pre-installed netbook crap because it doesn't do what they want and need it to do. I think the problem with netbooks with Linux preinstalled, at least in the beginning, was they were locked down so tightly–at least the ones I bought. (And returned.) I ended up buying netbooks running WinXP and installing Linux myself–one with Ubuntu and another with Puppy. The netbooks with preinstalled Linux I purchased had VERY small software repositories which included NONE of the FOSS applications I routinely use on my other Linux boxes or my Mac OSX and Windows boxes. I NEED the functionality of OpenOffice.org and the lame-a$$ed substitites offered would not suffice. I’m accustomed to the GIMP, and would prefer to use it since I don’t need to learn several interfaces for image editing. YES, GoogleDocs and Picasa/Picnic ARE available in the browser–but NOT at 35,000 feet! Local editing MUST be available, and it just WASN’T on the Linux netbooks I tried. They were virtually useless as delivered, unless you were 4 years old!

Installing Linux isn’t for the non-geek just yet, so my option just isn’t viable for a mainstream audience right now. The Ubuntu install was rougher than the Puppy install–I had to futz with with drivers quite a bit to get my hardware running on Ubuntu while Puppy was pretty smooth. I can’t necessarily blame that on the the distros, though. The hardware was not identical nor even from the same OEM and it’s possible, had I reversed the installs, that the Ubuntu would have installed smoother on the other hardware and the Puppy would’ve stumbled in the same places Ubuntu did.

Canonical is in a good position to push the install of more mainstream Linux pre-installs on big-name hardware. Ubuntu is as easy to use as Windows and I find Windows users willing to use it. They are not willing to use the pre-installed netbook crap because it doesn’t do what they want and need it to do.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-2#comment-111028 Jim Tue, 25 Jan 2011 07:20:22 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-111028 In response to this attitude: "Give it time. Microsoft can’t keep selling Windows XP forever." How long exactly have they been selling, oh I dunno, bread, the hammer? lol In response to this attitude: “Give it time. Microsoft can’t keep selling Windows XP forever.”

How long exactly have they been selling, oh I dunno, bread, the hammer? lol

]]> By: Kim doan http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-1#comment-82289 Kim doan Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:32:58 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-82289 I'm a techie (MCSE/CCNP) who can use any Linux flavors out there. I must say that the "reloaded" Ubuntu version for Netbook is too dumb-down. That's a mistake as users want something that resembles a 'normal' computer interface. I have had to re-install linux (Lubuntu version) on my netbook just to make it run more efficient and look somewhat like Windows or Mac. I’m a techie (MCSE/CCNP) who can use any Linux flavors out there. I must say that the “reloaded” Ubuntu version for Netbook is too dumb-down. That’s a mistake as users want something that resembles a ‘normal’ computer interface. I have had to re-install linux (Lubuntu version) on my netbook just to make it run more efficient and look somewhat like Windows or Mac.

]]> By: darren http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-1#comment-75826 darren Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:03:21 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-75826 I installed Ubuntu on an acer one netbook, it was bought with linpus linux installed, a year or so ago to try it out, now every pc in my house is windows free, my kids love using Ubuntu, and a few friends have also made the switch, it is true however, that if you are not confident with using a computer, the differences case ton take some getting use to.. I installed Ubuntu on an acer one netbook, it was bought with linpus linux installed, a year or so ago to try it out, now every pc in my house is windows free, my kids love using Ubuntu, and a few friends have also made the switch, it is true however, that if you are not confident with using a computer, the differences case ton take some getting use to..

]]> By: Mike http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-1#comment-37347 Mike Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:07:47 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-37347 I used to sell EeePCs with Linux preinstalled. On a number of occasions, after a lengthy chat discussing the benefits and problems with linux, before having them returned by people complaining that they weren't told that they didn't run Windows. Some people are prunes who just nod and smile! I used to sell EeePCs with Linux preinstalled. On a number of occasions, after a lengthy chat discussing the benefits and problems with linux, before having them returned by people complaining that they weren’t told that they didn’t run Windows.

Some people are prunes who just nod and smile!

]]> By: netbook deals http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-1#comment-36411 netbook deals Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:24:49 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-36411 This is simply what happens when consumers buy certain models just because they're cheaper, without taking into account the other important factors. This is simply what happens when consumers buy certain models just because they’re cheaper, without taking into account the other important factors.

]]> By: Dale http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-1#comment-34212 Dale Tue, 11 May 2010 01:53:24 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-34212 Open source software will take over. It is inevitable. Open source software will take over. It is inevitable.

]]> By: Greg http://blog.laptopmag.com/ubuntu-confirms-linux-netbook-returns-higher-than-anticpated/comment-page-1#comment-33614 Greg Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:17:04 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=5514#comment-33614 ... forgot to finish the point yesterday... There is a lot of potential to do useful things with 'small' machines, bigger than a smartphone, smaller than a laptop. There's no reason such machines can't be quite inexpensive ... in other words, instead of getting more and more computer for the same $500, why can't we get the same computer for less and less money (I have a 1997 laptop which cost $3K, ran W95, and which I used for electronics design, and software development, etc, and the Eee PC is much better spec than that was, except for screen size - but we are now told that the Eee is a 'netbook' and is only good for browsing and email??? No, mine is a full blown linux box that fits in the pocket of my winter coat. I can log into it remotely if I want a full size screen!). Well, in the mainstream the answer is that they are hard to sell because Microsoft won't support them (in part, because of economics: As the cost of the machine gets lower, the Microsoft tax becomes a greater percentage of that cost, so the machine couldn't actually be sold at an attractive price). Linux, on the other hand, will support them. This is a whole new market segment which will thrive if more people figure out that they don't need Windows. … forgot to finish the point yesterday… There is a lot of potential to do useful things with ‘small’ machines, bigger than a smartphone, smaller than a laptop. There’s no reason such machines can’t be quite inexpensive … in other words, instead of getting more and more computer for the same $500, why can’t we get the same computer for less and less money (I have a 1997 laptop which cost $3K, ran W95, and which I used for electronics design, and software development, etc, and the Eee PC is much better spec than that was, except for screen size – but we are now told that the Eee is a ‘netbook’ and is only good for browsing and email??? No, mine is a full blown linux box that fits in the pocket of my winter coat. I can log into it remotely if I want a full size screen!). Well, in the mainstream the answer is that they are hard to sell because Microsoft won’t support them (in part, because of economics: As the cost of the machine gets lower, the Microsoft tax becomes a greater percentage of that cost, so the machine couldn’t actually be sold at an attractive price). Linux, on the other hand, will support them. This is a whole new market segment which will thrive if more people figure out that they don’t need Windows.

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