Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 45

Thread: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

  1. #1
    HEXUS.admin
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    31,709
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2,073 times in 719 posts

    Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Microsoft says Windows 7 will be good for netbooks, but leading vendors seem to have other plans.
    Read more.

  2. #2
    Moderator DavidM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    8,779
    Thanks
    801
    Thanked
    252 times in 234 posts

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    I think I'd be tempted to by a Linux based machine on a netbook - but sticking to a Windows/Linux dual combo on my next "proper" system upgrade.

  3. #3
    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Preston, Lancs
    Posts
    6,137
    Thanks
    564
    Thanked
    139 times in 100 posts
    • nichomach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DR3
      • Storage:
      • 1x250GB Maxtor SATAII, 1x 400GB Hitachi SATAII
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1060 3GB
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 500W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20" TFT
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media Cable

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Were I buying a netbook, Starter edition would actually deter me from buying Windows on it - not for the missing bells-and-whistles of Aero/Glass, but purely for the three app limit. That said, given the drift toward half-decent (Aero-capable) graphics in newer chipsets, the removal of Aero's glossier features may prove to be an error as well, since there are 3D accelerated desktops for Linux readily available now. Look at Ion, for instance, as well covered here, or the MSI X320 and the removal of all the shiny stuff from W7 Starter begins to look spiteful and petty. Hell, there are higher end netbooks now that can cope with Aero perfectly well.

  4. #4
    Super Nerd
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Cambridge
    Posts
    1,785
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked
    105 times in 72 posts

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Quote Originally Posted by nichomach View Post
    Were I buying a netbook, Starter edition would actually deter me from buying Windows on it - not for the missing bells-and-whistles of Aero/Glass, but purely for the three app limit. That said, given the drift toward half-decent (Aero-capable) graphics in newer chipsets, the removal of Aero's glossier features may prove to be an error as well, since there are 3D accelerated desktops for Linux readily available now. Look at Ion, for instance, as well covered here, or the MSI X320 and the removal of all the shiny stuff from W7 Starter begins to look spiteful and petty. Hell, there are higher end netbooks now that can cope with Aero perfectly well.
    You are completely right...

    I'm using KDE 4.1 on OpenSuse 11.1 with an NVidia Quadro 560, it's not that much more powerful than a 9400m would be, and the minimal set of effects I turn on are already better than Vista's Aero, so if Starter Edition lacks Aero it is going to come off a very distant worst against newer Linux desktops in the looks department. The new GN40 chipset also should be able to do decent enough effects given that it's G45 based, and I would imagine that even the old 945 could look about as good as Aero.

  5. #5
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    7 "ultimate" runs very well on a lowly Acer Aspire One (aero enabled) - basic and starter are therefore a waste of time for such a device.
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


  6. #6
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,026 times in 677 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    I've discussed this with David privately, but I feel the real differentiator in this space is in the UI. People shouldn't need to (and largely don't) care about getting a "full" desktop in a small space, they want something which lets them just surf the net, read their mail, etc - and in that context, where you're buying a "device" rather than a "PC", the OS *really* doesn't matter to people. The experience does.

    In that context, the UI is king - and the frenzied development and innovation in the UI space is one thing that puts Linux-based options FAR ahead of Windows. Compare the UI on the original Eee from a few months back to current offerings like Dell Mini or HP mininote MIE. They're focused on letting you do stuff in a quick intuitive way, first and foremost.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Neverland
    Posts
    5,227
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    155 times in 117 posts
    • Stringent's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Intel DQ57TM
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 760
      • Memory:
      • 8GB
      • Storage:
      • 1TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • NVIDIA Geforce 260GTX
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Centurion
      • Operating System:
      • Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dual Iiyama 24"
      • Internet:
      • Patchy

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    If you want something that does surfing and checking mail, um the iPhone? One only needs a netbook if you plan to write lots tbh, then the benefits of a full size keyboard come into play.

    While I have no problem using Linux on a laptop/netbook I can see the appeal which having a very fast optimised copy of Windows on one would do for that market and Microsoft. Familiarity, and the plus that almost anything will install on it as the article said, iTunes (although any sensible person would have iTunes on their main home desktop surely!), MS Office and even some games to pass the time.

    If its quick at loading up from cold, and quick to run and launch basic applications (IE, Firefox, WMP whatever) then I think its a winner.

  8. #8
    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Preston, Lancs
    Posts
    6,137
    Thanks
    564
    Thanked
    139 times in 100 posts
    • nichomach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DR3
      • Storage:
      • 1x250GB Maxtor SATAII, 1x 400GB Hitachi SATAII
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1060 3GB
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 500W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20" TFT
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media Cable

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    I dunno - I have a suspicion that there's a "horses for courses" aspect to this; I suspect that the usage model for one of the smaller form factor netbooks (Aspire One, Mini 9, Eee 7" or 9XX) may be different to that for larger form factors (NC10, Mini 12, Wind). People may be expecting a fuller-fat experience from the latter, especially when you factor in the improved keyboards etc. that usually accompany the larger size. This also harks back to something I keep coming back to; there's an almost religious insistence that these devices are just being used to access "the cloud", and that they don't need storage or a rich UI because of that. That's at odds with the way the hardware's developed, though - look at the 160GB disks that are commonplace, and the fact that the form-factor's got significantly bigger.

    I suspect that a lot of people, while they're still buying these as second machines/companion devices are expecting significantly more out of them. To a certain extent, we have machines now that are capable of performing most of the functions of an ultralite notebook for a fraction of the traditional price for those; OK, the screen, while bigger than the 8.9" is still probably a 1024x600 panel, which is a bit anaemic, but it's serviceable. The machines have good connectivity, can output fine to external displays, happily driving projectors or monitors; you know, these are very capable machines, more so than say a Dell Latitude 400 or 410 of relatively recent vintage, and there are a lot of those still in service.

  9. #9
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,036
    Thanks
    1,877
    Thanked
    3,378 times in 2,715 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Quote Originally Posted by Stringent View Post
    If you want something that does surfing and checking mail, um the iPhone? One only needs a netbook if you plan to write lots tbh, then the benefits of a full size keyboard come into play.
    How much is an iPhone without contract, and what kind of wireless speeds can you get with a normal home network/router?

  10. #10
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,026 times in 677 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    How much is an iPhone without contract, and what kind of wireless speeds can you get with a normal home network/router?
    Ah, thanks for bringing up price. How much does price matter? If a netbook costs an extra £20 for Windows, that's easily 10% of the cost. Add MS Office on top, and that's an extra 50% of the cost. Don't use MS Office, and what does the extra £20 of Windows buy you? A poorly targeted UI?

  11. #11
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,036
    Thanks
    1,877
    Thanked
    3,378 times in 2,715 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    Ah, thanks for bringing up price. How much does price matter? If a netbook costs an extra £20 for Windows, that's easily 10% of the cost. Add MS Office on top, and that's an extra 50% of the cost. Don't use MS Office, and what does the extra £20 of Windows buy you? A poorly targeted UI?
    Presumably vendors won't charge extra for windows, and you might as well use the free office live - pairing up a low overhead application on the netbook, and also addressing the other problem of storage by having online storage.

  12. #12
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    64
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    • SuGaR847's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P6T
      • CPU:
      • Core i7 920 @ 2.66 GHz
      • Memory:
      • 6GB OCZ Core i7 @ 1333 MHz
      • Storage:
      • Intel X25-M G2 160 GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1GB
      • PSU:
      • Tagan PipeRock 900W
      • Case:
      • CoolerMaster Cosmos Pure
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • ASUS VH226H

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    I really don't think that $20 will make anyone turn down Windows. I am a true supporter of Linux and there is much potential in the open source OS but unless something dramatic happens I don't see how Linux can really get a significant market share to make any difference.

  13. #13
    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Preston, Lancs
    Posts
    6,137
    Thanks
    564
    Thanked
    139 times in 100 posts
    • nichomach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DR3
      • Storage:
      • 1x250GB Maxtor SATAII, 1x 400GB Hitachi SATAII
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1060 3GB
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 500W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20" TFT
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media Cable

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    Presumably vendors won't charge extra for windows, and you might as well use the free office live - pairing up a low overhead application on the netbook, and also addressing the other problem of storage by having online storage.
    The word "Gears" also leaps all-unbidden to mind, also..

  14. #14
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Herts
    Posts
    151
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    10 times in 7 posts
    • Nelviticus's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus
      • CPU:
      • Core i5-9600K
      • Memory:
      • 32 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3000
      • Storage:
      • 512GB Samsung 970 Pro SSD, 2TB Samsung EVO 860 SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GeForce GTX 1060 3GB (EVGA)
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2
      • Case:
      • be quiet! Silent Base 600
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 64-bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2410 24", Samsung 22"
      • Internet:
      • 100 Mbps cable

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    Presumably vendors won't charge extra for windows
    They do - the XP versions of the EeePC cost more than the Linux versions.

  15. #15
    Lovely chap dangel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    8,398
    Thanks
    412
    Thanked
    459 times in 334 posts
    • dangel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • See My Sig
      • CPU:
      • See My Sig
      • Memory:
      • See My Sig
      • Storage:
      • See My Sig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • See My Sig
      • PSU:
      • See My Sig
      • Case:
      • See My Sig
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • See My Sig
      • Internet:
      • 60mbit Sky LLU

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Quote Originally Posted by SuGaR847 View Post
    I really don't think that $20 will make anyone turn down Windows. I am a true supporter of Linux and there is much potential in the open source OS but unless something dramatic happens I don't see how Linux can really get a significant market share to make any difference.
    It doesn't - familarity makes it all too appealing to the masses. That and the fact the my experience of netbook linux installs is 'it's horrible' (the eee and acer I own both used to run linux). Now there are very *good* distros out there but instead we get crippleware and I have found drivers/functionality immediate better when on Windows (either as a result of the former or just because mainstream support is better period). Netbooks looked like they'd be a way for linux to actually make some headway - right up until the point when I tried 7 the other day on my acer anyway. If MS don't stuff it up by putting duff 7 (basic or starter) on netbooks of course.. 7 works really (really) well (in beta) on netbooks - that's a problem for linux.
    Crosshair VIII Hero (WIFI), 3900x, 32GB DDR4, Many SSDs, EVGA FTW3 3090, Ethoo 719


  16. #16
    Gentoo Ricer
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Galway
    Posts
    11,048
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    944 times in 704 posts
    • aidanjt's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Strix Z370-G
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7-8700K
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsiar LPX 3000C15
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 960 EVO
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 2.0
      • PSU:
      • EVGA G3 750W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define C Mini
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus MG279Q
      • Internet:
      • 240mbps Virgin Cable

    Re: Analysis - Windows and Linux battle for the soul of the netbook

    Ugh, that Microsoft PR piece has so much diatribe I wouldn't even know where to begin.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Linux Gaming
    By Steve in forum HEXUS Reviews
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 28-05-2006, 10:15 PM
  2. Windows OneCare Live: Has the world gone mad?
    By aidanjt in forum Software
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 10-02-2006, 07:38 PM
  3. Run Windows software on Linspire desktop Linux
    By Bob Crabtree in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-02-2006, 01:16 AM
  4. Whither Linux?
    By Nick in forum Question Time
    Replies: 49
    Last Post: 11-11-2005, 06:06 PM
  5. audio and video problems, and windows app in linux
    By fedoracore in forum Software
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 28-01-2004, 05:22 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •