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Friday 6 March 2009, 12:09 PM
math: Windows 7 + netbook = failure - GNU/Linux as remaining winner!
from http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39622902,00.htm
So Linux is not crap, it's the fact that MS has the power to pay manufactures to use their OS. That's a HUGE difference between a technical point of view or the marketing way of seeing an operating system as better or worse.
Windows XP is used on netbooks to run better since Vista is too slow and resource hungry. Windows 7 should pick up where XP left and leave Vista behind.
Now come on people!! Are you really so insane (I apologize for this but I'll explain why) to believe it's true? Are you really sure this is going to happen?
Windows XP is basically gone, so an OEM license is worth 20 USD for a manufacturer, no problem at all. Windows 7 for Netbooks is the same as all other Windows 7 variants - no lean, light, vlighted, 7lited or whatever. Just a Starter version like in Windows Vista which gives you the "power" to run maximum 3 applications at the same time. Where again is the advantage? Oh yes, now Windows 7 Starter crippled edition costs a bit more than 20 USD for OEM, I would say around 99 USD after discounts, tax not included or did you think MS stops earning money?
So, if today you can purchase a netbook for 350 USD with GNU/Linux or install your preferred distro, you'll have sort of an incredibly powerful netbook with everything you need and you basically paid for...hardware!
Now, being the insane part of the population, not flexible, dependent and incapable of using the grey cells you'd rather pay 450 to 500 USD for the SAME netbook just with Windows 7. Great, congratulations that you cannot open iTunes and Skype since Internet ExPloder is running as well as Microsoft Word 2007 (forgot to add another 300 USD for the Office suite) and VLC - Yep, forgot? 3 applications maximum. Alright, as a workaround you will run Windows 7 Home Premium or Ultimate - please add another 100+ USD to that price. Or did you download the illegal version from PirateBay :-)
Now don't tell me you're not insane to pay more to get less...
It takes a bit to make people aware that MS is not better technically, but they are better in abusing peoples incapability to use their brains.
This video is amazing:
http://www.zdnet.com.au/video/play/22470997
Someone could say: The guys should tell the people that this is GNU/LINUX and not MS, though I could see a point here:
Make people buy their MS Windows 7 copy and overpriced machines and then find out that they CANNOT do all that stuff! Great, some people need to burn their fingers first to know that it hurts. I'm seriously getting annoyed by people complaining all the time about their Windows machine when you explain them there's an alternative and they don't care.
To sum up, take it and enjoy it or take it, pay for it and be frustrated to see your colleague having the fun!
PreviousComments on this post
I'm sorry to say but this is total bull. Windows 7 Starter edition will mostly be available in countries that have started revolutionizing. Because even "netbooks" usually have 512+ mb of memory (yes i know that 1gb is recommended, but for people who cannot afford to buy an extra 1gb memory stick, deal with it.), Windows 7 Home Premium will be able to run (now if you have less than this, then your computer needs an upgrade considering most netbooks comes with 1gb of memory).
And one more thing, GNU/Linux will NEVER replace Windows in terms of home usage (at least not in the time period I'm living in). Linux may be good for advanced users, but lets face it, its not user friendly enough. When I tried to make the wi-fi work with Ubuntu 8.10, it sucks (yes many will say to use "ndiswrapper" to use windows drivers, but will an average user have to go through all this trouble just to get the internet working?). On the other hand, in Windows 7, right after install, it asks you what router you would like to connect to (well atleast for people who's computers support wireless) and then it connects the internet for you. Wala (spelled it wrong...)!
This is just one point where it shows that Windows (7) is not going anywhere soon.
There are two (or three) different issues here.
1. Will Win7 work better on netbooks than Vista does? No one knows. Anyone who thinks they know should go back and read the history of the Microsoft "Vista Ready" / "Vista Capable" fiasco. To me, at least, the "Windows 7 Starter Edition" reminds me a little too much of what was going on with Vista. If they really do decide to sell a "lobotomized" version of Windows 7 for netbooks, there are going to be a lot of disappointed and angry users when they discover that they didn't get "real" Windows, and their netbooks don't work like "normal" Windows computers.
2. Will Linux ever "replace" Windows in terms of home usage? This is not a technical question, it is a purely commercial one. As long as OEMs offer primarily Windows configurations, and Linux is an afterthough (or is dropped completely as it was by HP UK), it's not going to happen. The interesting question is IF Windows and Linux were offered as equal alternatives, what would happen?
3. Is Linux not friendly enough for the average home user? Of course it is, if you are talking about simply using it, not trying to load it from scratch. My recent HP 2133 experience is a very good example. It came preloaded with SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, and it worked right out of the box, including both wired and wireless networking. I then tried to load various other general Linux distributions onto it, and it has been hard work and mostly unsuccessful, but that is not something that anyone in the general public should ever have to attempt. How many ordinary users do you think could reload Windows from scratch on their computers? Refer again to point 1 above, if Windows and Linux were offered as equal alternatives, pre-installed and properly configured for the system they were sold on, then what would happen?
4. It would be interesting to know what kind of computer and what kind of wireless network adapter you were trying to install Ubuntu 8.10 with. In my immediate experience, with three different laptops and two different desktops, not only does the WiFi adapter work properly, but my Cellular HSPA (Wireless Broadband) card works just fine as well!
jw
This comment has been deleted at the users request
@johnyk_vl. yep, you're right...you need third parties and developers with tools and applications that fix problems in Windows...that's why Windows is better? are you aware you're mentioning tools to FIX windows? you're contradictory! so basically somebody who finds defragment tools, ccleaner, powertools, firewalls and antivirus GREAT programs that make Windows better, you definitely are not the one who is going to enjoy GNU/Linux.. like i once hear about somebody if CCleaner would run on Ubuntu...cheers.
This comment has been deleted at the users request
