Jamie's Random Musings
Various thoughts and adventures, including but not limited to Linux, Windows XP and Widows Vista, and assorted bits of hardware new and old.
Tuesday 27 October 2009, 1:08 PM
Linux on Netbooks - Hope for the Future
The massive Hoopla surrounding the release of Windows 7 (aka Vista with Lipstick) got me wondering about the netbook market. As I see it, the first netbooks came along shortly after the release of Windows Vista. Microsoft was doing their utmost to kill XP, by setting cutoff dates for sales of licenses and preloaded systems. The fact that Vista was an absolute pig on netbooks gave Linux an opening, and several of the first few netbooks came preloaded with Linux. Then Microsoft finally started to realize that customers and OEMs alike were onto them about what a pig Vista was (and not only on netbook hardware), and they began clawing their way back into the market with a combination of continuing to allow the sale of XP, putting massive pressure on netbook manufacturers, spreading FUD though the media about netbook return rates and the like.
Now Windows 7 is available, and it doesn't take Carnac the Magnificent to predict that Microsoft will once again start trying to kill XP. Several people whose opinions and ability I respect here on ZDNet UK have said that Windows 7 works considerably better on netbooks than Vista did. But I still suspect that "Vista with Lipstick" will not work as well as a good Linux distribution on typical netbook hardware. Even more importantly, while Microsoft has been busy the past couple of years trying to put the lipstick on Vista, various Linux groups have been improving netbook-specific versions. The result is things like Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10, which I think is rather nice (and a huge improvement over UNR 9.04), Moblin, which I absolutely hate but apparently it is very good for other types of users, and the KDE netbook version, which is still in early development but the early versions of it on Mandriva and Kubuntu look very interesting.
So, maybe we are at a point where a couple of things start to work in favor of Linux, in particular on netbooks. Here's what we can do to help it along. When you know, or even just see, someone with a netbook, and they are struggling to get Windows to work, just casually mention that Linux works very well on such systems. Even better, do as I do (something I learned from Jake, by the way...), and keep a USB stick with a live image of your favorite Linux netbook distribution handy, and use it to give them an immediate demonstration of how well it works. It might help. It might not. But one thing is for sure, doing nothing won't help.
jw 27/10/2009
PreviousComments on this post
It is only the Windows 7 'Starter Edition' which will come installed on Netbooks with a heavy upgrade price to a fuller featured version. That should help to give a boost Linux on Netbooks, despite the lack of support from retailers - just moving 'brown boxes'; together with the failure of manufactures to indicate on their packaging or in their instructions that most devices do work with Linux, e.g. USB flash drives, wireless devices, printers, etc. etc., incidentally with automatic (plug and play) and quick installation in most cases.
Meantime, the Windows 7 Ultimate RC has run well on Netbooks with none of the difficulties of Vista running on much more powerful Laptops. So presumably a cut down version (Starter Edition) should run somewhat faster than the RC. Specifically, there is not all the disk thrashing in Win7 associated with Vista
Of course, one still needs all the security software which extends the startup and shutdown times, and how many users out there have absolutely no concept about security and the risks.
This comment has been deleted at the users request
This comment has been deleted at the users request
I just want to see an ARM netbook with an e-paper screen.
Then sit back and watch the fur fly :)
@Tezzer - I agree, that will be an interesting development. Do you think we will have to wait for color e-paper, or do you think the mono is compelling enough for this?
Microsoft continually shoots itself in the foot. They have been contemplating which features to strip away from Windows in their "Starter Edition". In my opinion, if I am going to purchase a netbook, I want all of the features enabled! This is why I no longer use Windows on anything that I own. I'm tired of all of the restrictions and headaches. I use Fedora Linux which gives me the freedom to do what I want with my PC, without somebody else telling me what I can and cannot do.
@Moley and apexwm - Thanks for reminding me about the "Windows 7 Lobotomized Version", I had forgotten to mention it. Has anyone actually seen anything on the market with this version yet? I have not, but I hadn't thought to watch for it, either. it's early days yet, of course, but a quick search just came up with a Nokia and an EeePC that are supposed to have it, and it is listed at least as an option for the Dell Mini 10. I'm hoping that this will present a particularly easy target for Linux, when users buy such a netbook and learn the hard way how brain damaged it is. Changing to a free Linux installation would be a much more palatable option than giving Microsoft even more money to "upgrade" to a somewhat less brain damaged operating system. Hmmm. There's a thought. There has been some speculation that every version of Windows 7 acutally includes all the pieces, so "upgrading" is actually nothing more than a process of unlocking and installing things which are already present. Does anyone know for certain if this is actually true, and if so is it also true in particular for the Starter Edition?
Thanks for reading and commenting.
jw
> keep a USB stick with a live image of your favorite Linux netbook distribution handy, and use it to give them an immediate demonstration
This reminds me, I should do as you do and not as I say!! Looking forward to the new ubuntu netbook remix which I'll be installing. Plus I'll be carrying around the Ubuntu live CD and the 9.10 release of OpenDisc :)
1 day to go!
>and the KDE netbook version, which is still in early development but >the early versions of it on Mandriva and Kubuntu look very interesting.
I know that the KDE netbook version is due for v4.4 so that should be out for Feb.2010. The first beta for 4.4 will be in Nov. 2009..
But Mandriva 2010 is coming out any day and will be the first distro to feature Moblin.
From http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5930102209.html :
"According to Mandriva, the 2010 RC2 release is claimed to be the first community distribution to offer the "full packaged" Moblin v2.0 platform, which is aimed at netbooks that use the Intel Atom. (Last month, with the final release of Moblin v2.0, Dell began offering its Mini 10v netbook with an early developer's version of the Moblin-based Ubuntu Moblin Remix, and other distributions are also expected to arrive this fall sporting all or part of the Moblin stack.) A year ago, Mandriva released a Mandriva Linux-based distro called Mandriva Mini, which was designed to work on netbooks."
You are right about USB keys, burning CD's is passe.
I bought a 2GB USB key for 5bucks and keep a Mandriva ready for whenever I have to change my clothes and transform myself into LinuxMan to rescue friends whose Windows computer has reduced to a blubbering pile of raw nerves.
Since ive discovered UNetbootin to create bootable Live USB drives for all kinds of distro, USB has been the way to go.
@zeke123 - Thanks for the good comments and advice. It's worth noting that Fedora 12 also has a Moblin interface available, and it should be out about two weeks after Mandriva. I'll be very interested to see if Moblin is successful. I hope it is, because anything that increases use and acceptance of Linux is good, but I have to say honestly that the entire concept Moblin completely escapes me. I'm sure that's my fault (too old and set) rather than Moblins, though.
jw
