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What OS for Your Netbook? Duh, Linux!
Posted by | Posted in IMHO | Posted on 06-01-2009
Much debate exists regarding the best OS for netbooks. Obviously, it seems Windows XP is predominant, but why?
In this mini-computer/I use this thing primarily for internet access/student pc/soccer mom on facebook environment it’s certainly not for ease of use or a familiar operating system.
I did a little experiment over the summer. I installed Ubuntu Linux on the family PC and walked away. That’s right! I left them there hanging – no support, whatsoever! Guess what? Not one, I REPEAT, not one said “I want my Windows XP back!’. With Firefox, Pidgin and OpenOffice they were cooking with gas and I neither got food burned nor was short-sheeted.
My point in dredging this back up is simple. XP is a pig that you can’t put lipstick on when you’re running it on Atom. Casual users may not notice performance decreases. BUT – when my wife complains “this thing’s slow” when she’s used to running on a 3g Vista desktop, well, it’s got to make you wonder.
So, please allow me to move to our next victim. Wow, Android’s running on a netbook and it’s blasted all over the web (yes, me too!). Now what kind of selection of applications do you have? Uh, uh – yes, keep studdering. Linux has support from a wide variety of sources and if you need something, it’s out there. Most of the time it’s free or darn close to it. Remember guys, this is a computer not a smartphone.
Personally, I think Linux has finally come home. This is a perfect setting for it. Finally… it’s not just for geeks anymore!
opensuse 11.1
I am inclined to say Ubuntu 8.04.1 or 8.10. I have a Dell Mini 9, which runs a custom version of 8.04.1. It’s great, fast, and reliable. However because it’s a custom version, it has its separate repository than vanilla Ubuntu, and the sad thing is that it is not being updated in months. So Although I really like Ubuntu on the mini, I must say Dell and Canonical should do a much better job in maintaining it…
[...] What OS for Your Netbook? Duh, Linux! I did a little experiment over the summer. I installed Ubuntu Linux on the family PC and walked away. That’s right! I left them there hanging – no support, whatsoever! Guess what? Not one, I REPEAT, not one said “I want my Windows XP back!’. With Firefox, Pidgin and OpenOffice they were cooking with gas and I neither got food burned nor was short-sheeted. [...]
well said @Dimble openSUSE 11.1 all the way.
Although for the total noobs Ubuntu is OK as it looks simple and is quite nooby.
[...] 5) What OS for Your Netbook? Duh, Linux! [...]