Android Netbooks: Fact or fiction?

A couple of freelance writers for the blog VentureBeat say they have ported Google's Android operating system to an Asus Eee PC. But does this constitute a new trend in Netbooks?

Asus Eee PC: Android next?

(Credit: Asus)

Matthäus Krzykowski and Daniel Hartmann said in a post Thursday that they compiled, in four hours, the open-source Android operating system for an Asus Eee PC 1000H Netbook. The two run a start-up called Mobile-facts.

In somewhat breathless prose here's what the authors conclude about Android on Netbooks: "For (a) myriad of (Silicon Valley) software companies, it means a well-backed, open operating system that is open and ripe for exploitation for building upon. Now think of Chrome, Google's Web browser, and the richness it allows developers to build into the browser's relationship with the desktop--all of this could usher in a new wave of more sophisticated Web applications, cheaper and more dynamic to use."

If this was Verizon or Asus saying this, it would be product news. Otherwise, it remains an interesting experiment. The authors say Intel is one contributor working on the adoption of Android to a notebook, as a partner in Google's Open Handset Alliance.

Indeed, OHA does have a long list of illustrious members, many of them large companies (or entities) like China Mobile, Broadcom, LG, NTT DoCoMo, Nvidia, and Samsung.

Qualcomm is a member too. And, by the way, already has a prototype Netbook running Red Flag Linux on top of its Snapdragon processor. And it is worth noting that Qualcomm claims it has first-tier PC companies planning devices, including Acer, Asus, and Toshiba.

Would Qualcomm partners opt for the Android operating system instead? It is also worth noting that Qualcomm supplied the silicon guts for the T-Mobile G1, the first phone to run Google's Android operating system.

[Viv Collins]

Why is it a surprise? what after all is the fundamental difference between a Netbook and a Smartphone? the commercial priority for an OS that scales seamlessly from Smartphone to Desktop is some thing Microsoft is already aware of, why should others not have seen it as a gaping market hole rather than a niche.

[forever4now]

Awesome news! I hope it happens this year. I would much rather have an OS like Android on a netbook than Windows. Add 3G and a bluetooth headset and you should be able to make phone calls, as well. Cool!

[B_for_Baker]

omg that would be such a great idea, have the android marketplace on a laptop. andriod ***

[Mr. Dee]

Linux running on a Netbook, whats new?

[tm_anon]

ubuntu already has bluetooth support and wouldn't take that much to make it 3G compatible if it's not already. It's already small enough to fit on the smallest hard drive available without taxing the system and can run on almost no memory compared to what it takes to get Vista running. In other words, linux has been rocking since long before this study for small computers as well as large ones. You're just now finding out about it because big daddy Google and CNET are mentioning it.

[t8]

Sweet.

I have an Eee PC and look forward to porting Android to it when it is available.

[amigosito]

Whoopdie-doo.

[poperatzo]

"If this was Verizon or Asus saying this, it would be product news. Otherwise, it remains an interesting experiment. "

You must not have been paying attention these last 30 years. Do you have any idea how many of the products and services in our lives started from two guys fooling around in their garage? "Interesting experiment" is how this technology stuff works, if you haven't noticed.

Maybe you should cover fashion instead of technology. Your ********** would be more appropriate there.

[gvoid]

This was already added three weeks ago by Google:

http://android.git.kernel.org/?p=platform/vendor/asus/eee_701.git;a=tree;h=refs/heads/cupcake;hb=cupcake

Asus joined the Open Handset Alliance last month ...

http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/oha_members.html

[czmyt]

This is a nice hack I think. But other than showcasing the hacker's skills, why would anyone want the Andoid OS on a netbook? Windows XP Pro is the best netbook OS for most users, and if you want Linux, why not run a real version like Fedora or Ubuntu?

[jtjt145]

Thank god, the world seems to be warming up to something other than this nightmare called Windows!