Comments on: Is Ballmer conceding victory to Linux Netbooks?

The same economy that gives Microsoft a price advantage against the Mac makes it expensive compared to Linux-based Netbooks.

[JuggerNaut]

Steve Ballmer is a hypocrite. I can build a more capable Linux PC for 1/2 the cost buying Windows alone; which means I can have 2 more capable Linux PCs for the price of 1 boxed copy of Windows!

In short, Linux is good enough and is essentially free (making it WAY cheaper than Windows). That gives me the option to take advantage of the value added services that most Linux distributors provide, plain and simple!

[abeam89]

Truthfully, I think that Mac kind of bowed out when they began promoting the ability to install Windows alongside their OS, an admission that it was not capable of doing all of the things that users desire. That's why I think they're overpriced...I could never survive solely on a Mac.

As far as Linux goes...take this into consideration. Linux still has many mountains to climb in my opinion to be able to compete with Microsoft on a full-scale level. The majority of users who want Netbooks are basic users looking for a computer that they can use MS Office (*coughs*) and surf the internet on. That is why Netbooks have been successful.

To me that makes this whole argument null and void considering these users would not feel comfortable with a Linux OS. You Linux lovers are screaming at me that in reality it's SOOOO much easier than people think, it's secure, and overall more stable than Windows; but years of brainwashing us has made what we are used to the easiest thing to use, whether it really is or not. That's why Windows sells, and that's why anything that ever beats Windows will have to take on a similar form or else it will fail miserably. Innovation in the sense of user interfacing has been limited by itself, and in turn it will take time for us to move forward in the consumer market.

[freemarket--2008]

"an admission that it was not capable of doing all of the things that users desire."

No. It was an admission that some people were unwilling to toss out hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of pre-existing software or still wish to play some Windows-only games.

[timber2005]

I dunno... I mean at my local best buy the WinXP and Linux netbooks were the same price. Either they are making a high profit margin on the Linux machines, or they are somehow matching prices.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I would recommend looking at what the market has to offer in the netbooks available today. Go ahead, we'll wait for you. How many are offered with Windows? Linux? OS X? Once you compile that list, go ahead and try to make that argument that Microsoft has 'given up' on the netbook argument as you are trying to make it appear. Reality differs, however.

[Golodh]

Sour grapes for Mr. Ballmer I'm afraid. People *are* prepared to pay $500 extra for Apple quality. They are *not* prepared to pay that much of a premium for Microsoft software. That must sting.

[thstai]

What happens to all the Netbooks running XP when Windows 7 comes out and Microsoft stops supporting XP?

[mbenedict]

Even Kier Thomas is unhappy with Linux Notebooks:

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/161445/why_is_the_ubuntubased_dell_mini_9_unfinished.html

I mean, this guy is THE expert on Ubuntu. No wonder the average-Joe customer out there prefers Windows 9-to-1.

[Assais]

That's BS. Most Netbooks nowadays come with Windows XP rather than Linux. And most people prefer Windows over a feature-less Linux Netbook. Microsoft has already won the Netbook fight.

[sandor_f]

people need to actually look at Dell's prices.

If you actually build a Core2Duo with 1066 FSB and 3 MB of L2 cache and a nVidia 9400 GPU...well...

Dell is more expensive than Apple.


Yes, all PC manufacturers have CHEAPER products than apple, but when actually comparing the exact same hardware, Apple has always been +- a couple of dollars (since they switched to Intel)

[viper396]

Oh Please. They took Ballmer's statements and used them completely out of context in order to fit a faulty assumption. Everybody knows Ballmer was talking about Windows and Mac's. Linux wasn't even part of the original conversation.

The author of this article should be ashamed and if the Linux community had any real integrity they would distance themselves from this fantasy based article.

[jvin248]

I made the very same comment about why get a Windows Logo for cost weeks ago.

Linux will be more mainstream as people get pre-installed machines (like Netbooks).
Get Open Office, Firefox, and a few others like Thunderbird, Gimp, Inkscape and you can run all on Windows.

While XP works on Netbooks, MS will discontinue it soon (already been announced extensions a few times).

[MisturSrs]

If Linux actually had the functionality and ease of use Linux did, that'd be nice. However after using it for upwards of two years alongside Windows, I'll admit I found Windows easier to use. The $500 tax Ballmer was referring to was not on the OS for Apple; it's about the same price as a copy of Vista right now. What he is referring to is the extra price you pay to use it through their hardware, which is technically inferior. I can build a Quad Core with 4gb DDR3 RAM, a 320gb HDD and itd still cost less than the Mac Mini. And yes, I'm going to put Windows on it, so I don't have to pull teeth when I want to run an application.

[FutureGuy]

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/22362/53/
Unless something significantly changed in the last two months, Matt, you should stick to your day job, if you have one.

[digitanomad]

Nicely put. I think cloud computing will put a dent in the MS armor down the road.

[jabailo]

I bought a $200 Ubuntu Dell mini 9. It's a fantastic value and Linux saves me money because XP needs more memory to run. With Linux I can get the base machine and have it run fast and quick.

[monkeyfun14]

The reason Linux is because how hard it is to use. With Windows or MAC I can go years never even having to open a command prompt or terminal. With Linux to install a driver or some programs I have to compile it myself. How long do you think its going to take before dell starts noticing a increase in support costs because people constantly need help figuring out how to do something? And the drivers that Linux does give you often are old and don't work properly.