Comments on: Which OS would you want in a Netbook?

Acer is reportedly planning to release in August its Google Android-equipped Netbooks, which will also come bundled with Windows XP. Which operating system would you use?

[libertyforall1776]

Give me a hybrid Mac OS X 10.6 & iPhone OS... Apple is slow to integrate touch screens across the rest of their product line. After the iPhone came out, people expected touch screen computers in bigger form factors.

[baconstang]

Check back in October.

[parijatn]

Give me Windows 7 Please,its the reason why I'm holding on buying a netbook. Mac guys thinks Macs are the best, sure hipsters. Linux guys think Linux has everything, im sure it might nerds, well I love Windows,I probably will never use Mac or Linux or Google Ad OS, Win7 rocks and I hope someone comes out with a Multi Touch netbook.

And a question to the Mac guys, if Safari is the best javascript browser out there, why cant it handle Google's Gadget Editor at http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/docs/tools.html#GGE

[HappyPhil]

Safari doesn't do well with Google Apps. FF is much better all around browser for Mac OSX.

As far as Netbook's, Android is a good choice.

You don't need hardware drivers on a netbook, you just email docs and images to your real computer for printing, etc.

[vikinzer]

Dude, really. I respect that you like Windows and all. I don't understand it to be sure, but I respect it at least. The least you could do is avoid name calling. It's not a huge request.

[parijatn]

I do apologize for the name calling, that was uncalled for

[jessiethe3rd]

I know how hard it can be resisting calling people who use other OS's names especially when getting mud slung on you seems common place on this site. I join you in wanting Windows 7 on any piece of PC hardware that I may purchase in the future.

[vikinzer]

Thanks for actually responding to my comment. I really appreciate that, most people wouldn't do that. I really like Linux, always have, and until Netbooks I never had a piece of personal computer hardware I could leave Linux on. I will be the first to admit that until the past year or so the system has had some major shortcomings. Most of which they are finally getting rid of. I love that everything I need to do on my netbook I can do on Linux, using the programs I prefer anyway, and that includes some non Netbook like things such as audio editing for the radio show I used to be involved with. I will debate system merits passionatly because I love this stuff, but I do my best to focus on the good things about what I'm advocating for. All the major OSs out there have significant things that make them preferable to certain people, and certain use scenarios.

And if nothing else you have to acknowledge that every version of Windows since 2000 that has come out has had complaints that it consumes way too many resources, and it's only because of competition from Linux on Netbooks that Microsoft finally released an OS more efficient than the version that came before it. Say what you will about Linux, through competition it has improved your OS of choice.

[cast76]

Agree with parijatn.
Another reason why I would never switch to any operating system that's not windows is, windows is the gamer's operating system, no else competes.

[baconstang]

Yeah, cuz life's all about gaming.... right?

[Inconnux]

The only thing I use Windows for is Gaming. For almost all other things I use Ubuntu... email, web browsing, developing, word processing... all are far better on Linux (performance/speed being the #1 factor with Security #2). Linux just doesn't have the games available. sure I could tinker around with Wine, but why bother, just load windows on as well. Vista is too damn slow and Xp is being phased out. Will Win 7 be Microsoft savior? maybe, only time will tell. The only thing that keeps me using Microsoft products at all is gaming.

[keaura]

I'd want the iPhone OS on a netbook. Essentially a larger screened iphone with the ability to run multiple apps, have G3 (or better) and WiFi data capabilities, a camera, a microphone (for audio notes), head phone jack, USB, stereo bluetooth. Be nice if you could connect the Apple bluetooth mouse and keyboard if you didn't like the on-screen keyboard and touch controls.

[hafenbrack]

Windows 7 RC is working wonderfully for me.

[superswiss]

Until netbooks get enough graphics power to play 1080p content, I'm gonna have to go with "I wouldn't get a Netbook in the first place."

I agree, that most netbooks are used to access the web and email, but I also think people want to use them to watch movies etc. on the plane. At least that's what I want it for. Yes, the displays on netbooks are too small to enjoy 1080p, but that's not the point. The point is that I want to be able to play my 1080p content on the go w/o having to transcode it first. The Nvidia Ion platform is definilty promising, so for now I wait and see. After that I will choose the OS that plays all my content and for now that's Windows, because all my recorded TV content is in the Windows Media Center format, which as far as I know, no other OS plays.

[Remo_Williams]

Can't be Android. No support for enterprise WiFi, no C/C++ support (yet, the NDK is too new) so device drivers are supposed to be written how?

[lovings]

For me, XP is simply too convenient to pass up for another OS. It's also a slow, bloated behemoth that would strangle most netbooks. So - TinyXP (yes, I do have a valid license - just threw out the bad version of the OS :-) ) with Cacheman, Ramdisk and a bunch of unnecessary services turned off or not installed at all. My 'ole Asus EEE is flying now.

If Microsoft ever decides to develop software for real world instead of egoware for the world as it otta be according to Microsoft, this OS would be much more competitive - there actually aren't that many changes needed to be done to have a fast and user friendly version of XP for even underpowered netbooks..

[dferriman]

Where is the Ubuntu option? When my wife bought her Samsung NetBook, as a Mac user the first thing she did was install the Ubuntu NetBook remix. It works great! She had never used a Linux OS before, but found it very intuitive. Originally she dual booted, just incase. But after a few months of not using XP, there was not reason to give it hard drive space. Microsoft may make a good office suite (minus the vulnerabilities) but Ubuntu and Android are safer, and less expansive.

[shamrock73]

I can't vote. You didn't list straight up linux as an option only Android. If I had my choice it would come with Linux Mint or Ubuntu.

[Daddio2009]

Apple's OS-X 10.5 or the upcoming Snow Leopard. Who would want anything from Microsoft?

[jag0]

...because not everyone is a brainwashed Apple fanboy like yourself maybe?

Brian Cooley said it best recently: "*Most* Apple users aren't tech savvy...they're style savvy"

[baconstang]

Yeah, Windows and IE on a NETbook... what could possibly go wrong?

[jag0]

@baconstang:

An OS is only as safe as the person using it.

Give a dumb person a Windows OS and IE and they'll for sure mess it up but give the same computer to a person who knows the do's & dont's and you'll have a perfectly fine PC.

[ggarndt]

Although it's been mentioned at least once or twice, netbooks are not likely to be used the same way a desktop or standard 14-17" laptop is. Netbook are mainly internet appliances - - and so there is no advantage to running Windows in that environment. Today's top Linux varieties like Ubuntu or OpenSuse are fine for non-techie users, . . . especially when pre-installed on any PC (notebook, desktop, lappy, etc.) - the built-in peripherals work fine (webcam, wireless, etc)., and about 90% of HP, Epson and Brother printers (including multi-function printers w/scanners, copiers, etc.) will "work out of the box". Finally - - for pre-installed systems - there is zero (0) need to learn any command line code.

The one real remaining issue could be - are certain Windows only apps required? IF so, there is even a solution for that (vmware) - but thats not a newbie friendly fix - so, IF Acer were to provide a pre-setup virtual machine, that would give users the features of windows without the hassles and risks.

[carlfri]

I do not know where you got your information that mulitfunctions work because they do not. I had an HP multi did not . Had a Canon did not. Got the Epson Workfoce 500 and does not. When I live in an rural area I'm not going to make a 60 mile trip one way to a Morgantown, WV, Uniontown, Pa or a Cumberland over and over for an all in one unit. I don't want to buy a scanner and a printer. Now a stand alone HP printer and scanner will work., Epson also and Canon. I know this from using Fedora 7 up till 10 and the versions of Ubuntu that would have been out at the same time. The only difference was I was using a ppc version of those two. When my 12 Inch G4 Powerbook died. I got the MSI U100 and the Epson Workforce 500. Jaunty picked up my wiredless right away and my dvd burner and I could print and not scan. Bye Bye Ubuntu and I installed WIndows RC7. Windows 7 is as fast as any linux distribution, works with my Epson Workforce 500. Runs Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4 fine enough for me. In short it works. I also love the onone apps that work with Lightroom and Photoshop.

In Jaunty I went the Unbutu Studio route. I loved it. I used Dgikam, Gimp and Krita the most on my 12 inch G4 powerbook running the ppc version.

[ogman]

No Linux option? Typical useless CNET article.

[ogman]

No Linux option? Another useless CNET article.

[mt71449]

Well, I guess I'd use both, just to see how great Android would actually be on a netbook. I prefer Ubuntu on netbooks. I don't mess with XP anymore, honestly. True theres a lot of compatibility assists in XP, but do I really trust a really really really old OS with my data and against Internet vulnerabilities?

Official answer: I would use both, but only use Android on the Internet and for saving/manipulating any personal data.

Hmm, I wonder what there would really be left for XP to be used for?

[Someone-else]

Uh, where's the Linux option? (More specifically, Ubuntu Netbook Remix)

[Snuse]

It's all about eeebuntu. It's the only way to go when it comes to netbooks (at least asus ones but I like them the best anyways). As much as I love mobile phones I wouldn't want a mobile phone os for my notebook. One thing I wonder about everytime I hear about android on the netbook is how some of the apps will translate. The biggest thing I worry about is multitasking and ones that take advantage of mobile phone specs that either aren't a concern or aren't available on netbooks. I haven't gotten a chance to try out android yet but every mobile os I have ever tried only runs full screen apps and only runs one at a time (except for web os of course). And how are the apps in the Android Marketplace that take advantage of things like gps and accelerometers or any other technology common on phones but not on netbooks.

[sweaty_taco]

Windows 7

[carlfri]

Windows rc7 on MSI U100. Ubuntu Jaunty I loved. However, Linux or any Linux distribution will not work with an Epson Workforce 500. Linux just does not like all in one devices no matter if it is HP, Epson or Canon. So you are stuck just with the printing and buying a scanner/copier.
I hated the the netbook remix of Jaunty.

The programs I use the most on my netbook are Photoshop and Lightroom 2. I could use the Gimp in Linux and Digikam in any linux distribution but My all in one must work or I must spend money for each device and that I won't do.

Gimp can do everything Phostoshop can for me but I love the onone software for photoshop and lightroom.

I could still use Gimp in Windows also but I think the port of KDE to Windows is in some trouble right now.

So, what do I think? I started with windows for workgroups hated it, Windows 95 hated it, WIndows 98 hated it. Brought a 12 inch G4 Powerbook and loved it. Apple gave me the finger. I ran Ubuntu on it for awhile and Fedora till it died a few months a go. I got this netbook and have been in love with it after putting windows rc 7 on it.

[Riquez-001]

I'd like to buy a netbook, but if I have to run windows on it then I'll do without for now.