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?

[SebDavies]

Defently Windows 7!

I bought an Acer Aspire One with XP last month from WM. I tried a Linux machine, but found that the wireless drivers for an external wi-fi adapter were extremely lacking. Happy with XP and thinking of trying out Win7 this October.

[scottyrob]

Give me plain old DOS.

[reddish2]

Ubuntu netbook remix for me ... please?

[t8]

I have Windows on my PC and for a Netbook I just want a browser and access to Google Docs etc.
All I need is a browser and the ability to do some scripting. So a Google OS would be great. It would even be better if Google had a Web editor as part of the Google Docs suite.

[slumbergod]

The first thing I do with a new notebook (and a netbook if I bought one) is get rid of whatever came with it and install Xubuntu.

[Ssx3000]

I like Android, its not for everyone but for the ones that want to endure. I want to see that and Chrome OS, I plan on putting both on my netbook, when I decide to purchase one.

[bananaphonerules]

Where's the "all the above" option? Most of us can't live without Windows (for business reasons or other); but I'm looking for a fast 'web os' in a multi boot option.

The linux variants haven't been noticeably faster than Win 7, Moblin is sooo immature and most won't boot on netbooks, so I'm still looking.

[tzs108]

If the configuration of dual-booting Android and Windows becomes widespread, I wonder how long it will be until Google takes the obvious steps, and ports Android to run on top of Windows. The Android architecture right now is a Linux kernel, with Google's own Java VM running on that. Developers write to the Google Java environment, not to the Linux API.

If Google ported their Java environment to run on Windows, then people would not need to dual-boot. They'd get Android and Windows at the same time.

Why would you want anything except linux running a netbook?

I know I'm gonna get spanked for this, but what about Palm's WebOS? I thought the Palm folks were smoking something for coming out with the Foleo before delivering a robost OS, but they apparently have done this. And although the market may not be huge for netbooks, it may be profitable for a Palm to deliver a simple/cheap Foleo product that wouldn't need 'booting'; just open and go.

[sting7k]

NONE, never buying a netbook.

[lazycat202]

the editor mentioned NETBOOK. Many of you want to deploy OXS and Windows 7. Gezz! All we want is to keep the price low ($200-$300, or even lower). There's no way you can get a Apple netbook with that price range. Netbook with Windows7 will be slow. Ubuntu should work fine. I don't trust ChromeOS. Remember the Google CEO gave out its user's info to Chinese government? that poor guys is locked up in jail for the rest of his life. What if they pass your sensitive documents to foreign governments? go figure!

[jessiethe3rd]

Windows 7 is not slow on a Netbook - go do some research.

[DanRobinson]

People are installing OS X Leopard on netbooks now and they're running fine. Snow Leopard will be even smaller.

Another vote for a full Mac OS X 10.6 on an Apple-branded netbook.

Too bad what we'll get is a beefed-up iPhone running a beefed-up iPhone OS.

[baconstang]

It'll be interesting to see what they deliver in October.

[macpablodesigns]

Moblin, once they get the kinks worked out.

[dbloyd]

Windows 7 is probably the best choice today but I would like to see Linux or Chrome do better. I still like Macs for work and Windows for gaming for normal computers. Netbooks don't need a fancy OS.

[guest86]

Windows XP rules!!!

[sargess25]

Which OS would you want in a Netbook?

anything but virus Windows

[Mindstyle06]

Netbooks have a long way to go. Major drawback is short battery life. Lets ramp it up first then we talk of OS.
If I really have a choice of OS, I would prefer Linux background with Windows front end.

[hananias]

I like Linux and their concept... what they are trying to do. Basically an open source OS. Ubuntu, Mint, PCLinux, and others...(countless others). Well, they are all pretty similar. Install quick, ugly font rendering, and use terminal every so often. I`m sure most business man don`t even know what a `command line` is!! So as much as Linux has progress to this day, it is still a long way to be able to compete against major OS like Windows and OSX. I`ve tried them all, I have a Macbook, XP PC (use to have Ubuntu, then Mint...ended up deleting them). Only because I couldn`t use my printer!!! (canon mp480). Trust me I`ve looked every where for drivers! Oh, yeah I also have an iPhone 3g (Linux killer for sure!) I do prefer Linux over Windows (not a gamer!) for the apps, and the quickness, also the safety! But too many issues, command lines, forum reading = wasted time!!! I`m still watching for compatibility fixes!!! Until then...I`m out!!!

I`m now stress free!! Oh, yeah... with a partition on my PC with OSX! (main system for now!) No Problems with OSX, it is even faster than Linux! (boot time 14sec, compare to Linux 30sec, windows way off @ 45sec and +!!!) If I would buy a netbook, it`s pretty much either Windows or OSX for me!!!