Linux does have a future on netbooks

It will take time

It will take time but Linux ain't going away. I keep reading these articles about how Windows 7 is going to kill Linux. Kill a free operating system with millions of users and large communities supporting those users? I don't think so. I think the issue with the large computer companies is they do not want to support another operating system. Windows gives them enough challenges, and just when XP was becoming really stable MS threw Vista at them. My God, can you blame them for being skittish about supporting another system.

My beef with these companies is that they slap Linux on a box and don't tweak it to run on the hardware. That is why companies that do tailor their machines to Linux are doing so well. I would rather have a company not offer Linux if it is not going to support it well. If a company like Dell puts Ubuntu on its machines then it should run everything out of the box. There should be no issues with printers, mp3, video, loading pictures from a camera etc. All these things Linux can do but when vendors get lazy and only offer half-hearted support thus Linux takes the rap.

What we need is a few good companies that will attend to the details. And one of the great details is that the OS should work with all of the hardware on the computer. I should not have to find drivers for my video card if I bought my machine from reputable vendor. The problem with Linux on many machines these days is that it is sold as an after thought. When we get a few really high quality vendors that take pride in their products then Linux will be seen for what it truly is - a really great OS that can do it all when properly configured and installed.

Windows 7 will add $50 to the netbook price (at least)

Remember that Microsoft had to give XP almost for free, to regain the netbook market.

But Microsoft is planning to sell Windows 7 for full price, and they won't be able to put a $50 operating system in a $250 product. (And Windows 7 Starter will be a imense failure.)

Thus, the typical netbook buyer will be faced with the following options:

1) Intel/Linux: $250-$300

2) Intel/Windows 7: $300-$350

3) ARM/Linux: $200-$250

Some people will choose Windows 7, for sure.

But I think we can expect that 1/3 of the market to go to the cheapest alternatives.

And 1/3 could go to Apple -- if they decide to release a Mac netbook.

That would be the perfect storm for Microsoft.

Linux Netbooks etc

I returned the Linux Netbook I purchased at Target.com not because it was hard to connect to the network through my wireless router, it was very easy to connect and to use plus it took my HC-SD 8gb card as if it belonged to it.

The reason why I returned it was because when you pulled up the browser there just wasn't enough room to me for the main reason I bought it, to surf the web.

A 9 inch screen is just too small. I believe if they went to a 13 inch screen they would sell just fine.

MS Had to buy their way in

I can't get a taker for this comment, but I feel Microsoft had to essentially give away XP-Home to win back marketshare on Netbooks. There is almost no "Microsoft Tax" left. XP-Home? Free? $5.00? Will we ever see the breakout from Microsoft showing how little they are getting to try to hold on to market share? We don't have public pricing data, but it's an OS that they have had almost 10 years with which to recover their investment.

I wiped XP off my last two laptops (regular laptop and netbook) and never booted it the first time. Both run Ubuntu. I've done lots of user interface projects over the years, so I looked at the interface for Ubuntu Netbox Remix carefully and concluded that it was very intuitive and made the most use of my 10" screen. Once I customized my Favorites screen, I never have to switch to any of the tabs on the left or right. It's all there, right where I need it. No menus. Who invented "start->programs" and why did we need to copy it (Gnome, KDE). We don't need menus.

It's more like 10% Desk Top Linux

Based on what I've seen, the numbers are closer to 10%.

1) Almost all Linux installs replace Windows.
2) A lot of corporate machines are not allowed on the internet.

Microsoft is well aware that Linux penetration is well above 5%, and probably closer to 10% in North America alone. They are scared witless of this. Loosing a sale of Windows isn't so bad, but loosing a sale of Office, that really hurts, and most machines running Linux (or BSD, or Solaris) will not end up running Office, even though they are capable of it.

Early on, many netbook

Early on, many netbook manufactures offered cheaper Linux builds side by side with the Windows machines. Many people choose Linux just because it was cheaper, not knowing what it was. THAT is why you have to ask for it now.

You're criticizing a company for dropping an OS used by 1% of DESKTOP customers, and surely a lot less of notebook customers.

You say they had a chance to become the "poster child" for mobile Linux. Maybe so, but that would mean a considerable amount of cost in development and marketing for them, at a maximum gain of %1 market share. Doesn't seem like good business sense.