Acer Aspire One, Linux, and Windows
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Sun 1st Mar 2009 17:26 UTC, submitted by kaiwai
Hardware, Embedded Systems Long-time OSNews reader Kaiwai has written down his experiences with his Acer Aspire One, Linux, and Windows. He concludes: "After a hectic few weeks trying to get Linux to work, I am back to square one again - a netbook running Windows XP SP3 as it was provided by Acer when I purchased it. I gave three different distributions a chance to prove themselves. I expected all three distributions to wipe the floor with Windows XP - after all, these are the latest and greatest distributions the Linux world have to offer. There has been at least 7 years since the release of Windows XP for Linux to catch up to Windows XP and from my experience with Linux on this said device - it has failed to step up to the plate when it was needed."
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WorknMan
Member since:
2005-11-13

I'd like to see a re-review on getting Windows XP working; only, instead of using OEM Windows CDs, which have been made specifically for the netbook with all proper drivers, use the official Microsoft retail CD and fetch any needed drivers from either Acer's or a specific hardware vendor's site on another computer, make a CD (or copy to USB stick) and install that way. No cheating, though! [gathering specific device models, etc. from the Device Manager while they're fully recognized] I bet Windows XP would rate right down there with those Linux distros.


I think one of the main advantages to Windows is that there IS such a thing as OEM CDs that are specifically made for the hardware you just purchased - it makes everything a lot easier. (Though many of these OEMs will load the machine down with crapware, but you could probably expect the same on Linux if it had OEM discs as well).

Anyway, I had to do what you said this weekend with 2 laptops - a Sony VGN-NR110E and a Compaq M2000. I set them up for a friend who had inherited the machines... no OEM discs, but they had an MSDN subscription so I downloaded a retail copy of XP from there and used 2 keys provided to activate them.

I used driveragent.com to locate most of the drivers... is that considered cheating? ;) The most trouble I had was with the soundcard on the Compaq. The driver from driveragent didn't work, and neither did the one on the Comaq website. I had to get one from elsewhere, but all in all, it wasn't too bad. I wouldn't expect my mother to be able to do it though ;)

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