OSNews: http://www.osnews.com/story/21477/_The_Shape_of_the_Coming_Netbook_Revolution_ Exploring the Future of Computing en-us Copyright 2001-2009, David Adams adam+nospam@osnews.com Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:22:06 GMT http://www.osnews.com/images/osnews.gif OSNews.com http://www.osnews.com Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363194 http://osnews.com/thread?363194 What I want in a netbook is a full desktop replacement. What I'm interested in is the form factor, I don't want a low powered device crippled by Microsoft's restrictions on exactly what a netbook can and can't be. If I can replace my desktop for all purposes but gaming, then I'll be happy, and that's what I'm expecting from an ARM based netbook.

I was talking to someone a couple of days ago who was happy with Linux on her netbook, but for one irritating issue: it didn't support the Virgin Mobile 3G dongle she'd bought. I don't know if they're in other countries, our ISPs like to cripple the user as much as possible in Australia, but we can buy prepaid 3G internet access plans that come with a USB dongle for laptops and netbooks here. Obviously the prepaid plans are even more extortionate than the post-paid ones (and that's saying a lot).

If we want ARM netbooks to be Linux's foot in the mainstream door, I think these USB dongles should be the top priority for anyone making a netbook Linux distro; to netbook manufacturers, I say "include an internal 3G modem and a simple, easy to use configuration app". Actually, if ARM netbooks become popular enough, ISPs might even begin providing Linux drivers for their dongles.

On a side note: There's a reason these dongles are phallic, and I'm sure you can finish the visual metaphor yourself. Tue, 12 May 2009 23:25:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Moredhas) Comments RE: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363198 http://osnews.com/thread?363198
What I want in a netbook is a full desktop replacement. What I'm interested in is the form factor, I don't want a low powered device crippled by Microsoft's restrictions on exactly what a netbook can and can't be. If I can replace my desktop for all purposes but gaming, then I'll be happy, and that's what I'm expecting from an ARM based netbook.


I more or less agree. Certainly, I expect a netbook to have the functionality of any laptop or desktop - even if it's a little slower and confined, I should still be able to use it the same way I do my desktop machine.

Can an ARM-based machine deliver that? I don't see how, at the moment - it can run Linux, sure, but it's not a fully supported platform for any major desktop distro, not Ubuntu, not Fedora, etc. It's not going to happen without those distros taking ARM a lot more seriously than they do now... Tue, 12 May 2009 23:58:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Delgarde) Comments RE[2]: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363203 http://osnews.com/thread?363203 You do know that Ubuntu has an ARM port that is being maintained with the idea that it will run on these ARM-based netbooks, right? Canonical would like very much to be the prime os provider for these netbooks. Wed, 13 May 2009 00:48:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (darknexus) Comments Xandros? http://osnews.com/thread?363204 http://osnews.com/thread?363204 Roflmao, after their Eee fiasco?
I don't think so, somehow. Better for everyone if a well-known and well-supported os is provided. Wed, 13 May 2009 00:49:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (darknexus) Comments RE[3]: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363210 http://osnews.com/thread?363210
You do know that Ubuntu has an ARM port that is being maintained with the idea that it will run on these ARM-based netbooks, right?


Yes, there are ARM ports, but at the present time, none of them have the same kind of official support. Until you can go to Ubuntu's install guide and see ARM as a supported platform (joining x86, x86-64, and PPC among others), it's rather lacking in credibility. Wed, 13 May 2009 01:39:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Delgarde) Comments Internal 3G a must. http://osnews.com/thread?363219 http://osnews.com/thread?363219 Internal 3g/HSDPA modem is a must for any ARM netbook,
and ofcourse with mature Linux drivers.

And to some of the other comments here, my main use of a netbook would be a mobile information comm. terminal, not as a desktop replacement device.

Meaning taking notes, chat, videotelephony, sms, irc, information from Wikipedia etc. Wed, 13 May 2009 02:12:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (bugjacobs) Comments RE: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363235 http://osnews.com/thread?363235
What I want in a netbook is a full desktop replacement. What I'm interested in is the form factor, I don't want a low powered device crippled by Microsoft's restrictions on exactly what a netbook can and can't be. If I can replace my desktop for all purposes but gaming, then I'll be happy, and that's what I'm expecting from an ARM based netbook.

I was talking to someone a couple of days ago who was happy with Linux on her netbook, but for one irritating issue: it didn't support the Virgin Mobile 3G dongle she'd bought. I don't know if they're in other countries, our ISPs like to cripple the user as much as possible in Australia, but we can buy prepaid 3G internet access plans that come with a USB dongle for laptops and netbooks here. Obviously the prepaid plans are even more extortionate than the post-paid ones (and that's saying a lot).

If we want ARM netbooks to be Linux's foot in the mainstream door, I think these USB dongles should be the top priority for anyone making a netbook Linux distro; to netbook manufacturers, I say "include an internal 3G modem and a simple, easy to use configuration app". Actually, if ARM netbooks become popular enough, ISPs might even begin providing Linux drivers for their dongles.

On a side note: There's a reason these dongles are phallic, and I'm sure you can finish the visual metaphor yourself.


Kind off topic, but the prepaid mobile broadband has come to New Zealand and to be fair, they aren't designed to replace fixed line internet; they're an on the go device where a person can sit on a train, read the news as they are going to work - I do the same thing when I take the train into Wellington which is around a 40 minute trip from where I live. At the most one is probably using 10 of internet given that it will mainly be text based website viewing (with some pictures).

I'm in the same boat as your friend though; try getting netbook which supports these new 3G modems; I have a soap on a rope (Huawei E220) and it is anyone's guess as to how reliable it is using Linux or any alternative operating system. So there is alot that needs to be done with 90% of the issues actually sitting square on the shoulders of the netbook vendors whose job is to integrate the software and hardware together in a coherent and useful package for the end user. Wed, 13 May 2009 03:06:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (kaiwai) Comments RE[4]: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363257 http://osnews.com/thread?363257
"You do know that Ubuntu has an ARM port that is being maintained with the idea that it will run on these ARM-based netbooks, right?


Yes, there are ARM ports, but at the present time, none of them have the same kind of official support. Until you can go to Ubuntu's install guide and see ARM as a supported platform (joining x86, x86-64, and PPC among others), it's rather lacking in credibility. "

Debian supports ARM.

http://www.debian.org/ports/arm/

Ubuntu is really just a 6-monthly snapshot of Debian. Wed, 13 May 2009 05:24:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (lemur2) Comments +1 for Destop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363329 http://osnews.com/thread?363329 I like the idea of a desktop replacement. Given that my most latest and greatest desktop system consists of a 1.8GHz P4 with 1GB RAM and a 160 GB HDD, that shouldn't be too difficult :-) Wed, 13 May 2009 11:03:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (bosco_bearbank) Comments RE: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363466 http://osnews.com/thread?363466
What I want in a netbook is a full desktop replacement.


I don't really want to replace my desktop, and I feel more comfortable when doing complicated stuff with full keyboard, mouse & monitor. I feel that the form factor (keyboard & screen size, touchpad) limits the netbooks more than cpu, ram or OS.

If we want ARM netbooks to be Linux's foot in the mainstream door, I think these USB dongles should be the top priority for anyone making a netbook Linux distro; to netbook manufacturers, I say "include an internal 3G modem and a simple, easy to use configuration app".


I think all we need is a non-braindead OEM that actually picks up the latest Ubuntu and tests the hardware with it - and provides fixes for stuff that doesn't work. Wed, 13 May 2009 18:20:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (vivainio) Comments RE: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363651 http://osnews.com/thread?363651 What I want in a netbook is a full desktop replacement.
It is silly to expect netbooks to be a "full desktop replacement".
Netbook is not designed for it.
"Desktop replacement" typically is a 17" power hungry laptop. Thu, 14 May 2009 15:06:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (viton) Comments RE[2]: Desktop Replacement http://osnews.com/thread?363701 http://osnews.com/thread?363701 If I were using a netbook at a desktop, I'd probably want to dock it and use a full sized keyboard monitor and mouse. I just like the idea of one device to rule them all more than two separate computers, because one would inevitably get at least triple the use of the other. Thu, 14 May 2009 20:51:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Moredhas) Comments