Linked by Quentin Hartman on Mon 14th Jul 2008 09:58 UTC, submitted by Dan Warne
So you thought Linux was the key to the Eee PC's success? Not so, according to ASUS. "The bulk of the requests and requirements we see in the marketplace are for the model with Windows rather than Linux," says Henry Lee, Acer's senior product manager. "It's a give and take between simplicity of usage for the masses versus full customisation. The Linux version is really only to use exactly what is provided, and someone in the know can easily remove what's been installed. But consumers are accustomed to the Windows environment, and the Windows version will be a stronger player eventually." Editor's Note: More broadly, this piece examines whether the popularity of the Eee and its Linux-bearing cousins will be sustained, or if they will ultimately get beaten out in the netbook space by Windows-based versions. What do you think?
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Member since:2007-11-24
Member since:2007-05-28
Member since:2006-07-30
Well, MS has definitely seen the writing on the wall and is trying to slim down Windows.
You can already buy eee sized laptops with 120GB hdd and 1GB ram so the only problem left would be the cpu.
I think they'll probably slim it down enough to claim that it "runs" on these machines - and "running" means moving slightly faster than a snail 
Member since:2007-11-24
Member since:2007-10-11
They can't do that.
Their business model relies on people believing that things not windows are either very expensive (mac) or completely unuseable by non-geek.
There are cracks in there already, and MS is deadly afraid the next one will be the one that brings everything down.
Member since:
2005-11-14
Cost and size are key to its success. Linux is merely a factor of the first. It shouldn't be too hard to tailor Linux into giving a better long term experience than XP, though, considering how most Windows installs tend to slow down after the user has installed her programs and utilities.