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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RE[2]: One manufacturer with a "non-tame" Linux distro
by melkor on Tue 15th Jul 2008 02:50
in reply to "RE: One manufacturer with a "non-tame" Linux distro"
Member since:2006-12-16
Just one problem with your logic - if Windows works better for the end user, then it IS better. For the average, non geek user, Windows does the job, and does it well.
Linux is still a ***** to get running, don't even get me started. If you're prepared to do the time on setting it up, then it can potentially be better than Windows, depending on how Windows has been set up (i.e. hardened), and even what version of Windows.
Dave
RE[3]: One manufacturer with a "non-tame" Linux distro
by Kroc on Tue 15th Jul 2008 11:56
in reply to "RE[2]: One manufacturer with a "non-tame" Linux distro"
Member since:2005-11-10
There is no setting up when you buy a computer with Linux already on it. I too agree that Linux requires too much work to self install, but when it comes to consumers buying a computer with Linux already on it, then it works okay. Admittedly, Xandros is very broken and not the best example of Linux, but as far as Internet/EMail/Skype/MSN, the eee succeeds.
RE[3]: One manufacturer with a "non-tame" Linux distro
by lemur2 on Wed 16th Jul 2008 07:07
in reply to "RE[2]: One manufacturer with a "non-tame" Linux distro"
Member since:2007-02-17
Just one problem with your logic - if Windows works better for the end user, then it IS better. For the average, non geek user, Windows does the job, and does it well. Linux is still a ***** to get running, don't even get me started. If you're prepared to do the time on setting it up, then it can potentially be better than Windows, depending on how Windows has been set up (i.e. hardened), and even what version of Windows. Dave
Just one problem with your logic in this context ... on a Linux ULCPC (such as the EEEPC or the Acer Aspire One or a gaggle of others coming on to the market), Linux is already set up. Since it is already set up, then for the average, non geek user, Linux does the job.
Actually your logic has another problem ... for the average, non geek user, Windows is still even more of a ***** to get running (if it is not already installed). And on a ULCPC, if that is all you have, and you were to buy a cheap inkjet printer for it ... with Windows the driver will be on a CDROM that comes with your printer. Ooops ... no CD drive on your ULCPC. With Linux, the printer is likely to work without the need to get another driver.
Actually, your logic has yet another problem ... Windows doesn't come with any useful applications, and out of the box it is vulnerable to infection by malware. So your average, non geek user will have to find (perhaps buy ... but remember, not on a CD!), then install and set up a firewall, anti-virus and anti-malware protection and a reasonable set of applications.
With Linux on a ULCPC, your average, non geek user will be ready to go as soon as he/she gets the device out of the box.
Edited 2008-07-16 07:10 UTC
News
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/19/13 23:02 UTC, submitted by M.Onty
"Microsoft has sensationally abandoned its controversial plans to restrict the sharing of XBox One games, and has also removed daily online authentication requirements for its forthcoming console", reports The Guardian. They had no choice. Still a good move.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/19/13 22:28 UTC
"A snippet of code in the Steam digital distribution platform has revealed that Valve may be planning to let users easily share their games with friends in the future. The Verge has verified the code's authenticity, which was originally spotted by a member of the NeoGAF gaming forum; the code references a 'shared game library' and a notification that would alert a user when their games are currently in use by a borrower." This would change the, uh, game.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 22:33 UTC
Official Apple statement on PRISM and privacy: "Regardless of the circumstances, our Legal team conducts an evaluation of each request and, only if appropriate, we retrieve and deliver the narrowest possible set of information to the authorities. In fact, from time to time when we see inconsistencies or inaccuracies in a request, we will refuse to fulfill it." This is basically Apple re-publishing their earlier statement in a more official manner. You either believe it, or you don't.
Linked by Anonymous on 06/18/13 22:26 UTC
The open source Contiki operating system and its commercial Thingsquare distribution are making strides towards the connected home. According to a Computerworld article, a new LED light bulb manufacturer is putting small computers into their light bulbs. Each computer runs the Contiki OS, which gives each bulb an IP address and allows them to be controlled with a smartphone application. To connect the bulbs to the application, the bulbs use both Wi-Fi and the much lower power IEEE 802.15.4 mesh technology.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 22:25 UTC
"Google asked the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on Tuesday to ease long-standing gag orders over data requests it makes, arguing that the company has a constitutional right to speak about information it's forced to give the government. The legal filing, which cites the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech, is the latest move by the California-based tech giant to protect its reputation in the aftermath of news reports about sweeping National Security Agency surveillance of Internet traffic." Draining the ditch after the cow has drowned in it.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 17:45 UTC
"I can't find one person who has been using the Nexus 7 for an extended period of time, and hasn't seen a massive downgrade in performance. Just what kind of downgrade are we talking here? I cannot pick up my Nexus 7 without experiencing problems like a lag of ten seconds, or more, just to rotate the display; touches refusing to acknowledged; stuttering notification panel actions; and unresponsive apps." Fully and utterly agreed. My Nexus 7 was blazing-fast and awesome for a few months, and at some point, it just started sucking. Just like that. I've tried loads of ROMs, and nothing helps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/18/13 17:32 UTC, submitted by poundsmack
A new release of the hobby operating system MenuetOS! The release notes are a bit non-descript, but you'll have to take what you can get: "updates and improvements (picview, httpc, ehci, ...)".
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/17/13 17:58 UTC
"The Internet is one of the most transformative technologies of our lifetimes. But for 2 out of every 3 people on earth, a fast, affordable Internet connection is still out of reach. And this is far from being a solved problem. There are many terrestrial challenges to Internet connectivity - jungles, archipelagos, mountains. There are also major cost challenges. Right now, for example, in most of the countries in the southern hemisphere, the cost of an Internet connection is more than a month's income. Solving these problems isn't simply a question of time: it requires looking at the problem of access from new angles. So today we're unveiling our latest moonshot from Google[x]: balloon-powered Internet access." Insane.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/17/13 17:52 UTC
"MineAssemble is a tiny bootable Minecraft clone written partly in x86 assembly. I made it first and foremost because a university assignment required me to implement a game in assembly for a computer systems course. Because I had never implemented anything more complex than a 'Hello World' bootloader before, I decided I wanted to learn about writing my own kernel code at the same time. Note that the goal of this project was not to write highly efficient hand-optimized assembly code, but rather to have fun and write code that balances readability and speed. This is primarily accomplished by proper commenting and consistent code structuring." Just cool.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 21:03 UTC
Jon Rubinstein, former CEO of Palm: "Well, I'm not sure I would have sold the company to HP. That's for sure. Talk about a waste. Not that I had any choice because when you sell a company you don't get to decide that. Obviously, the board and shareholders decide that. If we had known they were just going to shut it down and never really give it a chance to flourish, what would have been the point of selling the company? I think the deal we had with Verizon really hurt us, but who knew that at the time? These things are all hindsight."More News »
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Member since:
2005-11-10
Spot on. Stick Ubuntu on the eee by default (NBR). Xandros is awful in every way.
Hey Asus: OS with 95% of the market sees demand on new device, news at 11.
Don't you think Linux on the eee is helping that little bit to change the idea that you _have_ to have Windows? It won't happen over night, and the fact that people are more interested in Windows on the eee only tells you that Windows is required for more things that it should be. It doesn't mean that Windows is "better". (as you take it to be)
edit: unicode plz
Edited 2008-07-14 11:04 UTC