The netbook craze is currently in full swing, with these small laptops being advertised everywhere (at least here in The Netherlands); in fact, you can already get netbooks with 3G from the mobile phone carriers at severely reduced prices (but with a one or two year contract, of course). Netbooks are also welcomed by the Linux community as the break they've been waiting for: many netbooks are available with Linux pre-installed. One of the more successful (and powerful) netbooks out there is MSI's Wind, which is also sold under different brand and model names by other companies. In an interview with LaptopMag, MSI's Director of US Sales Andy Tung, however, has some bad news for those that believe the netbook will be the foot in the door that the Linux desktop has been waiting for.
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Member since:2008-03-10
Windows has been based on the NT kernel for 8 years, not DOS.
If you want open source operating systems to have a future, you as a community must be able to take an objective view of them and compare them to competitors. Until that happens, there is no chance of Linux ever gaining significant market share because of its shortcomings. The previous comment being buried is only proof that Linux is not ready because most of the community behind it cannot act rationally, or do things like admit weakness. If they had, the average user wouldn't have to put up with nearly as many annoyances because something would have been done about them.
Member since:2008-09-18
Your comment was pure FUD. I used Windows for 6 years and find Linux much easier to use. My views are based on my experience. There are legitimate criticisms of Linux and the Mac, but yours were stated so as to start a flame war. If you are giving criticism, then be constructive. btw: I use a Mac as my main machine.
Member since:2006-01-02
I spend my days working on a kernel and I don't necessarily buy your theory that replacing the kernel is what will boost Linux's acceptability on the desktop/laptop/netbook. Frankly, the end user could care less about the specifics of the kernel as long as it meets the minimum bar of reliability and performance, which Linux does. It's all the other things, like X, management functionality, simple (and functional) control panels, etc which have a dearth of deep contributors that would take them quickly to mass-market acceptability.
If people really wanted to make Linux displace OS X or Windows on the desktop, they probably should put kernel work on pause and fix up (or rearchitect) various aspects of the Linux User Experience so that a typical person who's trying to get work done will be able to perform basic tasks (like setting up a common wireless connection or a projector/alternate monitor) in a logical manner that works more than 95% of the time.
Member since:2006-03-20
Member since:2007-09-06
Member since:
2008-09-18
If Windows/DOS is good enough, then Linux is a welcome upgrade and light years ahead.