I think we can finally put a certain myth to rest that's been circling around the web for a while now. Microsoft often claimed that netbooks running Linux saw higher return rates than those running Windows, but according to Dell, this is utter nonsense.
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Member since:2009-02-19
I've had a lot of friends, sometimes even fairly technically-minded people who knew what they where doing, test That Cool New Ubuntu Thing that Dave (me) Talks About, only to very quickly give up when none of their Windows software runs. Even when they knew it was coming. Particularly games: for many people my age, a computer that won't run Steam games (reliably and simply) is just not that useful. Now, when someone comments on how neat-looking Ubuntu's default Gnome theme is, I basically tell them, "yeah, but it won't run anything you want."
So... yeah, exactly, you're right. People want their computer to run the software they already have and use. They will eventually decide that a computer that doesn't run the windows software they already have is useless to them, whether they knew what they where getting into ahead-of-time or not.
Edited 2009-08-13 16:00 UTC
Member since:2005-07-07
I think this is the main point.
People mistankingly assume that a Netbook is a small and cheap laptop, but of course we know it isn't.
So a portion of the customers return it because of the quoted reason.
What people in this discussion are missing it that this happends independent of which operating system is installed, at least for Dell.
Just because a model uses WindowsXP does not mean it will run the software the user wants to run on it. The operating system might be compatible, the CPU might understand the instructions sent to it, but properly executing instructions of a properly installed program is not equal to running the software. Technically it is, for the users it isn't.
Member since:2007-05-05
If you tell a user "linux is better and cheaper get it". He might do it, thinking that his microsoft office will still work. Users don't see any difference. Sorry if it hurts, but that is the way it is, whether you like it or not.
It doesn't hurt. It just proves how stupid the avg user is and how stupid you are.
Member since:2005-07-03
Do you need to insult? What makes you think a person is stupid because of that? Nobody cares about that. Do you think you're not stupid just because you can buy a (in your opinion) better computer, and do more things with it than the avg user?
You're so cheap. I can probably run circles around you in so many non computer related areas that you'd be surprised. Oh, you're a super boy because you can add/remove a program in Ubuntu… wow!
Congratulations, you've won the id10t of the year prize.
Have a nice day, I'm off.
Member since:
2005-07-03
You have no idea what a user means then. So expecting your box of Microsoft Money to work on your new computer is retarded? You're probably a geek or computer enthusiast that never talked to a user.
If you tell a user "linux is better and cheaper get it". He might do it, thinking that his microsoft office will still work. Users don't see any difference. Sorry if it hurts, but that is the way it is, whether you like it or not.