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I'm thinking that they could build a laptop out of components that have open source, Linux-friendly drivers, for one.
I'll give you an example. This very nice Toshiba laptop I'm typing this on is excellent under Windows 7, which it was built for, but I have had the hardest time finding a Linux distro that will recognize all of the hardware on it. The best I've done is Mint, but even then I have to jump through a dozen hoops just to get video working. I wouldn't own this machine if I hadn't gotten it for such a fantastic deal (basically free), and the few things I need Linux for can be done in a VM for now.
Given that every major component manufacturer writes Windows drivers by default, and Acer is making such a stink about not liking Microsoft anymore, I don't see why they wouldn't put the effort into a 100% Linux-friendly laptop. They could still fall back on Windows if it flops in the F/OSS community.
Just a different crappy OS. "
Exactly. I can only imagine what kind of bloatware they would load Linux down with. Plus, remember Linpus (yuck, what an awful name) that shipped with the Aspire netbooks? Outdated, unstable, and horrifically slow. I guess, with those qualities, it did fit with Acer's usual drill, but there's no way I would ever trust them to get Linux right when they can't even do Windows. Linux is flaky enough for desktop use already (X.org, I blame you) and there is just so very much more to screw up when doing an OEM Linux.




Member since:
2007-07-19
How would a linux laptop be different from let's say a Windows laptop? Besides a different OS