Netbook Scoop

Everything You Need To Know About Netbooks

Microsoft Blames Linux Netbooks for Revenue Miss

Posted by Tom Greer on August 5, 2009 in Netbooks, Operating Systems

Microsoft Logo

Microsoft Logo

LinuxWorld noted that, in the 10-K just filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft acknowledges Linux as a competitor on the client side (which is a first) saying:

Client faces strong competition from well-established companies with differing approaches to the PC market. Competing commercial software products, including variants of Unix, are supplied by competitors such as Apple, Canonical, and Red Hat. Apple takes an integrated approach to the PC experience and has made inroads in share, particularly in the U.S. and in the consumer segment. The Linux operating system, which is also derived from Unix and is available without payment under a General Public License, has gained some acceptance, especially in emerging markets, as competitive pressures lead OEMs to reduce costs and new, lower-price PC form-factors gain adoption. Partners such as Hewlett-Packard and Intel have been actively working with alternative Linux-based operating systems. Read the rest »

Moblin recently updated the 2.0 Beta image for Netbooks

Posted by Steve Greer on June 18, 2009 in Netbook Market, Netbooks, Operating Systems

MoblinHave you played with Moblin yet?  What are you waiting for??  Moblin has just refreshed the 2.0 beta which has fixed a bunch of issues and has added some new features. 

You can download the new Mobin2.0 beta image for netbooks here. If you need help with how to use the image, Moblin has put a nice page together to help you load the live image from CD or USB.

I recommend USB, because it gives you a much faster experience compared to booting from a CD. This will give you a preview of the OS without actually having to install it to your hard drive.

I would be interested in hearing from you on what your thoughts are? Feel free to send us an email or comment back.

Intel Exec Speculates about Windows 7 on Netbooks

Posted by Tom Greer on May 8, 2009 in Netbooks, Operating Systems

Brooke Crothers recently interviewed Intel executive Noury Al-Khaledy, general manager of Nettop and Netbook Computing.  While much of Brooke’s article describes how the explosion of demand for netbooks caught Intel (and the rest of the computer industry) by surprise, Al-Khaledy’s comments about Windows 7 on netbooks was more interesting to me.

Here are some key quotes from the article:

Unless Windows 7 is priced aggressively, Al-Khaledy doesn’t see it as a catalyst necessarily for a spike in Netbook sales. “I don’t see it as a big tipping point. It’s all about pricing. If you have to pay $30 more for Windows 7, it might make (consumers) pause.

There’s just not a lot of margin in the box,” he said. “(But) if Microsoft prices Starter and Basic aggressively, why wouldn’t you?”

“I would expect most (PC makers) will launch a Netbook with Windows 7,” Al-Khaledy continued. “The Starter, Basic (versions) should run well.”

I think this is a very realistic assessment of the situation facing Microsoft.

In the beginning, all netbooks ran on Linux.  When their popularity began to soar, Microsoft saw a threat to their OS monopoly.  They responded as they always do, by raising fear, uncertainty and doubt about their competitor and cutting their prices to the bone until the competitor is vanquished.

Offering XP Home Edition at bargain basement price on netbooks did not cost Microsoft anything.  But they need to make a profit on their investment in Windows 7.  But they can’t raise the price much.  Heck. the $30 that Al-Khaledy mentions would be a 10% increase for many netbooks.

That won’t fly.  Mostly because Linux is not gone.  As proof, see my article earlier today about how Linux continues to grow market share at a client OS on the Internet.

It is still the #1 server operating system.  And, although Microsoft would like you to believe that it’s being developed by geeks sitting in their underwear at night coding in their basements, in reality, Microsoft’s competitors (IBM, Novell and many others) continue to polish and improve it.

So you chould expect that Microsoft will continue to provide Windows for netbooks at a sweetheart price.  They will transition from XP to Windows 7 with a nominal price increase.

Even the most diehard Microsoft fanboys should be appreciative.  Without Linux challenging Microsoft, the price of netbooks would be a lot higher.  And maybe the netbook craze would have never happened.  After all, netbooks don’t run Vista very well at all.

Linux Exceeds 1% on Client – Woo Hoo!

Posted by Tom Greer on May 7, 2009 in Netbook Market, Operating Systems

Net Applications, an internet traffic monitoring and optimization organization, reports that, during April 2009, Linux clients exceeded 1% of the total Internet traffic.

As a Linux supporter, I say Woo Hoo!

While 1% does not seem like much, it represents a foot in the door.

Consider this: Apple’s share during April was only 9.7%.

While Microsoft is claiming victory in the netbook operating system battle, Linux slowly marches forward.

Thanks to Tech Report for this tip.

Netbook Version of Windows 7

Posted by Tom Greer on January 14, 2009 in Operating Systems

There has been a lot of press over the past week or so about Microsoft Windows 7 and netbooks.  Specifically, CNET in the UK wrote that they had confirmed that Microsoft would be providing a version of Windows 7 specifically designed for netbooks.

Microsoft responded to Computer World: “We have not made any announcements regarding Windows 7 SKUs.”

Microsoft’s response reminded me of those Watergate-era Nixon Administration “non-denial denials”.  They did not deny that they were going to introduce a netbook-specific version of Windows 7.

Last July, in an article about how netbooks (which were referred to as Ultra Low-cost PCs or ULPCs back then) would disrupt the computer industry, I wrote:

Microsoft’s low-cost XP licensing program for ULPCs is not a long-term fix for the company.  It is like putting a band-aid on your skin cancer.  It keeps the public from viewing the wound, but it doesn’t make the problem go away.

Microsoft still has a problem.  If they force netbook manufacturers to pay full license cost for Windows 7, then the manufacturers will pass along the increase to buyers.  This will make the Linux versions more attractive.

So Microsoft must offer an ultra low-cost version of Windows 7 for netbooks.  They only question is which features will be stripped out to justify the difference.

Solid-State vs. Traditional Hard Drives

Posted by Tom Greer on January 5, 2009 in Netbook Market

Netbooks are available with either solid-state drives (SSDs) or traditional hard drives. (MSI has just announced a new hybrid netbook, model U115, that incorporates both.) Laptop users are familiar with hard drives, but for most, SSDs are a new animal. This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of SSDs in comparison to hard drives.

hard-drive

2.5 Inch Hard Driive

Hard drives are mechanical devices. The platters spin thousands of times per minute. The read/write heads float over the top and bottom of each platter. The heads are attached by arms to a spindle motor which positions them over the proper tracks of the platter.

Solid State Drive

Solid-State Drive

A solid-state drive is an electronic component. SSDs have no moving parts.

Solid-state drives have a number of advantages over hard drives:

  • More reliable due to not having any moving parts
  • Less likely to sustain damage if netbook is dropped
  • Require less power, meaning batteries last longer
  • Generate less heat
  • Silent
  • Can outperform hard drives, especially in read access times.

Please note that these are generalities. There are several different types of SSDs – each with their own strengths and weaknesses. If you are interested in the details, Wikipedia explores this in great depth.

There is a common perception that the performance of SSDs is poorer than hard drives. This certainly was true in the early models of SSDs. However, recent technology improvements now yield SSDs that outperform hard drives. Notebook Review published an article that compares a SanDisk 32GB SSD to a hard drive. The SSD blows away the hard drive’s performance across the board.

With features this good, why are we still using hard drives?

Hard drives do have a couple of strengths over SSDs:

  • On a cost per gigabyte basis, hard drives are a *lot* less expensive.
  • Hard drives outperform the low-cost type of SSDs
  • Microsoft Windows handles SSDs ineffectively

The last bullet point is the reason why you see almost all Windows-based netbooks configured with hard drives. On the other hand, Linux-based netbooks may be packaged with either type of storage device.

However, the primary reason why hard drives have not been overwhelmingly replaced by SSDs is cost.

SSDs are becoming less and less expensive. At the same time, performance and reliability continue to improve.

This ultimately makes hard drives dinosaurs. It’s just a matter of time.

2008 Trend: Netbook OS Linux to XP

Posted by Tom Greer on December 30, 2008 in Netbook Market

The Eee PC 2G Surf Was Introduced in January 2008

The Eee PC 2G Surf Was Introduced in January 2008

Back in January of this year, the netbooks available were almost exclusively Asus Eee PCs.   In the beginning, they all ran Linux.

This trend worried Microsoft immensely.  This little niche was gaining a lot of popularity.  What would happen if customers found out that Linux could actually be used by normal people?  With Vista already unpopular in many circles, there could be serious consequences if people learned that Linux actually provided the functionality that they needed. Read the rest »

Should I Buy Linux-Based Netbook?

Posted by Tom Greer on November 28, 2008 in Netbook Market

Linux-based netbooks are priced significantly lower than Windows-based netbooks.  Friends often ask “Should I buy a Linux-based netbook?”

The answer depends on you and how you plan to use the netbook.
Read the rest »

Verizon 3G (EVDO) Working On My Linux Aspire One

Posted by Tom Greer on September 19, 2008 in Acer Netbooks

After a bit of a struggle, I am online with my Linux-based Aspire One via a Verizon UM175 USB Modem using EVDO.

My wife has been hospitalized for the past week. (She had surgery and is doing well.). I have only been home to shower and return to to the hospital. I had planned to stay online via the hospital’s WiFi network. But the visitor WiFi point that I had noted is only open to visiting doctors, not patients.

So I ran out to Verizon and bought a UM175 USB modem. I got a little worried when the sales clerk had no idea what a netbook was. When I asked whether it worked with Linux, she gave me that blank look again. Then the light came on “Windows or Mac only.” I bought it after she told me it could be returned for refund within 30 days.

It took three days of innovation before I figured it out. But I’m finally live.

I did so many things that I’m not sure I could document the steps. I took pieces from many different places.

If you are trying to do the same and are stuck, drop me a comment below and we’ll figure it out together.

Anyway, it is great to be back.

Update 9/24/08: After reviewing my command history, here is what I believe were the magic steps.

While over my three-day implementation, I tried lots of different things from many different websites, most of what I describe below is taken from this article on wosten.com.

Step 1. Download (or compile) the module cdc-acm.

Jungo.com provides an overview of this module:

The CDC ACM driver exposes the USB device as a virtual modem or a virtual COM port to the operating system. The driver enables sending both data and AT commands, either through ACM (separating data and AT commands over different channels) or through Serial Emulation (passing the AT commands as is and as part of the data stream).

While you could compile your own executable version of cdc-acm, it is much simpler to download a copy from here [box.net] or here [adrive.com].

Step 2. Install the cdc-adm module

Open a terminal session:
Press “Alt+F2″
Type “terminal” and press <ENTER>

Change to the directory where you saved the downloaded cdc-acm module.
$ cd /path/to/downloaded/module
$ sudo mkdir -p /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/usb/class
$ sudo cp cdc-acm /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/usb/class/

Create a device file for the modem
$ sudo mknod /dev/ttyACM0 c 166 0

Add the cdc-acm module to the kernel
$ sudo depmod -a
$ sudo modprobe cdc-acm

Step 3. Install gnome-ppp application.

$ sudo yum install gnome-ppp (answer Y to all questions)

Step 4. Configure gnome-ppp

Start gnome-ppp
Press “Alt+F2″
Type “sudo gnome-ppp” and press <ENTER>.  Configure by entering the information described below.

  • Username: your-modem’s-phone-number@vzw3g.com
  • Password: vzw
  • Phone number: #777
  • Click on the <Setup> button
  • Under the Tab: “Modem”
  • Device: /dev/ttyACM0
  • Type: USB Modem
  • Speed: 460800
  • Under the Tab “Networking”
  • Check: Manual DNS (Automatic does not seem to work)
  • DNS 1: 66.174.92.14
  • DNS2: 69.78.96.14
  • Under the Tab: “Options”
  • Check “Dock in notification area”
  • Click on <Close> button

Step 5.  Connect via gnome-ppp.

Click on the <Connect> button.  Gnome-ppp will display a series of messages.  When a connection is made, the gnome-ppp screen disappears.  If a connection is not made, then the log file will contain detailed information.

I hope that this is all that is required.  If you try this, please provide comments below to let us know if this works or not.  If not, please post the messages from gnome-ppp’s log file, so we can troubleshoot together.

Good luck!

No Linux for Lenovo IdeaPad S10

Posted by Tom Greer on August 26, 2008 in Lenovo Netbooks, Netbook Market

As I was reviewing the pre-release information about the Lenovo Ideapad S10, I noticed that Gizmodo reported that Lenovo will not be offering a Linux version.  Somehow, I had missed that piece of news.

I’m not surprised by this. Lenovo is going for volume. Eliminating the Linux version will help them keep their production costs down. They have previously publicly expressed concerns about netbook profit margins.

Of course, that means that Linux advocates (like me) will take their business elsewhere. That’s probably not a large number.

That also means that they will not be able to offer a product at the lowest price point. Asus, Acer and Dell will probably price their Linux versions at 10% to 15% below the S10.

Time will tell whether this was a good business decision.

FTC disclosure: If you find our information helpful, please follow our links when you are ready to purchase a product. The commission from these referrals is the only compensation for our work in developing and maintaining this site.