Acer: Android isn't Ready to Run Netbooks
Acer: Android isn't Ready to Run Netbooks
Posted 04/08/2009 at 7:27am
| by Paul Lilly
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Convincing Acer -- who, at last count, was selling more netbooks than Asus and claims 38.3 percent of the market -- that your OS is a suitable alternative to XP or Linux for use on netbooks is no easy task. At a press event earlier this week, Chief Executive Gianfranco Lanci and Jim Wong head of Acer's IT products business line, told reporters that while Acer plans on using Google's open-source Android OS in its upcoming smartphone, it doesn't feel the OS is ready for netbooks.
"For a netbook, you really need to be able to view a full web for the total internet experience," Wong said. "And Android is not that yet."
Lanci echoed Wong's sentiments, adding that Android is better suited for communication, whereas Windows comes at the market from the computing side. According to Lanci, an ideal solution would be to offer both. However Lanci did admit that Acer is currently testing Android on its netbooks, adding "I think everybody in the industry is testing Android on netbooks."
And he's right. HP said last week that it was considering Android for future netbooks, and so too has Asus.
Would you be interested in an Android-powered netbook, or is XP the way to go? Hit the jump and sound off.
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HeartBurnKid
April 08, 2009 at 1:32pm
Frankly, I think something like Xubuntu or another lightweight Linux distro would be more ideal for netbooks... you still have an OS designed for general computing, but one that's also meant to run on light-weight hardware, and that is still a modern, secure OS. And, let's face it, nobody's going to run Photoshop or Crysis on these platforms anyway, so the lack of such programs on Linux isn't an obstacle.
nekollx
April 08, 2009 at 2:37pm
except for you know me or the MaxPC staff who use photoshop as a Benchmark, you won't be working on 40 x 80 posters on a netbook but dont dismiss PS outright, that makes you almost as bad as the guy saying "netbooks are for internet only"
Modred189
April 08, 2009 at 12:33pm
My Acer Apire One started with XP on it and, of course, I liked it. It was XP, why wouldn't I like it?
Then I put Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit, and loved it and have not looked back since. Sure I have tried all kinds of linux distros (Ubuntu (and netbook remix), Kubuntu, Mint, gOS etc) but none have been as flawless as Vista. 7 ran well too, but I don't use beta os's as my main.
MeTo
April 08, 2009 at 8:00am
I think if Microsoft want's to compete in the netbook maket they need to make a OS for internet only. Strip out everything you don't need make it safe,fast & small install. I have switched to Linux mint and Fire fox for my internet machine. Thats my 2 cents worth.
nekollx
April 08, 2009 at 12:40pm
"Netbooks are ONLY for the internet?" so a OS that can only browse the web is insane. People watch videos on them and do Word. Nixing those two would doom Windows.
MeTo
April 08, 2009 at 8:58pm
Have you even tryed Linux. My Linux mint came with Open office,Movie player,Gimp (PS like),Fire Fox,Thunder bird and a host of other programs all on a 700 Mb cd.
nekollx
April 09, 2009 at 5:34am
so you basicly areeing with me then, "net books are only for the internet" is inane and "make a windows just for the net" is psycotic?
MeTo
April 09, 2009 at 6:54am
There is a diffeance between Netbook and Notebook. Netbook were
intended for surf the web and check email check appointments and such
and be small and light weight. XP has one foot in the grave and is a
large install. Why try to do it all on a machine "netbook" that
strugles to run it. If you want to do it all i would suggest you get a
Notebook.
nekollx
April 09, 2009 at 8:31am
if you want net only use a smartphone
a netwbook is for low powered computting, which includes WORD
MeTo
April 09, 2009 at 9:44am
So if you want WORD use cloud computing goto google doc's. You must be a MS fanboy "Word" is not the only option. Also a netbook has a 8" to 10" screen. Smart phone screen to small not good im my opinion.
nekollx
April 09, 2009 at 9:50am
no but if i buy somthing larger then a fred protal DVD player i expect it to beable to run the basics, word (or open office), photoshop (or gimp), Chrome, and Windows Media Player (or equivilent).
the idea of stripping down windoes so its Internate only (as was the point of my original reply) on a 8 inch screen for 300-400 bucks is inane.
I'm not expectiong Crysis but i am expecting basic productivity.
comptech08
April 08, 2009 at 7:35am
i think the big thing Android would need if it goes netbook is the capability to run flash. Besides from that I think it would be a good alternative OS.
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