Comments on: Lenovo on the future of the netbook http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/ Technology news Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:15:02 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Margaret http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-198784 Margaret Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:52:34 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-198784 I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Margaret http://bluetoothspeakerphone.net I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Margaret

http://bluetoothspeakerphone.net

]]> By: eduardo http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178752 eduardo Tue, 12 May 2009 02:41:59 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178752 I notice the author of the article was very careful to not ask the Lenovo guy about the sub-$220 ARM netbooks that are coming out later this year. My guess is that they talked beforehand and the Lenovo guy asked him to not bring up the subject. I suppose that means Lenovo is not going to be one of the ARM oem's, but doesn't want to admit it just yet. I notice the author of the article was very careful to not ask the Lenovo guy about the sub-$220 ARM netbooks that are coming out later this year. My guess is that they talked beforehand and the Lenovo guy asked him to not bring up the subject. I suppose that means Lenovo is not going to be one of the ARM oem’s, but doesn’t want to admit it just yet.

]]> By: Ralph http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178718 Ralph Mon, 11 May 2009 23:12:02 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178718 Well at least this time Matt Kohut wasn't clueless this time ...unlike the last time "attempted to" talk about Linux. Well at least this time Matt Kohut wasn’t clueless this time …unlike the last time “attempted to” talk about Linux.

]]> By: sys admin http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178707 sys admin Mon, 11 May 2009 20:44:27 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178707 While it may be difficult for us Linux fans to hear it, it's an important reality check to hear that people prefer Windows on their netbooks. I've been using Linux for 10 years, first on server and then on the desktop. I run a few CentOS servers and I have Ubuntu 9.04 running on my laptop under dual-boot. Running Ubuntu Linux as a desktop offers certain technical advantages over Windows, for example I only have to re-format my Linux boxen when I upgrade versions, every 2 years or so. However my Windows boxen have to be re-formatted every 11 months or so. Then again, Photoshop is awesome. Also, and I hate to say this, I saved a file from Microsoft Office 2007 in .doc (word 2003 format). When I read it in OpenOffice under Linux, the first 6 lines of the table were not visible. I don't get why Archie wants Veronica when Betty is waiting for him. I don't get why Linux isn't content with ruling the server instead of going after the desktop. While it may be difficult for us Linux fans to hear it, it’s an important reality check to hear that people prefer Windows on their netbooks.

I’ve been using Linux for 10 years, first on server and then on the desktop. I run a few CentOS servers and I have Ubuntu 9.04 running on my laptop under dual-boot.

Running Ubuntu Linux as a desktop offers certain technical advantages over Windows, for example I only have to re-format my Linux boxen when I upgrade versions, every 2 years or so. However my Windows boxen have to be re-formatted every 11 months or so.

Then again, Photoshop is awesome. Also, and I hate to say this, I saved a file from Microsoft Office 2007 in .doc (word 2003 format). When I read it in OpenOffice under Linux, the first 6 lines of the table were not visible.

I don’t get why Archie wants Veronica when Betty is waiting for him. I don’t get why Linux isn’t content with ruling the server instead of going after the desktop.

]]> By: Scott Marlowe http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178687 Scott Marlowe Mon, 11 May 2009 19:23:07 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178687 I have recently bought a Lenovo SL400 which runs vista (rarely) and ubuntu (mostly). It will probably be my last thinkpad if this is lenovo's mentality. I have recently bought a Lenovo SL400 which runs vista (rarely) and ubuntu (mostly). It will probably be my last thinkpad if this is lenovo’s mentality.

]]> By: David http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178683 David Mon, 11 May 2009 18:56:57 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178683 I have a Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu and it is *completely* "ready out of the box". I've seen some other linux netbooks that looked amateurish, but the Mini 9 is really polished, professional, and simple to use. Admittedly, most folks I've shown it to are bewildered at first that it doesn't run Windows. However, no one seems to have trouble using it. Most people will pick Windows simply out of name-recognition, not because of any actual difficulty with the Ubuntu desktop. The real battle will take place when netbooks hit $150-200, where the difference between free/oss and proprietary software will mean doubling the price. I expect the general public to lose their "fear of the unknown" in a hurry. I have a Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu and it is *completely* “ready out of the box”. I’ve seen some other linux netbooks that looked amateurish, but the Mini 9 is really polished, professional, and simple to use.

Admittedly, most folks I’ve shown it to are bewildered at first that it doesn’t run Windows. However, no one seems to have trouble using it. Most people will pick Windows simply out of name-recognition, not because of any actual difficulty with the Ubuntu desktop.

The real battle will take place when netbooks hit $150-200, where the difference between free/oss and proprietary software will mean doubling the price. I expect the general public to lose their “fear of the unknown” in a hurry.

]]> By: Ron http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178632 Ron Mon, 11 May 2009 11:25:06 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178632 "Linux is for servers. It’s been built from the ground up for servers." That's objectively false, given this quote from Linus himself: "I have never, ever cared about really anything but the Linux desktop." “Linux is for servers. It’s been built from the ground up for servers.”

That’s objectively false, given this quote from Linus himself: “I have never, ever cared about really anything but the Linux desktop.”

]]> By: Ralph http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178621 Ralph Mon, 11 May 2009 09:40:38 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178621 Spread the word, boycott Lenovo. Lets spend our money elsewhere. Spread the word, boycott Lenovo. Lets spend our money elsewhere.

]]> By: edmundronald http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178608 edmundronald Mon, 11 May 2009 08:16:34 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178608 Lenovo have worked carefully to add features which make their products robust, easier to use and maintain than a vanilla Microsoft PC. I own a Thinkpad tablet. Press a key during boot and it goes into a service menu, and can then restore itself completely from a hidden partition. I've done it, and although it's a lengthy process (2 hours or so) it is totally automated, no interaction needed. I bought the tablet for that feature; when I start a new development job, I want virgin machine. So, I would listen carefully to Lenovo's take on the market. I've done about a hundred Linux installs, and still use it for some purposes; and guess what, although I prefer Linux to Windows, for my personal purposes I moved to Mac. Lenovo have worked carefully to add features which make their products robust, easier to use and maintain than a vanilla Microsoft PC.

I own a Thinkpad tablet. Press a key during boot and it goes into a service menu, and can then restore itself completely from a hidden partition. I’ve done it, and although it’s a lengthy process (2 hours or so) it is totally automated, no interaction needed.

I bought the tablet for that feature; when I start a new development job, I want virgin machine.

So, I would listen carefully to Lenovo’s take on the market. I’ve done about a hundred Linux installs, and still use it for some purposes; and guess what, although I prefer Linux to Windows, for my personal purposes I moved to Mac.

]]> By: Vegard Engen http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/comment-page-1/#comment-178599 Vegard Engen Mon, 11 May 2009 07:35:26 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2009/05/09/lenovo-on-the-future-of-the-netbook/#comment-178599 Linux is the *perfect* OS for the non-savvy users. It's those who have already learnt Windows and have the misperception that they know how an OS works, when in reality they have just memorized menu-entries, that are the problem. I've not done too much Linux-pushing myself - but those who gets constant calls about "cleaning up" Windows-boxes of friends and family, should *really* just install Linux for them. I have friends who do exactly that, and *poof* - the number of free support calls go rock bottom - and half a year later, one can ask - "hey, did you ever use that Linux I installed for you?", and get "Yes! It's great! It works all the time. I've never had any troubles with it at all!". Updating Linux is easy as hell, and likewise is most graphical package managers. The only things that is hard, is to make it perform exactly as Windows. Because that's not what it's designed for. Now, the people who are used to and need special software that only exist on Windows is much harder to convert. But really, it's the same the other way, it's just that converting from Linux to Windows isn't that usual, so you're not likely to hear about it :) But beginners? Give them Linux, and they'll *never* miss Windows! Linux is the *perfect* OS for the non-savvy users. It’s those who have already learnt Windows and have the misperception that they know how an OS works, when in reality they have just memorized menu-entries, that are the problem.

I’ve not done too much Linux-pushing myself – but those who gets constant calls about “cleaning up” Windows-boxes of friends and family, should *really* just install Linux for them. I have friends who do exactly that, and *poof* – the number of free support calls go rock bottom – and half a year later, one can ask – “hey, did you ever use that Linux I installed for you?”, and get “Yes! It’s great! It works all the time. I’ve never had any troubles with it at all!”.

Updating Linux is easy as hell, and likewise is most graphical package managers.

The only things that is hard, is to make it perform exactly as Windows. Because that’s not what it’s designed for.

Now, the people who are used to and need special software that only exist on Windows is much harder to convert. But really, it’s the same the other way, it’s just that converting from Linux to Windows isn’t that usual, so you’re not likely to hear about it :)

But beginners? Give them Linux, and they’ll *never* miss Windows!

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