Microsoft Kicks Themselves Where They Already Hurt
By now, everyone has heard of the XO laptop (better known as the $100 laptop that costs $200) and the Eee PC. Both are examples of inexpensive ultra-mobile computers that run Linux. Although they both serve different purposes, they are technically similar in many ways. Another interesting aspect of these laptops (or at least the XO laptop) is that Microsoft is scared of them, and with good reason. The market for these inexpensive UMPCs is growing and already some of the best known devices run Linux. Right now, Linux has some significant advantages for use on this new class of computer including ease of customization, price, and minimal hardware requirements. On June 30, the minimal requirements argument will become even more compelling.
When June 30th comes, Microsoft will stop selling Windows XP. This leaves UMPC makers in a difficult position. Not only does Vista have all the problems of XP mentioned above, but it also requires even more expensive hardware. When you are trying to bring the price down to around $400 or even less, every dollar you can save on hardware is important and by discontinuing XP, Microsoft is increasing the gap between Linux and Windows in how much money must be spent on hardware. In this way, Microsoft is hitting themselves on the head in a market where they are already losing and they very much want to win.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Do you really know what you are talking about? Microsoft is a large company divided into many small groups and teams. The team for the UMPCs considered the product a success and moved on to other work. There is no fear - so - this leads me to wonder if you even talked to anyone at Microsoft and you just made this story up.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Anonymous - “the product” What product?
No I did not talk to anyone at Microsoft. Why would I? If you want to know why I think they are scared, look at what they are doing with the OLPC. They are trying to put XP on it.
February 16th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I agree with the first poster. You are not fit to report on what Microsoft does or what runs good on what hardware. I doubt you’ve touched a windows machine in the last six months or done any research of your own that didn’t involve digging up negative press from other news sites. This isn’t journalism, as much as you pretend it is. Sadly, most of your audience may not realize this.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Microsofts UMPC is a success? what? they only sold 350K units worldwide in all of 2007, that is dismal.
The bottom line is that yes millions want a computer that they can take everwhere that has full windows. But think about that for a minute and no geek opinions. Most people input full windows programs how? touch type keyboard. Ok there is the input we want. So we want to take it everywhere. To do that it must be small enough to carry in a persons coat pocket. OK there is the size limits ( about 4″ x 7.3″ and as thin as possible).
Problem has been too many geeks trying to come up with the design. All UMPC’s need to change to be successful is to model it after a Psion Revo or HP Jornada.
Microsoft has no clue what most consumers want in a UMPC and the more they continue to stray off target the more Linux and others can have a chance to really affect their sales. The problem with other OS is that we in the business world need to collaborate via MS word, and other windows softwares by MS and third parties. If those other OS can enable those programs to run than I would not care about MS. Say if Apple made a UMPC that had a touch type keyboard and was pocket size that I could run word, excel, outlook and load other third party desktop OS programs on I would switch to Apple in a heartbeat.