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Posts in netbooks
Dell has been somewhat slow in adopt new versions of Ubuntu. Currently, most of Dell’s Ubuntu computers offer 8.04, which was the last long term support release. Dell has changed their minds, though, at least for netbooks, which will soon offer 9.04, the latest release.
Previously, Dell had said they planned to use only the LTS (long term support) releases, since they are supposed to be more stable and are updated and given support for a much longer period of time. It is not yet clear if the decision to upgrade all netbooks to 9.04, which is not an LTS release, will also apply to any other Ubuntu computers.
Dell’s policy on Ubuntu versions has been, and remains to be, confusing. The official word has been that they would stick to 8.04 until the next LTS arrived. The Inspiron 15n, though, currently ships with 8.10. Now it looks like some of the computers will ship with 9.04. In other words, Dell will be supporting three different versions of Ubuntu.
Right now, in the rush to take a piece of the Netbook buzz, every distribution seems to be joining it with their own netbook OS, sometimes even with a few. Soon, though, this will have to change.
Netbooks are very much consumer devices at this point, and so having such a wide array of distros cannot last. The question is, who will come out on top? It will likely be one of the major players: Xandros, Ubuntu, or Moblin. There is, however, still time for another player to emerge.
However it turns out, it is very likely that we will see a clearer picture in the next few months.
It looks like a version of RealPlayer is being licensed to several major netbook Linux distro companies along with support for a number of commercial codecs that are not usually shipped with Linux distributions.
RealPlayer hasn’t, in the past, had a very good reputation, largely for the tendency for tons of unrelated software to arrive along with RealPlayer. The company appears, though, to have ended these practices more recently, so this looks like a great step forward for Linux-based netbooks.
Of course there are already media players on almost all of these netbook distributions, but most of them do not have the codec playback capabilities that RealPlayer will have, due to licensing issues. Unfortunately, this often confuses people who are used to playback of any media “just working.” Now, though, those issues shouldn’t come up, at least in many cases. If only it were that simple on the desktop (without the $100 price tag, thanks).
Ubuntu Launches 9.04, Get's Serious About Netbooks
As usual, Ubuntu’s home page advertises both Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope 9.04 Desktop Edition and Server Edition. This release, though, a third product joins them: Ubuntu Netbook Remix.
Until now, Ubuntu’s Netbook Remix has been focused on OEMs like Dell and HP, both of whom now use Ubuntu and some custom software on their netbooks.That piece may always be their biggest percentage of installations, but it is clear that they are going to try and change that by offering the Nebtook Remix right on the home page as a download for any netbook.
Given that consumers are apparently already uncomfortable trying something new, it is not clear that they will be willing to install a new OS. For those who are willing to install a new OS, Ubuntu is clearly positioning for your limited SSD space. Right now, it looks like they’re gonna get it.
TechCrunch Isn't the Only One Looking at Web Tablets
It looks like the people at TechCrunch (or whoever is working on it for them), have been working on a cheap touchscreen tablet for internet surfing and casual computer tasks. It looks like they might not be the only ones around, though.
GiiNii is working on an Android-powered half iPod Touch, half touchscreen web tablet device that will come in 4-inch and 7-inch screen versions. Obviously a 4-inch tablet will have very different uses from a larger tablet, but the idea is similar. Basically, it’s like a netbook with an even worse keyboard and a touchscreen. While that might not sound very attractive for writing anything of significant (or of any) length, it would be excellent for casual net-surfing where a mouse is really all you need.
It’s impossible to say for sure, but these web tablets are looking like a probable candidate to be the new netbooks, no matter if they turn out to be 3″ or 13″.
New CrunchPad Highlights Future of Computing
With all the talk about Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing, one of the missing aspects is the hardware that enables this. Yes the hardware becomes less and less important, but you still have to have something there.
Netbooks are certainly part of the hardware that will enable true cloud computing, but devices like TechCrunch’s CrunchPad will most likely, in the long run, be a bigger part.
The CrunchPad is supposed to be an inexpensive touch-screen tablet that boots straight into a web browser, bypassing any user interaction with the operating system. These kinds of computers, though perhaps in foldable e-paper form, will most likely make up the majority of devices in the future.
Obviously there are some serious limitations to this form, such as the lack of a keyboard, but for casual web surfing and checking email, small, inexpensive tablets may well replace the netbook.
Even if Google’s Android has been having some issues on phones, but it seems to just be picking up in an unlikely place: netbooks. HP is apparently looking at using Android on future netbooks.
This is a really interesting use of Android, since phones and netbooks do share some aspects in common. Both are small, portable, and not ideally suited for standard computer interfaces. A lot of people are skeptical about this, but I wouldn’t be. The interface will have to be adapted, of course, and some applications may not work, but having the same OS on your netbook and phone could have advantages, too. Remember the Palm Folio? Android could probably do the same tricks, but at a much better price.
Thanks to Android being open-source, a whole new life for it has emerged. It may be too soon to know, but I hope Android for netbooks takes off.
Pixel Density on Netbooks Compared to Other Screens
Manufacturers like to advertise something like this: 1024×600 8.9″ Screen. What does that tell you? The number of pixels is irrelevant on its own; you need to know what the pixel density is (or how many pixels there are in a square inch). The screen size is important, but not the diagonal size. Theoretically, an 8.9″ screen could range from practically zero square inches to over 35 square inches. Luckily, it is possible to use the given information to get a rough (but decent) estimate of the number of pixels per square inch. Check out the comparison below: (Pixel densities are in thousands of pixels per square inch, i.e. TPPSI.)
Laptop: Dell Inspiron 15 (1366×768 15.6″) – 10 TPPSI
Netbook: HP Mini 1035, Asus Eee PC 1000 (1024×600 10″) – 14.1 TPPSI
Netbook: HP Mini 1010, Dell Inspiron Mini 9, Asus Eee PC 900 (1024×600 8.9″) – 17.8 TPPSI
Laptop: Dell XPS M1530 (1920×1200 15.4″) – 21.6 TPPSI
Netbook: HP MiniNote 2133 (old model) (1280×768 8.9″) – 28 TPPSI
Interpret this as you will, it is very interesting to see that the pixel density usually has nothing to do with the size.
Back in September, I examined the first reviews of Ubuntu Netbook Remix on the Dell Inspiron Mini. Ubuntu Netbooks Remix looked like it had a promising future, even at that early point, since every review I found was positive about the software. More recently, HP’s Mini 1000 Mi has arrived and a few reviews have shown up. Again, the signs are looking good for Ubuntu Netbook Remix, which the HP Mini’s custom Linux OS is based on.
Engadget looked at the HP Mini Mi before it was released when it was called MIE. Regarding the software, they concluded that the Mini was “delivering Linux in one of the most user-friendly packages yet.” They did say it could be a bit limiting for power users, but that is to be expected of any simple interface.
Notebook Review also liked the custom Linux OS quite a bit. They said they “prefer this UI to both Windows (XP, Vista and 7) and OS X for basic computing tasks.” Again, they had a few complaints, but, overall, it was a very positive review, which is definitely a good sign.
In addition to these, I received some feedback from a reader recently that Toshiba’s netbook came with Ubuntu and was quite good.
All of these reviews seem to point towards Ubuntu Netbook Remix, perhaps modified by the manufacturer, as one of the essential ingredients for a great netbook. I am really glad to see this, since I have never thought highly of the Linux OSs that came before it. Now I just wish Asus would pick up on Ubuntu.
How "Simplifying" Linux Just Made It Worse
Some time after Linux netbook started appearing, it became obvious that there was a problem. Every time a new manufacturer gets in to the business, they try to build a completely custom Linux system that is “easier.” It is impressive the number of times this has been attempted and how many times it has horribly and completely failed at the goal of making things “easier.”
I just finished reading an article about Windows 7 and Linux on netbooks. This paragraph is what bothers me:
So which is better suited for netbooks? For the mass consumer audience, there’s little doubt: Windows 7 is superior. Installing new software and updating existing software in Linux isn’t for the faint-hearted, and most people won’t be able to figure out how to do it. In addition, Windows 7 has eye candy and extra features that Linux lacks. Most people also won’t want to tackle the learning curve they’ll face when moving from Windows to Linux.
Let me be clear. I don’t think the author is wrong; I think the manufacturer who made whatever netbook he is using did something wrong.
Sitting in front of my full Ubuntu laptop, I can install an application more easily than I can get up a turn off the lights. You can’t miss it. Click on Applications and choose Add/Remove. It’s that simple. Yet somehow, in an attempt to “simplify” Linux, numerous manufacturers have managed to make it act like Linux from the 1990s. Yes, that’s right – you have to use the terminal to install an application on the Eee PC. What is this? Gentoo Netbook Remix?
Moving on to the second point, a five year old low-end computer can run better eyecandy than Vista on a modern PC and, from the looks of it, at least as much eyecandy as Windows 7 on a new computer. Once again, this seems to be a feature that fell victim to “simplification.” I am not even going to talk about features.
Anyone still making netbooks without the ability to easily install software and do ALL basic computing tasks without the terminal deserves a slap and a big FAIL banner.
If you own a netbook that came with Linux, I invite you to share the process for installing applications.