Comments on: 90% of netbooks sold use Windows XP say Acer & Toshiba

By: Antonio

Antonio — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:48:47 +0000

The real question to make to Acer and Toshiba is: Do you offer the same notebooks with Linux than with XP? Because here, in Spain, if you try to buy in any shop an Acer or Toshiba notebook, in less than 1% they CAN offer you Linux, so how real is this data???

I have been with Linux since 10 years, and I am working for the Spanish Goverment and in my job no one of us is using Windows, everyone use Linux and 2 o 3 people use Mac. And we are not able to buy notebooks or desktop with Linux.

So I can’t believe this data of 10% because I don’t think it would be a good data.

Well, sorry for my english, and Happy Crhistmas and New Year.

By: anon79

anon79 — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:32:31 +0000

Linux is more like 1% of desktop market.

Linux is a failure because people behind their development haven’t heard of even the most basic software engineering fundamentals. You have no reasonably stable software platform, no one is going to bother with you. You can’t develop a sane desktop OS when chaos is your methodology. Is it really a wonder?

I gave up on Linux going anywhere a long time ago.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:34:09 +0000

Since Linux is only 3.8% of desktops worldwide, this represents a treble penetrance. That’s pretty good!

Yeah, people are used to XP, which is a good OS (if you are lucky enough not to get a virus or trojan or rootkit). That’s why very few people switched to Vista and no one will switch to Windows 7.

But XP will stagnate and Linux continues to evolve. Most people see netbooks as disposable anyway, just like their cellphones.

10% Linux this time, 25% Linux next generation, then 90% Linux, as more people get used to it, figure out its free to upgrade, and is more secure.

By: Meganova

Meganova — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:03:56 +0000

10% penetration is indeed not bad considering prior to netbooks the only way you could get Linux computers was from specialist retailers.

The reason why Windows is still king is because of familiarity and the fact that, at least in the UK, no retail shop seems to allow you to see and play with a Linux flavour in action.
If customers could, you would see more people saving money and be impressed with common application compatability and on par usability. Linux is perfectly usable for simple netbook needs.

You first need more Linux users before more hardware and software manufactures actively design for it.

By: beltenebros

beltenebros — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 11:31:19 +0000

From Spain:

I cant buy the linux version, it doesnt exists on the shops. And if they have the model is more expensive.

Probably i will buy the windows version and install Linux.

By: TheHoldSteady

TheHoldSteady — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:23:44 +0000

Proving 90% of people enjoy viruses, exploits, and the Windows Tax. Ingrates.

By: Windsinger

Windsinger — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:52:33 +0000

Linux is useless for the mainstream, they are very disappointed that the “clone” apps are inferior to the real thing and the simple fact that none of the more useful mainstream apps don’t exist on it.
There also has yet to be a good UI environment for Linux, besides OSX. Too many details, too much of linux present, etc. etc. etc.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:38:14 +0000

10% penetration is not bad. On par with, or better than, Apple, for instance.