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Linux facing first real desktop test
Jay Lyman, May 7, 2008 @ 6:27 pm ETWe’ve recently seen the popular EeePc in Windows XP form. There are even concerns that Linux in the EeePC ultra-portable computers — or indeed Linux in the larger subnotebook, mini-notebook or whatever you want to call this emerging category — is now likely to evaporate in the face of Windows versions.
Hold on. Let’s remember that notebooks are now the dominant form factor for PCs, and emerging markets and new form factors, such as the EeePC, Cloudbook and others offer a new playing field for Linux. This means Microsoft’s typical desktop hold on the market is not a handicap. In fact, it’s Microsoft that is coming into the game after Linux has somewhat established itself in the case of subnotebooks.
So is a Windows XP EeePC really cheaper than a Linux one? Well, yes, it is. It’s also slower (see the same link and notice the headline lacks to mention this stuff) than the Linux model and has nearly half the storage capacity (Windows=12GB, Linux=20GB). What’s more remarkable is that despite the dearth of Linux offerings just a couple of years ago, Linux is now the one to beat in a desktop market.
It’s not just the ultraportable notebook and associated chip manufacturers. Major players such as Intel are getting involved with efforts such as the chip giant’s Atom, which plays into Linux cost advantages. And even though Linux may not be offered on Wal-Mart store shelves, Linux continues to be a top seller online for the so-called ‘low-price leader.’
That’s why I beleive we’re seeing Linux face its first true, fair test on the desktop. It will be interesting to see how consumers respond, and how manufacturers and retailers position Linux and Windows now that they are willing and able to offer Linux at all.
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[…] Linux.com Admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThere are even concerns that Linux in the EeePC ultra-portable computers — or indeed Linux in the larger subnotebook, mini-notebook or whatever you want to call this emerging category — is now likely to evaporate in the face of Windows … […]
[…] Linux facing first real desktop test […]
One important consideration: Linux is now competing in a new market without a built-in 95% Windows dominance. Make no mistake, there will be substantial demand for XP on these machines and MS will compete well in this segment. BUT - even if Linux only succeeds in holding 30% to 40% market share in the mini-note category, that is a huge leap in market presence. Huge. It puts Linux on pretty much an even footing with MS and leaps past Apple to become a major player.
I would love to see Linux win, but when you consider that it’s the XP EEE’s that are for sale in the shops…
Still here’s hoping.
Thanks for the comment, Sarah,
Sure it doesn’t help Linux that XP is available in stores, but as I explain in a previous post, PC buying habits are changing and more online shopping is good for Linux because that’s where it’s available. Glad you’re still hoping …
JL
> Linux is now the one to beat in a desktop market.
Huh ? How did you come up with this ? Linux will never be able to beat Windows. Windows, however sucky it is, has already dominated the market. Though XP EEE has lower storage, ppl will still buy this and the Linux version won’t sell. I’m pretty sure of this. Too bad for Linux
Too bad for the Windows user, who gets a slower machine with less memory. Don’t worry about Linux. It will be OK.
JL
You think that XP will sell in these low powered machines? I might at the beginning, but just wait until those machines get bogged down with all of the virus checking and other overhead add-ons that you have to have in order to have a secure portable machine and things will start to shift favorably to linux. This shift will happen even faster when two users sit side by side and one observes “Yours seems so much faster than mine”. The other says, “Yeah, I got the Linux version”
The rest is history…
How old is XP exactly?
7-8 years old?
Why not put on Win 2000?
Notice says progress than running an 8 year old OS and its STILL too slow.
XP slower on those machines.. sure but on those integrated graphic chipsets you can, on Windows, offload work from main processor to decode video. So how can compete Linux when even the makers of that hardware discriminate Linux users.
And I think they won’t support it if they are not forced to do, so let’s look a legal way to not let play them the linux wave fanfare and do some work to respect linux customers like me, on the other hand, Linux (Xorg , I mean) definitively must Standard on a unique global way to interoperate to succes,
Everyone is missing the point. MS offering is limited. Linux is not. Now its only going to get worse. Linux has a very low price point. MS is being forced to come down and match. If I was a Microsoft share holder I would be really worried. Linux is not just going to disappear. It could purely block MS from being able to increase prices in the future.
Also MS has completely screwed up. Removing touch screen support not a wise move. What is next Linux low end table pc’s. Windows forced to lower that market too.
Thing Windows is not being sold as a upgrade. Its really being sold as the second rate machine. Linux runs faster given better hardware costs more. Company must think they can move Linux more than windows.
It gets worse Linux Users can buy the Windows machine and return the OS for a refund. Now what refund to we get. The one with or without the MS 10 dollar discount. Now why would a person be returning MS Windows. Simple MS home cannot connect to a business network. Next error of Microsoft thinking that these cheep machines don’t have a business use.
Final nail screen size limiting. So what are they going to do when adult size cheep machine are in the market.