Linux.com

4X does sound bad but it may be a small number if the number of XP machines returned is low. TFA does not quote figures. Trade secret, I guess. Maybe more demo machines would help.

The thing that bugs me about netbooks is that M$ has all the OEMs avoid price competition for M$ by selling the two OSs on different hardware. XP and GNU/Linux should be sold on the same hardware so we could see how much we pay for that other OS. Preventing price competition is illegal where I come from but the OEMs are not complaining so no one can do much about it. The Chinese may be different. They do not need or want M$'s business that much because so much of their product can sell into a local market.

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The way these manufacturers go about putting linux on the netbooks is just wrong. Firstly they use some obscure distribution (though Xandros is acceptable I guess...) and then they do not give their core audience (Windows users) the most obvious thing they need: direction.

They need to include a few quick videos showing off the cool linux features and guiding users though simple things such as "use Open Office instead of word, which can be found in X menu" and "To install programs or to browse programs you click X button. All these programs are FREE and safe!"
They should also tell users that there is software available such as Wine and Crossover.

They expect Windows users to relish figuring everything out themselves. That isn't going to happen.

And also FFS, STOP USING THESE NON MAINSTREAM DISTROS!

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I'm not sure if this is still true with netbooks, but it is with laptops and desktops: the additional "software" (read: garbage) that comes with them was paid for by the companies that make it as a form of advertising. So the apparent price of a laptop loaded down with this, at best worthless garbage, and at worst adware or spyware, is the Windows computer costs the end user less at the point of sale. Notice I saw at point of sale, because as soon as they get home and start having problems (either because of that software directly causing problems, or the antivirus software going out of trial period, or whatever) then they have to get someone to "fix" it for them. Maybe they pay someone, maybe they just nag a family member or friend, but the end result is that it costs someone time. And I for one, am sick of it being me! That cost needs to be factored into the cost of a new computer, and it never is. You can teach people to use GNU/Linux at least at a basic level fairly quickly, but it takes far more time to teach them what software they need and what software they don't need on a Windows box. And most still won't understand it afterwards.

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The reason why people went back for the windows versions is that microsoft muscled their way in and forced windows onto these net books at reduced prices just to keep people hooked.

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I dont know - I *think* as a geek I would want to pick up an copy of XP (before it disappears....) and then install a decent Linux distro..... (putting the xp into a VM most likely....)

Secondly, the MSI distro probably sux.... (not configured well....) of course I dont know - I just base this on a Fry's linux box I saw a while back.....

Thirdly, the box manufacturers DO get more money for shipping windows, so they push it more - only thing worse than a Computer manufacturer in the US is a banker or stock broker.....

Lastly, the XP versions apparently have better hardware? See my first comment....

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