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Re: [News] Italian Carrier Offers GNU/Linux Laptops

Hadron wrote:
High Plains Thumper writes:
Roy Schestowitz wrote:

$98 Linux Laptop - The HiVision miniNote

,----[ Quote ]
HiVision CO., LTD makes one of the worlds cheapest Linux laptops at $98 using a new cheaper chipset, WiFi, 1GB flash storage, it runs Linux, 3 USB ports, Ethernet, SDHC card reader, audio in and out. Voice-chat, Skype, multi-tabbed Firefox browser support, Abiword for word processing.
`----

http://techvideoblog.com/ifa/98-linux-laptop-the-hivision-mininote/

This is truly good news and will help to popularise Linux even further than the ASUS EeePC and other efforts. At that price, I would not mind having something like that to use in motel rooms during my travels.

<SNIP>

As opposed to a 300 dollar one which you can install real SW on?

BTW, Skype?!?!?! Closed source. No Webcam support.

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/linux/advocacy/faq-and-primer/

[quote] 7.6 Trespasser Disinformation Tactics [...]

32. Promote Windows at every opportunity. Microsoft Windows needs a lot of help to be successful in the mind share of its targeted user base. Point out to everybody on COLA how wonderful it is. Ignore the meaning of the name of the newsgroup and its charter. [/quote]

Microsoft U-turn to stop Linux dominating ultra low cost PCs

,----[ Quote ]
By offering Windows XP Home Edition at bargain prices, Microsoft hopes to secure its place in the ULPC market and reduce the use of Linux, according to an official at one PC maker, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to discuss the programme.
`----

http://www.computerworlduk.com/technology/hardware/laptops/news/index.cfm?newsid=9006


This may be a tough do, as XP is a chunkier operating system lacking the sparkling performance of Linux with a lightweight GUI. Then too, one still needs a form of background anti-virus and personal firewall, which adds burden to the CPU.

If only it were true. Recent threads started by Richard Rasker showed
that XP netbooks are outselling Linux ones by a huge factor.

Newsgroups: alt.os.windows-xp, comp.os.linux.advocacy
From: Rex Ballard <rex.ball...@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 15:40:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Linux Return Rate 4X More Than Windows

[quote] "chrisv" [..] wrote:
Max Wachtel wrote:
We have done a lot of studies on the return rates and haven't
really talked about it much until now. Our internal research has
shown that the return of netbooks is higher than regular notebooks,
but the main cause of that is Linux. People would love to pay $299
or $399 but they don't know what they get until they open the box.
They start playing around with Linux and start realizing that it's
not what they are used to. They don't want to spend time to learn
it so they bring it back to the store. The return rate is at least
four times higher for Linux netbooks than Windows XP netbooks."

-Andy Tung  MSI's U.S.Sales Director

I believe "4X" sounds a bit low. I would think more than half are being returned.

Interesting, MSI isn't one of the major Netbook vendors, and doesn't
put their products on the retail sales floor.  Acer and Asus do put
their Linux netbooks on display at many strategic locations including
major retailers, airport stores, and "duty free" stores.  They are
also on display at several large retailers like Circuit City, so that
customers get a very clear understanding of exactly what they do and
don't get.  In many cases, the sales people even "undersell" the Linux
systems, warning the customer that although it does come with Open
Office, it's not exactly the same as Microsoft Office.  But they have
to be equally clear about the stripped down version of office included
with the XP version, even though the customer has to pay as much as
50% more for the hardware/software configuration required for the XP
solution.

ASUS and ACER are both reporting that sales rates on their Linux
versions are 60% Linux and 40% Windows, and the trend seems to be
moving more and more toward Linux.  Part of the reason for this is
that the netbooks are typically purchased as "second computers" that
can be taken on the road and used in situations that aren't as
practical for traditional laptops.  If you have a laptop with a 17
inch screen you probably won't be able to type on it if you are in a
coach seat on an airplane.  But if you have the tiny little Linux
netbook, that can run using only flash storage, you can run the little
baby PC for about 3 hours on the main battery, or use an external
"booster" battery that can keep you running through transcontinental
or transatlantic flights. [/quote]

--
HPT
Quando omni flunkus moritati
(If all else fails, play dead)
- "Red" Green

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