Blogs

Posted by unregistered user at 1/8/08 7:02 a.m.

Uh, just wondering why anyone would want to see it running XP? Isn't the whole point of the Eee PC to be a light weight, low cost alternative to the bloat that is windows? It's already running the only OS it needs to run.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/8/08 7:17 a.m.

Like it or not, windows is what the majority of the world uses. People in third world countries who have computers probably have windows. a low cost computer running an environment they are familiar with is a great option. besides, i like windows. if i were to buy the eeepc (which i'm not cos frankly, the thing is too...light) i would rather it had xp than some other linux distro.

Posted by number.61 at 1/8/08 9:04 a.m.

Are you really shocked that the Eee PC isn't running XP at CES. Did you post a blog saying that Microsoft didn't even know if they could make it happen?

There's a place for Windows, and that's on a fully spec desktop or laptop. When it comes to the OLPC or these Eee PC type devices its not realistic.

People in third world countries are not the majority of users that run Windows. Most of them have never seen a PC before. So how would they be running an environment they are familiar with? Linux is free, lowering the total cost of the machine for these developing countries. Windows XP is not, so unless Microsoft is willing to take a big cut from their profit and match free, it's never really going to be ideal of this kind of movement. Buying consumers is a different beast, by all means throw XP, Linux, Unix, whatever on it. It will still cost almost 1000 bucks.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/8/08 9:20 a.m.

The idea of Eee is S-C-E: Small-Cheap-Easy. Is Windows any of those things?

If Asus abandons this concept, there are plenty of others ready to take their place. Some already offer a 7-inch notebook for $150. One is Eway of China. Their offering is admittedly rudimentary, but they will improve. Soon you will see notebooks of many, many unknown brands selling for less than $100 in places like Big Lots, Walgreen's, and other discounters.

This is the future, whether Asus abandons it or not.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/8/08 9:29 a.m.

XP on the EEE is a red herring. If you want Windows, then buy and install Windows. Asus isn't stopping you. Of the dozens of people I know who have bought this little laptop, only 1 of them put Windows on it because he wanted to run Quicken, everyone else is perfectly happy with the version of Linux that came with it. The people who say it needs to come with XP to be "useful" are typically the ones who have never actually used it.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/8/08 9:45 a.m.

Nothing is free.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/8/08 11:54 p.m.

I know this is a Redmond blog but why would you want to put Windows on the EEE?

Because someone else has stepped into what you consider your domain?

That is called envy.

Each OS (Im a Mac user, Win/Mac at work and my parents dual boot Linux and XP) has its use.
The flexibility of Linux (my brother runs a stripped down version with a lighter graphical interface than my parents version which has all the nifty graphics eyecandy, on his old P2-400) makes it ideal for a low memory/small HD machine like the EEE.

I cant wait to see the 2nd-3rd gen versions of this little machine, as well as what competitors will do and how the prices will drop.
Commodity computers is where its at.
The EEE is already the same price as the iPhone, soon
a laptop will cost less than an iPod :-)

How can you not be excited if you like technology?

Of course, zealots detest anything different or that threathens the status quo.
Like I said: envy is an ugly thing.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/9/08 7:57 a.m.

I agree with those who believe the Eee PC doesn't need to run XP. It's target market segment is those people who want a cheap UMPC with enough functionality to do mundane tasks like web-surfing, video conferencing, email, word processing and the like. Its simplified linux OS is perfectly suited for this. You wouldn't even consider encoding HD video or playing intensive 3D games on such a machine so you don't really need XP. What is really neat about the Eee PC is that it combines basic functionality with easy portability at an attractive price. I can't wait for the 8.9 inch (1024x600) screen model to go on sale so I can replace my bulky aging Pentium M laptop running Ubuntu. I just wish they would replace Xandros Linux with Ubuntu or MyPClinuxOS.

Posted by Steve Ballmer at 1/9/08 12:53 p.m.

This thing needs to be running Vista Home Basic Ultra-lite! That's the only way it'll sell! Who in their right minds wants Linux whatever?

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

Posted by unregistered user at 1/10/08 12:07 p.m.

The greatest competitor to this products existance not be Microsoft that softwears cost is more than this computers hardware. Inventions aint ugly, aquisitions are & why there are early retirements. The bubble burst with skys falling powdery white snow. Lucky it's only that & not magmatic lava ash.

Posted by unregistered user at 1/27/08 12:03 p.m.

MS doesn't expect or try to run Windows Vista or XP on a PocketPC/PDA so they clearly acknowledge that OS should vary with hardware. So, ASUS is just saying that Linux is the best match for the eee hardware platform.

The Linux distro has issues but Vista, XP, Windows Mobile and OS X do too. Seems to me that the combo of Linux & eee is pretty relevant.