http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog/hangdog42-24833/ LinuxQuestions.org offers a free Linux forum where Linux newbies can ask questions and Linux experts can offer advice. Topics include security, installation, networking and much more. en Sun, 26 May 2013 07:19:08 GMT vBulletin 60 https://lqo-thequestionsnetw.netdna-ssl.com/questions/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog/hangdog42-24833/ http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog/hangdog42-24833/linux-on-netbooks-a-dropped-ball-1363/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:29:21 GMT My main laptop is a Dell Precision M6300, and while it is a fantastic computer, there is no getting around that it is a pain to lug around. The... My main laptop is a Dell Precision M6300, and while it is a fantastic computer, there is no getting around that it is a pain to lug around. The thing is just large and heavy. So to give myself a new option, I decided to take the plung into the netbook world and picked up a Dell Mini 9 running Ubuntu. From both a power and form factor, this thing is just right for taking notes at meetings and doing email and other light tasks. While I'm generally not an Ubuntu fan, I decided to give it a try for a couple of weeks to see how I liked it. From that experience, and from seeing some of the netbook threads here at LQ, I'm starting to think that while netbooks will be introducing a lot of people to Linux, that introduction might not be such a good one.

For the Mini, the version of Ubuntu installed is a Dell-customized version of Ubuntu 8.04. Using this version of Ubuntu does make sense, since Canonical has deemed it a long-term support version. However, in order to take advantage of the Atom processor, Dell Ubuntu has been compiled as a series of lpia packages (Low Power Intel Architecture). At first glance, this might not seem like such a bad idea, but the real problem is that it cuts the user off from the vast Ubuntu software repositories. What is worse, is that unless the user does some digging, there isn't a very visible reason for why they can't install software from the normal repositories. Since the Dell repositories don't have a full selection of software (Open Office 3 is missing for example) either the user installs the normal version of Ubuntu (not exactly what most users will do) or they live with a poor impression of what software is available in Linux and how easy it is to use.

On other netbooks, the vendors have created even more customized versions of Linux. Take Linpus for example. Please. The Linpus team has developed a new interface that bears little to no resemblance to anything else out there. Why? Just to be different I guess. However, again this means that Linpus users are likely going to feel isolated and cut off from more mainstream Linux distributions, even if they bother seeking help.

The upshot is that netbooks could be a successful introduction to Linux for many people, but the manufacturers are getting in the way. To be honest, Dell and Canonical should know better and could have set a new standard. However, to me it looks like they dropped the ball and hopefully the impact on Linux can be remedied. ]]> Hangdog42 http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/blog/hangdog42-24833/linux-on-netbooks-a-dropped-ball-1363/