Most Netbooks Are Purchased By Masochists Who Want Punishment

So, when I buy my Dell netbook, I should go ahead and let my friend install the Mac OS on it?

Good point, the price however is also a factor as well as a huge amount of software (notably video games) dedicated to windows.

Totally agree and I’ve been tweeting (@helpmerick) and ranting all week about this. Plus, when many of these netbook users get their machines, they want to load software. Which of course they can’t do without an external CD or DVD drive. Netbooks and Linux are a match made in computer heaven and the wise net book owners strip Windows and install the distro of their choice.

This is crap; Ubuntu is absolutely terrible in actual usage (3 year vereran here). Windows is a MUCH better product, and people know it!

I’m not exactly sure what this has to do with masochism

gnimsh: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masochism

2 : pleasure in being abused or dominated : a taste for suffering.

Crap? Must be mighty fine crap that I power my office with, a number of small businesses, the list goes on…

Sorry, your opinion might be that Windows is better - but calling it crap is simply stupid considering the fact that I can download for free, provides a full OS with everything I need to conduct my day…again for free.

Microsoft cannot even begin to approach this. Hell, they cannot even give us their damned office suite for free…Now I consider that to be crap. ;)

Is this a rant on netbooks or operating systems? Make up yer mind…

“Microsoft cannot even begin to approach this. Hell, they cannot even give us their damned office suite for free…Now I consider that to be crap.”
Oh man, I hate this juvenile statement that often spews from self-righteous free-aholics. Come join the real world, where real businesses use real software created by dedicated full time programers who are paid real money by a company that is responsible for a heck of a lot of jobs - both directly and indriectly.

If you want to rely on apps that are written by kids, or grown adults still living at home with their mommy (because they can’t afford a house or a family of their own), then have at it.

It’s funny, because I just wrote an article comparing Mac, Linux, and WIndows in a completely unbiased light.

You guys might wanna check it out and let me know if I missed any “non fanboy” points.

check it at http://www.davidgranado.com/2009/03/windows-mac-os-x-and-linux-a-difference-in-paradigms/

Btw, in ref to the previous comments, I’ll say that in my humble opinion, proprietary software is better suited to average computer users and large companies that happen to have a tech dept and open source is better suited to independent developers and purely IT companies.

Mark - I never said I expected Microsoft to provide a free OS, I said that I expect them to bundle their office suite along with their existing OS. It’s this insane concept called “value” for the dollars being spent, a concept long since lost in Redmond.

Speaking for myself, I bounce between one proprietary office suite that I paid for and use on my desktop and open office. Yes Hoss, I use proprietary software - many Linux users do.

Regarding my choosing the free OS over the one that is purchased, I do actually, financially support a number of FoSS projects, but you assumed that I expected all software to magically appear for free because I saw value in the free option. I also chose to purchase Ubuntu from Best Buy when it was first being offered. Not out of obligation, but because it is what I wanted to do. I opt to support those things that I use.

As for this stuff being designed by kids and people living in basements, I know a few project managers that might disagree with you. Chris DiBona, of Google for instance. Last I heard, he does quite well for himself. Others might include a number of open source consultants that blend the proprietary with the open source applications to provide the best options possible for their clients.

What is so funny is that most people have /no idea/ how the open source revenue model even works. See, goods and services are being sold, just not in the same way as you are used to. Hardware, is one good example. Support, being the other. If you took the time to get a clue before trolling here, you might have realized this.

But clearly, Linux has never been responsible for creating anything beneficial …except for much of the server market, giants like Google, LAMP, Mozilla, Novell, slot machine manufactures, a number of embedded devices that created jobs, the US freakin’ military, NSA, etc. You get the idea.

Regarding this Google free, Windows only server using, limited embedded technology world you live in…well, enjoy it there. Speaking for myself, I would rather use things that work without the need for security suites, malware removal, and worm hunts. But apparently I do not enjoy the real world enough to participate in that kind of fun. ;)

Feel free to continue trolling this post, however I will not be responding any further. I have better things to do.

Okay, one last comment as this was actually a good one.

David wrote:

Btw, in ref to the previous comments, I’ll say that in my humble opinion, proprietary software is better suited to average computer users and large companies that happen to have a tech dept and open source is better suited to independent developers and purely IT companies.

While I do not totally agree, this is a well thought out perspective. I am of the mind that managed, based on real world experience, Linux can fill a number of computing gaps that might otherwise fall victim to the needs of legacy software needs on the Windows platform.

But again, well said. :)

^^Typo above - meant NASA, not the NSA…although they might use Linux…but they would never likely admit this.

I’m writing this on an Ubuntu powered Dell mini 9.

This is the machine I always wanted…a portable Web typewriter for browsing and blogging.

At $200 its my favorite toy and constant companion.

At 2 lbs I carry it everywhere.

The Ubuntu UI was designed by Dell specifically for this machine…something that cannot be done with Windows.

It’s crisp, clear and so easy for anyone to use that the old saws about simple users and Linux go out the window.

For a new computer user, young or old, I’d give them a dell mini 9 with ubuntu before anything else.

Matt - Clearly you don’t like it when people disagree with you. Calling me a troll because of that is clearly showing your lack of maturity (which is also evident in other little lop-sided topics that you have written).

You went off on some weird tangent that was barely related to my point.

“I never said I expected Microsoft to provide a free OS, I said that I expect them to bundle their office suite along with their existing OS. It’s this insane concept called “value” for the dollars being spent, a concept long since lost in Redmond.”

First off … wrong. You said you expect office to be free.

Second … You seriously expect office to be bundled with Windows?! Dude. Seriously. Get a grip. That’s like saying Microsoft should fire its employees and try to find people to write office for free.

Third … You preach about the economic model of open source, but you don’t really say anything. Which is common among those who want to pretend a viable economic model exists. The model is weak to non-existent.

I have a clue, mister. I’ve likely been in the software development field since before you were born.

Mark: I am not going down the previous road as we both already made our cases. As for being a troll, yes, this is the behavior you presented here. I was attacking Microsoft’s statement, you in turn, attacked me on something unrelated regarding the OS…that I actually paid for, which sort of makes your statement all the more WTF in nature, really.

I could care less if someone disagrees, it is when you /attack me personally/ with childish names such as a “free-a-holic”, that you’ll find me becoming spiteful.

As for your narrow views, that is not my burden to carry. So you are welcome to them. Good luck with that man. ;)

Mark: As for the attack (seeing a trend here) on my age, I am 35, so it is doubtful you were doing anything with software that far back.

It’s been fun, really - ta, ta!

Simply stupid! Win XP is the much better OS. And “we” windows users do not lash out at linux. I used it but it was no match for my needs. No crusade - pure logic. Why is it that “malware-magnet” … cause it so successful and everybody who is not desperate to be a geek uses it!