Mobile devices Toolkit

Story: HP ditches Linux option for UK netbooks

Posted by: julian (Friday 6 February 2009, 9:40 AM)

This machine is not for the likes of us.

The comment to note is where it says "retailers have had more Linux-based netbooks returned to them by customers than their XP-based counterparts". The manufacturers see their market as people who want to switch on their computers and just use them. They see their customers as the sort of people who have no concern as to what OS it is running. They know Windows, they are comfortable with it. They know how to run Internet Explorer, end of problem.

An interesting comparison is with the car industry. The likes of Ford and Toyota want to sell cars to those who will get in, turn the key and drive away. OK they need to know how to turn the lights on, put it in reverse and fill it with fuel. They will not fiddle with the engine management system to try and get a few more break horse power (whatever that means!!) out the engine.

Those of us, and we are in the minority, who like to tinker, are not catered for by the likes of HP and Dell. They see Linux as a curiosity for the anoraks of the computer world. Not much profit there at all.

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