Windows 7 looks to be improved in this area, being as it is lighter in weight and faster, even at this early stage. If you have pretty good IT skills you can build a tripple or quad booting netbook, running Windows 7, Ubuntu, or even OSX. OSX would arguably be a fantastic OS choice for netbooks, unfortunately Apple does not make a netbook.... or do they?
Some may say that the iPhone (in a way) is the ultimate netbook.
- It's battery lasts for ages. Considering how much I hammer mine 7-8 hours is not bad.
- I can run all my buisiness needs from it, with full licenced Microsoft exchange support.
- It is powerful enough to run desktop quality 3D apps such as google earth.
- It is location aware, which many apps take advantage of. How many netbooks have GPS?
- I can fit it in my pocket.
- I don't need any accessories with me if I am on the road. Unless I would like to project video from it, for presentations.
- I will be able to run Windows programs through a citrix client soon. http://www.macwindows.com/news_citrix_iphone.html
- I can remote control Windows, Linux and Mac machines from the phone.
- The web browsing experience is stunning!
2 comments:
Interesting comments about the iPhone. One thing that your blog and my Blackberry e mail skills demonstrate is that keyboard size and feel matters. It is still the input method of choice an old technology that has lasted and adapted. I try to be accurate but the keyboard on the Blackberry (Curve) is small and it is a challenge to use even with my small fingers. I am using the EEE (900 - Black - XP) to post this while the Macbook charges upstairs. The screen is a good size yet the keys are just a wee bit too small. I have looked at other Netbooks, ones with 10 in screens and one loses that semi-pocket ability that attracted me to the EEE in the first place.
Although not a Windows fan I think that the Sony Z series although expensive is a really good highly portable machine as are the Thinkpad X series. These are however machines that do it all and cost a great deal as well as being a challenge to carry because of the screens dimensions (same with the MacBook Air). My feeling is that Netbooks have a way to go yet before they hit a real sweet spot. Steve Jobs is on record as stating that Apple are watching how the market develops. I hope that Apple enter the market. I think that they would get it right pretty much first time.
PS with the EEE (and spare battery plus a tiny mouse) an A5 folder pen, pencil, Vodafone dongle and one or two personal items I have at last a shoulder bag that I can carry all day. Plus I get more than a continuous days work from the EEE. Incidentally Mobile Me is not good on Widows or wasn't before I removed it. Too many of my own machines syncing and the EEE creating all sorts of duplicates. At the moment I am using Google tools a lot and find that they run faster than Mobile Me. I am reticent about cloud computing though. See my earlier post.
I too was skeptical of the iPhone keyboard until I saw a good friend type at speed on it... He either had ninja skills or the iPhone was clever. It turns out my friend did not have ninja skills ;)
When Steve Jobs says 'you've got to trust the keyboard - and it just works' I can agree that he is mostly right. I can stab away very quickly getting several letters per word wrong, the real time auto correction is very good indeed, fixing the mess.
I believe a touch screen keyboard is more versatile and easier to type on with good software than a physical one.
The EEE is indeed a fine machine, although perhaps not for prolonged typing. I think you are right, in that many netbooks are growing in size, sometimes drastically, arguably they are no longer netbooks.
Dell's new inspiron mini 9, which has a 9" screen (there is a clue in the name) looks like an excellent netbook. It is cheap, quite powerful, as pocketable as a EEE but has one massive advantage for me....
The Dell has very good standard components that require very few (if any) drivers to install Linux and even OSX! Much like the MSI Wind, and the HP mini note. The HP requires no drivers when using ubuntu Linux!
On the subject of syncing to the cloud it is possible to sync calendars and mail from Google with desktop applications now that Google calendar uses CALDAV. A calendaring standard running on WEBDAV. This is supported by Vista Calendar, OSX iCal, and Linux Evolution Mail. At last there seems to be a standard that all are adopting.
For Windows xp, I believe Windows live calendar can sync with google canendar using CALDAV. It is a free download.
At last! Everyone on every OS is using more and more open standards so that we can all work together. It's about time!
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