wahlau's online hut

while reading the updates made by Sacha in Tapei regarding the latest ARM-based netbooks (with snapdragon chip), i suddenly start thinking the choice of OS on this platform. Since it is an arm-based system, most likely we will get linux variants running on it with perhaps customized specialized interfaces. For some prototype or first hand screenshot, take a look at the pictures taken by Sacha (German entry, but pictures and visual speak more than words :) ).

while the specs look juicy and attractive ( targetted < $250 USD, > 8 hours battery life, (comparitively) speedy processor and graphic capabilities, nice sony p like form factor, touch screen/convertibles and etc.), i think one of the stopper here might be the choice of OS available. Learning from the experience of the Eee PC and Acer netbooks, where more linux systems are returned as compared to window ones. i wonder if these ARM-based netbooks will face such "cruel" factors to limits its growth and popularity. While the systems will potentially offer almost everything you will need - Web browser, Office suite, instant messaging and VoIP capabilities, simple normal computing tasks and etc. - people will still have the tendency to reject these systems just because they don't run the normal Windows OS. I even read many times that people will buy the Eee PC 901 Linux version and wipe out the whole SSD to install windows on their own.

The funny thought i have is this - What makes the people complain and reject linux here? Is it because it looks different from the common interface? Is it because the system behave differently or worse than its Windows based machines? Does it make a difference when you don't have the choice at all? Look at all the smartphone world - besides Windows mobile you have quite a number of choices nowadays. People do not specifically choose only Windows Mobile based phones just because they are used to the Windows desktop. One may argue then, that the WM phones are not as mature as its desktop counterpart, that is why you still see most Symbian or iPhone smartphones being used. I seriously have no answer to this. On one hand, you will naturally choose something you are familiar with, so that answers why you have Windows as prefered OS, perhaps. on the other hand, you are forced to use another system, because it is not your desktop (so it does not matter?) and the phones with WM are not as good (or too expensive?) for you?

I personally think with the current growth of netbooks and current maturity of linux desktops, many have changed their views towards FOSS systems and desktops. But to really make an impact where everyone says I will choose a system not because it can run Windows, is something that the FOSS world should strive towards. This does not mean to copy every single elements of Windows (some did that by offering Windows-look-alike themes) only. Education and awareness should be spread to tell common users how agnostic the software should be like. Start a browser, you just start browsing without noticing the type of browser you are using. Pop in a CD or USB stick, and you get music started automatically with related contexts being displayed at a preferable corner. No more headaches on which music player for which format - they should just start playing as soon as i want them to be played.

Hmm, still many things to be done then. :)