Apricot Dumps Linux From Netbooks, Says OS's Too Complicated

[allix]

1980's Tech Darling Apricot dropped Linux out of its Picobook Pro Netbook in a bid to ensure "customers have a smooth installation of their operating system".

Speaking to Theregister, Apricot said that the Open Source alternative operating system was too complicated to use and that Windows XP (home edition, mind you) was the only other alternative out there.

The company is also slashing the cost of the XP version from £328 to £299, bringing in line with the rest of the competition. The Linux version, which proved to be unpopular with the system testers, was going to be sold for £279.

It might have something to do with the fact that Linux-based Netbooks are apparently four times more likely to be returned although Asus, the most popular Netbook seller, says that it did not notice any increased return rates for Linux.

The device which was released only last week comes with a VIA processor, 1GB RAM and a 60GB hard disk drive and is a clone of the Everex Cloudbook which was announced back in December 2007.

In comparison, Asus offers a more powerful Asus EEE PC 904 HD netbook for £269.99

http://www.itproportal.com/articles/200 ... mplicated/

[eddie]

The only way you could have a problem with linux is if you have ms tunnel vision or a learning disability. If I can do linux anybody can. I sense someone's palm getting greased.

[dann]

"Apricot has made this decision to ensure customers have a smooth installation of their operating system," the company told Register Hardware.

That statement makes no sense. Are they saying they expect their customers to install their own os onto the system?

Or are they saying they are having difficult installing the Linux? That's pretty sad if this is the problem; especially coming form a tech company.

From what it sounds like reading the other articles is that they are using SLED, which in my opinion is a mistake on the Netbooks. Actually any OS that is not tailored to the Netbook specifically seems like a mistake.

Perhaps there is a problem if you make the interface look to much like Windows that people will expect it to act just like Windows and run the same software.

Oh well, what ever. We still have many other netbooks out there running Linux.

[eddie]

you can install suse without a gui and always add the gui of your choice later. Maybe they have not discovered that yet. I know i usually install ubuntu and debian that way. I might try suse on one of my old laptops and see what gives.