The incurable itch for scribbling affects many - Juvenal
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HP loads Android onto a netbook
FLOGGER OF EXPENSIVE PRINTER INK, HP has joined Acer by putting Google's Linux-based Android operating system on a netbook.
Branded as a Compaq device, HP's Airlife 100 netbook is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM processor that's found in a number of recently released smartphones including Google's Nexus One.
In fact the main differences between the two devices seem to be the screen size and the almost full-size keyboard on the HP unit.
The HP Airlife 100 has a 10.1-inch screen with a 16GB SSD bolstered by an SD card slot. This sort of back-to-basics netbook specification is livened up by integrated WiFi, 3G and GPS. It's the 3G connectivity that has led to HP partnering with Telefonica to provide wireless access.
Undoubtedly Android is an impressive smartphone OS, but it received a lukewarm response in its first outing as a netbook OS in Acer's D250 netbook. Complaints about it being too lightweight even as a netbook OS might carry some weight, but the upshot of such a nimble system is its impressive battery life. HP quotes 12 hours of active use for the Airlife 100 with up to 10 days battery life in standby.
Sadly HP has yet to incorporate the Android OS into its line of Ipaq devices. Its latest, announced on the eve of Mobile World Congress and named Glisten is, depressingly, shipping with Windows Mobile 6.5.
HP has confirmed that the Airlife will be coming to the UK through O2 fairly soon, although no firm date has been announced yet. Pricing has also not been announced, but we do expect this netbook will be available with competitive data tariffs. µ
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Visit www.lin-app.com for commercial linux games and Playdeb for open source games.
Many will run flawlessly on this netbook.
Everything Kooka put more fluently and cohesively.
Linux is not useless and it's not only for nerds. My initial point. The people that tend to think this usually use Windows from my experience. Most Apple users know that their OS is based on Unix.
Indeed, if more people used Linux, it would be targeted more. However, Linux doesn't have the same security flaws as Windows, so to assume that there would be as many viruses is wrong (due to the code transparency).
Nobody said Windows users are dumb. I said that they give the Internet problems. If I was a true Linux "fag" then I suppose I would rant about undoing all the hardwork Linux/Unix does as the backbone of the internet.
Next? Software. Sure, there aren't any real games for Linux but to say there is nothing to do is just wrong. GIMP and Open Office have been worth the switch alone (never mind GnomeDo, Deluge, Firefox, Pidgin, VLC, AVIDemux).
Another nice thing is the sheer brilliance of the Ubuntu spell checker that's built into web browsers. Allows me to spot any mistakes in my spelling. Handy for making my argument to be taken more seriously. Ones wishes they had one for grammar.
Back on topic about this laptop. Linux on a cheap laptop is a good idea as it keeps the cost down. Every laptop that has Windows on it has paid for an OEM license adding to the cost as with this particular model, that's a fair percentage of the unit's cost. Assuming you don't pirate of course.
Doesn't matter which OS is mentioned in an article, the fanboys come out and beat each other around the head over why "their" OS is better. Most people use their computer (especially netbooks) for web-browsing and email.
The computer has become an appliance and hence as long as the applications do what they want, most people are happy. This is why Windows has become the default - it is preloaded (due to MS licensing deals with the manufacturers) and does the above. The MS tax is part of the price of buying such a machine.
Now that Linux offers equivalent utility to MS Windows, there is good reason to avoid the MS tax. Hence some manufacturers are jumping on the Linux bandwagon. The fact that Linux runs more efficiently on low-spec hardware is a bonus and allows all sorts of machines to run a similar OS. Hence Android can run on a phone or on a netbook and provide a familiar interface and applications.
Apple has taken the other approach and created true appliance-like machines that are closed to end-users (hardware and software). You get an Apple approved box with Apple-approved applications and you had better like them or else.
Why worry about which OS as long as the machine does what you want at minimum cost and maximum reliability?
"I'm going to hazard a guess that Dan is a Windows user (or an uneducated Mac user, unlikely)"
See only the more sophisticated amongst us really know what makes a great OS.
You millions upon millions of Windows users are just dumb. Unlike the wise Apple user who spends 3 times as much
for inferior performance or the Linux user who is so secure while being able to do almost nothing...ah they are truly
brilliant. May we just bask in the glow of your shier brilliance ???
Dear god I am tired of you Linux fags telling us how secure your operating system that nobody uses is. Maleware and viruses are about getting to the most people as possible. Nobody is out to get the 6 people using Linux thats including wannabee above.
a netbook on a fuc*ing contract!
Leave it to apple to set a trend for releasing devices with chains attached.
Who needs full features on a netbook? Why do I need compiz fusion or xen or numa support? Oh yes I really need to have a povray job running in the background.
Who are you kidding you can't use any of those "full" features on any netbook. But they do basic stuff just great.
This machine is far more powerful than the SGI workstations that I did cool stuff on a decade ago.
I can't the point in bothering with a Smartphone OS (Android) on a Netbook when you can have a full featured Linux OS in Ubuntu, on your Netbook. At least it isn't another crippled Windows 7 Netbook.
I'm going to hazard a guess that Dan is a Windows user (or an uneducated Mac user, unlikely).
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Alternatives
Heaven forbid people actually try to learn to use another operating system and further their understanding and interest in IT.
Burn a Linux LiveCD and try it out for yourself (and enjoy not being attacked by viruses/USB sticks).
Really, that's not the answer, ubuntu is useless and who besides a Linux nerd wants to use it. Because there's nothing to use on it!
My first acer netbook had Linux on it but it was a stripped down version with no codecs on it , if fact they wanted you to pay for them. People who have never used Linux,Ubuntu being a very good example has so much more to offer. Most all software can be downloaded from on place. If you don't like a particular there are many others.There are at least 5 very good media player I can think of that are all good and have different features.
Oem's need to do a much better job with what I think is a much better OS than windows or OS X and its free.
And your worries about it having an underwhelming (and stalking) OS are resolved.
And for the res, it's probably 1024x600 like every other netbook with a 10.1 inch screen.
Much better than buying IPad if it got touchscreen. Also do not know if it got USB and will all google store apps work on it. HP offers good web download support so may be worth buying compared to whitebox netbooks available everywhere now.
I did google for specs but no joy. What is the resolution of the screen?
It looks like a nice machine. Battery life sounds wonderful.