HP UK pulls Linux from all new netbooks

The Register ^ | 6th February 2009 12:17 GMT | James Sherwood

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

HP has decided UK consumers don't want Linux-based netbooks. Actually, it appears to believe business buyers don't want the open-source OS either.

It emerged today that the company will not now be bringing its Mini 1000 netbook to the UK - at least not with Linux on board.

Nor will it release the more business-oriented Mini 2140 with Linux.

HP's Mini 1000: no Linux option in the UK

HP already offers the Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition, along with the Compaq 700, which is the Mini 1000 rebadged with the alternative brandname. The various versions of the 700 and the Vivienne Tam 1000 all come with Windows XP pre-loaded.

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Big deal. All HP is doing here is, instead of pre-installing Linux, it’s forcing customers to download Linux for free and install it themselves.

[PAR35]

At least they are using XP instead of trying to sell them with ‘Vista Basic’.

[Brilliant]

For the most part, they are right.

[Texas Fossil]

Absolutely right, I have been using Linux for 10 years. Installed it on every Linux box I have owned. My first install was an UMSDOS Slackware derivative then Redhat 5.0

I use windows on the computer my company furnishes, but that is all. There are 2 apps I don’t have a replacement for in Linux. Quark and a CAD program, so I cannot completely quit windows, Yet.

BIG DEAL!

[dayglored]

Business is tough all around; even though I like using Linux, and would like to see if offered as a purchase option for installation on any computer, this decision is probably a purely business decision on HP's part, not a strike against the OS per se.

Not that Microsoft isn't celebrating any small victory that comes their way these days.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[dayglored]

> At least they are using XP instead of trying to sell them with ‘Vista Basic’.

Anything labeled "Vista" is death these days.

You know who I feel sorry for? The software vendor named "Vista" who existed for years and saw their product-line name taken away by Microsoft when MS-Vista came out. Microsoft took it, and sh*t all over it, and now is throwing it on the trash-heap of software history.

The original name Vista is now worthless. That's a drag.

[Incorrigible]

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[Golden Eagle]

What?

This CAN’T be correct.

The Linux hounds have been insisting the netbooks were finally where they were finally going to pierce the market, weren’t all of the original models only loaded with Linux?

Yet another “year of the Linux” fails again I guess. Unless you’re in China, where they FORCE you to use it.

http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Its-Linux-—or-Else-—in-Parts-of-China-65362.html

[Golden Eagle]

Your sarcasm is dripping all the way down to my post.

[Incorrigible]

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[PAR35]

Anything labeled "Vista" is death these days.

It's probably fine for a top of the line machine. Running it on a new, bottom end laptop is a different story. I'd be better off with Win98SE, but the manufacturer (Acer) won't even provide an upgrade to XP, much less 9x. Thus, you are reading this courtesy of Linux on a CD.

[Big Giant Head]

The Linux hounds have been insisting the netbooks were finally where they were finally going to pierce the market, weren’t all of the original models only loaded with Linux?

Uh, no. Truth is, the Linux loaded machines typically come with a crappy sized hard drive, while the Windows loaded ones come with a big nice HD. Ya gotta buy the Windows model to get the better hardware. So one must pay the Windows tax, THEN download their linux of choice. Or get stuck with the crappy hard drive.

[Incorrigible]

LOL! It’s been a long, long while since I’ve tweeked the slash/dotters!

I couldn’t help myself.

I’ve been nice to rdb3 for quite a few bumps the past few months. I needed to get an elbow in!

[comps4spice]

The last thing I would want to run on an under powered netbook is Windows of any flavor. The antivirus software would slow the machine to an utter crawl-—just like many Win XP and Vista on more powerful machines.

[LifeComesFirst]

MicroSoft “persuaded” them to make the MS-preferred choice.

These Linux notebooks were on the verge of causing a sea change in OS use, as myself and many experts feel, and MS needed to stomp it out before it happened.

[Golden Eagle]

Uh, no. Truth is, the Linux loaded machines typically come with a crappy sized hard drive, while the Windows loaded ones come with a big nice HD.

That's now, not originally. Initially, they all came with Linux. Here's an example:

First Atom-based notebook runs Linux

Now, based on articles like the parent Linux is being reduced from even being an option. Which is great as far as I'm concerned, as "utopian software welfare for the world" isn't something I'm interested in from a political standpoint.