Android on a Netbook

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Elimentals

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Anyone tried running Android on a PC/netbook before?

With the recent Ubuntu release I started looking for something else to run and found http://www.android-x86.org/

and would like to know if anyone has installed it?

If yes what did you think of it especially for use in something like a netbook?
 
There's an Aspire One netbook that dual boots with Windows - just saw it in a PC store... Pity the battery was flat - would've like to boot it up! But think it's still stuck on pre-V2.1?
 
OK Color me impressed

I really think Google should have used this instead of ChromeOS, maybe refine the UI more for mouse input.

Installed the Generic-Android-2.2 verion on a Acer Aspire One 150 Everything but WiFi works out of the box including the built in 3G card and Ethernet.
FX is not accelerated so lag a bit in the games but for normal internet/applications it runs like a dream
Full Market access so I can install applications strait from the Android Market

Going to play around with the kernel to see if I can get WiFi and 3D acceleration working if so its staying on the Netbook.

Sent from my Asus Aspire One using MyBroadband Android App
 
Well nothing stops you from installing and playing around with the Android Emulator on your PC [inside windows] first. Problem with Android is, it's a touch-screen based OS, so the keyboard+mouse might not be ideal.

Source Site: http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/emulator.html
Video explaining how to get it up and running : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt55e718WYo

The Android SDK includes a mobile device emulator — a virtual mobile device that runs on your computer. The emulator lets you develop and test Android applications without using a physical device.

When the emulator is running, you can interact with the emulated mobile device just as you would an actual mobile device, except that you use your mouse pointer to "touch" the touchscreen and can use some keyboard keys to invoke certain keys on the device.
Click to expand...

Part in bold is where you might run into issues attempting to run Android "natively" on a PC/Notebook that doesn't have the applicable buttons/touch screen.


Virtualbox / Virtual PC / VMWare is a good option too as was mentioned. I see the x86 android site have instructions to load Android on Virtualbox [which is a free product], so good idea to start there...
 
Last edited:
Forgot to mention the ISO is live so you can simply just boot with it as well
 
I tried Android X86 on a Live CD on my PC. It's power management screw of my PC's power supply.
After power down and on again, I could not get the PC to start. It switches on for 3 seconds and then switches off again.
Had to unplug to power from the wall to fix this problem.
 
diabolus said:
..... Part in bold is where you might run into issues attempting to run Android "natively" on a PC/Notebook that doesn't have the applicable buttons/touch screen.
Click to expand...

X86 Android Keys are

Windows Flag key = Home
Windows Menu Key = Menu (its the key between Alt Gr and Ctrl on the right of the spacebar if you have one)
ESC = back

Sent from my Asus Aspire One using MyBroadband Android App
 
Elimentals said:
OK Color me impressed

I really think Google should have used this instead of ChromeOS, maybe refine the UI more for mouse input.

Installed the Generic-Android-2.2 verion on a Acer Aspire One 150 Everything but WiFi works out of the box including the built in 3G card and Ethernet.
FX is not accelerated so lag a bit in the games but for normal internet/applications it runs like a dream
Full Market access so I can install applications strait from the Android Market

Going to play around with the kernel to see if I can get WiFi and 3D acceleration working if so its staying on the Netbook.

Sent from my Asus Aspire One using MyBroadband Android App
Click to expand...

They are two completely different operating systems aimed at completely different computing paradigms. ChromeOS focuses on the cloud and web apps, ChromeOSes power lies in the fact that it is very lightweight, requires a very high speed internet connection, whereas android is (for now the most part) a mobile operating system for smartphones with touch input. I may be wrong in the next few years (Google TV STB is also to run Honeycomb in the future)

Im sure there are adequate netbook linux OSes out there?
 
Just tried it in a VM and I have to say no thanks. It can trump a Linux install yet.

I do not think it was ever meant to be used as such, anyway, I'll stick to Linux for the time being.
 
This could be another bonus for android, even if you looking for a windows slate http://www.bluestacks.com/

Still in alpha but something to look out for.

BlueStacks runs Android OS and apps on Windows PCs with instant switch between Android and Windows - no reboot is required. End consumers can now enjoy their favorite Android apps on Windows PCs. Android apps can appear either as icons on the Windows desktop, or within a full-blown Android environment.

BlueStacks helps PC manufacturers to ride the Android momentum by enabling Android apps on x86-based tablets, netbooks, notebooks, convertibles and AiO Windows PCs. With the new hybrid convertible form factors, BlueStacks completely eliminates the need to carry two devices. The end consumer benefits from getting both Android and Windows at the price of a single PC.

BlueStacks integrates seamlessly with Citrix and Microsoft software delivery infrastructure and with Citrix’s Enterprise App Store. With BlueStacks, enterprise IT can deliver Android apps securely and effortlessly to any end point running Windows.

The seamless user experience, simultaneous use of Android and Windows apps, and multi-touch enablement are built on ground breaking virtualization technology which requires zero configuration and is transparent to the end consumer.
Click to expand...
 
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