Android-x86 ICS on a Netbook

Compton_effect

Compton_effect

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I have a old Acer Aspire One - ZG5 model running Linpus Linux, 512 m ram, 8gb ssd.
Nice stable netbook, solid construction - but the OS is getting a bit old. I didn't want to box it, so I looked around at various options for it - Ubuntu, Puppy,Chrome.

This weekend I installed the newest Android-x86 Ice Cream Sandwich on it. Works great - the crappy little touchpad we avoided using is actually usable now. The browser does not work - yet. Seems theres a OpenGL bug I need to fix. But I am impressed with the performance of the netbook.

Anyone else been messing about with http://www.android-x86.org/ and the 1'st gen netbooks?
 
Android is not usable enough as a work platform just yet, as soon as there are some decent office suits then I'll consider throwing it on my netbook.
 
Google should have devolped Android as a laptop OS also...instead of going with this "Chrome OS" business. I really do not understand the thinking behind that. One OS...multiple devices and one App Store.
 
Agreed on the office suite. There are a few good viewers out there, but no real office suite. I like Android - but the OS fragmentation makes it too unstable for my tastes. Its like Samsung and its tablet range. You have the Galaxy range on the one side, then the Slate on the other.

But the netbook was always used as a email and web browser. The moment my wife needed a good office suite she switched back to her trusty Acer Laptop. I'm actually planning to give it to my daughter after loading Angry Birds etc. on it. That way I might get my Galaxy S3 back in the evenings.
 
Compton_effect said:
Agreed on the office suite. There are a few good viewers out there, but no real office suite.
Click to expand...

Google recently bought QuickOffice, so do not know what they planing to do with it in the future so keep a look out on that app, also LibreOffice is busy with an Android port so will be keen to see what they roll out.

Compton_effect said:
I like Android - but the OS fragmentation makes it too unstable for my tastes. Its like Samsung and its tablet range. You have the Galaxy range on the one side, then the Slate on the other.
Click to expand...

What exactly is your problem with fragmentation, please tell me as I have yet to find an issue with the way android deals with screen sizes, in fact since SDK level 14 I find it a pleasure vs other mobile OS's

Compton_effect said:
But the netbook was always used as a email and web browser. The moment my wife needed a good office suite she switched back to her trusty Acer Laptop. I'm actually planning to give it to my daughter after loading Angry Birds etc. on it. That way I might get my Galaxy S3 back in the evenings.
Click to expand...

Well for general editing I find the current Office suites very capable, only problem arise when try to use QuickOffice as a Excell replacement, it will never be one. As its ment for quick edits/updates and getting data on the move.

On Topic:
I use x86 version of android mostly for testing purpose in Virtualbox as its normally easier than the emulator supplied in the SDK, well that was pre SDK level 16. The current one seem to be a lot better than what it use to be.

Personally I would not run Android on a netbook, not because of the capabilities, more because the UI is designed for touchscreens. I'll keep to a UI that is designed with mouse input in mind. Then again, I have a Eee Pad transformer that replaced my netbook so that solved that problem.
 
Last edited:
Compton_effect said:
I have a old Acer Aspire One - ZG5 model running Linpus Linux, 512 m ram, 8gb ssd.
Nice stable netbook, solid construction - but the OS is getting a bit old. I didn't want to box it, so I looked around at various options for it - Ubuntu, Puppy,Chrome.

This weekend I installed the newest Android-x86 Ice Cream Sandwich on it. Works great - the crappy little touchpad we avoided using is actually usable now. The browser does not work - yet. Seems theres a OpenGL bug I need to fix. But I am impressed with the performance of the netbook.

Anyone else been messing about with http://www.android-x86.org/ and the 1'st gen netbooks?
Click to expand...

Hi there, I'm gonna give it a try for my ZG5, but I don't know which brand of the iso I should download, such as eeepc or HP. Could you please tell me about it?
 
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