The best Netbook Operating System

I am sorry, I was not aware that the right to insult other operating systems was reserved for those who love Linux.

There is quite a large difference between (for example) making fun of Windows for not being secure and saying an OS is not "a proper OS".

You are free to insult Linux all you want but if you are going to do so then at least do it in a constructive manner rather than just trolling. Otherwise the thread just devolves into yet another Linux vs. Windows thread and I am sure we have all had enough of those.

EDIT: Only noticed this after my post...SNAP!

Criticism is valid. However, like you say, it should be constructive. I don't think that saying Linux is not a proper operating system is a good way to get help.

If you want help - you will find that Linux people are very helpful, provided you:
(1) Post in the correct forum
(2) Ask nicely

Remember that most people who do help are volunteers who are happy to impart their wisdom to ignoramusses like myself, but who really don't like to have their operating system run down, nor are willing to waste time on people who are not willing to be specific in what they are looking for.

My 5c worth.

Personally, I have found that Ubuntu has loads of support, and I have always been able to find the solution online (or establish there is no solution to certain hardware problems).

The ubuntu forums tend to be particularly helpful.

+1 ubuntuforums is amazing it is full of experienced users climbing over one another for the opportunity to help you out.
 
Last edited:
If Linux really wants to take over, the people who knows Linux would have to become much more active in providing solutions.

Linux will never take over as the most used operating system on desktops, notebooks etc (it might have a bigger user base on netbooks [SIC]), it is a good OS, make no mistake, but it has its place, just like MS Windows does. I am uber keen to try a flavour of linux on my netbook, but too lazy to go to all the effort. I will however install win 7 to see how that performs vs XP.
 
Linux will never take over as the most used operating system on desktops, notebooks etc (it might have a bigger user base on netbooks [SIC]), it is a good OS, make no mistake, but it has its place, just like MS Windows does. I am uber keen to try a flavour of linux on my netbook, but too lazy to go to all the effort. I will however install win 7 to see how that performs vs XP.

From experience, I can tell you that the installation process of Linux on a PC (once it has been downloaded and put onto a flash disk) is about half an hour. The process of installing XP from an old disc can take me up two five hours, including time spent:
1. Installing drivers
2. Installing Office
3. Installing a decent Web browser
4. Getting the system up to date
5. Downloading and installing other necessary apps (like PDF reader etc...)

Admittedly my copy of XP is about 5 years old - newer versions may be quicker.

7 probably took me in the region of 1 hour to 1:30. (Only installed once on my desktop and wasn't really paying attention to how long it took).

Put simply, I find it much quicker and easier to install Ubuntu / UNR on a system than install Windows.

Lastly, you don't even need to install it, just put a copy on your flash disk and boot. That way you can try it out without installing and see whether you like it enough to go the full hog.
 
Thanks Tassidar
I wanted to say exactly that, but couldn't be bothered. I've typed enough in this thread. (Plus, I've also pointed out the run from USB thing already)
 
6. Buy anti virus package
7. Install anti virus
8. Remove viruses, key loggers etc.
9. Switch of anti virus as some of them blocks the Internet . . . .
10. Remove rubbish software installed with Windows.
 
Last edited:
6. Buy anti virus package
7. Install anti virus
8. Remove viruses, key loggers etc.
9. Switch of virus as some of them blocks the Internet . . . .
10. Remove rubbish software installed with Windows.
6a. Uninstall purchased anti virus package
6b. Install freeware antivirus package
6c. uninstall freeware virus package
6d. reinstall windows (return to 1)
 
actually, support for 3G modems is very good. Even the built in HSDPA modem on my "not made for Linux and so new it has no proper wifi drivers for Windows 7 yet" Lenovo Thinkpad works perfectly out of the box on Ubuntu.

Edit: Have you actually tried to use a 3G modem with Linux recently, or are you just guessing?

I have to agree ... not using a Netbook, but Ubuntu picks up my Dell's onboard 3G modem without a glitch, and it works like a charm when connected
 
Windows 7 is pretty good value for money. I am surprised it is not in the list.

Hmmm. I bought my Netbook for R2000. I bought a copy of Win 7 (Home Premium) for R1700. Now considering that Win 7 won't even run on my netbook, the cost of a Win 7 netbook immediately rises to over R4000.

Total price to run a Win 7 netbook: somewhere over R5000.
Total price for a UNR netbook: R2000

Personally, I don't think Win 7 represents good value for money at all. Each to their own opinion though :whistle:
 
Well if you have 1GB RAM then I don't see the problem. That specs is the Netbook you bought?
 
Well if you have 1GB RAM then I don't see the problem. That specs is the Netbook you bought?

I bought the Asus Aspire One with 512MB RAM and an 8GB SSD.

How does Win 7 run on one GB RAM? Considering my main PC with 8GBs RAM idles at pretty close to 20% Ram (around 1.6GB) usage with win 7, I would consider 2GB a minimum RAM requirement.
 
I bought the Asus Aspire One with 512MB RAM and an 8GB SSD.

How does Win 7 run on one GB RAM? Considering my main PC with 8GBs RAM idles at pretty close to 20% Ram usage with win 7, I would consider 2GB a minimum RAM requirement.

I really don't get it. What is it doing with all that RAM?

What does it do as an OS when it is idling that warrants all that memory consumption.

What did XP consume when idling and what does 7 do that XP didn't do while idling? There must be a lot going on behind the scenes there.

Well if you have 1GB RAM then I don't see the problem. That specs is the Netbook you bought?

Doesn't matter how much RAM you have. I have to say that IMHO at those prices win7 hardly seems like value for money on a netbook.
 
Last edited:
I really don't get it. What is it doing with all that RAM?

What does it do as an OS when it is idling that warrants all that memory consumption.

What did XP consume when idling and what does 7 do that XP didn't do while idling? There must be a lot going on behind the scenes there.



Doesn't matter how much RAM you have. I have to say that IMHO at those prices win7 hardly seems like value for money on a netbook.

I don't rightfully know. As a verification, I can say that my brother's PC with 4GB RAM uses much the same memory (around 40%) while idling.

Incidentally, while running Crunchbang before I installed UNR, my netbook was recording 100MB RAM usage while idling.
 
I bought the Asus Aspire One with 512MB RAM and an 8GB SSD.

How does Win 7 run on one GB RAM? Considering my main PC with 8GBs RAM idles at pretty close to 20% Ram (around 1.6GB) usage with win 7, I would consider 2GB a minimum RAM requirement.

Is that Windows 7 64bit?
Cos 32 bit Windows can only address 4GB of RAM, only actually uses 3, and doesn't really improve in performance much past 2GB.
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X