Netbooks and Nettops: Open-Source Plausible?

By: By Scott Scherer, Research Analyst, In-Stat
(Top News, 22 Jun 2009)

Over the past few months, there has been a firestorm of discussion on the feasibility of netbooks, the minimum hardware required to maintain productivity, and probability of consumer acceptance. Yet again, the netbook is challenging the status quo, except the discussion has shifted to its operating system (OS), which is no surprise.

Microsoft’s recent announcement of the heavily restricted Windows 7 Starter for netbooks has created serious anxiety in the marketplace, affecting both consumers and OEMs. All the while, both Intel’s Moblin and Google’s Android are generating a stir of enthusiasm for Linux-based OSs in the marketplace.

The netbook and nettop are inherently perfect platforms for Linux-based OSs. Linux navigates with ease through everyday computing tasks on today’s most minimal hardware configurations and is as free from viruses as Apple’s OSX. However, while the industry has learned consumers want full functionality from their netbooks which Microsoft’s Windows 7 Starter may not provide, it is still unclear how to leverage a new OS. Yet, if Android or other open-source OSs are key to energizing consumers about netbook and nettop platforms, efforts to minimize the challenges of introducing a new OS are needed.

This might be done with a small change to computing philosophy, as the computing industry could abandon the long-held notion that a computer should be configured with only a single OS. Just the same, it should be understood that satisfied users of open-source OSs such as Linux, don’t use it exclusively. They identify the strengths on the different platforms and leverage them accordingly. This lessens the shock of having to learn a new OS, as the user can sidestep challenges and incompatibilities. At the same time, uptime is maximized, as one OS serves as a backup if the other fails and users can still leverage free access to open-source software repositories and community support, increasing productivity and satisfaction. Consequently, by configuring netbooks with additional hard drive space, preloading them with Windows 7 Starter alongside an open-source OS, and enabling the ability to natively dual-boot with a seamless utility like Apple’s Boot Camp; OEMs can evade some of the challenges of leveraging an open-source OS.
In summary, netbooks and nettops can be successful product categories, but OEMs are going to have to take the right steps in-between. The key to leveraging innovations like Android and Moblin may be providing the ability to dual-boot until a more complete and robust solution is available. Providing consumers with choice, personalization, and a full-featured OS could go a long way if leveraged together with Windows 7 Starter. Either way, a world with multiple OSs is emerging, but it will require more creativity from OEMs if consumers are to benefit.