Netbooks, Microsoft, a Turning Point « Brendan Scott’s Weblog

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Netbooks, Microsoft, a Turning Point

“ If we win one more such victory … we shall be utterly ruined.”

Pyrrhus of Epirus, quoted by Plutarch in Life of Pyrrhus .

About 18 months ago a silver (actually white) bullet known as the eeePC running Linux appeared. They were literally sold out immediately ( example story ) – despite the fact that they were pre-loaded with Linux , and well before the onset of austerity from the financial crisis. Within 2 or 3 months a version of the eeePC running Windows XP was announced, first shipping in early (perhaps Jan??) 2008. At about the six-eight month mark (give or take) people were happy to report the form factor being sold at 70-30% in favour of Linux (google it or see Brendan Leblanc’s claim of “under 10%” in the first half of 2008 ).

Since that time something has happened. The specifications for this class of portable device have been steadily increasing, closing the gap between them and standard laptops (so much so, that there may not be a “netbook” market anymore ). With that the price of these machines has also increased. Linux versions of the eeePC are either not available at all, or are only available on the lowest specification models. Microsoft now claims to have dominated the netbook market with Windows installations (see the Leblanc post referenced above).

Windows/Netbooks = Game Over?

Microsoft’s reaction to the success of the eeePC seems, on reflection, to have been well and professionally executed. Indeed, now that the specifications have been upscaled, Microsoft has announced an intention to increase the licensing fees for this form factor . That leaves open to question however, how the eeePC was able to be released sans Windows in the first place. It is difficult to believe that Microsoft ...

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http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/netbooks-microsoft-a-turning-point/

http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/netbooks-microsoft-a-turning-point/