Linux + Netbook = Where’s Windows?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m a Vista defender. Having said that, I don’t actually use it on any of my computers (so that’s not really worth a whole lot, is it?), but I have a point here: just because it’s Windows doesn’t mean it’s bad. But, that’s not necessarily the point of this. With the plethora of netbooks on the market, the options are pretty varied where operating systems are involved. At least, they are now.

Recent reports have come out that indicate that you may not see linux on a netbook in the future. That, of course, is likely overstating things, but  Canonical (the cats behind Ubuntu) have confirmed a higher-than-average return rate when a netbook comes loaded with Ubuntu Remix. MSI has also stated that their linux-loaded netbooks see a return rate of four times higher than the Windows-based netbook brethren. Four times. Holy crap.

Every netbook I have and had and will have will most likely have linux on it, but let’s face the facts: I’m not the average consumer. I’m also not a hardcore linux hacker, but I am pretty operating system agnostic. Sure, I say I love OS X (and I do, and would gladly use it on every system I have if it was possible/viable), but I could just as easily use Windows (and have for years — and still do) or linux, especially Ubuntu.

In fact, I’ve had no problems using linux on my Acer Aspire One netbook, and frankly, I find it a little disappointing that the return rates are so high, because I’m one of those people who keeps waiting for linux to pick up a little traction in the mainstream market, but this looks like more evidence that it’s going to be later rather than sooner that we see linux make an inlet into the mainstream market.

In the meantime, Microsoft has allowed XP to live longer yet, so we may continue to see XP on netbooks well into the next year. The more things change…

Laptop Mag has more on this story.