Robert Pogson

I was very disappointed when ASUS sold out to M$ to remove Linux from the eeePC, but there is hope. An interview with ASUS revealed that ASUS will release a netbook with Meego and a netbook with Android/Linux in the next quarter.
“And what about alternative operating systems for laptops? Will Asus support MeeGo, Android and others?
We are actively working with Intel, and since April to June are planning to submit its first netbook MeeGo. The model will be on the Atom. Moreover, there will be another model on the Atom, but with Android. Today, thanks to Windows netbooks have become mini-laptops. And alternative OS narrowed focus functionality and devices to the Internet – that is, we again obtain the original idea of the netbook.”
See http://hi-tech.mail.ru/article/misc/ASUS_Jerry_Shen-int_cebit2011.html (Russian, English translation by Google)

That’s great news. Perhaps we will see these on retail shelves around here. Too bad ASUS didn’t use ARM. That would be even better.

Seth Weintraub makes minced meat of some of the bullet-points of Jobs introduction of the iPad 2. No doubt Apple makes a decent product, but why do they have to lie? Lying is a no-no in technological evangelism. Continue reading ‘Lies, Damned Lies and Steve Jobs’

Many people accept that GNU/Linux has a place on the server but not on personal computers. I don’t understand that. A recent article in The Register describes the average costs of a data-centre:
“servers account for 50 percent of the total cost of ownership of a typical Internet data center over three years, and power consumption is another 23 percent, there is a lot that Intel can do to make it less expensive to do server computing and therefore leave more money for companies to acquire more iron. Labor accounts for 13 per cent of TCO, says Waxman, with networking representing another 6 per cent, facilities 5 per cent, and other items 3 per cent.”
The last servers that I built from parts for a school cost about $1000. If I had put 2003 on it, the cost would have more than doubled, so the numbers above seem about right. My terminal servers are essentially a powerful desktop PC so these numbers should be similar for personal computers.

With a personal computer you are more likely to have some hand-holding to do so “help desk” would be a component but the costs of licensing that other OS are very large. That’s one of the main reasons to use GNU/Linux, because we have better things to do with our money than to send it to M$ in Redmond, WA, USA. That’s why I know GNU/Linux will sell well if retailers put it on the shelves. Cost does matter.