Acer's Android Netbook is a Dualboot With Windows

By Jane McEntegart
published

Acer’s first Android netbook is is a dualboot machine.

Earlier on in the week Acer announced that it would be releasing a version of its Aspire One netbook running Google’s Android. Today Acer chairman JT Wang said that the first Android netbooks will ship with Windows in dual-boot configurations, which is a bit of a bummer for those of us hoping for a netbook running only Android.

That said, Linux hasn’t got a great track record when it comes to netbooks. Microsoft claims that over 96 percent of all netbooks sold are XP machines and just recently, PC World, the UK’s biggest computer retailer announced that it would no longer be offering Linux-based netbooks. "Despite initial hype that netbooks would move more users onto the Linux platform, Microsoft has emerged as the preferred operating system because Windows makes it easier to share content and provides customers with a simpler, more familiar computing experience on the move," said Jeremy Fennell, PC World's category director.

When the company announced the Android laptop in Taipei this week, the company assured attendees that they would continue to offer an XP version of the Aspire One.

Jane McEntegart
6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Kill@dor
    Dual boot isn't a bad thing...i mean for those who like running Linux this will be an opportunity for them to have fun with this i think. Besides, multi-boot pc's should be something of the future for the average consumer in respect to operating systems previously released.
    Reply
  • Maxor127
    If I were going to waste money on a netbook, I'd rather have Linux instead. Most people who buy them are probably people who have no clue about the difference between netbooks and notebooks and just buy whatever is cheap and have never heard of Linux.
    Reply
  • The Schnoz
    C'mon, they had to do this. With all the Linux Netbooks being returned they didn't have a choice, and thats pre-Windows 7.
    Reply
  • Niva
    Is Android really linux though?

    I totally disagree with some comments in the article:
    "Microsoft has emerged as the preferred operating system because Windows makes it easier to share content and provides customers with a simpler, more familiar computing experience on the move,"

    More familiar? True

    The rest of it, FALSE. Thanks!

    Reply
  • starryman
    Netbooks are a good deal simply because M$ is willing to sell XP for $15.
    Reply
  • anamaniac
    I like netbooks for basic use, and I'd likely use Kubuntu if I wasn't comfortable with Android.
    XP is outdated. Goodbye. I'm more than confortable with Linux.
    Reply