Report: MSI to Unveil Android Netbook in June

industrial_zmanIsn't Android Google's distro of Linux? Just like Mac OS X is Apple's BSD distro. So how is it really different than running your own Linux netbook other than running your cool exclusive Android applets? I've tweaked a few netbooks in the last few years with LFS and Gentoo to get the most performance from them. personally the direction I want to see from the netbooks is to completely get rid of the keyboard all together, make it a touchscreen with a LED backlight or OLED screen, basically turn them into an overgrown PDA that can run everyday apps. Give us 720P at least for streaming web videos, I know Epson has a 7" 1080P display; this can't be that hard. I want more than 2GB of RAM in my hand for multitasking. also get off of the atom platform, I have seen arm processors run circles around these chips, anyone play with Marvell's 1GHz arm?. but if you want to stay with the x86 arch for Windows, then support nVidia with ION for either Intel Atom or one of VIA's chips.

You answer your own question really. You've spent years tweaing the os to work like you want. With google or apple, people rely on someone who knows more than they do about making it work simple and painless. That's always what I'd go for if I didn't know what to do myself - though I'd obviously not pick apple.

neiroatopelccYou answer your own question really. You've spent years tweaing the os to work like you want. With google or apple, people rely on someone who knows more than they do about making it work simple and painless. That's always what I'd go for if I didn't know what to do myself - though I'd obviously not pick apple.
the point I was making is that in the article the last line:
Jane McEntegartThat would give us a chance to see how Android handles typical netbook hardware differently from Windows XP or Linux.
if Android is running a Linux kernel, then how can it be any different as in handling hardware? the differences can only be what runs on top of the kernel not the kernel itself which access the hardware. Yes I do know that Android can be recompiled on virtually any OS and have it run ontop, I've actually compiled and ran it on an HTC 8950 with a Windows Mobile 6.0 kernel underlying as well as an old Sharp Zarus SL-5500 with OpenBSD kernel. but every pure Android machine I've encounter, both in preproduction and post has had the Linux kernel.

industrial_zmanthe point I was making is that in the article the last line:if Android is running a Linux kernel, then how can it be any different as in handling hardware?It may have the Linux kernel, but it's built and executed differently (for example, no X.org for graphics) and operates on a different model from traditional Linux server or desktop OSes. You can't even run normal Linux applications on it, and it's not easy to port them over. Because it's so radically different than other Linux distros, it's "not really" a Linux distribution.

WheelsOfConfusionIt may have the Linux kernel, but it's built and executed differently (for example, no X.org for graphics) and operates on a different model from traditional Linux server or desktop OSes. You can't even run normal Linux applications on it, and it's not easy to port them over. Because it's so radically different than other Linux distros, it's "not really" a Linux distribution.hmmm lets see how hard it is to port and application. oh wait x11 was ported to the android platform already: http://hackaday.com/2009/02/22/x11-on-android/

Typically they do use a more stripped down kernel for Andriod a flavor of BusyBox Linux, just like in most home entertainment equipment and mobile devices around the world. The manufacture may harden the kernel to make it harder to have access to the command line or complete access as root. after you have obtained access to root, you may port any applications for that arch in and out at will. typical Linux geek would strip out the stock Linux kernel to add their own build so they are not limited by the manufacture's kernel.

And in your infinite wisdom and logic, WheelsOfConfusion, since Apple's Mac OS X is radically different from other BSD distros, that would make Mac OS X not really a BSD distro? come on, Linux is Linux and BSD is BSD anyway you slice it even if you take off the name Linux or BSD.

industrial_zmanhmmm lets see how hard it is to port and application. oh wait x11 was ported to the android platform already: http://hackaday.com/2009/02/22/x11-on-android/ That's cool. It doesn't change the fact that Android itself is significantly different in execution and business model from other Linux distros, regardless of how much you can hack it after-the-fact.

industrial_zmanAnd in your infinite wisdom and logic, WheelsOfConfusion...In my infinite wisdom and logic, I can often used context clues and inference to glean meanings that are not strictly literal, such as the use of "Linux" in the article to represent "typical Linux distributions" rather than "anything using the Linux kernel." I understand that this ethereal distinction can be a tad beyond mere mortals such as yourself, however, so I won't hold it against you. I'm gracious like that.