Microsoft, the bloated multi-billion dollar software company, has ultimately controlled the personal computer market in one way or another for years. Now it is grudgingly losing its grip a bit, but not by much . . . yet.
Most recently, it was Microsoft that was mostly responsible for limiting the growth and development of the netbook computer market. They did that through threats to computer manufactures and sellers and by providing Windows XP very cheap for the netbooks so better Linux operating systems would not be developed and used.
After all, when the first netbook, the little Eee PC, came to market it used a very efficient and easy to use form of Linux and that obviously frightened the hell out of the management at Microsoft. The Eee PC was fast and “easy” to learn to use, unlike Windows. So, Microsoft soon went into protection mode by telling manufactures and sellers that they would sell them a subset of Windows XP Home Basic dirt cheap if they would keep their netbooks’ functions to a strict minimum.
That mostly worked, to the detriment of development on netbooks. Manufactures used Linux less and all but a very few Chinese netbook computers were offered with “lower” processing speeds and somewhat diminished graphics than today’s technology could provide for about the same price.
But, that was then and this is now. Things have been changing considerably these past few weeks.
For instance, Microsoft is ready to release the new Windows 7, which they say is much faster and more efficient than Vista or XP. It can also come with touch-screen availability. And . . . Microsoft will allow any version of Windows 7 to be run on netbook computers. Of course, Microsoft will also sell Windows 7 at full price (to most of us). That’s why they will allow it to be used on netbooks, after all.
This week, Intel announced what may very well be a very efficient quad-core processor for laptops (core i7) and a slightly lower power version for netbooks. Intel also has a new chipset for graphics that sounds great and we’ll assume that it is intended to work with the new quad-processor. Of course, these new Intel processors will be rather expensive for a while. But other chip manufactures are gearing up to offer lower priced multi-core processors and good graphics systems for netbook computers, too, so the consumer will win because of that competition.
There have also been a few reports that netbook manufactures have been ordering a lot of the newer style touch screens that are between 10 and 12 inches. That’s also very good news for consumers! Quantity orders, after all, also work to keep prices down.
This means, now that Microsoft again seems to feel it can make its bucks from almost every computer sold, they will “allow” the manufactures to develop netbooks to their fullest potential. And so it is happening -- quickly, too.
So, let’s put this all together for the netbook product that interests most of us:
By this time next year we should see the real netbook computer that I want on the market for well under $500 each, and there will be many brands (competition driving down price!) from which to choose.
The one I will buy will have an 11.6 to 12 inch touch-screen and a great keyboard. It will have a relatively fast duel or quad processor and at lest 2 GB of RAM, with a somewhat large hard drive. Of course, there will also be a few USB ports and a good memory card-reader. It will also sport a large, multi-touch mouse-pad and have very good Wi-Fi. Truthfully, I do not care what operating system it runs, as long as it quickly performs the dozen or so functions for which I normally use a computer.
Those who will have such a netbook computer ported to one of the cell-phone networks so they can connect anywhere might also run an iteration of Android on the side with a fancy GPS system and all the Google “street” and “earth” goodies. I sure would!
Sure, early on the new Microsoft operating system will certainly reign king on these new netbooks, keeping the prices too high for many buyers. But, sitting in the background, quietly waiting, are a few hundred developers for operating systems like Android, Moblin, Chrome, and various distributions of Linux, who also have a great deal to offer for the new netbooks. Unlike the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, these operating systems will mostly be free, which will cut the end-user price of the more powerful netbooks considerably.
As I wrote above: As long as it’s easy to use and does everything I want, why should I care what operating system my new netbook runs? The fact is, I don’t! And, many of the these other operating systems will be designed to be much easier to use than any version of Windows. Besides, the price is right. . . .
Hence, I see a very well appointed netbook – a fast and efficient netbook – in my future within the next few months. The cost will be less than almost any laptop available. The only downside is that it probably will not have a CD/DVD drive included, so I may have to purchase an inexpensive outboard at some point. And, chances are great that it will not be running Windows, which doesn’t break my heart at all. Because, I should mention here, like the Linux based Eee PC netbooks, the “free” open source operating systems also have lots of “free” software available for those who wish to download some. And that is over and above all the great stuff that already comes with the initial package when you buy the computer running one of these alternative operating systems
Will Microsoft lower prices to stay in competition? They will probably have to. But, don’t look for that to happen anytime soon. Meanwhile, watch how an open and competitive netbook market provides quality computers at reasonable prices. Then, a little later, notice how that exerts pressure on the laptop market. Those positive pricing and quality changes may only take a few months. Actually, it’s starting now; but few have noticed yet.
