You guys need to take everything for what it is. Micro$oft is trying to make money. Im sure if any of you built an OS with the intentions to sell millions of copies and make tons of money you would do the same thing. Linux being a free alternative OS although very power, it lacks in useability, point and click ease and user interface for the GENERAL PUBLIC users. If your here on Hackaday talking about putting linux on your netbook to upgrade ram and blah blah then you are more then like a NOT GENERAL PUBLIC user. Get over it and stop hating on MS. Take it for what it is, and if you choose not to use it then keep your mouth shut because you more then likely have to real idea on the who, what, where, when and why of microsofts actions and business decision. Give it a rest.

So, I’m confused by your statement: “These rules are why you can’t buy a netbook with more that 1GB of RAM.” makes no sense: Microsoft is not affecting hardware makers who do NOT use XP.

The statement about not being able to buy a netbook with more than 1 GB cannot be based on M$.

These systems aren’t meant to be power packed. However new intel architecture will provide for much slimmer full function notebook pc’s that can be as small as netbooks.

Bottom line is you get what you pay for. Cheap is cheap and less feature packed and not as powerful.

I recently laid hands on an Acer Aspire One. This is a pretty decent machine from what I can tell. Now I’ve been around computers all my life, I was writing basic on a Vic 20 when I was 6, so I’m by no means uninformed when it comes to computers.

The aspire one I now own comes with Winblows XP and 1gb ram. Here comes the technical bull:

N270 Atom Proc @ 1.6ghz
1gb ram
160gb HD
Intel internal video 8-256mb onboard

now, yes 1 gb is a little lacking, and windows wouldn’t be a first choice for a lot of people, but the netbook market was never really intended for the hardcore DIY techie who’s fingers are permanently solder-burned and speaks in Linux. This is a small affordable PC for people who need a little less bulk and a little more mobility, it’s a niche market and it works. If Microstunned decided they wanted to hinder their OS’s performance for the tech-savvy among us, sucks to be them, but in the market these systems were designed for not many folks are honestly going to be popping the backs off to upgrade stuff, and frankly for it’s intended purpose 1gb is more than adequate. I haven’t seen this thing slow down all that much, and i run software on it that chokes my desktop (which coincedentally has a numerically faster cpu, and the same amount of ram which doesn’t feed into video cards). Then there’s the N270 Atom Processor. Everything I’ve read says this is a single core proc, however the cpu usage monitor in the task mangler *yes the typo is intentional* splits into 2 sections as would a dual core system, getting into the device manager reveals drivers for an “ACPI Multiprocessor PC”, and checking system information in other software I find two logical CPU’s listed. Hmm. Dual-core performance in a netbook? Short point of fact is yes, and it works. Although it may not *be* a true dual-core (i haven’t had the time to go digging further, since my job and sleep preclude me from having a lot of free time to waste), it tasks just like one, and speedwise is pretty well on par or faster with my Single-core 2.8ghz desktop proc.

Yes Windows sucks, but at least it’s integrated well, the machine is more-or-less plug and play right out of the box(push power button, it does everything else till you enter your info in winblows setup)

Overall, this thing is a pretty slammin’ value for the money. Yes these little toys might be a little on the limited side, but then again not everyone needs the starship enterprise computer in their faux-leather bag. My little toy was $500cdn taxes in with a 3 year warranty, I spent that much on a MB, ram, and proc for my desktop a few years ago, and that was without a warranty because i built the system myself. In spite of a few minor flaws, which are only apparent to those of us who think in binary and eat circuit boards like corn flakes, these things really are pretty impressive…

Just my 2 cents….

The Renegade
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i have a samsung nc10 and would love to put 2gb ram in when i get the chance, not because i need to but just because im a young male and a product of consumerism here in the uk. say what u like, im not bothered.
and with a bit of driver modification u can play counter strike source on it =) which really should be the limit for a netbook.
oh and the webcam works under ubuntu on the nc10.

email me any questions cuz i dont hang-out on my old posts :P

I have an EeePC 900. It has Ubuntu on it. Runs like CRAP. even updated the ram, runs like crap.

the SDD is what slows it down mostly (i have had XP run quicker on a p3 700mhz laptop with 512 ram and a 20gb HDD). The default mPCI-E SDD in this thing is the biggest peice of shite i have had. But what did I expect for 300 bucks? So I will be purchasing a RunCore (wish Intel would release a mPCI-E SSD with thier controller) 16 or 32GB SSD when I have the money. It will likely drastically improve the performance.

Netbooks are a specialised thing. They are designed for net browsing and some light work.

To blame MS for it? Oh dear lord…there is such thing as rabidly anti-MS