HP may ditch Windows from netbooks
HP has confirmed it is looking into the idea of using Google’s Android system for its products, likely in netbooks. Such a move would be a major blow to Microsoft, particularly given its claims that Windows 7 works fine on such machines.
Android was primarily designed for cellphones, but with the idea that it might be extended to other mobile devices such as navigation systems. Netbooks would likely be the most powerful machines to run the system.
At this stage HP isn’t giving much indication of its thoughts on Android, saying simply that it wants to “understand all of the OS choices in the marketplace that might be used by our competitors, or that might possibly be of value to our customers too.” HP hasn’t specifically referred to netbooks, though that’s clearly the most logical use of Android among its range.
The news follows reports last September that HP was considering creating a Linux-based system which would be exclusive to HP machines. At the time the idea was for low-priced notebook machines, so non-Windows netbooks are a logical progression.
HP has already produced notebooks which run Windows as the main system but also have Linux available. This is used to make it possible to carry out tasks such as watching movies or browsing through photos without having to wait for Windows to load up.
Beyond the potential for improved performance at particular tasks, the big advantage of a system such as Android in netbooks is the price. With low-cost computers such as a netbook, Windows makes up a much higher proportion of the price. Using Android would allow manufacturers to make drastic price cuts – or more likely, make decent price cuts while keeping more profits. One HP netbook already available with Linux as its main system is $70 cheaper than its nearest Windows equivalent.
Related Posts:
April 3rd, 2009
Exactly. Its all about money. HP obviously sees opportunity in selling netbooks at that much lower a price point. I suspect though this is more a negotiating ploy than any real threat.
April 3rd, 2009
@DavidB,
“I suspect though this is more a negotiating ploy than any real threat.”
It may well be that this is a ploy to wring further price concessions from Microsoft (who are apparently already on the rack in this regard). The problem for Microsoft is that they are stuck between a rock and a hard place: if they cave in and offer further discounts to OEMs, they set a precedent for so doing (and look weak into the bargain); if they resist the pressure they lose further market share to Linux (and look pig-headed and foolish into the bargain).
So it seems that the software czars of Redmond are caught on the horns of a very nasty dilemma. I hope they don’t squirm too much, because that would be bound to exacerbate matters…
April 3rd, 2009
Regardless if this is a negotiating ploy or not. Google will still go forward with their Android system with some major manufacturer irregardless of Microsoft.
We often hear how Linux has less than a 1 % market share. No, Linux isn’t yet a threat to MSFT on the desktop side. On the Server side it is a different story.
But Google with it’s brand name recognition could very likely be the one to ultimately cause problems for MSFT with the release of its own operating system. Google with do its own thing no matter who attempts to stand in its way.
Whatever the case,…competition is good. Right now MSFT’s biggest competition is it’s own operating system …”XP” and the netbooks.
For each discounted XP OS sold to the OEM’s for the netbooks, MSFT lost a opportunity to sell a Vista license for a higher price to the OEM’s.
(Not that anyone wants Vista, people still prefer XP)
In some ways the return of XP via the netbooks might actually have stimulated sales of the netbooks themselves.