[NTLUG:Discuss] 7" LCD OEM UMPC EEEPC Mini Netbook - Opinions?

[Ralph Green]

On Mon, 2010-03-15 at 03:16 -0500, Bobby Sanders wrote:
> You may want to check out Ubuntu Netbook Remix at:
> 
> http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download-netbook
> 
> My reports are that the processors are slow to extend battery life.
> 
Howdy,
  The thread that Stuart Johnston posted about these netbooks currently
on eBay sure has been busy.  Did you notice that it had 51 pages of
forum entries.  I have not been patient enough to wade through all of
those yet.
  From the Ubuntu developers summit, I can tell you that Ubuntu is the
wrong distro for this machine.  Ubuntu is focusing on the newer ARM
processors and is not going to support anything older that the Cortex A8
and A9 starting with the next release.
 This machine should be capable of a basic Linux distro and if you want
to hack, you may be able to get it.  But, is it worth the trouble?  I
like Linux on these little machines.  Announcements from Freescale say
we should have more modern CPUs in netbooks this year for just over $100
and they will come with Linux out of the box.  When Mark Shuttleworth
stepped down as CEO, he said he wanted to spend time working with a
number of OEMs in getting Linux working on these small machines.  I saw
him ask the rep from Arm what he could do to help get Ubuntu working
well on the new class of coming machines.  I think there will be some
nice options starting to show up this year.
Good luck, and let me know if you decide to hack on one of these Win CE
machines. 
Bye,
Ralph