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29 May 2009
Microsoft and Asus have launched a marketing campaign to encourage netbook users to use Windows rather than Linux.
The campaign has kicked off with a web page entitled “It’s better with Windows” showing adverts for Windows and suggesting it is a better choice for use with Asus’ range of netbooks.
Asus confirmed to vnunet.com that the campaign was legitimate, saying: “As a hardware vendor we have to provide both operating systems for our consumers.”
However, some will see the initiative as an attempt by Microsoft to protect its share of the growing netbook market.
Microsoft is also facing an increasing challenge from a traditional ally. Intel’s Moblin operating system for netbooks is developed around Linux, and the company recently released its beta of the latest version.
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Do you agree?
Ew!
I used to buy lots of equipment from ASUS (through retailers). Not anymore! When I have to buy a computer with Windows, I delete it and install Linux. Looking for other hardware supliers...
Posted by: Ed Lutz 16 Jun 2009
Disappointing Colusion
M$ incapacitated a generation of American boys and girls with 'Pablum' software that distanced the computer user from how the computer really works. India has taken over where American boys and girls left off, and some Chinese systems that will astound us and confuse M$ are about to jump out of Asia soon! I will buy and Asus machine if the price is right and it can perform well with the free system from the net: Ubuntu! Only a very naive fool will pay extra for something from M$ that is freely available to all! After all, look what brand fidelity got the Pontiac aficionados!
Posted by: Uncle B 09 Jun 2009
Sorry, but Mac says Yes we can.
Well after 5 years of Microsoft and Acer, who incidently uploaded fake XP into all three of our laptops while we were in Bangkok, the replacement of 3 screens in a period of 15 months!!! We are now avid and very happy macPro users! Any collaboration Microsoft has should be verified. Acer has let them down and Asus need to produce something very special.. Its called after care and service!
Posted by: The Baldchemist 09 Jun 2009
haha
Ok ASUS, go ahead. Use in your EEE a dead system. Without support, without updates. Try to call the M$ support for help. It's a big mistake, but... I continue with my Linux distro. If i want, i have one fully updated. With security issues fixed and NO VIRUS! So... good luck for the "WINBOYS" PHD in ALSA? Tha't s fun...
Posted by: John 08 Jun 2009
What are you people talking about anyway?
I've never bought a new system in my life, much less a brand new motherboard. Yes...I build them from leftovers! Exit, Stage Left, giggling at mad programmers and Englishmen in the Internet sun. I refuse to go back to stuff worse than compiling BASIC on an HP 3000, which was still neat for the time and we had INTRANET to reach our professors. TRS-80 Model I, no DOS in 1979 was my first time. I was 13 so now the underage jokes will no doubt fly.
Posted by: floppy then floppier now 05 Jun 2009
Did Asus' marketeers went to school? It does not seem so...
As a customer, I would not trust Asus after seeing their commercial. Tell me: which company tells in a marketing campaign they sold broken products in the past? Even more, Asus does not offer affected customers something like a refund, a bugfix, or a free Windows XP license. Who guarantees me they are not selling me broken netbooks today? This commercial is a big mistake. Either Asus marketeers are plain stupid by ruining their brand reputation, or else Microsoft has offered a *huge* compensation for this act of self-maiming.
Posted by: Mickey Starr 03 Jun 2009
ASUS, I'm Disgusted!
My partner got an ASUS 686 Windows Mobile to use for GPS. It crashes more regularly than it runs. It doesn't work very well at all. It also sucks the life out of the battery. WM is really a very tastefully "sucky" & typical Windows software. My partner had a 9" ASUS EEE running XP. This computer was a lemon but no matter how many times we took it back ASUS wanted it mailed to them. They replaced the motherboard twice & it still didn't work properly. ASUS never replaced it but Myers gave us our money back - good riddance. She bought another M$ crap-item called Vista also on an ASUS but not a netbook. It really is a box of pox. It craps out regularly. I bought myself a 10.2" ASUS EEE running XP. As soon as wireless was running with a Linux flavour I dumped XP & all the updates to stop the malware coming through. 3G works fine too. I've even got my fave Windows graphic editors running on WINE. I hadn't used them for ages. Then I got two 7" ASUS EEEs for my daughters running Linux but updated their second-rate OS for Xubuntu which is great on all 3 computers. ASUS, you just used Linux to get ahead & then dumped it as quickly as you could. Turning to M$ the way you have, you disgust me & I will never buy another ASUS item again. ASUS, you have begun your own destruction. I will portray your company to be the scum-sucking bunch of leaches you really are to everyone I have the opportunity to do so. You have created an enemy & if you check the web for my name with various people & organisations, you will see what happens when I become an enemy. You are no better than the scummy company you have aligned yourself with. It kind of makes sense. M$ makes software they won't guarantee & you make hardware that won't run properly. Seems like the perfect fit.
Posted by: Rex Alfie Lee 02 Jun 2009
Finally Jack Nicholson
About time senses come back or the FULL TRUTH is out BUT as usual the Linux community cannot handle it ! Isn't that true Mr Jack Nicholoson? Linux IS NOT and OPERATING SYSTEM is hundreds of DIFFERENT distros that HOME USERS cannot handle because they are not technical. More than 4 years I have been trying them out and is always the same story, time after time..........every 6 months a new distro comes out and things that used to work before do not anymore. People does not know of assembly languague,etc,etc. Windows does have its moments but is one and only one not 350. Try to run video AVI or DVD on Suse.................try to put VLC media player..................Ubuntu, is different and I wish them luck since they deserve it BUT you cannot compare. I can write and write and people will hate me more...........because Linux people put the efforts in hating MS rather than using their incredible technical capacity to produce a one only TRUE OPERATING SYSTEM that is CONSISTENT and you can install programs at the touch of a button. I have 8 machines at home, WIN 2K3 Enterprise as a mail server with Kerio and a 5 years old one with Vista Ultimate. Tried latest Suse Novell (King Midas to the minus one........Novell everything they touch is sh..........)and still cannot get DVD's or AVI files to play. Well done ASUS, WELL DONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Richard 01 Jun 2009
Wowie kapowie!
Geez, you have a choice between an obsolete Microsoft operating system (which they won't license for netbooks having more than 1GB of memory) and a continually updated _software libre_ system with as much memory as the manufacturer can fit in. Sounds like a total no-brainer to me.
Posted by: Orlandus 01 Jun 2009
Suspicious article
I question the validity of this confirmation you have received. For starters who provided the quote? The name seems to be as absent as any copyrights or proof of ownership on the site in question.
Posted by: Carventine 01 Jun 2009
Strange response from Linux funs
Linux funs are very sentimental if you see how they respond to usual marketing action...
Posted by: Kanat 01 Jun 2009
Fake video
The video shows speeded up rendering of web pages. There NO WAY the pages render that fast in a netbook product with windows running. With Linux distros like Ubuntu 9.04, you can get close to that speed with opening of a second window in firefox. So it looks like the whole thing is a fraud to me.
Posted by: 7 31 May 2009
autolycus
nothing in the world that microsoft could do would convince me to change from linux. No longer will I pay for stodgy duff systems. where is this choice and freedom the americans trumpet so loudly??
Posted by: david walters 30 May 2009
U-turn by Asus
Hmm... I seem to remember that Asus started the whole 'netbook' thing with the original EeePC 701 - try running Windows 7 on that! (no point trying to run XP on it as mainstream support for this OS has officially ended).
Posted by: Ken Bundy 29 May 2009
Dumb and dumber...
I've learned my lessons from Microsoft.
Posted by: bbneo 29 May 2009
Microsoft FUD
Sorry, Microsoft. Nothing you've said has convinced me that I should convert from Linux. Loss of control over my computer isn't a "feature" worth paying for. There's nothing that Windows (of any flavour) offers me that I can't already get for free from Open Source.
Posted by: lordshipmayhem 29 May 2009
Bye bye Asus
I will never buy an Asus product again. Sell outs. Linux is a much better OS but it just keeps getting hammered into the ground by MS and Co. They all whores, Asus, Quickbooks you name it.
Posted by: Ben Dover 29 May 2009
Microsoft, "makes me laugh."
My first thought was ASUS doing Microsoft FUD? Second thought was then a little anger. Up until today I was quite enthusiastic for ASUS. Then I saw the Microsoft advert and I kept saying to myself, Linux does that, Linux does that, Linux does, uh Works. JOKE Linux does that better. I laughed. To the end and not mentioned, Virus. Linux does that better. What they don't mention is quite amusing. What is real funny about this is that by participating with Microsoft and essentially harming the Linux brand ASUS/Microsoft would seem to be increasing the chance of anti-monopoly suits against Microsoft and that is just hilarious. I just bought a 3G SIM reader and returned it for one from another manufacturer. Neither worked with either XP or Linux.
Posted by: carlleigh 29 May 2009
Bad
I rather like Windows, its the only non-free piece of software on my computer, but I can see how this is bad. At present, unless you're an OEM, you get ripped off by Microsoft's pro-piracy pricing structure. Just think what would happen if there was no competition.
Posted by: JH 29 May 2009
No more ASUS for me...
The ASUS guys sold their soul... OK Anything that have ASUS label are removed from my shopping list. Not even if they reverse their policy I will buy again from them. They are not to be trusted.
Posted by: reddish 29 May 2009
This is good!
Linux needs to learn how to compete on more than lower price and improved functionality. Public perception is also a part of the equation and Linux loses there.
Posted by: Mike 29 May 2009
More like Linsucks
I see a lot of comments from comments claiming Linux is better from the Microsoft haters. Until Linux Doesn't require a PHD in ALSA Mixer to get sound Has fonts (or applications for that matter) that don't look like crap Has an office application half as good as Office (OO.org is 2nd rate software) Doesn't break half the OS with a new patch every 6 months Just shut up about your hobby project operating system. Nobody likes it but total geeks who just want to recompile thier kernal all day. Get over it.
Posted by: Mcbeer 29 May 2009