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04 Jun 2008
Acer has stated that it will be pushing Linux aggressively on its laptops and netbooks.
The company is already heavily promoting Linux for its low cost ultra-portable netbook range out later this year, but senior staff have said that Acer will also push Linux on its laptops.
Acer has already started selling Linux in its Media PC business but this should now spread, according to Gianpiero Morbello, vice president of marketing and brand at Acer.
"We have shifted towards Linux because of Microsoft," he said. "Microsoft has a lot of power and it is going to be difficult, but we will be working hard to develop the Linux market."
Acer sees two killer apps with Linux on computers: operation and cost. Its flavour of Linux will boot in 15 seconds compared to minutes for Windows, and the open source operating system can extend battery life from five to seven hours.
At the same time, the company expects that the price differential of Linux will make the offering attractive for consumers at the low-cost end of the market.
"Microsoft's operating system typically costs around £50 per unit," said David Drummond, UK managing director at Acer. "On a £1,000 PC that is peanuts, but on a £200 computer it is a major issue."
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Do you agree?
Re:How do I get a job @ Acer?
try Acer's contact page (I think?) or the Linpus website (Acer is using this linux distro)
Posted by: Dominique 26 Jun 2008
nothing true about linux on acer notebooks
acer's statement put to test in the real world. question to acer tech support - subject: o2 micro chipset pcmcia/card reader install .deb package for ubuntu804 amd64 distro. question:: hello, with ms winxp end of life support in sight (june 30,08) ubuntu804 amd64 os was installed (eventual xp replacement). it works with no problems except the card reader and the fingerprint reader/authenticator- no cards can be read by the os. lspci command output (for clarity reasons shown for the card reader only) is as follows 0b:06.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ711SP1 Memory CardBus Controller (rev 01) 0b:06.2 SD Host controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MMC/SD Controller (rev 02) 0b:06.3 Mass storage controller: O2 Micro, Inc. Integrated MS/xD Controller (rev 01) 0b:06.4 FireWire (IEEE 1394): O2 Micro, Inc. Firewire (IEEE 1394) (rev 02) as could be seen above this notebook uses o2 micro chipset which apparently ? (no info could be found on o2 micro web page and no reply received to an e-mail specific request sent to their only line of communication -general inquiry) is/has a proprietary/closed set of drivers/support. however, this notebook is functional -card reader and all- with winxp (o2 micro made available to acer the info required). in line with the recent publicly declared full support for linux made by the highest acer reps for, mainly, costs reasons, kindly provide either a linux/ubuntu804 xxxx.deb package or a tarball file for user's compilation (under ubuntu804) that will enable and make useful/workable the o2 micro card reader. another device on this notebook is the fingerprint reader and the application; any help (driver and app similar with the one for o2 micro device would be also appreciated). ubuntu804 hardy is a very robust and solid os that installs and works v well on this notebook except these 2 proprietary ? devices. any help in this regard is appreciated. best regards, ............. and this reply from acer tech support tells all. quote 'Response (Ramos) 06/22/2008 11:26 PM Dear ........., Thank you for contacting Acer America. I apologize for the inconvenience that you have experienced. As for your concern about the Linux drivers, Acer America does not provide Linux drivers or support. I do not know of any plans to provide Linux drivers or support in the future. You can try checking with the vendors of the internal components to see if they offer Linux drivers. I'm sorry I am unable to assist with this issue. Respectfully, Acer America Online Technical Support so, conclusion, all this big announcement is nothing but a big .... you know what. the real world is totally different than acer's world. acer's statement is nothing but sheer propaganda to get more money and hook more users on their products. acer's statement does not have any credibility.
Posted by: peter b 23 Jun 2008
acer + linux
w00t
Posted by: myr 17 Jun 2008
Re: F * A * N * T * A * S * T * I * C !!!
Brother, Dell does "have the courage that Acer has". Actually, they got courageous *before* Acer did. Dell offers laptop / notebook PCs preloaded with Ubuntu. Do a web search for "Dell PCs Featuring Ubuntu" to find out.
Posted by: Gene A. 06 Jun 2008
DELL and Linux
To F * A * N * T * A * S * T * I * C !!! Dell offers laptops preloaded with ubuntu Linux.
Posted by: Dude 06 Jun 2008
Great News!
Wow, this is terrific! Props to Acer for doing this. I only wish that they'd go with Ubuntu or even Fedora, rather than...Linpus... On the other hand, at least that means that drivers will all be compatible with any old Linux distro, which is good enough for me.
Posted by: Sean Tilley 05 Jun 2008
Linux ROCKS
I bought a brand new Dell with Vista on it. Right out of the box it was crashing! Having been wanting to try Linux for some time, I wiped teh hard drive and loaded it with LInux. Problem solved, I wish I would have switched to Linux YEARS ago!
Posted by: John Thomas 05 Jun 2008
How do I get a job @ Acer?
Now my only question is how do I get involved in this Acer Notebook initiative? My life passion is GNU/Linux on the desktop. I've even worked for free to be in on the action. If they in fact intend to put the money where the mouth is I want in on this. It isn't the money that matters- it's just freeken awesome.
Posted by: Jac 05 Jun 2008
Would be nice...but not easy
I've been working on Fedora on my Acer Aspire...the wireless setup can be a pain, because Acer uses a wireless chip set for which there there are no kernel drivers...one has to install madwifi. Still, I like Acer hardware, and hope that this works out.
Posted by: Mike 05 Jun 2008
F * A * N * T * A * S * T * I * C !!!
I was contemplating buying my first laptop/notebook. I was almost conforming myself with the idea of paying the Microsuck tax and then throwing away any Microsuck crap that came with the machine and installing Linux instead. Thankfully, one company had the guts to give the finger to Microsuck. I'll wait until Acer launches their Linux notebook(s) and I''ll buy from them. It is a shame that HP, Dell and other "big one" don't have the courage that Acer has.
Posted by: Anonymous 05 Jun 2008
Good for ACER!
This sounds great. I hope they push GNU/Linux on their products globally. Perhaps Dell will do the same. ACER is purchased by consumers all over the world. This will bring competition in the retail trade where it has been very difficult to buy anything without that other OS.
Posted by: Robert Pogson 05 Jun 2008
finally wireless support?
That'll be nice. I have two Acer laptops and the built in wireless chipset isn't supported. I had to buy PCMCIA cards with supported chipsets to get that working.
Posted by: RocketRay 04 Jun 2008