Remember the old days when Microsoft was dragged kicking and screaming into offering Windows XP on netbooks? Neither does Microsoft, apparently, as the company is now all too happy to boast that a full 96% of the netbooks on the market run on its venerable OS. It's also, unsurprisingly, quick to point out that virtually all of that growth comes at the expense of Linux, which Microsoft once again notes sees much higher rates of return once folks "realize their Linux-based netbook PC doesn't deliver that same quality of experience." Of course, all of this talk also has a little something to do with the even more netbook-minded Windows 7 which, ironically, could well be trying to peel off some market share from XP by this time next year.

Your thoughts?

(Engadget)

well,people hate linux,..I work at a ''computer store'' and it's hard to sell noteboocks with pre- installed ubunto,..

People would rather stick with what they know. Microsoft is far more popular than the linux brand is. I guess it isn't surprising that Windows is on 96% of systems.

not too hard to believe as Apple isnt going to release an OS on non proprietary hardware and linux isnt exactly consumer friendly to the casual user

Ok... as someone who has never looked at a net book before...

what makes it different then a laptop?

A netbook is essentially a really really low-spec'd laptop.  It usually costs much less.

Well.. next time my dad asks me what kind of labtop he should get for email and the weather... now I know.

I think they are usually missing DVD drives too, but perhaps some of them have them too?

So, does Linux suck or does Windows rock?

Debate @ 11.

I'd be surprised if he needed a DVD drive.  Maybe he's gotten better now but every time he used to want to play a card game on our PC h'd get me to put the DVD in the Disc Drive.