$200 Intel Android Laptops Are Coming 319
symbolset writes "Outbound Intel CEO Paul Otellini created quite a stir when mentioning that touchscreen laptops would reach a $200 price point. CNET is now reporting in an interview with Intel chief product officer Dadi Perlmutter that these touchscreen laptops will run Android on Intel Atom processors at first. 'Whether Windows 8 PCs hit that price largely depends on Microsoft, he said. "We have a good technology that enables a very cost-effective price point," Perlmutter said. The price of Windows 8 laptops "depends on how Microsoft prices Windows 8. It may be a slightly higher price point." ... Perlmutter didn't specify what the Android notebooks will look like, but it's probable they'll be convertible-type devices. He also noted that he expects the PC market to pick up in the back half of the year and heading into 2014 as new devices become available."
Re:bets? (Score:5, Informative)
It's not the "not running Android" that's the problem, it's the locking it down that's a problem.
One could argue part of the reason Microsoft is floundering is they chose to be such ass-hats about signed/unsigned code and locking down boot loaders to begin with. At least if they had left it unlocked they would have gotten their "tax" even if they buyer chose to run Linux/Android, like my netbook.
Don't forget Ubuntu for phones is coming and there's some Firefox/Mozilla OS in the works too. Perhaps someone might want to experiment with those?
Death of Windows (Score:4, Informative)
Dying?? WTF, go read their revenue GROWTH and profit GROWTH for the last quarter before you say moronic things. To be dying their growth would have to at least be stagnant, preferably decreasing, hint IT ISN'T. So far android laptops have failed, the chromebooks have sold less than the disaster that was surface tablets.
IBM doesn't sell many computers either. ;). Microsoft has had revenue growth despite three quarter of dropping windows computer sales, on the back of raised priced in server live, an EOL console live subscriptions, making more monet from online office...instead of offline office....hold the bus three quarters of dropping sales.
Interestingly if we look at Amazon...the largest online retailer. http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/565108/ref=sr_bs_1 [amazon.com] A chromebook is *still* the bestselling laptop....I couldn't see the surface in the top 100!?
Re:bets? (Score:4, Informative)
LibreOffice for Android “frustratingly close (Score:4, Informative)
Office doesn't run on Android.
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/03/libreoffice-for-android-frustratingly-close-to-release/ [arstechnica.com] LibreOffice is close to release :) Although Android has a several of its own.
some work left to do (Score:4, Informative)
I've been using Android on a Transformer for a while and it's decent. But the apps just aren't quite ready for it. Still, the overall experience is a little smoother than Windows 8 RT and there are tons more apps for it.
But Google is trying to push Google Chrome on laptop-like devices, and if they don't fix the issues with Android on laptops, it's just not going to work, since they control the market and they set the standards.
Re:Android has no shell (Score:4, Informative)
Not only do you get a shell
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jackpal.androidterm [google.com]
you get a complete command line based environment with compiler, editor, etc.:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spartacusrex.spartacuside [google.com]
It doesn't require jailbreaking or root, and it's even free.
Re:bets? (Score:4, Informative)
I never really understood how webOS, as neglected and stillborn as it was, had a native X11 client (server, whatever, bite me) written for it by some community fan. But Android with its gazillion users never has, at least not that I ever found. Maybe some good technical reason for that which is over my head, but it seems odd.
Part of the reason is likely that X11 is the wrong solution here. It's an okay protocol on a fast local LAN. With the correct extensions it's great on a local machine, but it has very little compression. You will do better with something like XVNC and an Android VNC client. What's a real shame, though, is I don't seem to be able to find an NX app for Android which should be much better than VNC. This is strange since I know Google uses NX internally.
Still, when I searched Play there do seem to be some X servers. Just none I have ever tried.
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)