We’ve seen netbooks running Android before, but they’re still rare enough to prod our curiosity. Over at NetbookNews they’ve been playing with an i-Buddie netbook that’s been loaded with Google’s open-source OS, and the Atom N270-based ultraportable certainly runs Android.
It can’t exactly be said to run it smoothly, however, with numerous error messages popping up throughout the demo. It’s unclear exactly whether this is of i-Buddie’s doing or something the NetbookNews team have attempted themselves; we’re thinking it’s the latter.
While the end result does look a little like a smartphone stretched to unwieldy lengths across a 10-inch display, don’t underestimate Android’s potential for netbooks. According to the latest rumors, ODM manufacturer Compal is already ramping up for Android netbook production this year, while Intel are preparing to support the OS with their mobile processors.
Fixed: http://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/04...droid-netbook/
a) convertible tablet/swivel screen format (pref. 7" or 9" screen)
b) full gmail (send as, create/edit filters, create labels)
c) full google reader (keyboard shortcuts, add/edit tags)
d) full google docs (read/write, all formats)
e) full IM (more than 1 identity per service, more than 1 service active at a time, more jabber servers that just google talk)
f) better VNC viewer support, and better integration with ConnectBot (not so much Google's fault, but still something that's necessary for me on a netbook).
g) definitely a 3G option
Until someone delivers those things, I'm not interested in an Android netbook. But... if someone does deliver those, I think Android would do fine in a netbook device.
Yeah, not a clue as to why it's the in thing. Maybe manufacturers see 'Google' and go wild or just really hate the idea of running X11 and couldn't be bothered to come up with their own GUI system because they don't know about SVGAlib et al. Then again I'm not quite sure I understand why netbooks are The New Hotness; one can do nearly everything a netbook does on a smartphone, and a netbook can't do everything a laptop does, so why not just have a smartphone and a laptop?