Android OS 1.5 Cupcake hasn’t even had its official release onto G1 handsets in the US, but that hasn’t stopped Dell from experimenting with the open-source OS on their latest netbook. The Dell Inspiron Mini 10v packs the usual mixture of an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 120GB hard-drive, but Dell normally fit it with Windows XP Home.
In this video demo, however, Dell’s Doug Anson shows the Mini 10v running three different platforms, including Cupcake. There’s little detail, sadly, but he does say that it’s a “small, snappy” OS and that it “runs fairly nicely”.
Sadly Anson also reiterates that Dell have no “announced product plans with the Android environment”, but the fact that they’re testing it and with seemingly decent results does bode well for the future. The Inspiron Mini 10v retails from $299 in the US, and is available to order now.
I believe Android will find its home on the devices that are sure to pop up between the smartphone and netbook realms. I'm just starting to agree more with those that don't see it happening on the netbook just yet.
Also I could be wrong but they also load those netbooks with Ubuntu not just XP.
I agree with you on most points, but there is a major difference and advantage for Android: the Market.
Applications you already use on one device also run on another (likely for most apps). Finding, purchasing, and installing applications, even with the Market quirks, is easier than finding a store (online or physical) and installing from media (downloaded or physical). Finally, it is hopeful that we will be able to purchase once and use on multiple devices.
Personally, I want to see the phones come out before worrying with a netbook, but I am excited for them to find a place in the market.
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...UFS1&x=10&y=15
Chris
Mother-*cough, cough*!
Remember thought that most if not all Linux distros now get their software from repositories. This was basically the front runner to the App Store/Market coming into play on smart phones now. The infrastructure is already there to make paid markets for the Linux distros.
Now what I just saw about the Moblin project may make sense. Its a Linux distro made by Intel for netbooks and apparently there are plans to include the Android framework so that it runs Android applications as well. You really can't beat that idea.
This is a nice "demo" but as I have forsworn SmallFlabby (MS) I have also a bias against the Intel Co who is currently under a huge fine for illegal bussiness practice. Though I understand that some of their chips are getting as power frugal as the Atom (from whom) and AMD still does not have a clear winner for me to jump on. Ethics, Preferences, whats on the shelf. Never the three shall meet?
1) full Gmail (send as, edit/create filters, edit/create labels, view attachments in Google Docs)
2) full Google Reader (keyboard shortcuts, add/edit tags)
3) full Google Docs (edit documents, view all types of documents)
4) full IM client (more than 1 active IM account at a time, more than 1 account per service (incl. Google Talk), more Jabber servers than just Google Talk, IRC servers, chat logs in plain text on the SD card)
5) integration between SSH and VNC (ConnectBot and AndroidVNC ... but the latter still doesn't seem to actually work properly with VNC passwords; at least not when tunneled through Connectbot) (a novelty to do it on my phone, a MUST to do it on my netbook, where I often remote control my mac workstations or unix servers).
6) USB storage devices
7) external display support
8) external keyboard and mouse support
9) more bluetooth profiles (if it doesn't have an internal 3G option, then BT tethering via DUN or PAN is a must; but I'd also like to see BT FTP, HID, and BIP)
That said, if Dell made a 9" or 10" convertible tablet version of their netbook line, and had a version of Android that addressed all of those things, I'd certainly be interested.