Comments on online communities and free desktops: GCDS part one: Open-PC

Whats up with the second survey? It doesn't st...

2009-09-11T08:12:56.105+02:00

Whats up with the second survey? It doesn't start yesterday (10. September)...

I think that open pc should be as cheap as netbook...

2009-07-15T11:42:22.824+02:00

I think that open pc should be as cheap as netbooks, so people won't hesitate to buy one just to try this 'new' technology. Price over $300 will make this quite difficult.

2009-07-15T11:41:36.408+02:00

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great knowing about this! +1! i wish you and all p...

2009-07-10T06:07:50.259+02:00

great knowing about this! +1! i wish you and all people envolved all the success with this project! hardware free of ms-taxes and proprietary bios should be very popular and very easily accessible on computer shops and everywhere.

@Alexander You are right, after some time this in...

2009-07-05T17:06:58.400+02:00

@Alexander

You are right, after some time this initiative will fall.

But in meantime it will increase awareness of problems, will spread word about Free/Open Software, etc.

If someone is betting their existence on it, will put his last savings and expects to become millionaire he is wrong. But as project which will last 2-3 years and will not leave anyone involved with nothing - may be a good idea.

I think it's a great idea! Selling a Notebook/...

2009-07-05T14:02:08.241+02:00

I think it's a great idea! Selling a Notebook/PC/Netbook designed for Linux (with excellent working hardware) with the support of a community is a business model of the future. Bringing Linux to the Desktop (or Netbook) will be much easier when it's preinstalled and working really smoothly. Thumbs up! And remember: Communities are as powerful than big companies (or even more powerful).

Hey, I like the Open-PC initiative, but there is ...

2009-07-05T12:55:35.267+02:00

Hey,

I like the Open-PC initiative, but there is one thing I wonder about. On http://open-pc.com/ you can read:
"fall 2009 - Start of shipment of the Open-PC"

I understand that this is not an exact plan but more like a "roadmap"; however, I still feel that it's very optimistic.

Let's say that it's been decided that Open-PC will be a Netbook. Are you going to use an existing model that matches the hardware specs or make your own? Please enlighten me.

I don't think it's really necessary, and I...

2009-07-05T12:28:49.973+02:00

I don't think it's really necessary, and I doubt it will be successful.

True, Acer and Asus ceased shipping netbooks with Linux, and the most recent Ubuntu version Dell is shipping is apparently 8.04. However, Intel is pushing Moblin, and when ARM-based netbooks (smartbooks they call them) enter the market their products will likely use a Linux flavour (remember that Canonical made a deal – http://www.ubuntu.com/news/arm-linux – with ARM) because they don't use the x86 architecture. Nokia will finally introduce a Linux-based smartphone/internet tablet (not counting Android here), that is actually useful, the N900. That should make us forget about the apparent failure of the Openmoko project.

What I'm saying is, while there's setbacks for Linux on the desktop, there's also a buildup of increasing momentum. One step back but two steps forward probably. And I predict that the momentum will keep building up as Linux develops more.

In summary, the Open-PC initiative won't be necessary to make Linux succeed, because the large companies will do that. The Open-PC initiative will likely suffer from limited exposure, low sales and customers who don't like the choice of hardware (even if the hardware choice is determined democratically, there will be a limited amount of products). Kind of similar to Openmoko.

Sorry if I'm discouraging, but I'm just being realistic. I wish you luck though if you decide to continue.

Personally, I can't find any notebook or netbook which runs Linux and combines that with the hardware I like, I doubt the Open-PC project will change that and I will probably buy a notebook with Windows, and demand a refund for the Windows license instead.