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Microsoft Accommodating Eee With Lightweight XP

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the accomnodations-for-all dept.

KrispyChips writes "In what could be a first Microsoft is working to create a special build of Windows, just because Windows doesn't run very well on a certain computer. ASUS' runaway success Eee PC is now 'officially' available with Windows XP, but (according to APC magazine) is not exactly a great experience. There are none of the nice pre-loaded apps that come with the Linux version, for example. And XP has some real problems coping with the screen size and limited system specs of the unit. As a result, ASUS says it is going back to Microsoft and working on a special XP build that will be lightweight and more suited to UMPCs."

4 of 386 comments (clear)

  1. Why XP by 91degrees · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The Eee PC is not really being sold as a desktop replacement but more as a portable supplemental computer, and CE already has a GUI that works with smaller screens. So what does XP do that CE doesn't, thta's needed here?

    1. Re:Why XP by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Interesting

      You mean other than not compete with Linux?

      Really.. that's the reason. CE is Windows 3.11 with a boob job. You can't pitch that as a Linux competitor and not be laughed out of the room.

      --
      How we know is more important than what we know.
  2. Re:Open Source CD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Haha. Looks to me like Microsoft is trying to help themselves here. :)

    New cut-down version of XP when they're just about to drop XP completely for normal systems?

    I smell fear of linux gaining market share. Looks like it's already the year of Linux on the desktop. :p

  3. Eee pc can do without XP by wildem · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've been using my Eee pc for a few months without a hitch. The standard OS is good, plus installing something like Ubuntu is a breeze. I've had random people asking me to show them how to use it, where they can buy it and so on. Nobody , and I mean nobody has asked me : Can I install windows on it ?

    In my point of view, this article shows how desperate Microsoft is in the light of newly educated consumers making a valid choice to go with a free and friendly OS over their bloat-OS.

    Not to take anything away from XP, as it has its place in the desktop arena and runs just fine for me as a gaming rig.