Linux Netbooks and Return Rates
![Rikki Endsley Rikki Endsley](/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/online/blogs/rose-blog-rikki-s-open-source-exchange/275384-25-eng-US/ROSE-Blog-Rikki-s-Open-Source-Exchange.png)
ROSE Blog: Rikki's Open Source Exchange
Recently there have been quite a few news stories about the return rate for Linux netbooks, including Kristin Shoemaker's Linux Netbook Returns: Not Surprising, but Likely Avoidable. Those of us who work with Linux and open source tend to forget that often for the average American consumer, open source is still a relatively abstract concept.
If you don't work in IT, hate reading manuals, and only use computers for specific tasks, such as email, shopping, and paying bills online, you probably don't want to spend an evening figuring out why your printer won't work with your new Acer Aspire One. Kristin points out:
"More netbooks -- Linux, or otherwise -- in "standard" retail outlets could reduce the return rate, if only because buyers could see, feel, and try out, even just briefly, the hardware and the software. The product is tangible, the software is right there, and the abstract idea of "Linux" is given a solid form."
Many of the bloggers point out that retailers need to provide netbooks in stores where consumers can get hands-on experience with them before heading to the checkout counter. I hope the retailers are listening.
We haven't had Microsoft products in our house for years now, so my daughter is accustomed to a learning curve when trying new programs. She was delighted to receive an Acer Aspire One for her 12th birthday this week. She opened the box and was off and running. She hasn't cracked open the owner's manual even once, and hasn't needed any help from me to figure out how to use the built-in webcam, or anything else, for that matter. Her only comments have been that it's incredibly small (or as we like to call it – fun sized), the battery charge doesn't last long enough (although I don't think she has any concept of time), and "they sure seem to like penguins – they are in every game."
My offspring inherited my avoidance of reading manuals, but has had no problem figuring out her new netbook without the help of instructions. For that matter, it took less time for me to get the printer working on her netbook than it did when I got my Mac (and I didn't crack open a manual or get online help, either).
As the bloggers are pointing out, it's all about expectations. Consumers will have to be a little less lazy when researching their purchases, and they might even – gasp – have to read the manuals. And retailers need to do a better job of presenting these new products, too.
Probably, with a just a little tweaking in the mindset of consumers, and a better job of marketing these netbooks, return rates will drop noticeably. In these economic times, people are increasingly opening their minds to less-expensive alternatives, and netbooks are pocketbook friendly, in addition to being "fun sized."
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
![Learn More](https://www.linux-magazine.com/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/media/linux-magazine-eng-us/images/misc/learn-more/834592-1-eng-US/Learn-More_medium.png)
News
-
NVIDIA Released Driver for Upcoming NVIDIA 560 GPU for Linux
Not only has NVIDIA released the driver for its upcoming CPU series, it's the first release that defaults to using open-source GPU kernel modules.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 24.07 Released
If you’re into rolling release Linux distributions, OpenMandriva ROME has a new snapshot with a new kernel.
-
Kernel 6.10 Available for General Usage
Linus Torvalds has released the 6.10 kernel and it includes significant performance increases for Intel Core hybrid systems and more.
-
TUXEDO Computers Releases InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9 Laptop
Sporting either AMD or Intel CPUs, the TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 is an extremely compact, lightweight, sturdy powerhouse.
-
Google Extends Support for Linux Kernels Used for Android
Because the LTS Linux kernel releases are so important to Android, Google has decided to extend the support period beyond that offered by the kernel development team.
-
Linux Mint 22 Stable Delayed
If you're anxious about getting your hands on the stable release of Linux Mint 22, it looks as if you're going to have to wait a bit longer.
-
Nitrux 3.5.1 Available for Install
The latest version of the immutable, systemd-free distribution includes an updated kernel and NVIDIA driver.
-
Debian 12.6 Released with Plenty of Bug Fixes and Updates
The sixth update to Debian "Bookworm" is all about security mitigations and making adjustments for some "serious problems."
-
Canonical Offers 12-Year LTS for Open Source Docker Images
Canonical is expanding its LTS offering to reach beyond the DEB packages with a new distro-less Docker image.
-
Plasma Desktop 6.1 Released with Several Enhancements
If you're a fan of Plasma Desktop, you should be excited about this new point release.
Linux for non-nerds
Finding "drivers" a nightmare and installing them worse - your average user doesnt want to know what a tar ball is or cares what to do with it - just wants to click "install"
Tried to download Spider Solitaire and the same - I dont want source code - I want to install an application.
Luckily, for my sanity, this week bought a G1 Android phone and thats more like it - find the application, click, wait to download, point, use - simple
support, expectations and the numbers for EEE, Acer One and Dell Mini
Its basically; dont buy it. of course, they also sell these protections plans from 99 to 150$ where they install antivirus and malware protection, so its both self serving and the fact that most store monkeys have no knowledge of Linux. The ones I talked to knew less about Linux than my pre-teens.
I have no doubt that something new is scary. We all feel like that (again, my kids know how to use XP, KDE, Gnome, XFCE with not problem so its not about it being hard) when we are out of our element.
There is also a question of expectations. If you want to view emails and do the stuff netbooks are intended to, then you should have no problem. if you need a certain Windows app then that is unavoidable. Apple switchers know that they wont be able to run Windows apps but if Joe Public buys a cheap netbook and isnt aware, then it becomes a problem.
But what bugs me most is I dont know any friend in north america who has ever seen MSI netbooks
so i would like to see the stats for Acer One's which sold 2 million in one quarter and was planning to sell 1 million in september and of the EEE's which are ubiquitous. Dell will be getting their stuff from Canonical so support will be very important. We all know someone who can help us with Windows machines. Finding a family/friend who is good with Linux is much harder. Support will be crucial.