Acer Aspire One Question?

Question

ok, if i'm going to get the acer aspire one, should i get the windows version or the limpus linux version? i know they are only 20 bucks apart, but some people have told me that the windows version is slower cause its bigger to fit on the netbook. this laptop would be for me as a student, so i need to really know if xp or the linux one of it is better for a student? thanks!

Answer 1

if your a person with a time to mess up with computers then linux is for you, but if you want it plain and simple, might as well settle with windows.

linux - safer (no viruses and spyware), cheaper, but a little hard to use and configure if your not that good about computers. but all software applications like office suites (word,excel,powerpoint, alike) are installed freely, you dont need to purchase it seperately. if you need tech support you need to look it at the forum, which most of the people are very friendly and happy to help you all the time ^_^ (which includes me)

windows - easy to use, everything is spoon feed, but plenty of viruses and spywares, lots of exploits. not to mention, office applications are seperate (which is expensive) unless your manufacturer installed it for you as a bundle, which i doubt will expire in 30 days and asks you to purchase.

as for me, i have both, duel boot OS.

Answer 2

Linux...!

I really never used Linux but this computer is not verry powerfull and it would be pretty slow with windows....i heard it takes 5 mins to start up with Windows.

The other bad thing about windows is that it consumes faster the battery.

On linux with the stadart battery it can take 2 hours

On Windows with the standart battary it takes just 1. hour 25 or something  like that.

I own an Aspire One and i bought it with XP and i switched to linux

Answer 3

This is a tough call, Windows or linux for your netbook, but it really depends on what you want out of it. You could choose either and be reasonably happy with the decision.

If you've never used linux before, the netbook craze has prompted the manufacturers to create "easy" interfaces that put most everything you need front and center. Need to write a paper? Click on the word processor. Need to make a spreadsheet? Click on the spreadsheet creator. Want to talk to your friends on IM? Click on the messenger.

The good thing is that for those of us who want a little more flexibility with the system, you can access an "advanced" mode that's a slightly more traditional linux system that allows you to add and remove software and configure things at your leisure. However, it's entirely optional, and for 99% of the standard school stuff, I think you'd be covered by what it comes with. The other good thing? The software is all pre-installed and free. You never have to pay for it.

On the other side, with the Windows version of the netbook you don't have all of that software installed, but it is all readily available. You can get OpenOffice and use that just the same in Windows as in linux.

It all comes down to asking yourself a few questions that only you can answer: Do you like to learn new things on the computer? Do you hate having to use anti-virus/spyware/adware software? If you answered yes to either of those, you might consider the linux model.

Some other differences: the standard linux model of the Acer Aspire One has a small (8gb) solid state disk while the Windows netbook has an 120gb hard drive. Obviously, there's a lot more storage on the Windows model, but it can't boot the operating system in 15 seconds like the linux model (at least it hasn't from videos I've seen). Also, the Windows model comes with 1gb of RAM versus the linux model's 512mb.

In the end, I think you could be happy with either of them. Whichever way you choose, you're choosing a good netbook as a student because Acer put a proper keyboard on the Aspire one.

Also, as a side note, Acer just lowered the price and they added a Windows-only model that includes a larger battery for $399. If battery life is a major concern, there's your answer.

Also, while you can certainly put whichever operating system you want on it, don't get the linux model and then decide to put Windows on it. The horrible write time of the solid state disk, while not a problem for linux, makes Windows unbearable.

Answer 4

get xp its easier to use and runs most programs you will need for school. linux is not all that it's hyped upto be, it's for comp geeks only.