Michael Dell: Dell Founder Attacks Netbooks, Microsoft Vista

Electronista:

Dell's namesake Michael Dell in a talk late Tuesday criticized both his own products and Microsoft. Despite his company offering multiple netbooks, including the Mini 10, the CEO largely dismissed the category and said a "fair amount" of buyers are unhappy with them for both their smaller screens and slow performance. Many existing notebook owners in particular often come back disappointed as they lose what they liked about their larger portables.

Read the whole story: Electronista

Comments

[TParrish]

Netbooks were never intended to be primary systems. It is that "thing" I wished I had when my Dell Axim's screen was just not large enough, and a full sized notebook was still inconvenient. As such, they are not for everyone. I have one of the Acer netbooks, and I love it. I use it daily while doing onsite work as a computer services contractor. Just the thing for carrying from desk to desk, using 3g connection in the car (no, not while driving, chill out). It must be thought of as an easily carried tool for accessing a small subset of your data, local networks, and the Internet.

[Twopennygal]

I love my netbook. It's an Acer, runs XP, has a 1.6ghz processor, 160 gig hard drive and it's quick! Much faster than the laptop I replaced with it. And I love that it's light and small. I have a Verizon aircard and use it on the train on the way to work to read HuffingtonPost. Those people returning it after 36 hours were way too soon to give up on their netbooks.

However, it's not an everything computer. When I do database design, the screen is too small. But for most things, it's the perfect tool.

[mamacat]

We had to buy a new computer because the memory degraded on our old one. Even though this new HP is theoretically faster than our old one, I think it is much slower than it should be because it came with Vista implanted in it.

What a racket Gates and Microsoft have. Every two years or so they come up with a new OS that is not really compatible with anything that went before, so they make billions selling upgrades to unwitting suckers. What we are witnessing is another example of the power of an overwhelming monopoly to control the marketplace for their own short-term profit.

[ramblingjohnny]

It not like he build the damn things! Wait he does!!! So if your netbook don't have enough power who fault is that? If Mike Dell want to build a more powerful netbook Mike Dell can tell MS to piss off with their Ram and CPU restriction!

[FooFighter007]

Toshiba Laptops are better than Dell and cheaper than Dell.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Toshiba laptops have a fundamental design flaw in them: Fan placement. Those laptops get so hot they can burn the hair off your skin. This has the unfortunate side effect of making them prone to overheating, and thus a shorter life expectancy on the electronic components. In other words, they're not built to last. Which makes them trash.

Which is too bad, because the Qosmio line is not only attractive, but powerful and at a reasonable price.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Toshiba laptops have a fundamental design flaw in them: Fan placement. Those laptops get so hot they can bu.rn the hair off your skin. This has the unfortunate side effect of making them prone to overheating, and thus a shorter life expectancy on the electronic components. In other words, they're not built to last. Which makes them tras.h.

Which is too bad, because the Qosmio line is not only attractive, but powerful and at a reasonable price.

[SwingingFromCenter]

I don't get the trend towards netbooks and computers on wristwatches. At all.

-Let's see: The netbooks have 10 inch screens. Too small.
-Since they're so tiny, the keyboards are proportionately downsized.
-Since they're so small, they're prone to overheating. And since lead based solder is no longer allowed, the new stuff can cause hardware failures.
-Since they're bargain basement priced, they aren't powerful, nor are they versatile.

And all this is a good thing?

I'm sorry, but I'll stick with my 17" screen, my reasonably sized keyboard WITH a 10 key, my ability to utilize applications which require some power, my faster processor speed, and my ability to play games if I want instead of some watered down Netbook. If all I want is to look at a web site, I'll use my Android.

[hopefull2008]

Maybe they work for people who only have $200 to spend on a portable and can't afford the time to play games.

[SwingingFromCenter]

I would counter that such people have more important things to be buying than laptops.

[hypnotoad72]

Well, Dell could try to be more proactive. You know, build an R&D department, get a beta of MS's OSes, and, you know, like TEST THE STUFF instead of blindly releasing things to customers and then apologizing. Like how the rest of us have to live under their rule... And, heck, who needs a whole R&D division? Historically, to get a real set of usable requirements, multiply Microsoft's definition of "minimum system requirements" and multiply those by 4.

You're welcome for the 'crowdsourcing'.

[MrWampler]

I'm perfectly happy with mine. Then again, mine is not a Dell nor does it have Vista.