Many may argue but there are two different types of netbooks – those with Windows and those without.  Whether it’s Apple, or Intel it almost doesn’t matter who makes the operating system if it isn’t Microsoft.  This may sound pompous until you realize why it doesn’t matter.

When you use Windows your computer is open to all of the millions of programs available to computers for almost a decade.  The user experience is reliable, and even if you may not like Microsoft you know what to expect when your computer turns on.

This isn’t an attempt to discount the viability of other operating systems which may end up on a netbook, but there’s little chance for them to pick up any steam.  Unlike Firefox, operating systems aren’t something you can just switch for the mainstream user.  I can only imagine what would happen if my mom wasn’t able to use Windows.  She has a Masters degree in Geriatric Nursing but still can’t figure out how to get her notebook out of Standby mode.  It just seems like there are more people like her than there are like me who don’t care what the operating system is as long as it allows easy connections to the sites, programs, and tools I use the most often.

Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Google Apps and other programs help people to handle most of what they need to do.  Companies plotting to release true netbooks who place the focus on doing everything via the web are trying to capitalize on hype more than they’re trying to give people experiences they’d benefit from.

With Windows 7 being released in the next 5 months, this may all end up being a non-issue.  Something tells me this won’t stop companies from trying to grab headlines.

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