HP Drops Linux from Netbooks in the UK

Filed in archive Devices on February 8, 2009

ZDNet UK broke the news this week that HP has decided against releasing any Linux-based netbooks in the UK - its Mini 1000 PC will be available only with Windows in England.

"The reason for this anti-Linux stance? Well, it seems that manufacturers think consumers are wary of an operating system that's not as familiar as Windows, hence the statement from HP that the 'Compaq 700 and HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition better address the market and consumer needs,'" writes T3's David Walker.

"There have been reports that retailers have had more Linux-based netbooks returned to them by customers than their XP-based counterparts, because buyers struggled to use the unfamilar operating system," writes ZDNet's David Meyer. "However, the top-selling netbook in Europe has been Acer's Aspire One netbook, which usually uses the Linpus Linux distribution..."

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