Linux And Unix Devices Popular On Amazon's 'Best of '07' List

christian.einfeldt writes "Computers and handheld devices running default GNU Linux or Unix OSes have swept Amazon's 'best of' list for 2007, according BusinessWire.com for 28 December 2007. Best selling computer? The Nokia Internet Tablet PC, running Linux. Best reviewed computer? The Apple MacBook Pro notebook PC. Most wished for computer? Asus Eee 4G-Galaxy 7-inch PC mobile Internet device, which comes with Xandros Linux pre-installed. And last, but not least, the most frequently gifted computer: The Apple MacBook notebook PC."

Asus Eee very popular in Australia

[MichaelSmith]

It sold out in Myer stores (the only retailer) within a couple of days of the initial release. I read reports of schools buying them by the dozen and families buying one for each member of the family.

The last I heard they were getting more in just before Christmas but a lot of those had been pre-sold in December. I don't think Linux is a negative for the people who buy this product. They like the fact that it has open office out of the box, which is a bigger money saver than the OS.

Swept != Won most of.

[corsec67]

Do all of these run Linux or Unix:

• Apple 4 GB iPod nano (3rd Generation)
• Nintendo Wii
• Suunto T6 Wristop personal trainer with heart rate monitor
• Accutire MS-4350B programmable digital tire gauge
• Garmin nüvi 350 3.5-inch portable GPS navigator
• Actron PocketScan diagnostic code reader
• Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye
• Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP digital camera
  

If you take the definition of "electronics" to be anything that has a microprocessor, ram, program storage, and I/O, then all of these would be "electronics", but I don't think any of them run Linux. I might be wrong, and some of them might run Linux, but I am sure that at least one of them doesn't.

If the Canon A570IS ran a GPLd OS, that would be awesome to modify that so that I can do things that Canon hadn't thought of or doesn't want users to be able to do, like time-lapse, recording RAW, changing the menu system, etc...

Yes, there are a lot of devices running Linux or Unix on the Amazon "Best-Of" list, but it isn't a sweep unless you mean "computers", but even then the line gets fuzzy.

Mod parent down, -1 bullshit

[Winckle]

Apple have 3 models of Macbook, and 3 of Pro, each of which have a separate amazon listing.

Re:At last, and end to "Year of the Linux Desktop"

[MichaelSmith]

And, yes, those new appliances will mostly run Linux. What else?

The funny bit is that even the openmoko makes it a pain to run a different OS. On a PC you just set the BIOS to boot from an external device and off you go. On all handheld devices you have to take a punt on re-flashing the bootstrap in eprom. Get it wrong and the device is bricked.

I don't see why these devices should not support pc-like behaviour.

Re:n810 is amazing

[Anonymous Coward]

Does anyone have any information about a Windows based development toolchain?

I've not looked into it myself, but the standard approach is to run the linux-based SDK using VMWare.

http://www.forum.nokia.com/main/platforms/maemo/index.html#sdks_and_tools [nokia.com]

Check out http://maemo.org/ [maemo.org] and http://www.internettablettalk.com/ [internettablettalk.com] if you haven't already.

Re:ouch!

[LiquidCoooled]

From what I know the screen can be updated reasonably quickly (because movies can play smoothly) but from what I can also gather is that this only occurs once the device clocks itself to 400mhz and talks directly to the lower graphics driver.

I am not afraid of direct hardware knocking but think I need to get lower than python+gtk to get there.

http://maemo.org/development/documentation/how-tos/4-x/maemo_architecture.html#SWDecomposition [maemo.org]

Re:Statistics and Lies

[kupekhaize]

The poster below is correct; Apple has several models of both computers:

13" 2.0 Ghz White Macbook
13" 2.2 Ghz White Macbook
13" 2.2 Ghz Black Macbook

15" 2.2 Ghz Macbook Pro
15" 2.4 Ghz Macbook Pro
17" 2.4 Ghz Macbook Pro

Each one has a separate marketing part number and get recorded separately during sales. The thing to keep in mind is that there are still probably a lot less models available then Dell or Acer or Hp machines, and so the numbers are still likely to be artificially inflated but not as much as the OP indicates.

Re:At last, and end to "Year of the Linux Desktop"

[MichaelSmith]

linux on the mobile is even more dead. Windows mobile, blackberry os, osx, android

Android is Linux. OSX is BSD. Apple hardware is locked down, not the OS.

Re:Asus Eee to equal Mac sales in 2008

[abigor]

Unfortunately, everyone I know who has bought one (around five people) has installed XP on it. I'd guess lots of others are doing the same.

love my Nokia N800!!! w00t!

[bball99]

- interesting device using Deb-like app management... found some Fink scripts on board after installing ssh...

- what's not to like?

FM receiver built in w/automagic polling of station lists based on zipcode!
web cam/camera built in
video playback (nearly any codec - dunno about QT though)
mp3 playback
pdf, MS .doc, text reading
web browsing
touch screen
two SDHC slots
USB (albeit non-powered)
bluetooth keyboard support (nearly any model AFAIK - i'm getting an Apple!)
GPS support for external BT GPS units
Skype (don't use it)
IM support (all, AFAIK)
games

- unfortunately, Nokia better get its defecation in configuration on its repositories and software management... at the time of this writing, some twit has horked app install off one of the companies software repositories through a typo in DNS ('repostry' vs 'repository')... i'd be dealing some serious whoopa55 if i were a PHB! :-)