Customers are waiting for XP drivers for the Aigo MID and sales appear to be suffering as a result. Early adopters simply don’t trust a Moblin-based device to deliver exactly what they need and want the option of running XP otherwise they’re not going to buy. It’s not that they don’t want Moblin, its because they want a choice. Without XP and at current prices, they’re not buying. I’m sure that customers in France and Italy are happy with their low-cost carrier offerings but there’s a billion more people in the western world that don’t have that option.
How do we know this? We speak to the resellers. They tell us that there are early adopter customers waiting in the wings for XP-based MIDs but they won’t buy until they know the option is available. The resellers won’t even put their money down on large orders until the XP drivers are there which means prices remain high as volumes stay low. We hear what customers are saying too. These advanced, early-adopter users want choices and value. The current offerings are locked down to an OS that doesn’t give them VFM. There’s a lot of people out there that want to run a mature desktop OS and use the Aigo MID as a productive UMPC. They will not trust their personal or business processes to a fresh, problematic, asia-sourced operating system based on Moblin.
People are trying hard to get it working but there are a lot of potential customers out there, that don’t have the time to mess around and will simply hold back and buy something else in the meantime. It isn’t difficult for these customers to justify buying a netbook. Intel and their hardware partners need to get focused and bring the required software to the market to provide badly-needed confidence in their products.
Maybe today’s product announcement gives us hope. Maybe the Kohjinsha announcement too but without real drivers in the wild, it’s not enough for customers.
i agree, i will NEVER buy a MID until i can get readily available XP drivers
period
Like wise
Nothing against Linux or any other OS
They might be better than windows
But for common users – compatibility, usability and familiarity win over all other things aspects anytime.
It’s like asking the world to abandon cars and motor vehicle and start walking/cycling as it is better for health and the environment, good by ideology, unpractical by practice
I agree too.
I have put on hold buying and Aigo mid or whatever until xp is 100% supported. Midlinux is just not a option.
Regards,
Joao.
I’ve ordered one of these things on the grounds that windows is supported “enough”. But then I’m a windows sysadmin, so I’ve got the time and experience to work through the issues. I certianly wouldn’t recommend anyone who isn’t pretty comfortable with OS installs on unsusal hardware from getting one.
I couldn’t agree more with you Steve.
I have been holding back the purchase of a MID until there is some decent XP support, and until the prices have become more reasonable.
But I am also very tempted to buy a Netbook because they are better value for money.
This is really sad because the MID/UMPC form factor is the one I much prefer.
Considering this is an MID, I would say Windows is TOTALLY NOT SUITABLE. MID is not just a PC.
MID is designed to be an ‘always-on’ device, as a cellphone replacement in the future. The responsiveness of Windows in many circumstances is not acceptable for this purpose.
Microsoft has no plan to make real MID system. You will have to give up Windows sometimes. This is the perfect time.
I agree ccompletely, I will never buy a MID without XP. I looked into the Aigo but the XP install is way too difficult and risky, so I pass.
About suitability, let me decide what is suitable or not for my needs, and pocketable XP device would be a dream come true. It’s something similar to windows mobile vs symbian, iphone and others, most people find wm6 way too hard and complicated, but I love how many programs are available for it, how much you can configure it to fit your needs, and I want a MID with XP for the same reason, there’re so many programs currently available, I’m completely used to its interface and don’t need to learn everything again, so either XP MID or won’t be getting a MID anytime soon, ,even the new N97, although it looks great, I’m not moving into a system not based on windows sorry
Lawrence, you should test before that kind of shoot.
I have been using Aigo with XP for weeks and i’m super happy.. just few more drivers and it will be perfect..
INTEL!!! Do something or forget it!
i actually fully agree with Laurence! do we seem to be the exception here? Windows XP is a no-go for me on MIDs. It’s just not the operating system for such a device. we need thumb-based lean and quick systems. Windows XP with a UI layer is just a workaround.
and yes, i hear you all. but that’s my opinion. building on an old and soon not anymore available OS is NOT the future!
Of course XP is good because of great flexibility, but, Steve, do you know good MID-interface for XP like Touch FLO for WM? What your suggestions on when it will be?
But even with Touch FLO we have a problem that cannon be solved – it’s slow (for example on HTC MAX 4G).
I think smth like Ubuntu have much more chanches, XP is only for programs that you cannot find for Linux
…maybe the interface for Trigon LLuon will do
…but only on Atom 1,3 GHz, i think
This UI for the Lluon is going to be very interesting. I wonder who developed it and if we can get hold of the code somehow.
Steve.
And what about the applications? Restyling UI of basic apps is needed too. I’m not sure that the UI restyling will be easy on proprietary OS
jkkmobile, why would you wait for XP driver, if MIDLINUX is ready-to-go?
I tested ubuntu-mid and everything just works.
Please tell me your issues with Linux MID OS.
As I mentioned, its about choice and value. Many people like/want/need XP and the Aigo devices is capable of running it. Why should intel deny these people the XP option and deny resellers of the sales?
I can’t speak for everyone but I know that these issues or common and should be considered by anyone offering a new distro on a device. (Regardless of underlying kernel)
Learning curve
Reliability
Software
Support
Drivers
Steve
> Learning curve
Do you need a lot of time to use learn how to use iPhone???
> Reliability
Linux is more reliable than Windows always. See how many critical runs Linux. In future, MIDs will be an ‘always-on’ device, have you tried turning your XP 24/7. I don’t know where all my memory gone.
> Software
It is relative true that you may miss software like MS OFFICE, but you might use wine to run it or use openoffice. many alternatives
> Support
Considering now Intel and most of the manufacturers are using Linux-based MID system, the support wont be worse than on windows. at least, now the Aigo linux, everything shall be working, while xp is not
> Drivers
Intel continues to hire more paid developers to make the open source driver available, I’m sure that this will work out soon.
Agree fully. I know all the problems with XP, but bottom line is that it works with my software and I don’t have to learn a new OS.
That’s why my Gigabyte 704 has been so painlessly helpful to me and sees near daily use, and why I have no plans to buy any UMPC currently on the market.
so you wanna to treat 5″ as a 7″? i think that won’t be so handy. 5″ should be treated the same way as iPhone, so we need UI; and windows + UI means lags
If I am getting linux, I might as well use a energy efficient ARM cpu.
Totally agree with you Chippy.
Chippy, do you think Google Android have a promising UI?
It’s silly to want to run WinXP on a device. Could you imagine WinXP on an iphone? Go buy a notebook if that’s what you need. A MID is a device for mobile users who need info and access to the web instantly, not for running MS Outlook and Quake. You need to change your mindset from a keyboard, mouse PC one to a mobile internet DEVICE one. They aren’t mutually exclusive, but complementary with one another.
i think the title says it all: CUSTOMERS wait for XP on intel mids. it’s like in 95% of the computer sales: “does it have windows and intel inside?”. microsoft created a monopoly in peoples brains and that’s a bad thing! technology, development and individualism is dead! you can run your so beloved xp DESKTOP OS on your desktop. a mid is NOT a desktop! as STAN said, most of the people need to change their mindset or mids will be the same boring devices like the rebranded netbooks. cheers
fact is that unless linux based os’s get thier act together there is no choice but xp. people want an OS now , not wait for it to mature for many months after they buy the device, and xp is the best OS out there. it is the best supported and is capable of being run on mids so why deny people?
WinXP is NOT the best
1. Lack of new hardware support
2. Slow responds on these device
MIDs is the future cellphone, not just a PC. The requirement in response is very strict. The architecture of the OS does not suit these devices.
Its all about flexibility of OS and Legacy software. As pro on the go i apretiate my usual tools in my pocket. Any file formats. Add to this ANY peripherials through usb(can be pocketable too) Oh, and some casual gaming/media/navi/firefox and so on….This thing can be a swiss knife.
heres what i think needs to happen with a future Windows OS, lets say Windows 7.
the OS & all 3rd party software need to come with 2 different GUI’s, “desktop” & “mobile”. that way you retain full compatibility but just interact with it differently depending on the device your using.
One more info.
WinXP is actually very old system. It is not up-to-date with new hardware.
WinXP will damage for those SSDs.
I think XP should be an option when loading “press f3 to load XP”
Could anyone make clear,please, what’s the relationship between Linux Ubuntu MID Edition, Moblin and Red Flag Midinux?
For example, we have three news:
1) m528 will have Ubuntu
2) m528 will have Moblin (both – recent news)
3) Intel decided that Moblin will be based on Fedora core (news of July 2008)
How can they be correct at one time?
Guys, XP dirvers for Aigo MID is now almost ready in China. In Technology (www.inumpc.com) has been selling Aigo MID with dual OS,(Linux + XP) for more than 2 months now. They have the newest version of all Aigo XP drivers ready, except for WiFi. Including GPS, CDMA 1x, SD, Sound, BIOS, Touch screen, Bluetooth, everything except for WiFi. DFS Bios version is out date now. There is still some bugs with WiFi driver. Chinese consumers are very happy with Aigo XP version. They can simply use Aigo MID with USB modem outdoors. I have already got a XP version Aigo MID from In Technology 2 months ago.
BTW, as far as I know, Aigo is not allowed to issue any XP drivers officially for Aigo MID, because of the agreement with Intel. I think what Aigo is trying to do is to issue XP drivers secretly through it’s distributors in China.
If anybody wants to know more about XP drivers for Aigo MID, pls. send me a email. (bradwuwei@126.com) I see if I can help.
Bradcool, how much does aigo mid cost in inumpc.com in dollars? Does it have two cameras and 3G or no?
I have to choose where to buy – in Expansys or in inumpc.com ?