That’s the question ZDnet’s Jason Perlow asks. Netbooks, just like the Android-based G1 (and Apple’s iPhone OS), are aimed squarely at the consumer, and in most cases, the non-techie consumer. And if Apple and Google can get all that functionality into a phone footprint, just think what they could offer when they have the processor, memory and screen real estate of a netbook.
Today, netbooks are the realm of Linux OSes like Ubuntu, but in most cases, those OSes are just too difficult to manage for the average netbook user, Perlow says. But Android and the iPhone’s mobile OS are a breeze to use and manage. They’re fast, efficient and with Android, netbooks would have built-in–and free–productivity tools ala Google Apps. What’s not to like? As Perlow says:
With Android, Google has really thought out about what should go into a digital convergence OS. It’s got an excellent built in browser and its interface is as good as anything Apple has, and because it is open source, it would allow multiple manufacturers to use it.
Perlow’s one caveat is a lack of an OpenOffice port to Android. But if netbook users rely on Google Apps, plus Gears, they may just get all the online/offline functionality they need. Something to think about.
