Best netbook OS (2012)

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1

2012 has seen many new OS versions appearing.

So I thought I would ask you all which OS you would use for a netbook, & why?

-> Windows ME -> Not supported by netbook hardware

-> Windows 2000 -> Stable, uses less RAM than newer MS variants. Will the performance blow XP/Vista/7 away?

-> Windows XP -> Stable. Startup & shutdown a bit slower than 7, but includes built in support to snap pics from webcam, + view .GIF in viewer.

-> Windows Vista -> May run slower than XP or 7.

-> Windows 7 -> Decent startup/shutdown. Stable, most things work. Have to manually add support for viewing .GIF files in viewer.

-> Ubuntu -> http://www.ubuntu.com/

-> Linux Mint -> http://linuxmint.com/

-> Zorin OS -> Linux distro claiming to support win apps via embedded W.I.N.E + look like 7 -> http://zorin-os.com/

-> Reactos -> Windows "clone" with aim to be free of licensing fees -> http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html

-> Puppy Linux -> Aims to be "lite" Linux distro -> http://puppylinux.or...g%20Started.htm

Also, disabling services such as: indexing (I use Locate32), auto updates (I update manually), system restore (I have backups) can improve performance.

Am going to update from 1GB RAM to 2 GB for Christmas. Sticking with my HDD, instead of SSD or 7,200 RPM upgrade for now.

Feel free to list any tips, tricks, or performance boosters that you use. See any viable OS not listed that you think is great? Let me know about it!

2

Haven't tested everything yet, but here is what I have done so far:

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1) 32 & 64 Bit 7 -> Yes

2) 32 & 64 Bit Vista -> Yes

3) 32 & 64 Bit XP -> Yes

4) 2000SP4 -> No

5) Windows 95/98/ME -> No

6) 32 & 64 Bit Unbuntu -> Yes

7) Splashtop OS -> Yes

8) 32 & 64 Bit 8 -> To be tested

9) Chrome OS -> To be tested

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1) XP -> Needs Sata drivers. Testing 64 Bit XP with 32 Bit drivers later, since XP 64 Bit are harder to find.

2) 95/98/ME/2,000 -> Testing with Sata drivers + VM later, to see if that enables them to work.

3) EasyPeasy -> Testing performance vs Ubuntu.

4) Splashtop -> Basic. Allows fast internet access before your primary OS loads.

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Vista may be a good pick for a netbook:

1) - Photo viewer has built-in basic editor for photos.

2) - Network icon shows lights for incoming & outgoing traffic (compared to static un-animated icon in 7.

3) - Sleep -> Had a problem under 7 not resuming WiFi network after sleep. Testing Vista sleep to see how it does.

3

laptop, netbook, desktop, doesn't really matter.

for me it would only be a choice between Win 7 or 8, and maybe XP if you could find the drivers.

anything else and the 'user experience' starts to suffer.

4

I agree that XP & 7 are great. Testing both for fun, & to see what is the fastest, decent to use OS I can manage on a netbook.