Best choices for most people is goiing ot XP or 7. Try playing all those stupid little games people love, heck even Mac verwions can be troublesome.

For those who are more advernturous I am however very glad to see a real comitment to Linux availability.

Over the years, Windows has been a credible OS. Early reports indicate that Windows 7 is the best ever. However…

Normally, few peripherals are used with netbooks. If you have older drivers, they may not work with Windows 7. Often new drivers are available. If you want to use that old scanner – check to see about compatibility and the availability of a driver for Windows 7.

There may be the matter of expense… or ethics if you have multiple portables. A license may limit the number of PCs you install your current software on. Some may want to look kids in the face when talking about pirating.

File compatibility can generally be fixed. The latest and greatest MS office software files can be read by older versions if a compatibility pack is installed on your desktop. Rare features contained in the new file will be lost during conversion. Important non-MS software should be researched.

There may be the matter of security. Windows may be as secure as Linux. Windows can definitely be made more secure than some downloadable Linux versions that operate in administrator mode. But Windows is a common target and Linux isn’t. The Linux versions that I have seen on netbooks are very secure by default. An uncommon, secure OS may offer advantages to some users.

Games are important to many people. Netbooks don’t run the latest and greatest graphic games. Your old standby may be copy protected and require the original CD. Many people will want to consider the limitations on software licenses. Linux offers lots of recreation at no cost. Scores of titles can be installed by entering password and simply clicking buttons. In fact, if you have a netbook with an SSD the limitation will be space.

Online gaming is popular to some. Some graphical online games have custom drivers. Windows is better supported than Linux in this regard. Don’t assume, however, that playing a graphics-intensive game will be fun on a netbook.

Windows 7 should be seriously considered. You can always update drivers, install compatibility packs, purchase the latest software for all your computers or cheat developers out of their expected compensation. Purchase security software recommended by MS, turn off unnecessary services and tune your firewall to make Windows secure.

In my house, we have a handful of desktops and 3 portables, including a netbook. Ethical considerations are important. We find that the work-related files we generate or edit with Open Office at home – usually uncomplicated document drafts – can be loaded into MS Office at work. We are heavily into games, including online gaming. Our exposure/risk is high. In our particular situation, Linux on a netbook makes sense.

If the user is knowledgeable, it ADDS capability which Windows does not offer. Hell, I’m using my netbook as a file and print server.

I haven’t used Windows on my laptops, desktops or servers in … ever. Windows offers zero advantages over my current OS preferences (MacOS and Linux) and introduces lots of headaches I don’t currently suffer; like susceptibility to virus/trojan attacks, a self-fragmenting filesystem and leaky memory management, among others.

Although I don’t personally user Google’s Chrome browser, I feel like I am writing a pitch for the rumored ChromeBook or whatever it is called. Well, maybe I am. Or maybe I am pitching Linux. Don’t know. But I can tell you that I don’t want to maintain yet-another-Windows-box when all it really is doing is loading a browser. Too much hassle and expense.

Some say softwares are “you get what you paid for”. Well, this is the exception. You would expect since not paying you would get a crappy, trial, minimal function OS, but in reality, you get an OS that includes all the essential programs, AND eliminates all the trial software programs which jam up your hard drive on initial boot, so no more AOL 30 days, Norton 60 days, Office 90 days, At&t for $29.99, etc.

Some may say I am more biased towards linux because of the frequency I use it, and I am not telling or forcing you to try it. But at least give it a try for a month or two as an additional OS to the one you’re already using. For those not used to Linux can try it using a LiveCD burn as .iso to a CD disk to boot at startup. I’m quite sure you’ll find something you will like.

To put a more solid argument, Linux has the same point-click, drag-drop, one-window-for-each-application, start menu + taskbar + system tray user interface standart in IT sector since the beginning of the 90’s. Openoffice suite you use in Linux is designed as a direct stand-in for the Microsoft Office and Firefox is the same Firefox you use in Windows, covering two basic functions the netbooks are happen to be manufactured for. Also there are a number of communications software (e-mail clients and online messaging) you can easily use both for the KDE and Gnome desktop environments. So linux doesn’t bring any penalty of functionality considering your activities.

Besides the precius resources of your netbook won’t be wasted by your OS and antivirus software. Upon switching to Linux, you won’t need an antivirus software at all, at least for netbook’s lifespan. No more having headaches about the expiring date of your antivirus database.

While you can install most (if not all) of the mainstream major distributions freely found on the web to your netbook, there are specifically designed netbook editions (Ubuntu Netbook Remix is an example) as well. I personally installed and used Debian, Kubuntu (with KDE3.5) and openSUSE (again with KDE3.5) and I was very happy with the basic functionality they provided.

And thats just the tip of the iceberg. Considering the richness of the free software Linux offers (especially Ubuntu flavors and Debian), you don’t lose any functionality at all but gain a lot more. Once you get accustomed of, it’s a privilage you can’t let go easily. No more Googling for freeware with the fear of infecting your computer with malware bundled with it.

And all that is totally FREE (actually you will only pay your standart Internet access charge for the download). That is free of any charge for the narrowest meaning. Thinking of buying a new OS? Consider paying $/€ 0 (or whatever your country’s currency is).

I personally, strongly suggest everyone to give the free software a chance. It’s my sincere belief that choosing to be “free” will really widen your perspective about computing, opening new horizons in your digital life. Trying to choose among the Windows’es is like gazing the IT world with your nose touching the wall.

Just turn around!