Taipei, Sept. 25, 2008 (CENS)--Although Windows OS went into netbook computers, a stripped-down notebook PC, six months later than did rival Linux OS, the Windows system is reportedly installed in over half of such PCs.

Steve Guggenheimer, Microsoft`s general manager for application platform & development marketing division, recently noted that Internet-enabled devices have become increasingly diversified and his company would introduce software for such products, including smart phones, netbooks, mobile Internet devices (MIDs) in addition to desktop and notebook computers.

Refusing to reveal market share, Guggenheimer simply said Microsoft had gained ground in the market of netbook software despite having entered the segment only half a year ago. However, some PC makers estimated 70-80% of netbook makers outfit their wares with Windows XP.

Guggenheimer even touted that some of his company`s customers had vowed to equip all their netbooks with Windows XP. He said although some customers said Windows XP retails for more than Linux, consumers still tend to buy XP computers rather than Linux for better after-sale service.

By June this year, when Guggenheimer announced Microsoft would equip netbooks with XP Home, Microsoft had been reserved towards netbook market since Asustek Computer introduced Eee PC late last year, whose hot sales changed Microsoft`s original view. Acer has shipped one million systems while Asustek has delivered 800,000 systems a month so far this year.


(by Ken Liu)