Lee Gomes recently wrote an article in Forbes bemoaning the slow performance of the Intel Atom chip that runs many netbooks including the Acer Aspire One. (Gomes even has an Acer Aspire One which he admits “feels as solid as anything [he's] used from the better-known laptopmakers.”) But he assessment is one sided.

He is running Windows Vista on his netbook. Honestly, Atoms, and even netbooks are not meant to run Vista. It’s a lighter weight chip meant to save energy on the netbook so you can run it for hours on battery. Netbooks are not particularly meant to be heavy-duty PCs. If you are towing a trailer across country you don’t want to do it with a little Ford Fusion, but you might like it if you want to save on gas because you zip across town all day. The netbook is a Fusion (or other energy-efficient car of your choice).

Now, run Windows XP or Linux Ubuntu on your Acer One–you’re working like gangbusters. I’ve been streaming movies from Netflix. I ‘ve been watching shows on Hulu in one window while playing online games in another session of Firefox. I’ve been running Word AND Firefox AND Paintshop Pro AND FTPZilla at the same time, going back and forth between apps. I have had no stutter, no lag, no problem. My netbook  works ACES. And I’ve seen people play processor-intense games like Quake and World of Warcraft

Almost all netbooks I’ve seen come with Windows XP. I run Vista on one of my desktops at the house and there is nothing that I can do on Vista that I CANNOT do on XP as well–you don’t necessarily need Vista.

Of course the question comes, especially with Windows 7 coming out, when will Microsoft stop supporting XP and what does that mean for my netbook. Netbooks are popular with good reason. Intel, or more likely Microsoft, is going to find a way to keep up with this market and provide.

My daughter started fourth grade today (and I don’t know who’s happier me or her).  I’m looking at the supply list she brought home and we have items like colored pencils, notebooks, glue sticks, folders, and…a USB drive. Wow, really?  Of  course it makes sense, almost all schools have some type of computer lab or class (no matter how lame, but that’s for another post). I just wasn’t ready for it this soon I guess. Maybe somewhere towards high school.

So, the next question I have is how long before computers are required for kids going to school? Are they required at your kids’  school? My daughter’s been eying my netbook for sometime; it’s just her size. I will get her one eventually, but Heaven help me if her school required it now. “Mom, it’s got to be pink! Megan’s got a pink one!”