Asus is a giant in the rapidly expanding netbook industry. The Taipei-based manufacturer is #2 with a 30% market share (HP is a distant third with 5.8%).
Samson Hu, head of Asus’ Eee PC business, has already allocated engineers and the product could be on the market as early as year-end.
Google Android is based on Linux and was originally developed for mobile phones. It’s finding it difficult to gain traction because of the success of Apple’s iPhone. Developers are heavily favoring the iPhone for their applications. The netbook market could be Android’s cup of tea.
Of course, this will be an important front in the epic battle between tech’s two titans: Microsoft and Google. The big G has handily defeated MSFT in internet search and its trying to build on that big win. Google had $8.7 billion in cash on hand at the end of 2008 (more than MSFT) and thus has the financial ammunition for a long fight. It could combine its efforts to build an office suite to offer a complete alternative to the MS Windows + Office monopoly. It will be interesting to see what Linux with a big corporate sponsor is capable of. This might be essential once Windows 7 is introduced.
The entrance of Google also illustrates the dynamism in the Netbook market. Taiwanese manufacturers pioneered the product and has usurped HP and Dell to control most of the market. Linux is has eaten a decent chunk of Microsoft’s market share and Freescale is challanging Intel. now Source: Bloomberg
Google Android struggled because of the success of iphone? What planet is this guy on? iphone only has a 5% market share.