News August 14, 2009

ZaReason Now Selling Terra A20 Netbook

Over on workswithu.com, I came across this sweet new Ubuntu Netbook. ZaReason has released the Terra A20 Netbook. While ZaReason is not the first to use Ubuntu, I personally think they will be one of the best!

Base specs are an Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz CPU, 10 inch 1024×600 LCD, Intel GMA 950, Draft N Wifi, a 5400 RPM 160 GB hard drive, Optional 3G modem, 3.5 hours battery life, 3 USB ports, SD card slot, VGA port and headphone and mic jacks. Oh, and it has a Ubuntu logo on the keyboard instead of a Windows key!

Since ZaReason is not held to Microsoft’s “standards” for netbooks, you can have ZaReason upgrade the storage to a maximum of 500 GB when ordering a 5400 RPM drive, or 320 GB with a 7200 RPM drive. Ram can also be bumped to 2 GB for $29.

The Terra A20 starts at $349. With the 320 GB 7200 RPM disk, 2 GB of ram and a 3g modem, it comes in at $556. SSD’s as large as 160 GB are also available, but of course this increases the price significantly.

Tags: Linux, Netbooks, Ubuntu

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About Joel McLaughlin

View all posts by Joel McLaughlin

Joel is a system admin for a local college in Columbus, OH. While he loves Linux and tends to use it more than anything else, he will stoop to running closed source if it is the best tool for the job. His techno passions are Linux, Android, netbooks, GPS, podcasting and Amateur Radio.

http://www.geardiary.com Michael Anderson

Wow … that is one expensive base-standard netbook!
Joel McLaughlin

Not really considering that a Asus 1000HE which is quite similar to this is currently $385. The base config on this is only $350.
http://www.geardiary.com Michael Anderson

I suppose you are right … I am just so used to netbooks fully configured falling under $500 at this point.
Joel McLaughlin

The base model is the same as the fully configured model from Asus, HP and Acer.

The Fully Configured maxed out version here does cost a lot but you get a lot that the others aren’t giving you. 500 GB 5400 RPM drive for the maximum storage or 320 GB of 7200 RPM storage. That plus 3g and your getting a ok deal in my opinion.
http://www.geardiary.com Michael Anderson

I think where I got hung up was the Ubuntu thing … most places have WinXP on their non-budget versions.

But I think you’re right – Linux is a lost cause on netbooks …
clicktician

I wanted Ubuntu on a netbook, so this looked like a dream come true. I had a few questions about the SSD and the dimensions (which are oddly omitted everywhere). I e-mailed ZaReason telling them I’d like these answered before I purchased one.

No response. A few minutes ago I ordered the vastly inferior Asus Eee because I knew I could install Ubuntu myself, and it would “just work.” Too bad. What’s still a problem with these Linux-expert integrators is the willingness to come down from Mt. Olympus and talk to mere customers.
Joel McLaughlin

This does not sound like ZaReason. I guess it depends on how long you waited for a response. ZaReason delayed sending a review unit to me because they could not make them fast enough and the ones they were making went to the customers first.
Joel McLaughlin

Michael: I personally think it’s the other way around. Netbooks are growing but I am afraid if XP continues to be the OS shipping on them that people will get frustrated with the poor performance. Granted…the Nvidia Ion graphics chip will help performance. Linux isn’t a lost cause on netbooks. The first netbook ever ran Linux. Jolicloud, Moblin and more are running on a Linux kernel. Linux is blossoming on netbooks and performs better too.
http://www.geardiary.com Michael Anderson

Whether or not Linux performs better is irrelevant, sadly. There have been loads of articles showing that:
- WinXP is increasing market share on netbooks as Linux drops.
- Customer returns are STAGGERINGLY skewed towards Linux, with a big reason being … it isn’t Windows.
- Customer feedback showing that they want familiar Windows experience on the netbook.

Personally, the way I use the netbook I *need* WinXP – while much of the light document work and email / web stuff could be handled via Linux, I run a couple of Windows specific statistics apps that work well enough on the netbook that I can avoid carrying home my work laptop most days.

Also, I have it loaded up with classic PC games of the ~1993 – 2004 era.
Joel McLaughlin

I don’t think that the returns are “STAGGERING”. I will admit some are returned. It doesn’t surprise me that people are getting a Linux one when they really want a Windows one. Not really a fault of Linux….more of a fault of people not reading the side of the box or asking the right question.

I think one thing that I must point out….it’s hard for me to find linux netbooks in stock. Even on Amazon.com. I think my issue is Linux has not been given a fair shake since Microsoft woke up to the possibility of making some cash on netbooks. Vendors want windows.

Sure…customer feedback shows that. The problem is a netbook has been redefined thanks to Microsoft. Netbooks started out small with 7 inch and 9 inch screens. Now it’s hard to find one without a 10 inch screen.

Plus, the initial $299 price is hard to find now with many netbooks above $350 and some reaching as much as 500. People won’t spend that much for what could be a throw away purchase. They figure I just spent 500 and I don’t have Windows? It gets returned.

SO it’s hard for Linux to do well at all in that kind of hostile environment. If Linux isn’t even given a fair shake then it doesn’t have a chance.

Linux IS being used on netbooks and is hardly dead. It’s just not seeing the sales as high as the original Eee PC 701 because it’s not the only option like ti was back then. Linux is selling on netbooks it’s just not what is making the blogs.

Saying Linux is dead on netbooks is the same way as saying netbooks as a category is dead.
http://www.geardiary.com Michael Anderson

I completely agree with everything you said!

Though I wouldn’t characterize Linux as ‘dead’ on netbooks, I think the heady days of great sales and high expectations of Linux becoming mainstream based on netbooks are a ‘lost cause’.

As for netbooks themselves, I see them as another transitional bit of hardware. Remember ultra-portables and subnotes? I still have my Toshiba Poprtege 3480CT, nice little thing! This category seems to come and go with time – I think the concept is here to stay with netbooks, but the category is being shaken up as Microsoft and PC makers are trying to form a continuum from $200 – $2000 in notebooks from netbooks through basics all the way to ‘ultras’.