Canonical vs. Microsoft: Netbook Cat Fight

Quoting:Regardless of which operating system you choose, some netbooks come with cheap keyboards, lousy batteries and other money saving items that deliver less-than-stellar user experiences.

That's the reason those things are so cheap, don't you think?

You see it when you compare a Suzuki to a Volkswagen of the same price: The Suzuki has tons of extra accessories a Volkswagen of the same price doesn't have. When comparing two of them with the same accessoires, the Volkswagen will be much more expensive.

The difference - why the Suzuki is cheaper - can be found in the quality of the materials used, of which the plastic is a good example. I own a Suzuki, and when screwing some screws through the plastic to mount new speakers, the cheap plastic broke, the same goes for some suspension-cover caps in the trunk; they also break really easy. The carpet in the interior becomes loose from the sides, and the whole car squeaks and beeps a bit. Nonetheless I'm happy, because I couldn't afford a Volkswagen with the same accessories.

This happens in cheaper consumer products too. Some of the plastics used at the company where I work costs more than $150 per kilo, which for plastic is really expensive. That's why the interior products our company makes will last at least seven years, while the cheaper ones which doesn't have that expensive plastic will break far sooner. However, from the outside the difference can't be seen.

All of this is no problem as long as the user knows less money buys less quality. If they however expect a stellar experience for $150, that could mean trouble.