Is it possible to install “Android” on a netbook? Yes it is possible. Moreover, this mobile operating system works surprisingly well on any device on Windows, including desktop computers. It is provided free of charge, unlike Windows or Mac, and is more elegant and easier to use than Linux.
Android is an OS aimed at smartphones and tablets, which is a mobile operating system for the most part. Therefore, it may seem strange to have it on a laptop or netbook, but this does not mean that this is impossible. The main reason why Android often does not work on such devices is hardware. Most netbooks and mini-laptops are powered by Intel or AMD processors that are specifically designed to work on the x86 instruction set. Android, on the other hand, was designed with a focus on mobile device processors using the ARM architecture.
However, devices with ports running on x86 have recently appeared, and some users can use the Android OS as a secondary operating system on laptops. This is mainly done in order to have access to thousands of applications for Android, available only in the Android Market.
Android OS on a netbook or smartbook
There is a class of devices (very rarely used today), called smartbooks. They were intended to run Android and other open source software and featured functionality associated with mobile devices: excellent communications, portability, and long battery life. All this was located in one device, which was much cheaper than a netbook or laptop.
Smartbooks have been squeezed out of the market by netbooks and tablets, but some models still remain in use. In fact, they are a tablet with a keyboard and mainly contain applications specially designed for smartphones and tablets. But, since today they are quite rare, you should figure out how to install "Android" on a netbook or laptop.
Convenience in functionality
It is worth noting that Android is designed to use less power than Windows. For this reason, it offers rather mediocre indicators. The power of this shell is not designed to play HD-video or games, but for browsing the web and working with entertainment applications it is quite suitable. According to user reviews, to solve simple problems, this operating system is very convenient.
Ready netbook on the Android system
As already mentioned, the era of smartbooks is nearing completion. The most famous gadget with a mobile OS can be called the Toshiba AC100 - a 10-inch netbook that runs on Android 2.2 and a Tegra-class processor. It is commercially available and currently has 32 GB of internal memory and 512 MB of RAM. In principle, with such indicators it can be used for simple work and entertainment. Its significant advantage is that it can operate on a single charge for about 8 hours, and also comes with an HDMI port. You should not try to use it for productive work, but for simple surfing the Internet and heavy games, it is quite suitable.
Other manufacturers also at one time released a number of smartbooks. However, the developers went a little to the side and began to make devices of a new generation. Yes, today you can find a Samsung netbook on Android, but this is a transformer. At its core, it is a tablet that comes with a docking station and keyboard. Such a device looks and works just like a netbook, which received rave reviews among users.
Modern models even allow you to connect the mouse to the tablet, thereby creating an almost identical user experience.
However, to find such a netbook Samsung or Asus on Android, you have to look for a very long time. As follows from the reviews, most people prefer to buy either a tablet (which will have light touch input) or a netbook (which comes with a full-blown keyboard and will work on a full-fledged “desktop” OS). Nevertheless, given that the Android OS is now adapted to work with Intel or AMD processors, it can offer a worthy alternative to Windows.
Can I do the installation myself
Currently, you can install Android on a netbook by downloading the x86 version of Android and installing it as the second additional OS on the computer. This can be done using tools like unetbootin, which allow booting from a USB drive.
To do this, take a 10-inch netbook (Asus Eee PC is the most popular among them) and download any version of Android on it yourself.
As noted above, the Android market these days is very large, and most of the applications that you prefer to use on mobile devices will work the same on your netbook. Of course, you will lose the opportunities available for the touch screen, but at the same time you get a keyboard, touchpad, a large number of USB ports and a micro-SD card slot. This sounds very attractive, so if you have a netbook, then it’s definitely worth trying to install “Android” on it. How to do this?
Download Android to your main computer
The first thing you need to do is visit the Android x86 download page and choose the right ISO file to download. Newer versions are at the bottom of the list. This article provides an example with version 4.0. It can be found in the section entitled “Android platforms x86-4.0-RC1” You will be offered several different options, so try to choose the most suitable for you. For example, there is the option “ASUS Eee PC family netbook”, which will be recommended for netbooks of this brand. The installation process is simple and not very lengthy, so do not be afraid to try setting another ISO later if the first one does not work. Just download the file on any computer that you use - the device should not be the same on which you want to install Android.
Copy the ISO file to a USB drive
Once you have the downloaded ISO image, you will need to transfer it to your netbook. Since most gadgets do not support CDs, the best way is to download a tool called Unetbootin Help. After downloading it, just run the file and you will see a screen with the program interface.
Click on the button with three dots in the right part of the window and select the ISO file that you downloaded. Then select the drive to which you want to copy the ISO. Wait for all the information to load onto the USB drive you selected. Be sure to make sure you copy everything you want to save!
Once the download is complete, click OK. A pop-up window will appear for a short time, in which a horizontal bar for downloading the file will be displayed, and then upon completion of the operation you will be informed and you will be asked if you want to restart the computer. Click no and remove the USB drive.
Prepare the netbook for installation
Now that you have saved the ISO file to USB, you are almost ready to install Android on your netbook. If you have any files on your hard drive that you will be sorry to lose (for example, photos, documents or videos), be sure to save them to a USB flash drive. Despite the fact that data not on bootable disks should be saved, there is always a risk that something will go wrong, therefore it is better to take all security measures.
Connect the USB drive to the netbook. You will need to press one key (most likely, Delete or one of the F keys, i.e. F1) to select the device from which you want to boot. Here you need to select a USB drive from the list. If you are not able to get into the boot menu, you will need to go into the BIOS and change the boot order - install one in which the USB drive will be displayed earlier than any other device. After that, you can directly proceed to the steps of how to install Android.
Install boot process
Once you have set your boot order and inserted USB, you can download the graphical installer for Android for x86. This menu will give you the option to download Android 4.0 directly without installation, and you can try using this OS right away. However, if you want to install a mobile operating system on an ongoing basis, this step is optional.
At this stage, you will have to select the drive where Android will be installed on the netbook - you can select any partition in ext3 / ext2 (Linux) or NTFS / FAT32 (for Windows). You should not format (or even clean up) the disk on which you are installing the shell, but you should still back up the files.
After you have selected the drive, you will be asked to select the size of the partition to install. Go forward through the menu and choose the maximum size (which is usually 2048 MB). This will take some time, depending on the speed of your hard drive. You can also create a virtual SD card at this time, and after that you will be asked to restart your computer. Do this, and remember to remove the USB drive when the netbook shuts down.
Direct installation process
Now you should download the installed Android OS to the netbook. Select the first item in the boot menu, and your netbook will start working on Android. Initially, you will see white text on a black background followed by a luminous Android logo, and then, finally, the OS itself will load and a screen will appear with the inscription “Welcome”. You will be prompted to connect to a wireless network, log in to your Google account, and some other basic questions (about the current time and so on) will become available. After entering these parameters, the download is complete and you finally get to the Android desktop. The model of your gadget does not make any difference - “Android” is installed on the “Asus” netbook in the same way as on “Samsung”, “Acer” and so on.
Settings and options "Android"
After the shell is loaded and functioning on your device, you should deal with it and install some unique useful applications. Such services are constantly updated and supplemented, so stay tuned.
Of course, the netbook does not have a touch screen, but Android still supports touch panels, keyboards and peripherals via USB connections. By installing Android on a netbook, you can use the docking stations and add-ons at your own discretion - restrictions can be imposed solely by the features of your device. What other benefits can be found?
Financial gain and lack of licenses
Everyone knows that Microsoft requires rather large royalties for using its Windows operating system, while Google does not offer any fees for Android. Functioning on the basis of Linux, Android will help to save both on its own maintenance and on downloading various programs.
Appearance and screen interface
Getting used to the interface may take some time for those who are used to constantly working on Windows. We can say that this is one of the main reasons why many are in no hurry to change the OS on their device. Currently, Android is actively developing, and each new version looks prettier and more pleasant that cannot go unnoticed. Google is trying to compete and is therefore constantly looking for new advantages over Microsoft. Of course, it is too early today to speak of a complete victory in this struggle, but some prerequisites for success are evident.
Easy to use
Netbooks are designed primarily for small and short-term work, so a simple OS is much better and more harmonious. Windows can be difficult to use, constantly require updates, and some functions are completely useless for users who just want to browse web pages and write e-mail messages. As a rule, high functionality and great features are required for the operation of stationary large devices.
In turn, the Android OS on a netbook, reviews of which speak of its convenience, can simplify the computing process thanks to a simple user interface and online applications (for example, Google documents). Google services were practically created in order to be simple working tools and gain popularity among ordinary users. An additional bonus is the large number of games available for free.