Can Android pose a threat to Microsoft in netbook market

So far Microsoft has been the only choice of platform for netbooks leaving aside . However vendors like Acer are abooks on Android platform and others such as Asus are liklely to follow. Freescale has also announced its support for Android and other open source platforms for its ARM base netbooks. It needs to be seen how android competes with microsoft in this market. As of now, android is a novice in the real software business as opposed to web based businesses, given the omnipresence of microsoft eco-system. The support from other software vendors would be a key to the success of android. Google has been working with a lot of software companies to garner support Adobe for its abobe flash is one.

One major challage for google would be to manage different branched developments for its android platform.

Other challenge is from the usablity perspective of netbooks; it is doubtful that netbooks would be used as a stand alone device, rather these would form part of user's existing PC enviornment which might include, desktop or notebook PC, the ease with which these android based devices would synchronize with user's existing PC enviornemt would also determine its success. Moreover, netbooks which were percieved as a internet devices ayear ago, now
offer much enhanced functionalities.
One factor in support of android could be the low cost value proposition which the device manufacturers can put forward to customers using android. This value proposition may have an additive effect with ARM based processors for netbooks.