Dell has some pretty sweet deals on desktops and laptops with Ubuntu.
The suggested retail price of the Dell Inspiron 1420N with the Ubuntu operating system is $729.00, which is about 10 bucks less than what you could pay for two pieces of Microsoft software (no computer just the software) - Microsoft Office Professional at the suggested retail of $499.95 and Windows Vista Home Premium at $239.95. It's hard to imagine how that software pricing scheme could be sustainable considering the functions most users are looking for in a computer.
The tiny ASUS Eee PC also has a Linux operating system. A laptop with wireless capability and a browser can do everything many people use computer's for - surfing the web, watching YouTube, listening to music, email, and chat. The Eee has Open Office included if you need to do some word processing, spreadsheets or presentations.
For around 300 bucks you could have a neat little micro-laptop, or get a bargain on Microsoft Office 2007.
__________________________________________
I've used MS-Dos and Windows products for years and I'm not a Microsoft basher, but competition is healthy. I find that Linux and various other open source applications are as good as, and in some cases better, than some very expensive software.I have to laugh when I read or hear heated discussions about what computer, application or operating system is good/bad. They aren't good or bad - they are just tools and some are better for certain tasks than others. Pick the one that works best for you - but I wouldn't make up my mind about a Mac, Windows or Linux based machine without at least giving them a fair try.
Bill Gates talks about competition in this 2005 interview with the late Peter Jennings on ABC -
JENNINGS: I read an article coming up here on Firefox (Web browser) and its perceived ability to do this better than you. Is that fair?
GATES: Well, there's competition in every place that we're in. The browser space that we are in we have about 90 percent. Sure Firefox has come along and the press love the idea of that. Our commitment is to keep our browser that competes with Firefox to be the best browser -- best in security, best in features. In fact, we just announced that we'll have a new version of the browser so we're innovating very rapidly there and it's our commitment to have the best.
JENNINGS: Are you going to have to push your browser faster because of competition?
GATES: "Well, competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry?
JENNINGS: I knew you were going to say that (laughs).
GATES: (smiles) ... is intensely competitive. Whether it's Google or Apple or free software, we've got some fantastic competitors and it keeps us on our toes."
_____________________________________________
I think we benefit if Microsoft is competitive and hope that they figure out a way to not repeat the Vista and Internet Explorer 7 fiascoes.
