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It is also possible to buy a computer with Linux pre-installed, instead of having to remove Windows. ZaReason and System 76 both offer PCs with Linux pre-installed. If I am not mistaken, Linux is the only choice that either company offers on any of their computers.

In addition to not having to pay Microsoft for an OS that is not wanted, a Linux user could be confident that all of the hardware is totally Linux compatible. That would be good to know, even if a fresh clean install a different version of Linux was later done.

http://zareason.com/
http://www.system76.com/

Not all: http://zareason.com/shop/ZaReason-s-Open-Hardware-Warranty.html

But I gotta plug these guys: ZaReason. Good systems, no bloatware.

Here are a couple of places from whom I've bought linux boxes: http://system76.com/ , http://www.zareason.com/ Based on my extremely small sample size, I've found system76 to be a little better in terms of quality, but I've seen lots of positive comments about both of these businesses on the web.

Of course I realize that the existence of alternatives doesn't mean that Microsoft isn't massively exploiting its monopoly power over the market ("monopoly" in the legal sense, which does not require 100% market share). But if nobody bothers to buy from the alternatives, then I can sure as heck guarantee you that the situation will get worse, not better.

Some big retailers such as Fry's, Target, and Walmart have tried selling linux machines. As far as I've been able to tell, none of them have been successful, and I don't think the failure has anything to do with strong-arm tactics by MS. A while back, Fry's used to sell linux machines for $180-250 that were actually pretty decent. I bought several of them (one for my father, one for my daughter, etc.), and they lasted a long time and gave yeoman service. But they stopped selling them, and when I asked one of the salespeople at Fry's he said that they'd had so many returns that it wasn't profitable. Realistically, what was happening was that a lot of people were buying them, wiping linux off the hard disk, and installing a bootlegged copy of windows. Then when the windows install didn't work correctly, they would return the machine. This wasn't subtle at all. The machines came with a custom linux distro (ThizLinux) that nobody in the U.S. had ever heard of and that didn't even have a web page in English. The docs that came with the machines consisted of five pages of instructions on how to install windows, and no info whatsoever on how to use the linux that came preinstalled.
Walmart was selling the gPC for a while. I bought one, and although the hardware was decent, the quality of the software integration stank to high heaven.

What the smaller sellers like system76 and zareason are doing right is to stop trying to invent their own crappy linux distro and just ship their machines with ubuntu, which works. Another thing they're doing right is to market their computers to people who actually want to run linux, as opposed to people who don't know about, don't care about, or don't want linux.

http://www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=28
http://zareason.com/shop/Laptops/

Among many others, I'm sure.

A top-tier vendor has a whopping three notebooks (including one home laptop, one netbook and one business laptop) and two desktops (one home, one business)?

Seriously?!

System76 has five notebooks (two netbooks, three laptops) and six desktops (two nettops, four desktops).

ZaReason has seven laptops (one netbook and six notebooks; there is a netbook which isn't currently shown that's sold out and getting refreshed) and eight desktops (one nettop and seven desktops).

Something odd is going on if significantly smaller companies can offer a significantly larger selection.

A top-tier vendor has a whopping three notebooks (including one home laptop, one netbook and one business laptop) and two desktops (one home, one business)?

Seriously?!

System76 has five notebooks (two netbooks, three laptops) and six desktops (two nettops, four desktops).

ZaReason has seven laptops (one netbook and six notebooks; there is a netbook which isn't currently shown that's sold out and getting refreshed) and eight desktops (one nettop and seven desktops).

Something odd is going on if significantly smaller companies can offer a significantly larger selection.

A top-tier vendor has a whopping three notebooks (including one home laptop, one netbook and one business laptop) and two desktops (one home, one business)?

Seriously?!

System76 has five notebooks (two netbooks, three laptops) and six desktops (two nettops, four desktops).

ZaReason has seven laptops (one netbook and six notebooks; there is a netbook which isn't currently shown that's sold out and getting refreshed) and eight desktops (one nettop and seven desktops).

Something odd is going on if significantly smaller companies can offer a significantly larger selection.

It is simple to avoid all hardware related issues with all Linux distros today, especially those related to WiFi, Sound, Video, etc....

Follow this advice and NEVER have problems again, ever.

Purchase your hardware ONLY from Linux Vendors, my favorite is ZaReason. Another is System 76. I know there are many more.

I just updated to Ubuntu 10-10 last night on my Breeze Pro 4220 (starting at $399, still under $816 with quad core, 4GB RAM and 1GB HD) and it is working like a champ! I love getting 4 cores, 4GB RAM and a GB hard drive for under $816...love it!

If you want to run Windows (for games) I get that, purchase Windows 7 separately and install it, the method you choose will vary and is up to you...but at least you KNOW IT WILL WORK.

Linux has more device drivers than any other operating system in the world, ever. The only reason anyone has problems is always related to proprietary hardware/software/BIOS crap...all of which is easy to avoid, purchase from a Linux vendor ONLY.

Same with Android, buy only hardware where you have Linux root access, avoid all other proprietary chips/hardware.

Follow that advice and no more problems, ever.

It is that simple.

My next PC from ZaReason will also run CentOS, Damn Small Linux and Fedora in addition to the latest greatest Ubuntu. If I have learned anything from all the Microsoft Windows BS over the years, its never put all your eggs in one basket. Also, if you only have two choices, you have no choice.

I learned the hard way, you can too, see the message at the bottom, but first to your post...

If the new version of Skype is attempting to force you to provide additional information through Coarse location (your words) or Acting as an account authenticator then only purchase handsets that give you full Linux root access and you can install any version of Linux Skype. I suspect that the proprietary provider, whether Verizon, Cingular, ATT, TMobile, whoever (they are all equally bad based on customer no service alone) has added code to ruin your day, document who you are in order to sell your personal information to others (advertisers) and geo locate you through triangulation or some other method...none of which is honestly good for you (can you say stalker, I knew you could).

If the handset does not allow for root access so you can configure and install software of your choosing, do NOT purchase it.

This avoids all the hassles. And another hint, I can serve more clients with WiFi and DD-WRT running on a supported device then any 3G, 4G... or 10G network. Just wait until I can get Fiber to the home (FTTH) that is starting to be offered in a few areas in the USA. I can not wait to be out from under the bandwidth restricting, throttling cable companies (100% of them limit your bandwidth, you just do not know if you are not running one of these three softwares on a DD-WRT supported device!: DD-WRT, OpenWrt or Tomato. That too is a choice you made that limits your ability to log and see what is really going on.

Stop making poor choices, stop purchasing proprietary hardware that only hurts and limits you.

No Root Access ~ Not Smart!
Not Smart ~ Dumb device!

I would add No Linux ~ Not Smart, but that is my admitted bias based on poor experience with Microsoft since the day they started business. Yes I used IBM PC DOS before MS DOS...that that is another story.

Nokia Nxxx devices have Maemo Root Access

Note: Some versions of Android allow for Root Access, just not any of the versions put out by the cellular companies, do NOT purchase their handsets. Those same cellular companies choose proprietary hardware and chips on purpose to lock down the device, prevent you from configuring or installing software. To help them and hurt you...do not buy their crap proprietary hand sets.

Read and write contact data - I assume this means the Skype app stores contact data in the phone's address book, but it also gives it access to all my other contact data (local or google contacts).

I run Skype (for Linux of course) on my Asus Eee PC netbook, ZaReason Breeze Pro 4220 (starting at $399, still under $816 with quad core, 4GB RAM and 1GB HD) and Nokia N800 just fine. There is a Linux version of Skype that will run on all three of them. There is a version of Linux that will run on your hardware and if you purchase the right hardware, without additional configuration issues.

Hint: The right hardware is NEVER offered by big box stores, Microsoft, Microsoft partners, or Cellular providers....just a fact. You control th

And this is why we have sellers such as

• ZaReason—request just about any Linux distro you want, even if it's not in the drop-down field (my fave—the only OEM I've found selling systems with KDE and Xfce based distros in addition to GNOME ones)
• System76—all Ubuntu
• Dell—they finally have a desktop with Ubuntu 10.04, and there's some 9.04 & 9.10 laptops

Mac OS = 1 company
Linux = A few companies ( I count three)
Windows = Very many companies

If that's a valid comparison, so is the smartphone OS one.

buy from someone else

http://system76.com/
http://zareason.com/

Wow, big fucking newsflash that was. Buy a computer with a particular OS preloaded and it Just Works. Damn. Who'da thunkit? Probably these guys. I'll bet a Linux computer from these people will work pretty spiffily OOTB too.

if you want linux pre-installed, there are a number of options for linux-only vendors. I've had good experiences with System76, and heard good things about ZaReason. Of corse, you could pay the MS Tax on you hardware, but these two are pretty competitive, and you get Linux support and (to the extent they control it) hardware that was designed for Linux (a big deal for suspend/resume and making hardware Just Work, until vendors can stop cutting corners (e.g. broken DSDTs, see problems with Microsoft's compiler (which is pretty much the only one in use, except sometimes when Linux is pre-installed) and the recent foxconn debacle) and working around bugs in their windows-only drivers!) So basically, Linux-supporting hardware is less hassle, full vendor support, and fairly comparably priced.

Think about it. Microsoft has a vested monetary interest in maintaining and sustaining a stable element of the PC ecosystem (the OS) for everyone else to work with. Same for Apple. The only thing missing from Linux for the same thing to happen is an economic entity to take the lead and provide the single point of stability. Canonical will have to usurp leadership of consumer Linux from the kernel devs and Linus. Period. That is the only way you'll see Linux offered in retail settings:

There is a danger, no pun intended, here...a history lesson to be remembered by one and all. If Microsoft promises to work with a Linux vendor, in any capacity (WINE, MONO, Moonlight and many others should pay attention), do not waste your money on their hardware unless you can verify 100% the hardware will work should that vendor fail.

This lesson should have been learned by anyone who bought hardware running Lindros, once that company went out of business, because they used proprietary components on their motherboards there were many problems upgrading the hardware to other Linux distros. The company that put out Lindros had paid royalty money to Microsoft in order to supply Windows compatible device drivers with the Lindros Linux operating system of their computers.

It seemed like the best of all worlds, but ended up being another Embrace, extend and extinguish strategy/opportunity.

I wish I had known about ZaReason back then, as I would have never experienced problems with Graphics and/or Sound on Foxconn mother boards. Live and learn.

As for my references to Linux open source projects to be "more compatible" with Windows...you have to be careful that you are not assisting Microsoft in the Embrace and Extend business policies that end up extinguishing, innovation, products and companies, as they over the years. History is littered with examples and only fools fail to learn the lessons of that history!

Besides, we do not have to be more compatible with Windows, they need to be more compatible with open source and Linux. Just look at all the kernel terminology, language and functionality that has appeared in Vista, Windows 7 and other Microsoft applications that have existed in GNU, Linux and Unix for years. Microsoft will continue to modify their software applications to be more efficient as GNU/Linux is now.

Open source needs to bravely blaze ahead and let them try to catch up if they dare!

Some people just have not realized this yet.

Hey Hairyfeet like your posts, just disagree with a few here and there, however even when I disagree I can see the experience, the real life experience in your posts.

Have to disagree with this statement:

These companies are NOT gonna release their source code, at least not now in this hostile climate, but what they WILL do is put drivers on CDs, and penguins on the boxes if you'll let them, because nobody like cutting off potential customers.

Specifically the if you'll let them part. No one is stopping them, besides perhaps Microsoft (and many would debate that...so sad ) . When you have projects like the Linux Driver Project, companies have no excuse not to make device drivers available to customers. No reasonable excuses that is.

But expecting users in 2009 with a straight face to play paperweight roulette is just truly the height of arrogance and insanity.

Perhaps suggesting PCs and hardwares might end up as paper weights was not the best choice for an analogy. As this is exactly another reason why I loath Microsoft today, thanks to Vista, though admittedly I had been burned by Microsoft multiple times before than. The BSOD, GPFs and now the blacK Screens Of Death (KSODs) that have occurred after one of Microsoft's recent auto updates.

Microsoft was more than happy to play paperweight roulette as you call it with Vista and user PCs. Though I would suggest to you that with roulette you have a chance at winning, albeit a very small one. With Vista, there was absolutely no chance the old PCs running Vista. As they say hindsight is 20/20.

Can you say Vista, I knew you could...

The best solution for all PC users for hope of NOT being left with a paperweight is to purchase a PC, whose hardware will run Linux FIRST. If you want to run Vista or Windows 7, you can always run them, but if you are smart enough to purchase hardware that will run Linux first, that same hardware will run Linux in 10 years from now, when Microsoft will obviously no longer support either Vista or Windows 7.

I would suggest buying all future PC hardware from a Linux vendor, who knows which proprietary hardware to stay away from. Two that I know of are ZaReason and System 76. Of course a forward thinking person like yourself might see this opportunity for what it is and start creating systems that will run Linux and Windows 7...just a thought!

Perhaps Linux and open source should thank Microsoft, although I am not willing to do that for at least 7 years as I reset my 7 year clock (check my other posts for info about the 7 year clock), as System76’s 1Q 2009 revenue growth — 61 percent thanks to the Vista debacle and that is only one Linux vendor.

Here are six great options, ZaReason, Inc: Building Linux hardware so you don't have to

Here are six more: System 76 laptops

Did you even try to look? Most people do not even try.

The biggest mistake any consumer of PCs, laptops, towers, etc can make today is to buy any hardware from a vendor who does not understand and do Linux. This goes for all the big box stores and even Dell, they only pay a passing glance to Linux and do not really do it right, as experienced by Linux being buried down in their website and not prominently marketed on their main page from the start.

If you are foolish enough to purchase from anyone but a Linux hardware computer builder, you will be frustrated with needless vendor lock-in issues meant only to keep you a Microsoft Windows users, period.

Here is the rub, Every Linux PC can run Windows. Because of Vendor Lock-In, not every Windows PC can run Linux.

Even the most devout Windows / Microsoft FAN can NOT deny that simple fact!

Moral of story: Eventually a proprietary company will STOP supporting what you purchased attempting you to pay more for new equipment. Your only choice for that older, yet very useful, hardware is to KNOW you can run Linux (any distro, there are many). Even if you do not want to run Linux, by purchasing hardware that will, you will be in a position to donate that older hardware to non profits that will get Linux up and running and donate it to third world countries so children can learn.

There is NO downside to purchasing hardware from a Linux vendor. There are almost ALWAYS vendor lock-in hardware issues from any of the big box stores and anyone who only does Microsoft.

Use the two vendors ZaReason or System 76 above, you will be glad you did, and you will help out children in third world countries one day when you upgrade your hardware, as the hardware your purchased will run Linux.

http://system76.com/
http://www.zareason.com/shop/home.php
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

There are a few :-)

And let's magically assume that you can, in fact, order laptops from Dell without OSses. They'd still have Windows keys, and be plastered with "Designed for Windows" stickers. Does anyone who ordered an Ubuntu laptop from Dell have anything to say otherwise?

You can order laptops from ZaReason without OSses installed.

What point is it that people hope to make when they do things like this? If you want to support preloaded Linux, why not buy preloaded Linux?

http://www.zareason.com/shop/home.php

If you want to get a PC with no OS at all, why not buy a used machine on eBay that has no OS? There are typically dozens listed. I built my own desktop. No OS. You can even buy a new PC with only a barebones OS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_n_Series

And the headline says something about a "Microsoft Tax." How ridiculous. Governments levy taxes. Software and hardware vendors that you do not like do not levy taxes, no matter how much you do not like the product. If you do not want Microsoft products, do not buy them.

maybe because people will continue buying WinMobile handsets for the same reason they continue to buy Windows PCs?

Happily stopped purchasing Windows products over a year and a half ago, should have done it sooner. I am finding that in every category, even Graphics editing, Movie playing and mail / office apps, my FREEDOM with #Linux is superior than the limitations forced on me via vendor-lockin.

Remember, buy Linux PCs from a Vendor like ZaReason that builds the PC, laptop, netbook, multi-media machine from the ground up with Linux in mind, thus no issues with anything, their Linux machines just work right out of the box.

When my friends could no longer reformat their PCs hard drive + reinstall their purchased Microsoft OS in order to clean out bloat and remove viruses, adware, etc, I just shook my head and reminded them why Microsoft lost my over 20+ years of TRUST. Never mind that it does not help as the first FORCED update/upgrade puts most, if not all, of the bloat back on your PC. Does Microsoft even sell a CD or DVD with the purchase of either Vista or Windows 7, as I would never purchase an operating system without one. Depend on the internet connection always being up and my bandwidth un-capped, I do not think so.

I often have to remind them more than a few times, before they get frustrated enough with Microsoft to find a guaranteed solution that is 100% in their control and will work. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your view point, Microsoft gives me plenty of opportunities to remind my friends. Especially since Vista was released. Heck every FORCED auto update / upgrade is one more opportunity for Microsoft to shine, NOT.

No tethering issues with an open Linux mobile handset. Any many more software applications options, especially games.

As for Mobile handsets, stick with a Linux based OS, like Maemo.org, yes I know Android is Linux based, but I have not checked to see if I can install it on my Nokia N800. I have no need to purchase a handset just to run another OS, when Maemo does everything I need it to do. At least with a fully functioning Linux based handheld their are NO tethering issues or any bogus reasons for you not to be able to use the software of your choice. Anyone with a proprietary OS from one of the cellular providers knows what a pain in the butt that is. And for one reason ONLY: vendor lock-in!

No text messaging caps, I would think this would be huge for every family with teenagers. No additional fees and all they can eat text messaging. Besides text messaging should be free if you understand the engineering behind how communications with the towers works. Why chance that you will be raped for an additional inflated FEE.

As more and more people get frustrated with limitations to their handhelds proprietary software operating system, options like Android and Maemo will look much more promising.

While I still use MacIntosh computers and Microsoft computers for some work related contracts, hey I have over 20+ years of experience that comes in handy. At home it is Linux or nothing. I just got tired of the crap. I want my computer to just work, no hassles, just work. I upgrade when I choose to upgrade ONLY. And that is after others have tried and posted the problems with the new update or upgrade. I do not have time for the interruptions to my life that auto update and auto upgrade cause. I have NEVER been hit with a Virus because I browse safely without Java, JavaScript and/or Action X automatically enabled by default. I recommend using a sandboxed PC when you turn on features that can introduce cross scripting issues via websites. It works. Oh yes, I never use IE for anything but testing my own development. If you use Internet Explorer, designed open by default without the a

Full 3D support for a better 3D desktop experience with Compiz or Beryl for only $349; Limbo 3550 desktop.

For only $299, get the Limbo 2550A desktop. They have laptops and more.

For $699, get the Homebox 4.

I met the entire family at SCALE 7x, held every February in Los Angeles (reasonably priced at $75 for the tradeshow, beats $600 to $1,400 which is the cost of most other tradeshows), they traveled from their home in Colorado to attend. Great people who stand behind their products. All their products come with a 1 year warranty.

For 2010, the premier Open Source Community conference in the United States, will return to the Westin LAX Hotel. SCALE 8x will be February 19th-21st, 2010

For netbooks, they are lite and weigh next to nothing, less than 2 lbs, which means very cheap shipping costs. So get the pre-installed with Linux netbooks from an online vendor. Use Pricegrabber, I can recommend NewEgg as a reputable vendor. Just be sure of the model you are ordering. The Asus Eee PC 901 has a webcam, the Asus Eee PC 901 Surf does NOT! So order the correct model and you will NOT have issues. You can read the reviews posted on the site to find a good vendor at a reasonable price.

I have found replacement software products, most superior to Microsoft, for everything I was using over the last 20 years. If I had to use a MS-Operating-specific-application I would try first to run it in its own virtual machine or WINE. But the reality is there are alternatives for everything! And you will discover as most of us have, that the incompatibilities are because of Microsoft. Stupid things like not rendering the open document format standards correctly in Microsoft Word and dumb things like that. Fortunately for every issue that I have encountered I have been able to find help in the may Linux support forums online and resolve them. When I encounter these lame FUD issues it just makes Microsoft more loathsome to me. I use to like Microsoft, not any more, its been too many years of too many artificial and unnecessary hassles. They come across as even more juvenial when they deny the problem exists and you can repeat it. Years later you learn that they knew about the problem, but did not have a fix, so they just go into denial mode. No they lost my TRUST! When you start to discover the real issues, start to see through their FUD, you will want to use them less and less as many of us do. Today that is possible. And in this economy, we need to cut corners and save money every where that we can.

Remember if you get a system with Linux preinstalled, it just works. You avoid all the proprietary driver crap and vendor LOCK IN shenanigans associated with other proprietary vendors. If WiFi is important to you, get it pre-installed and it will just work. Whatever you need, get it pre-installed from the vendor to avoid unnecessary hassles.

With the Asus Eee netbook PC WiFi, Ethernet, Webcam, Sound, Video, USB plug and play, all just worked out of the box. It was fantastic! And when the Coreboot project officially releases, you will be able to buy a Linux system based on Coreboot compatible products which will make us not dependent on the BIOS vendors who are not always Linux friendly with comp

Full 3D support for a better 3D desktop experience with Compiz or Beryl for only $349; Limbo 3550 desktop.

For only $299, get the Limbo 2550A desktop. They have laptops and more.

For $699, get the Homebox 4.

I met the entire family at SCALE 7x, held every February in Los Angeles (reasonably priced at $75 for the tradeshow, beats $600 to $1,400 which is the cost of most other tradeshows), they traveled from their home in Colorado to attend. Great people who stand behind their products. All their products come with a 1 year warranty.

For 2010, the premier Open Source Community conference in the United States, will return to the Westin LAX Hotel. SCALE 8x will be February 19th-21st, 2010

For netbooks, they are lite and weigh next to nothing, less than 2 lbs, which means very cheap shipping costs. So get the pre-installed with Linux netbooks from an online vendor. Use Pricegrabber, I can recommend NewEgg as a reputable vendor. Just be sure of the model you are ordering. The Asus Eee PC 901 has a webcam, the Asus Eee PC 901 Surf does NOT! So order the correct model and you will NOT have issues. You can read the reviews posted on the site to find a good vendor at a reasonable price.

I have found replacement software products, most superior to Microsoft, for everything I was using over the last 20 years. If I had to use a MS-Operating-specific-application I would try first to run it in its own virtual machine or WINE. But the reality is there are alternatives for everything! And you will discover as most of us have, that the incompatibilities are because of Microsoft. Stupid things like not rendering the open document format standards correctly in Microsoft Word and dumb things like that. Fortunately for every issue that I have encountered I have been able to find help in the may Linux support forums online and resolve them. When I encounter these lame FUD issues it just makes Microsoft more loathsome to me. I use to like Microsoft, not any more, its been too many years of too many artificial and unnecessary hassles. They come across as even more juvenial when they deny the problem exists and you can repeat it. Years later you learn that they knew about the problem, but did not have a fix, so they just go into denial mode. No they lost my TRUST! When you start to discover the real issues, start to see through their FUD, you will want to use them less and less as many of us do. Today that is possible. And in this economy, we need to cut corners and save money every where that we can.

Remember if you get a system with Linux preinstalled, it just works. You avoid all the proprietary driver crap and vendor LOCK IN shenanigans associated with other proprietary vendors. If WiFi is important to you, get it pre-installed and it will just work. Whatever you need, get it pre-installed from the vendor to avoid unnecessary hassles.

With the Asus Eee netbook PC WiFi, Ethernet, Webcam, Sound, Video, USB plug and play, all just worked out of the box. It was fantastic! And when the Coreboot project officially releases, you will be able to buy a Linux system based on Coreboot compatible products which will make us not dependent on the BIOS vendors who are not always Linux friendly with comp

Full 3D support for a better 3D desktop experience with Compiz or Beryl for only $349; Limbo 3550 desktop.

For only $299, get the Limbo 2550A desktop. They have laptops and more.

For $699, get the Homebox 4.

I met the entire family at SCALE 7x, held every February in Los Angeles (reasonably priced at $75 for the tradeshow, beats $600 to $1,400 which is the cost of most other tradeshows), they traveled from their home in Colorado to attend. Great people who stand behind their products. All their products come with a 1 year warranty.

For 2010, the premier Open Source Community conference in the United States, will return to the Westin LAX Hotel. SCALE 8x will be February 19th-21st, 2010

For netbooks, they are lite and weigh next to nothing, less than 2 lbs, which means very cheap shipping costs. So get the pre-installed with Linux netbooks from an online vendor. Use Pricegrabber, I can recommend NewEgg as a reputable vendor. Just be sure of the model you are ordering. The Asus Eee PC 901 has a webcam, the Asus Eee PC 901 Surf does NOT! So order the correct model and you will NOT have issues. You can read the reviews posted on the site to find a good vendor at a reasonable price.

I have found replacement software products, most superior to Microsoft, for everything I was using over the last 20 years. If I had to use a MS-Operating-specific-application I would try first to run it in its own virtual machine or WINE. But the reality is there are alternatives for everything! And you will discover as most of us have, that the incompatibilities are because of Microsoft. Stupid things like not rendering the open document format standards correctly in Microsoft Word and dumb things like that. Fortunately for every issue that I have encountered I have been able to find help in the may Linux support forums online and resolve them. When I encounter these lame FUD issues it just makes Microsoft more loathsome to me. I use to like Microsoft, not any more, its been too many years of too many artificial and unnecessary hassles. They come across as even more juvenial when they deny the problem exists and you can repeat it. Years later you learn that they knew about the problem, but did not have a fix, so they just go into denial mode. No they lost my TRUST! When you start to discover the real issues, start to see through their FUD, you will want to use them less and less as many of us do. Today that is possible. And in this economy, we need to cut corners and save money every where that we can.

Remember if you get a system with Linux preinstalled, it just works. You avoid all the proprietary driver crap and vendor LOCK IN shenanigans associated with other proprietary vendors. If WiFi is important to you, get it pre-installed and it will just work. Whatever you need, get it pre-installed from the vendor to avoid unnecessary hassles.

With the Asus Eee netbook PC WiFi, Ethernet, Webcam, Sound, Video, USB plug and play, all just worked out of the box. It was fantastic! And when the Coreboot project officially releases, you will be able to buy a Linux system based on Coreboot compatible products which will make us not dependent on the BIOS vendors who are not always Linux friendly with comp

The article links to a local Ubuntu-friendly retailer ZaReason. Now I'm all about buying from local businesses, but given some of the text on their pages, I'm wondering if these guys got a little too "Berkeley," if you know what I mean:

SD/MMC slot -- download photos, anything from your phone (if it holds an SD card), your printer... extreme usability

Are they trying to tell me that I can "download a printer" or "download photos from my printer" ? I dunno about them, but usually photos come out of my printer, not the other way 'round.

I wish the reign of ignorance was over. It is NOT. HINT: If reviewing CSPAN briefs of elected officials or the documentation on IT matters, pay attention to the word PROCUREMENT. The slant is decidedly in Microsoft s favor.

Procurement is being used to focus government agencies on buying Microsoft ONLY solutions.

The politicians looked like they were buying the FUD, hook, line and sinker. The ignorance is alive, well and fostering. More of a pandemic than any flu could be.

Linux is now greater than 2%, get curious and discover why for yourself! Is this why Microsoft is giving away their new OS for 1 YEAR?

Personally I think it is much higher than that, with the stats being skewed based on the source of the data. I also believe that Microsoft is very, very worried.

Not only does the FUD continue, but now Microsoft is releasing FREE copies of their new operating system for 1 YEAR ONLY. At the end of that one year you will have to remove it or pay to upgrade. (Was announced on Leo Laporte s radio, twit TV pod cast today and I was surprised)

I believe they are counting on ignorance of people to not give another operating system or applications a chance, at least for a year so that they can either improve their offering (thus extending...) or replace it with something better. They definitely appear to be trying hard to extinguish the flow of people to other operating systems.

If you HAD to purchase NEW HARDWARE to run Vista and / or Windows 7, keep the old system and load up native Linux (no dual boot, no WINE, no virtual machine initially, no extra anything that might introduce problems and cause unnecessary frustrations, just Linux) and start giving it a try, you might surprise yourself, much has changed in the last year with Linux! Besides, the old PC is no LONGER your primary machine, so go for it, and try some new solutions, you will be glad that you did. Sadly I am not aware of a way to give MacIntosh OS X a try on old PCs, perhaps someone reading this can provide a link for those interested in going there, as my preference is honestly Linux.

Note it is always better to buy hardware from a vendor that focuses on the operating sytem, either Linux or MacIntosh, that way the computer will run out of the box without problems. If you attempt to convert your existing PC to Linux, be patient and remember that some or much of the hardware was NOT designed to run with Linux and therefore problems are to be expected.

Better yet, but a new computer meant to run on and with Linux. One of the better offering is the Zareason either the Limbo 2550A ($299, will run Compiz, Beryl and other 3D desktop effects) or the Breeze 3660 ($349)

Once you go either Mac or Linux, you do NOT HAVE TO go back to MS. At least not if you are smart after learning about alternative software packages to do literally anything and everything you can do in a MS OS environment.

Expect a learning curve, just as you would with the new Microsoft operating system, nothing new there.

Are they vainly trying to staunch the flow of users away from Microsoft operating systems and applications to other alternatives? Especially considering the economy and the markets frustration with Vista and Windows 7.

Personally I was surprised they did not extend Windows 95 yet a second time. At least it would run on a netbook ($200 - $300 PC) with 512MB or less of RAM.

Perhaps they are planning a version of their new Windows OS that will run adequately in 512 MB of RAM and therefore on netbooks

I wish the reign of ignorance was over. It is NOT. HINT: If reviewing CSPAN briefs of elected officials or the documentation on IT matters, pay attention to the word PROCUREMENT. The slant is decidedly in Microsoft s favor.

Procurement is being used to focus government agencies on buying Microsoft ONLY solutions.

The politicians looked like they were buying the FUD, hook, line and sinker. The ignorance is alive, well and fostering. More of a pandemic than any flu could be.

Linux is now greater than 2%, get curious and discover why for yourself! Is this why Microsoft is giving away their new OS for 1 YEAR?

Personally I think it is much higher than that, with the stats being skewed based on the source of the data. I also believe that Microsoft is very, very worried.

Not only does the FUD continue, but now Microsoft is releasing FREE copies of their new operating system for 1 YEAR ONLY. At the end of that one year you will have to remove it or pay to upgrade. (Was announced on Leo Laporte s radio, twit TV pod cast today and I was surprised)

I believe they are counting on ignorance of people to not give another operating system or applications a chance, at least for a year so that they can either improve their offering (thus extending...) or replace it with something better. They definitely appear to be trying hard to extinguish the flow of people to other operating systems.

If you HAD to purchase NEW HARDWARE to run Vista and / or Windows 7, keep the old system and load up native Linux (no dual boot, no WINE, no virtual machine initially, no extra anything that might introduce problems and cause unnecessary frustrations, just Linux) and start giving it a try, you might surprise yourself, much has changed in the last year with Linux! Besides, the old PC is no LONGER your primary machine, so go for it, and try some new solutions, you will be glad that you did. Sadly I am not aware of a way to give MacIntosh OS X a try on old PCs, perhaps someone reading this can provide a link for those interested in going there, as my preference is honestly Linux.

Note it is always better to buy hardware from a vendor that focuses on the operating sytem, either Linux or MacIntosh, that way the computer will run out of the box without problems. If you attempt to convert your existing PC to Linux, be patient and remember that some or much of the hardware was NOT designed to run with Linux and therefore problems are to be expected.

Better yet, but a new computer meant to run on and with Linux. One of the better offering is the Zareason either the Limbo 2550A ($299, will run Compiz, Beryl and other 3D desktop effects) or the Breeze 3660 ($349)

Once you go either Mac or Linux, you do NOT HAVE TO go back to MS. At least not if you are smart after learning about alternative software packages to do literally anything and everything you can do in a MS OS environment.

Expect a learning curve, just as you would with the new Microsoft operating system, nothing new there.

Are they vainly trying to staunch the flow of users away from Microsoft operating systems and applications to other alternatives? Especially considering the economy and the markets frustration with Vista and Windows 7.

Personally I was surprised they did not extend Windows 95 yet a second time. At least it would run on a netbook ($200 - $300 PC) with 512MB or less of RAM.

Perhaps they are planning a version of their new Windows OS that will run adequately in 512 MB of RAM and therefore on netbooks

Wait, since when is Windows easier to install? You do realize those little recovery disks that computer companies give you were set up by a professional, right? Installing Windows manually can be a nightmare due to drivers though.

On the other hand, I don't see what trouble you could have possibly had installing, for example, Ubuntu. I mean, you pretty much just press a button, choose a time zone, and let it install.

Oh, and don't pull that "But you don't have to install Windows yourself, unlike Linux!" crap. There are plenty of places you can buy preinstalled Linux nowadays.

As for Windows performing "smoother" (I assume that's what you meant) than Linux, what does that even mean? Are you trying to say that it's faster? Perhaps that one experiences fewer problems when using it?

As far as security goes, look at all the viruses for Windows; compare to Linux. It doesn't matter what the reason for that is; it simply matters that the case is that, at this point in time, your computer is incontrovertibly less likely to be compromised using your average Linux box than your average Windows box.

Dual boot is for people with commitment issues. It's not worth the hassle, nor the Doubt of knowing if the second install is going to hash the first. If you need both, buy another PC or install one in a VM. It's not like a good Linux box costs more than $220 and virtualbox is free.

But pen boot is cool. The version of Ubuntu that does it is only a couple days old. I haven't tried it yet. Maybe tomorrow. I'm pretty hot about it. I pen boot Clonezilla at work a couple hundred times a day. It's slick.

Before I go into monologue mode, it looks like Dell already has something in the ultra slim ultra cheap arena. Dell EPP Inspiron 530S starts under $400, ok not as cheap as the Asus solution, but still.

Desktop linux machines have already hit the $200 mark.

Mirus ($189.99 after rebate)
Everex ($199.99)
KPC ($229)
Limbo ($249)

Microsoft does hire bright minds. It's a pity what they do to them. And with them.

As for poorly trying to attack the NT platform for multi-tasking,...

The "NT platform" didn't invent multitasking. They cribbed it from the Mach kernel with the help of Dave Cutler. That's what they meant by "Unix underpinnings". Unfortunately, like a psychotic french chef, they'll adopt the best recipe for bouillabaisse but they don't like the flavor until they pee in it. The result was so hideously insecure it nearly broke the Internet - and that's saying something. The Internet was designed to survive nuclear war, but Code Red nearly broke it. I will concede that NT was the first useful Windows platform - but not that better alternatives didn't exist even then.

You evade the point that by the time NT came out in 1992, Unix had had multitasking for more than 20 years. Let's not forget your statement, shall we?:

assuming Windows users were like Mac users and were only capable of running one application at a time...

... As if .mac were the only alternative. Lovely. Say what you want about .mac and nobody cares. OS X is Unix. When Windows is a Unix, get back to me, k? Did you know OS X server has drag and drop clustering, and network imaging built right in? I didn't think so.

Disparage Apple's video playback all you want. I don't care for any DRM'd format so you're not going to bother me. I would bet a week's pay you couldn't decode a token string into a framebuffer using only the specification and C between now and the end of your pitiful existence, but I can and you miss the point: iTunes users care enough to avoid Vista, and that's the only thing saving this post from being off topic.

If you want to further try to argue the multi-tasking issue as a Windows Vista issue, go look up BeOS...

Cute. You're bringing up BeOS. You don't even do your homework well enough to check my slashdot user page where my favorite quote sits:

"I once preached peaceful coexistence with Windows. You may laugh at my expense -- I deserve it." Jean-Louis Gassée, former CEO, BeOS

And you have the gall to call me semi-retarded.

Then go look up a little fact that Vista is the only major consumer OS....

You know, if you narrow the scope of that statement any more it's going to disappear entirely. Who decides "major"? Who decides "consumer"? I'm asking because Shuttle has just announced a box that's going to clean your clock, the eee is sweeping the world, the olpc is selling in the millions of units and for years you have been able to buy a Linux PC at Wal-Mart, including the $200 PC I'm typing this on (but I got it from zareason and it works just fine, thanks, and no it's not my only one).

Then go look up a little fact that Vista is the only major consumer OS that uses realtime scheduling for multi-media, something OS X just can't do.

OK, let's talk about the Vista scheduler a little bit. You've got some insight into this you would like to share. It's completely fa

I think you need one of these to install in that old beige box or if you crave a complete solution, one of these.

And let's not forget openfiler, since we're mentioning free NAS solutions. It's not lightweight, but it looks pretty cool.

If you buy it here- http://www.zareason.com/shop/home.php , you can add more RAM cheaply. If you buy from this vendor, you can avoid giving walmart any money, if that's important to you.

If you're desperate (?) to get your hands on one of these, I noticed the other day that ZaReason's got them too. Don't know if they're 100% the same, but they're the same price and so possibly worth a look.

No PCI-E as the board doesn't support it. Two PCI slots. No SATA.

Also... the computers are in stock at zareason.com

You can also buy just the board for $60 if you have a bunch of spare parts laying around. board available here

...Try buying it from this mom and pop shop:

http://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16160&cat=0&page=1

BTW, I have no business relation with the family that runs Zareason, but I did buy about $8,400.00 worth of products from them, and Zareason did a fine job of shipping the products to the public middle school that I ordered on behalf of. More details on that purchase here:

http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/11/1446254

There is a little mom n pop shop in Berkeley called Zareason that is selling these things, too.. So you can get the gPC there guilt free. Heh.

http://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16160&cat=0&page=1

So you can buy it there with a clean conscience. heh.

BTW, I have no business relation with the family that runs Zareason, but I did buy about $8,400.00 worth of products from them, and Zareason did a fine job of shipping the products to the public middle school that I ordered on behalf of. More details on that purchase here:

http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/11/1446254

...called Zareason:

http://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16160&cat=0&page=1

So you can buy it there with a clean conscience. heh.

BTW, I have no business relation with the family that runs Zareason, but I did buy about $8,400.00 worth of products from them, and Zareason did a fine job of shipping the products to the public middle school that I ordered on behalf of. More details on that purchase here:

http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/11/1446254

I have always wondered why there are so many FOSS advocates who put up with Apple's DRM'd little empire. Somehow, if Apple does the same thing that Microsoft does, Apple gets a pass, but why? And perhaps, more important, what can the FOSS community do to move Apple in a more Free and open source direction.

Are people really happy with Apple's contributions to BSD and Konqueror code?

If people are willing to put up with lock down just because Apple products are slick, I have to ask, are Apple products really that much more slick than Compiz? Is slick performance alone enough of a difference that people will give a pass to Apple?

I am not someone who believes everyone must use gNewSense and use only Free Software, because that is inconvenient for most users. But can't we make a little more effort to support vendors such as HP, Dell, Zareason, TechCollective.com, Emperor Linux, and other similar vendors who offer decent hardware with a better balance of Free to non-Free software?

IMHO, desktop Linux is good enough that we should try to encourage people to give it a shot, rather than just putting up with tyrannical insistence on having everything his own way, including his own little DRM'd desktop. Why put up with a company that would resort to the DMCA to attack its own customers? I understand that there is a lot about the iPhone that is cool, and yes it is a nice platform to hack, but why go to such lengths to hack it when you can't share your hacks?

How about here? http://www.zareason.com/shop/home.php

I've never done business with them, but they have Ubuntu laptops.

If you want to buy your computers from a company built on FOSS principles, pro-non-profit, willing to help you with every step of the order, go to http://www.zareason.com/

Then take a look at ZaReason. We offer a great 17" laptop, and extended warranties if you like.