A laptop for under $300?

[pokerfan]

http://blogs.computerworld.com/dells_new_inexpensive_linux_notebook

15.6" display
2GB DDR2 RAM
160GB HDD
8x DVD-RW

[hobbit709]

1. Unfortunately, it's a Dell.

I refuse to give that repuke bastard any of my money.

[pokerfan]

2. True

But it is a sign of how far Linux has come. (I don't like giving Microsoft my money, either.)

[hobbit709]

3. Dell's been selling computers with Linux for a while.

So do several other companies-they just don't advertise the fact to avoid annoying Micro$haft.
Lenovo/IBM has done it for a long time.
I'm running Ubuntu on my Compaq laptop and have installed it or Mandriva on several computers for other people.

I have XP on my wife's computer since she needs it to be compatible with her work. I'm running XP X64 on my main system because there are a couple of things I do that won't work in Linux and I need to keep my hand in since about 90% of the computers I work on have XP. My other computers run Ubuntu, Mandriva or XP. I have one setup to play with Windows 7 on-if they don't screw it up, it's gonna eat Vista's lunch.

[pokerfan]

4. Someone needs to tell Asus that 'it's better without Windows.'

http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/6768/1

[MyNameGoesHere]

5. How is it a sign of how far Linux has come?

I work in a 50/50 Linux/Windows environment. All servers. They both do a heck of a job at what they do. But to compare Linux desktop to Windows? That's insane. It works but what a piece of crap it is. To me Linux desktops are fun to tinker with but they suck on ice for a serious corporation to use them. So really how far has it come? Maybe one day the Linux world will actually offer a desktop solution that can be used in the enterprise, but man they have a long way to go. And the 46 bucks you save on the Ubuntu laptop compared to the windows version, is it worth it to the average joe shmoe? Probably not.

[pokerfan]

6. Who said anything about Enterprise solutions

I'm just pointing out that it's evolved to the point where most of the major computer manufacturers (Dell, HP, etc.) are offering Linux either as an option or, in this case, the only OS.