3 out of 10 Asus PCs run desktop Linux

Offerings in Chiangmai Thailand

Netbooks are about 50%/50% Win/Linux here except the Benq range which is Linux only. Offerings on bigger iron, laptops and desktops are only 10% to 20% Windows (Vista), the balance being evenly split between Freedos and Linux. Mandriva seems to be most common but I have seen Ubuntu also. Of course the Freedos boxes are most likely invitations to install the special $3 version of Windows.

I also have a EEE PC

I have a EEE PC for almost a year now. I was pleased to see a clean, simple desktop. It was new for me the OS (Xandros), but inspite negative critiques, I left it untouched (letting aside maybe the regular upgrades offered by Asus). I don't want to change the way it runs at all. For others it seems simple is not always good. For me it works. Thumb up for EEE!

It is even more worrysome for MS.

Try to find the Linux EEEs in brick and mortar stores. Good luck with that. Every time Circuit City has the Aspire One's in stock, they are, literally, gone, and it is the Linux variety that they carry. Last time I was there, they were no longer even giving out rainchecks since there was already a huge backlog.

So, true to for, MS is controlling brick and mortar (and to a certain extent, FireDog and Geek Squad cash cows dictate desire to sell the XP version over the linux version, the $79 "custom config" option is a great "tax")

Also, as already stated, make sure the price difference is obfuscated by making the hardware arbitrarily different and always "weaker" for the Linux version and 3 out of 10 looks even stronger.

I can't wait to see/read the Acer numbers

eeePC is just one player

What about HP, DELL and others that are shipping Linux (and yes XP) on their Netbooks?

Also, Netbooks were made to support one App, primarily, and that is the WEB BROWSER. This will not really help Linux in Desktop penetration, because most will only fiddle with the Browser and nothing else.

Not to say the above statement is 100% true, but you have to admit the Netbook is called a NETbook for a reason. Other uses for it will be had, as well.

So, it does, on a small scale intro linux to the masses, via desktop. And this % of Linux spreading is the most SIGNIFICANT % to date.

But, the % is still VERY VERY small.

No EEEPc 901 with Linux in Germany

In Germany it has been impossible for me to buy
the eeePC 901 with Linux pre-installed, only the Windows
version is available.
I had to buy mine from the UK. That is probably why
they are selling more eeePC with Linux from the uk :=)
I can imagine that in no time the Linux versions
will not be sold anymore.

No wonder the Windows version are outselling Linux
7:3. If the trend of selling less and less Linux
version continues it will not be surprising to
have a 10:0 ratio in the future ;=)

EeePCs not all PCs!

it's 3 out of 10 EeePCs including the original EeePC which does not come in a Windows variant.

Rumour has it, that there are Linux versions of the 901 with 20GB massstorage, but I have yet to see one.
Then there is the lower speced 900a with Linux, but no retailer stocks it.

A german Linux retailer sells the 901 and 1000 with Linux, but those are the XP versions which got reinstalled.

From what I see in stores in Germany, 100% of the EeePC 900 and up run Windows XP.

As far as I'm concerned, Asus doesn't ship Linux EeePC.

Good for ASUS

The important thing about these Eee and similar machines is that they're getting Linux in retail showrooms and catalogues, and gaining some traction in the minds of countless Windows victims.

All it took was for someone to go first, and ASUS deserves great kudos for being so brave as to buck the MS juggernaut. The commercial success of the Eee series is the company's reward. Gee, I'll probably buy one myself next year!

All my requirements are satisfied, except I'd prefer a general-purpose non-custom distro. Dell is better in this regard, but the Mini 9 has a weak battery, is too expensive, and the Ubuntu bundle is not offered in my country. Sorry, Dell! :-P