Retailers selling PCs loaded with Linux instead of Windows aren’t
really news; there’ve been little startups and garage-based vendors of
such things for years. But now that Dell has taken the dive, PCs
running Linux out of the box are getting more attention. So here are
some links you might want to follow to see what’s up and what’s new
(and what’s not):
- Linux Pre-Loaded points to some interesting, if smaller, vendors of Linux hardware.
- HP To Expand Effort On Linux PCs tells about HP’s tentative foray into the Linux market.
- Here’s a review of the neat Fit PC made by Compulab. Though I couldn’t find the Fit PC on the Compulab website.
- Here’s Itty-bitty, teeny-weeny Linux PCs, an article from Linux Desktop about little Linux-y computers.
- Cited in that article, and something I wish for, is the decTOP from Data Evolution,
originally designed as an Internet appliance, it’s a little fan-less
box that draws 8 watts and could be a good solution for bedroom, backup
server, or even (maybe not enough hp?) for multimedia. - Here’s an article about How to install Ubuntu Linux on the decTOP SFF computer, to turn it into a handy little server.
- ASUS eee $200 laptop (it’s more than $200, though, and not a full laptop) but it runs Linux and has a lot of community already. Not really a competitor for OLPC, supposedly; it’s supposed to be available now (end of October?).
- Tiny Linux PC uses just 8 watts of power, can be solar powered – The Aleutia E1 this is awesome looking, not sure how the reality would stack up.