The Proliferation of Linux

TechGadgets.in is reporting that the price for the Acer Aspire One sub-notebook is being cut to $329 USD (for the Linux version) in the states.  This is the price before sales tax or VAT.  at the moment the Aspire One seems to be retailing for about €299 here in Finland and if one adds VAT to the new price of the Aspire One it comes to about €272, so not a large cut in the end, but it still places the Aspire One at a very attractive price point (IF we see a similar price cut here in Europe).

And here’s my math, if anyone’s interested:

329 USD = 222.86 EUR [1 USD = 0.677 EUR]

222.86 * 1.22 = 271.54 EUR [22% is the VAT here in Finland]

TechGadgets.in

No, I’m afraid that no one sends me things to test…  But PC World does have a hands on review of the Acer Aspire One.  And aren’t happy they are with it.. The author calls it “one of the best mini-notebooks I’ve tested for the price — which ranges from US$399 to $499, software and other features.”

PC World

PCPro has a pre-review (if there is such a thing, or would that make it a preview?) of the Acer Aspire One.  Expect a full review next week, but overall it looks very nice.

PCPro

Here’s a video review of the Acer Aspire One. Forgive the weird British folks…

In addition to putting Linux on its sub-notebook, the Aspire One, Acer is set to start pushing Linux on regular notebooks later this year.

Acer already sells Linux on media center PCs, but the trend should continue in Linux’s favour, according to Gianpiero Morbello, vice president of marketing and brand at Acer.

“We have shifted towards Linux because of Microsoft,” he told VNUnet. “Microsoft has a lot of power and it is going to be difficult, but we will be working hard to develop the Linux market.”

Acer sees two killer apps with Linux on computers: operation and cost. Its flavour of Linux will boot in 15 seconds compared to minutes for Windows, and the open source operating system can extend battery life from five to seven hours.

“Microsoft’s operating system typically costs around £50 per unit,” said David Drummond, UK managing director at Acer, to VNUnet. “On a £1,000 PC that is peanuts, but on a £200 computer it is a major issue.”

Tech Report & VNUnet