[Fsf-friends] HP's people notebook running GNU/Linux

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

URL :  http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2134514,00.html

   The HP 'people's notebook' runs Linux
   09:40 Monday 12th May 2003
   [21]Winston Chai, CNETAsia

   HP has launched a low cost 'people's notebook' in Asia that is
   preloaded with Linux

   Hewlett-Packard is selling a low-cost "people's notebook" running
   Linux, believed to be the first time that the US IT giant has sold a
   consumer computer with the open-source operating system installed.

   HP custom-made the Linux notebook to support a Thai government drive
   to increase computer ownership, reported the English-language Thai
   dailies The Bangkok Post and The Nation.

   The authorities have subsidised the cost of the portable, along with a
   desktop PC made by a Thai firm. Crowds thronged a Bangkok convention
   centre on Friday to view and buy the machines.

   HP's budget laptop will retail for 19,500 Baht (=A3285). It features an
   800 MHz Intel Celeron processor, 128MB of RAM and a 20GB harddisk.
   There is no CD-ROM or floppy drive.

   The desktop, made by local computer makers Belta, SVOA and Computec,
   costs 10,900 Baht (=A3159). It sports an Intel Celeron 1GHz processor,
   128MB of RAM, a 52x CD-ROM drive, 20GB of hard disk space and comes
   with a 15-inch monitor, speakers and a keyboard.

   Both machines were introduced by Thailand's Information,
   Communications and Technology (ICT) ministry and are loaded with Linux
   TLE, the Thai-language version of the Linux operating system.

   The ministry will offer 100,000 computers at first but they plan to
   ramp up to a million in subsequent phases, said the reports. The
   Ministry has also worked out an easy-pay instalment plan with local
   banks for buyers.

   About 30,000 people showed up Queen Sirikit Convention Centre in
   Bangkok on Friday to view the machines, with some waiting in line from
   3am. While the machines appealed to those who could never have
   afforded a computer before, more sophisticated shoppers were put off
   by the basic configurations, reported The Nation.

   HP in Singapore could not offer more details about the Linux notebook
   at press time.

   Until now, the use of Linux has largely been confined to servers and
   not in consumer desktops, a space which is still dominated by
   Microsoft's Windows OS and to a smaller extent, Apple's Macintosh.

   None of the large US-based PC makers -- HP, IBM and Dell -- are known
   to sell consumer desktops or notebook with the Linux OS pre-installed.

   Smaller makers such as ECS from Taiwan offer Linux as an option in
   their low-cost, batteryless notebooks, also known as desknotes.
   US-based manufacturer Lindows also offers Linux-based desktops and a
   $799 (=A3496) notebook.
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