Could this be the beginning?

[LondoJowo]

A major OEM offering a consumer computer with Linux preloaded?

http://www.mandriva.com/company/pres...corporate/2564

Mandriva worked with Dell to certify this first consumer laptop, which is now being sold direct to students by Dell. The company ensured the optimum integration of its Mandriva Linux Limited Edition 2005 - a major hit in recent Linux downloads and reviews - with Dell's Latitude 110L. The certified computer is a WIFI 1,4 to 1,7 GHZ mobile Celeron or Pentium M, with 256 to 1280 MB of ram, and a DVD Drive.

[aysiu]

It's the beginning if you live in France.

[LondoJowo]

If it's proven to be profitable there who's to say that it won't be tried in the states?

[LondoJowo]

I see what you mean, looking in the Mandriva store they have quite a few HP products only available in France. I guess it helps to be a French company.

http://store.mandriva.com/index.php?cPath=106

[bidi]

The article doesn't say anything about this new venture being only available in France. They do mention that it costs $730 Euros, which means this could be an European only product for now. Also, the mention a Dell 110L laptop, which, as far as I know, isn't available in the US. If you're interested in something like this, I think periodically checking Dell's website would be a good idea. E-mailing Dell with questions like "when will this be available in the US" could also persuade Dell into bring it over.

[LondoJowo]

Go to this site and click "customize it", two OS choices WinXP Pro and Home.
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...tab=servicetab

[aysiu]

The article doesn't say anything about this new venture being only available in France.

That article may not have, but this article did.

[gorgeous lucky luke]

I live half the time in France and half in UK, So I am not current with the US. But I am sure I read in the IHT that WallMart have been selling family Pc's with a Linux distro pre-installed or several Months.

[winter]

I doubt this will spread else where in europe

[gorgeous lucky luke]

Don't you believe it European Goverments and the Chinese and the Rusians and ...... are very serious about developing alternatives to MS.

Even in the US Federal Goverment, the Bueurocrats are starting to listen to the Geeks try this link » "Is It True the DoD Loves Linux?"

F**** it! the link didn't paste. It's a headline in the news section of this site

Even my mother, has heard of Linux and Ms. She was actualy interested when I told her I had installed linux. That my friend is bizzare.

(Notice I can't spell either.)