I’ve had a few requests to sell laptops.  The problem is that I’m having a difficult time finding good wholesale prices on them.  I know my customers don’t want to spend a fortune, so I am still looking.

One possibility I’m thinking about is the Asus EEE PC.  According to the reports I’m seeing, it is fully compatible with Mandriva Linux right out of the box, so I can definitely support it. 

The down side is that this is not a desktop replacement computer.  It is a highly portable system made for doing mostly office applications and internet browsing on the go.  It is efficient, but not a power house.

…and I don’t get any amazing wholesale deals on them.  Trust me.  I just looked and my supply house shoes an embarrassingly low markup on them.  I’m loathe to call their pricing wholesale.

If there is sufficient interest, I can look at other supply routes, such as direct from the manufacturer.

If you are interested, please comment here and I’ll see what I can do.  As always, I will only sell complete systems that just work.  The EEE PC would probably run about $600-650 complete with the customized Just Works installation of Mandriva Linux Powerpack unless I can get a better wholesale price.  This would include a carrying case, power connector, network cable, and the full Just Works support.

Let me know if you’d be interested.

http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=10911

Providing Suitable Environments for Different Needs
To suit differing user requirements, the Eee PC 900 comes in both Microsoft Windows and Linux versions.

The Microsoft Windows version allows more experienced users to seamlessly utilize the Eee PC through the familiar Windows interface, and incorporates Windows Live features like Windows Live Messenger for instant messaging; and Windows Live Mail for consolidated email accounts on the user´s desktop. Complementing this is Microsoft Works, which equips the user with numerous office applications to work efficiently.

The Linux version is useful for users who desire an icon-driven and easy point-and-click interface. Well suited for children or users without any computer experience, it provides a fast boot-up time– ideal for fast Internet access while waiting for public transport, or taking notes on-the-go.

Yup.  Linux is really easier than Windows according to yet another source…

(The Asus EEE PC optionally runs Windows XP or the Xandros distribution of Linux.)

Slashdot | Hardy Heron Making Linux Ready for the Masses?

The folks at Slashdot and Computerworld seem to think Ubuntu Linux is ready for the desktop for the casual user. Ubuntu Linux is a free Linux distribution based on Debian Linux. Just Works systems use Mandriva Powerpack, a commercial Linux distribution from Mandriva in France, based on RedHat Linux. Both Ubuntu and Mandriva are VERY easy to use. Just Works chose Mandriva because we believe it is even easier than Ubuntu. I’ve played with both and Ubuntu is good for the casual geek. Mandriva makes it so everyone can figure it out. The Powerpack version of Mandriva also includes some bonus features Ubuntu lacks – Binary drivers for nVidia cards, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and, impressively, Transgaming’s Cedega.

(Hardy Heron is the code name for the latest version of Ubuntu.)