Acer starts selling Linux laptops

TAIWANESE NOTEBOOK GIANT Acer has started selling laptops loaded with the Linux operating system through its distributor and reseller channel.

The firm has a number of machines using the renegade operating system and in different configurations.

Synnex, a major distributor, is selling Acer notebooks using both the Intel Celeron M and the AMD Sempron microprocessors.

As you'd expect, the bill of materials to make a notebook using Linux rather than Windows XP is less, so prices for the channel are less expensive.

Here, for example, is an Acer Aspire 3002NWLCi for the Thai market and using "Linpus Linux LE" which costs 27,900 baht (US$705).

A lower specced North American Acer Linux notebook, and which uses the Celeron M CPU is distributed by Synnex, the AS3502LCI, and has a dealer price of US$590. µ