Everex, who just announced a $198 Linux desktop is also saying that they will offer a $300 notebook next year and on top of this has “plans to introduce other mobile devices like ultramobile PCs.” [PCWorld.com]
Could this be the first truly low-cost UMPC? I bet so. If it’s similar to these other systems, it very well may run Linux, which isn’t terrible, but it’s another signal that Microsoft doesn’t have an OS to offer–outside of XP–for these low-end systems.
I’m getting concerned for Microsoft here. It’s getting eaten alive on the influential prosumer end by OS X and its being gnawed at on the low end by these often mobile systems. There’s really no reason for this. Windows marketing has made a mess on the prosumer side with Vista–confusing its real value proposition: It IS a better version of Windows although the driver problem has been abysmal–and on the low end Microsoft has missed out on giving XP a fresh mobile look and offering it up as the resource Miser’s offering. Oh, how this all makes me twinge.
