Dell has long been desktop Linux’s best friend in the big-time computer vendors, and it’s proving it again with the introduction of the latest version of its Mini 10 netbook with Ubuntu.
Yes, it’s true that the new Mini 10 will also come with XP Home and Windows 7 Starter Edition. But, XP Home is showing its age and while I actually like some of Windows 7’s features, I don’t know anyone who has a kind word to say for Windows 7 Starter.
Microsoft has restricted Windows 7 Starter to make sure it’s no competition for the more full-featured versions of Windows 7. For example, “It’s got to have a super-small screen, which means it probably has a super-small keyboard, and it has to have a certain processor and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” That ringing endorsement for Windows 7 Starter Edition was made by some guy named Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft.
Ubuntu 9.10, however, is an excellent desktop Linux distribution. While I’ll be the first to admit that Ubuntu 9.10 has its rough-edges when you install it yourself on some systems, Dell has always done an excellent job of fitting Ubuntu on its systems.