#1,
Do you mean that the Linux Eee PC is unable to browse the web, check mail and do lightweight document work? Perhaps Firefox is a command-line browser and OpenOffice is a TeX front-end.
I think your Microsoft-centric view of the market is blinding you to reality.
#9,
Do you want me to believe that the average Joe is buying the current Eee PC?
#10,
Obviously, you don't even understand what free means in the GNU/Linux world. And if you don't pay for a copy of an OS you aren't infringing copyright laws.

So, the Eee PC with more bang for the buck is the one which runs a Linux distro and ships with a XP driver CD.

The Eee PC has been lauded for promoting a free, open-source Linux operating system, and current Eees all come pre-installed with a Xandros-based distribution.

Why do people keep on repeating the myth that Linux OS distros are "free"? This completely bogus line of thinking has all the makings of a real Urban Legend...;)

http://www.xandros.com/products/home/home_edition.html

Note that "Home Premium" is $80. Not free at all. And, it isn't going to be "free" for Asus or any other computer maker, either. Whatever Asus buys from Xandros will cost Asus money. Then there is hardware and application support for Asus to consider, so that people will find the Eee PCs useful for more than being door-stops that boot...;) All of this considered, it's understandable why more people would find this machine more attractive with Windows. Even Macs natively boot Windows these days, and even Apple supplies the software to make it so.

This post isn't about dissing Linux and puffing Windows. It's about the fact that no OS on earth is "free" and that they all cost lots of money to develop and support in terms of software and hardware compatibility--which is *the reason* that none of them are free.

Sometimes I don't know what people are imagining when they say things like this--do they see in their mind's eye a "Linux tree" growing in the wild somewhere that produces Linux distros as low-hanging fruit? Beats me...;) "Free" is no more applicable to Linux distros than it is to Windows.

So what happens after XP stops being sold? I'm not too sure Vista would be a very good replacement for such a machine.

Good points.

I agree that Linux is still a long way off replacing Windows on desktops. People need to be able to do fancy things like print and use WiFi and plug in Firewire devices and have them work without opening up terminals. It's that simple.

But it is getting there, no question... Having it available on things like the eee I reckon helps speed things up a bit. Could be wrong.

It's a shame that put that pretty crappy distro on it but it was a start at least.

But, again, the real acid test for me is that my mum can use it.

Note: replies to #3 & #6.

No surprise. Consumers don't want the unfamiliar and incompatible, regardless of how good or free it is. Wal-Mart finally figured this out a couple days ago.

'Tis a shame. I've had all sorts of distros on my eee but I've settled on eeeXubuntu which is absolutely great.

And I've learnt a whole heap about Linux in the meantime which has resulted in Linux being installed on two computers at home.

And I've even got my mum using Ubuntu which is saying something.