Sent to you by Mike Reynolds via Google Reader:
Hard to believe it but the Asus EeePC has only been out in America for 2 months today. Why is this hard to believe? Because of the onslaught of also-ran Linux-based UMPCs, including but not limited to the OLPC, Classmate, Cloudbook, and now the Noahbook. What we are seeing here is the start of something, a new category of PCs, the CLUMPC, or Cheap Linux Ultramobile Personal Computer.
What is a CLUMPC? So far its a sub 10” notebook-form PC, with Linux pre-installed (either HD or SSD) that retails for under $400. Why does this qualify as a new category instead of staying lumped in with UMPCs? Two big reasons. The first being that no CLUMPC that has been released to date contains a touchscreen, something that is a staple of most Windows-based UMPCs. The second being that sub $400 price. Up until 2 months ago it was virtually impossible to find a UMPC under $1000. Now there are multiple options under $400.
Linux is what makes this price point possible, in two ways. The first and most obvious is pre-installing Linux eliminates the ~ $100 Windows tax. That alone makes for a 20% - 25% cost cut. The less obvious way Linux drops the price is the way it also drops the system requirements. Even modest drops in minimum system requirements shave hundreds of dollars off processors, RAM, and most famously storage allowing even small solid state drives to host a Linux-based OS.
CLUMPCs may also represent the tipping point for Desktop Linux. Convincing users to switch their OS on their desktop or notebook is often a hard sell. However many of these customers will not be adverse to Linux on a CLUMPC since it is often a second, or even third computer for them. When users find they do not have to rely on their CLUMPC for all of their computing needs Linux sound fine, especially with programs like Firefox, Thunderbird, and Open Office, programs many users are already comfortable with.
Be on the look out for this new class to really break out at this year’s CES, especially with word already that Asus is preparing to announce the next gen EeePC. 2008 will no doubt be a stellar year for CLUMPC.
The Asus EeePC is available now through Amazon.com
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