Reuters: Company hopes $199 PCs will draw new Internet users

"... the company's latest product, the $199 iToaster, eschews Microsoft Corp.'s market-dominating Windows operating system in favor of a custom-built interface based partly on the rival Linux system."

"Microsoft's famously stringent licensing standards prevented Microworkz from creating the customized computer desktop it wanted, with about a dozen button-like icons leading to the Internet, built-in applications and sites run by partners like Amazon.com Inc. , eBay Inc. and RealNetworks Inc. .

"I don't think Microsoft is very happy we're doing this," Latman said. "I don't care. The bottom line is this is good for the consumer. This addresses a void in the computer market."

Complete story.