"In theory, the easiest and most foolproof way to get a Linux
computer is to purchase one with Linux already installed.
Presumably a commercial vendor provides you with a polished package
where everything works, and support if anything goes wrong. Ha! You
don't get that with Windows, why should Linux be any different? But
you do with Apple, so let's use that as our model.
"Maybe you're looking at netbooks and thinking, yeah baby! Cute
and cheap! Get a Linux netbook! Despite all the buzz about Linux
netbooks it's not that easy to find one that's worth the bother. Or
to find one at all. But there are some good choices when you know
where to look. Dell currently offers its excellent Mini 9n with
Ubuntu, and Hewlett-Packard's Mini series comes with HP's own
customized MIE Linux. I'm not a fan of these vendor-customized
Linuxes because nearly all of them are poorly-done, crippled in
various ways, and larded with proprietary crud that gets in the
way. My vote goes to Dell for making its Linux computers easy to
find, and for using real Ubuntu instead of some strange customized
thing. HP's homegrown MIE Linux has been getting favorable reviews,
so if you can get your hands on it before purchase give it a
try."
