Yes... and so the Penguin Empire (Linux) has been silently building up for the OS Armageddon, as name brand companies... some that will fess up to it and some that seem like they don't want to... have been beginning to sell what they're calling "Green PCs" bundled with custom made, user friendly distributions (read "versions") of Linux, such as Dell and Gateway (who bought the virtually unheard of "Everex" company that produces their version of the "green PC") while altogether new companies are sprouting up to do for computing what the nαzιs wanted to do for the world... which may or may not be a bad thing in this case, depending on your point of view.

Google "Asus Eee" , Everex (the "$199 pc" which people only hate because it won't run the latest windows very well... kind of like complaining that your Volkswagon bug won't cut it on all terrain), CherryPal, or Zonbu.

The last two companies are heading the "one world computing" movement, as I like to call it. Basically, you've got a "pc" the size of a small paperback novel, that runs on a few watts of electricity, and all of your software is on the internet. Other companies have launched "mini pcs" that would work well (from what I can tell) with the Zonbu OS ... that is, if you don't mind your files all being "out there" for the most part. The idea is that ultimately, the web becomes your hard drive... which I guess is absolutely great for those who just want to do e-mail and play online scrabble. And they're selling for somewhere between $99 (with a zonbu 'subscription' to upgrade your memory online), and about $400 something, for something with a bigger hard drive.

Point is... the OS revolution is here. (YES! FINALLY!!  :dancing-banana: :jumping2: :applause: :rahrah: :cheers: ) And Vista basically provided all the "wannabe" competition with a serious chance to prove that they CAN compete seriously. Which penguinkind is becoming ever more capable of doing.

Lets face it... with the economy crashing, not only haven't we got the cash for a memory and power hog "gamers" pc (think $4,000 price range), but most of us haven't even got it for the $600 "mainstream" or $500 "budget" model. Heck, that's gas money! So when someone comes along, and offers people a PC that will do everything MOST people (young and irresponsible bachelors aside) do on computers (eg, email, maybe type a letter, maybe write up a paper for school or work...), for a fraction of the cost, and that will use less electricity... Yeah, people are going to listen. Especially if computers like the Cherrypal (runs on a whopping 2 watts) take off.

Anyways... I am rather fond of penguins...