Article Source Ars Technica
April 16, 2009, 7:33 am

Netbooks and other small form-factor computing devices are growing in popularity. These low-budget products are looking increasingly relevant in the current economy and are attracting consumers who are looking for better value and mobility. This trend offers a unique chance for the open source Linux platform--which is well-suited for netbooks and doesn't add any licensing costs--to gain some much-needed traction.

Vista is too demanding for netbook hardware, so Microsoft has chosen to extend the lifespan of Windows XP in order to stave off broader Linux use on low-end mobile hardware. This provides a window of opportunity for Linux to get a meaningful foothold in the market--an achievement that has perpetually eluded the free operating system--while Microsoft is prepping Windows 7, which is said to be more netbook-friendly than Vista.