About 3 years after ASUS kicked Linux from their Eee PC line, they released a new model with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed. The Eee PC 1225C is a 11.6inch laptop powered by either an Intel Atom N2600 (Dual Core: 1.6GHz) or an N2800 (Dual Core: 1.86GHz) processor.

The laptop, which comes in different system configurations, is equipped with 2GB DDR3 RAM, 320GB or 500GB HDD, a 0.3MP camera, stereo speakers, microphone, 1x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.0, Bluetooth V3.0, multi card reader, and 3 or 6 cell batteries with battery lifetimes between 5 and 9 hours.

So what drove ASUS to launch a new model with Ubuntu Linux and describing it as stable and reliable? I wouldn't agree that stability and reliablity have increased in Ubuntu, at least not after they made Unity the default desktop.

It was also most likely not this call to action from late 2009, but rather has to do with money, in the end ASUS is a company that seeks profit.

So what Brad of Liliputing suggests seems reasonable, there is no indication that Microsoft will offer low-cost Windows 8 licenses for netbooks, so they can't be offered at competitive prices with Windows 8, with Linux they can. Microsoft may change their mind, if enough Linux laptops are sold, we'll see what the future holds.