I don't own a laptop/notebook computer, but have wanted one for a while. In the future I plan on building other types of computers myself from parts, but I've heard putting a notebook together that way presents more of a challenge than I want for my first attempt. So I've been looking for other options that don't involve paying Microsoft for Windows.

Today PC World offers an article with this headline:
Dell to Offer Ubuntu Linux on PCs, Laptops.

For consumers who have heard of Linux, they'll see that Dell is offering it on machines and is backing it, and that may encourage them to seriously consider using the operating system for the first time, Donham said. "It can only be good for Ubuntu. Maybe people will want to try it out with the big hand of Dell behind their backs."

I suspect Dell's offerings will include a model I like preloaded with an operating system I want. That can only help both Dell and Canonical. It may also constitute an early milestone in the break-up of Windows complete domination of the mass computer market.

Read the PC World article