I already see signs of a public outcry in the Internet landscape. How can it be that a version for a free operating system, Linux, is more expensive than the version for Windows XP ? If you know only these facts you might think that Microsoft is using their power to promote Windows on the EeePC 900 by either giving the version away for free or even subsidizing it.

This may very well be a valid point but you have to know the following fact to come to a conclusion. The Windows version of the EeePC 900 will ship with a 12 Gigabyte Solid State Disk while the Linux version will have a 20 Gigabyte one. The price difference between the two versions is $50 Australian Dollars according to website apcmag.

So the reality is that Asus did cover the license cost of Windows and Works on the EeePC 900 by reducing the hard drive of that version. Which version will sell better when the EeePC 900 comes out ? I think it could be the Windows version. It’s cheaper which is always a good selling point and it is Windows, something the users are used to work with. Casual users will have trouble finding out if 8 Gigabytes of additional hard drive space are worth the extra 50 bucks and the time it takes to feel comfortable working with a Linux system.

A first short review was also included in the article:

The XP version of the Eee boots quite speedily for a Windows box, but is still notably slower than its Linux counterpart. Even Asus’ press release promoting the product acknowledges that the Linux machine is faster to get started. “It provides a fast boot-up time, ideal for quick internet access while waiting for public transport or taking notes on-the-go,” it breathlessly proclaims.

Apparently, “the Linux version is suited to users who desire an icon-driven and easy point-and-click interface – well suited for children or users with limited computer experience”. We’ll leave the reader to deduce what that implies about the XP interface.

Does this imply that the Windows XP version will be suitable to computer experts only ? Every technology inclined user will obviously buy the Linux version and not the Windows one. Additional eight Gigabytes of space for $50 is well worth the extra cash.