The HP 'people's notebook' runs Linux

Hewlett-Packard is selling a low-cost "people's notebook" running Linux, believed to be the first time that the US IT giant has sold a consumer computer with the open-source operating system installed.

HP custom-made the Linux notebook to support a Thai government drive to increase computer ownership, reported the English-language Thai dailies The Bangkok Post and The Nation.

The authorities have subsidised the cost of the portable, along with a desktop PC made by a Thai firm. Crowds thronged a Bangkok convention centre on Friday to view and buy the machines.

HP's budget laptop will retail for 19,500 Baht (£285). It features an 800 MHz Intel Celeron processor, 128MB of RAM and a 20GB harddisk. There is no CD-ROM or floppy drive.

The desktop, made by local computer makers Belta, SVOA and Computec, costs 10,900 Baht (£159). It sports an Intel Celeron 1GHz processor, 128MB of RAM, a 52x CD-ROM drive, 20GB of hard disk space and comes with a 15-inch monitor, speakers and a keyboard.

The desktop, made by local computer makers Belta, SVOA and Computec, costs 10,900 Baht (£159). It sports an Intel Celeron 1GHz processor, 128MB of RAM, a 52x CD-ROM drive, 20GB of hard disk space and comes with a 15-inch monitor, speakers and a keyboard.

Both machines were introduced by Thailand's Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) ministry and are loaded with Linux TLE, the Thai-language version of the Linux operating system.

The ministry will offer 100,000 computers at first but they plan to ramp up to a million in subsequent phases, said the reports. The Ministry has also worked out an easy-pay instalment plan with local banks for buyers.

About 30,000 people showed up Queen Sirikit Convention Centre in Bangkok on Friday to view the machines, with some waiting in line from 3am. While the machines appealed to those who could never have afforded a computer before, more sophisticated shoppers were put off by the basic configurations, reported The Nation.

HP in Singapore could not offer more details about the Linux notebook at press time.

Until now, the use of Linux has largely been confined to servers and not in consumer desktops, a space which is still dominated by Microsoft's Windows OS and to a smaller extent, Apple's Macintosh.

None of the large US-based PC makers -- HP, IBM and Dell -- are known to sell consumer desktops or notebook with the Linux OS pre-installed.

Smaller makers such as ECS from Taiwan offer Linux as an option in their low-cost, batteryless notebooks, also known as desknotes. US-based manufacturer Lindows also offers Linux-based desktops and a $799 (£496) notebook.