If you've followed our recent coverage of Asus' success with its (primarily Linux-based) low-cost
Eee PC laptops, and Hewlett Packard's
Mini-Note, you know that Linux-based portables are seeing surprising success. Now, Acer--traditionally more of a hardware titan overseas than in the U.S.--is joining the fray with its new
Aspire One Linux-based subnotebooks. Because of its distribution might, this could represent major competition for Asus, HP, and the OLPC project.