After a business trip to China, the ZaReason team is back in the US preparing to offer Ubuntu 9.04 on PCs and laptops the day Canonical's latest Linux distribution launches. But that's not all: ZaReason is preparing to expand its Ubuntu server lineup. Here are the early details, based on an email interview with ZaReason CTO Earl Malmrose.

ZaReason is preparing to expand its portfolio of Ubuntu systems - including a new server and netbook, according to CEO Cathy Malmrose. But that's not all. US-based ZaReason also continues its push deeper into the European computer market.
I traded email with Malmrose about Ubuntu 9.04 and ZaReason's ongoing business strategy. Here's a look at our exchange...

Linux system builder ZaReason appears to have launched a new Linux netbook. While there’s no information about the new Teo netbook on the ZaReason web site, you can already order one from Amazon for $460.

Genuine cluefulness in any business is a rare pleasure, and that is why I like ZaReason so much. ZaReason sells Linux boxes: desktop, server, netbook, and pretty much whatever you want. Another priceless bit of cluefulness is the Valerie Aurora Webcam mod option.

The nice folks at ZaReason, the independent Linux OEM computer vendor, sent me their Teo tough netbook to review. This turned into a family affair as my excellent significant other Terry was charmed by the little netbook, and had to try it out. Executive summary: thumbs up.

Netbooks of late have lost some of the charm and excitement marking their initial reception. ZaReason is one of the few and preloads Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix on their Terra A20 netbook.

Cathy and Earl Malmrose founded ZaReason several years ago. ZaReason is a Linux OEM that has long intrigued me for a number of reasons: they encourage customers to open their boxes and tinker, they specialize in OEM Linux boxes, and they demonstrate that there is still room for independent shops in the rough-and-tumble world of computer retailing.

Anyterm allows you to have secure terminal access to a server without needing any special software on a client machine beyond a Web browser. For example, with Anyterm you can open a terminal into your server from an Internet cafe. Because Anyterm uses a pseudo-terminal for communication with the shell, you can run most command-line tools from an Anyterm terminal running inside a Web browser.

Each time Canonical ships a new Ubuntu release, I'm inclined to reach out to two specific PC companies: ZaReason and System76. Both companies focus intensely on Ubuntu netbooks, notebooks, PCs and servers. Here's a look at ZaReason's Ubuntu 10.04 strategy - according to CEO Cathy Malmrose and CTO Earl Malmrose