In the past two days, I've read two different articles about the role of Linux in the success of the Eee PC and other low-cost laptops. In one corner, APC Magazine reports that while Linux helped Asus and others drive down the cost of ultraportables, there's a huge demand for the more familiar Windows operating system, which is what most manufacturers will now focus on. In the other corner, we have The Register, which reports that the reason you can't find any Linux-based Eee PC 901 units at the moment is because of the Intel Atom CPU shortage.