A YEAR ago, ASUS told the press that it was "closely tied up with Microsoft.” This happened just months after ASUS had expressed its future commitment to the GNU/Linux platform and recently we learned that Microsoft probably offered kickbacks to ASUS. It is almost confirmed now. The effect on ASUS appears to be devastating as liaising with Microsoft did not really pay off.

Honest answer from ASUS may finally explain a change in strategy, attitude

A recent press release shows that Asus has gone into private talks with Microsoft on how to release a Windows 7-Compatible Eee. What's more, both Newegg and Asus have been plugging a new Eee Campaign called "It's Better With Windows"

I got burned this week; I actually believed the hoax that ASUS and Microsoft teamed up, and that an Asus.co.uk page was linking to a It's Better With Windows site. But looking at it again, I'm convinced it's a hoax.

The EeePC started as a niche product aimed at children. It was a huge hit, which surprised everybody - even Asus. Microsoft noticed it, and started putting pressure on Asus. While reading around, I came across this interview with Benson Lin, which proces once more that Microsoft is tying up Asus and effectively killing the GNU/Linux version of the EeePC.

ASUS is among the few tier-one hardware vendors that understands Linux. Of the dozens of ASUS products we have tested over the years, it is hard to remember a product from ASUS that did not work well with Linux.

It's "better with Windows" and "ASUS recommends Windows 7" when Microsoft pays for such text to be shown, but the reality is very different

For those who have forgotten, the first Asus netbook ran Linux, to be precise – Xandros. It forced Microsoft to bring the XP back from its grave. Now, Asus does not sells any Linux powered netbooks. But, is that really correct?

"Microsoft is actually paying for using Windows [...] Asus speaker confirmed this in Germany," says an informant