Microsoft plans to impose royalty fees on Taiwan-based vendors of Android handsets for using its patents in e-mail, multimedia and other functions, with Acer and Asustek Computer being targets in an actual attempt to prevent the two vendors from adopting Android and Chrome OS for their netbook and tablet PCs, according to Taiwan-based makers.

If you’re looking for Ubuntu powered netbook that is as beautiful outside as it is inside then prepare to coo over the latest ‘Starling’ netbooks to hatch from the nest of Ubuntu-dedicated hardware company System76…

From seemingly out of nowhere yesterday MeeGo, a Linux Foundation-approved alliance between Nokia and Intel, released v1.0 of what they’re calling the netbook user experience. Way to channel Jimi Hendrix there. So like the band with the similar name, will MeeGo blow your mind? Let’s find out…

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.

IBM, Canonical and Simmtronics today announced they will market a low-cost, Intel Atom-based Simmtronics netbook in emerging markets. The Simmbook will be preloaded with the IBM Client for Smart Work Linux distro, based on Ubuntu Netbook Remix, and will first be made available in Africa for just $190, says IBM.

As we watched for signs of hope in netbook sales, Drupal sites and partly-FOSS Android phones, a revolution was taking place all around, in the physical world but not entirely away from the internet.

What’s holding it back is people’s love of the Microsoft operating system and that fact that it’s familiar and so on. But actually the trajectory of progress in the Linux world is very, very impressive. I think it’s only a matter of time for ARM to gain market share with or without Microsoft.

All laptop users have something in common: we want our device's batteries to last longer.