Putting Linux on the OQO presents a few challenges. It's the usual laptop suspects. For the imaginative, the device running Linux, may open up some interesting new business opportunities. If we think beyond the notion of "one computer, one user" I can see where the tiny portable could host applications, serve Web pages, and automatically (via cron, for example) perform various computing jobs. This is especially true when extreme mobility or weight is a major consideration.

But at about US$2100, it could be a bit pricey for day-to-day basic business email and web surfing.

Overall I think it's a good package that could be integrated into a number of useful applications.

Rob Reilly is a consultant, trend spotter, and writer. He is a contributing editor for Linux Today. He advises clients on portable computing, presentation technology, and business process integration. You can visit his web page at http://home.earthlink.net/~robreilly.

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