The Dell says the new release of Ubuntu delivers more peripheral support – like ATI Video Graphics, Dell Wireless, Fingerprint Readers, HDMI, Bluetooth and MP3/WMA/WMV.

The 15.4-inch Inspiron 1525n and 13.3-inch XPS M1330n start at $549 and $949, respectively.

Hewlett-Packard now optionally offers Windows XP OS on its HP 2133 Mini-Note PC low-cost ultraportable laptop.

The new OS option is available as a downgrade from Windows Vista to Windows XP Professional for bussiness only. A specification sheet of the HP 2133 says that “to qualify for this downgrade an end user must be a business (including governmental or educational) and is expected to order annually at least 25 customer systems with the same custom image”.

The Hewlett-Packard now also allows users to configure the HP 2133 based on their needs, instead of only buying preconfigured models.

Microsoft is launching a program to promote the use of its Windows OS in ultra low-cost laptops. Microsoft plans to offer PC laptop makers steep discounts on Windows XP Home Edition to encourage them to use that OS instead of Linux on ultra low-cost PCs.

In order to be eligible for the price cut, tech firms need to be making low-cost PCs that limit their screen sizes to 10.2 inches and hard drives to 80GB and under. The laptops must also not have more than 1GB RAM or a 1.0 GHz single-core processor, and come without touch-screen technology. These limitations help ensure that the ultra cheap laptops won’t eat into the market for mainstream PCs running Windows Vista.

Microsoft will charge $26 for XP in emerging markets such as China and India, and $32 for developed markets like the United States.

Microsoft has said it plans to stop selling new Windows XP licenses after 30 June, but it has made exceptions, including for the use of XP Home in ULPCs.