I like Slashdot, I like Linux, but I swear Slashdotters want Linux on everything. Linux can’t possibly be the answer to everything. Linux on a Tablet PC is old news though, as there was talk about a sub $1000 Linux-based Tablet PC well over a year ago. I seriously looked into buying one of them, in fact.

Michael Rolig has created a Debian-based linux package for your Tablet PC. The support for various tablet features is limited by the features on the tablet Rolig owns, such as the “half-working” pen button features.

I have to wonder about this one though and keep in mind I’m still a very new Tablet PC owner: why would somebody not want the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition? I must say, Windows Tablet PC is the best Windows I’ve seen in awhile. Ok, I can see maybe having dual boot OS so you could do linux development stuff but Tablet Edition Windows works well, doesn’t crash like most other Windows (ok 2000 is pretty stable too). XP is not bad either, but ME was horrendous in the stability department. Also, the voice and handwriting recognition is some of the best that I’ve ever seen and Linux is lacking in at least the handwriting recognition area when I last checked. What’s the point of having a Tablet PC if you don’t have good handwriting recognition?

I just revisited the place selling those Helium100 Tablet PCs for under $1000 and now it appears there is a minimum order of 24 units ($23,999) — so no more sub $1000 Linux-based Tablet PC pricing. Another thing I found interesting was this:

Element Factory offers are only valid for end users and not for resellers and/or online auctions. All availability, pricing, specials, specifications and terms of offers may change without notice.

Well the prices definitely changed — for the worse. Please, how many end users do you know that would need to buy a minimum of 24 Tablet PCs (seems to me like they are having trouble selling them one at a time to non-business users)? Businesses yes, but they are going to have to be pretty decent size to need 24 or more Tablet PCs. And I bet Windows-based Tablet PC vendors would swing a pretty sweet deal for 24 or more Tablet PCs.

• Tablet PC with Linux OS under $1000 but not without concerns
• Improve Tablet PC Handwriting Recognition
• Linux on your desktop in 2004?
• Free REAL Basic Standard ($99.95 value) through April 15, 2005
• Skype for Linux available
• Tablet PC falters during Microsoft presentation, Linux w/OpenOffice to the rescue