HP will soon be joining Dell in offering at least one Linux desktop line in its SKU sales listing. HP is to buy Linux thin client desktop company already.

First, Dell successfully broke the Windows-only wall when it added Ubuntu Linux 7.04 to three systems in its consumer line in May. You don't start offering Ubuntu on another brand-new laptop line and announce that you'll soon be selling Ubuntu to SMBs (small to midsize businesses) and internationally unless you're making money from it. Expanding the Linux offering means Dell must actually be selling units.

The other PC companies aren't idiots. Many of them, like Lenovo, have been toying with desktop Linux for years.