Even at the time, though, there seemed to be a lot of confusion, and no real sense that anyone knew what this development was actually going to mean. And as more details came out, the picture got murkier, not clearer. Would PCs build on the new chipsets be able run older versions of Windows at all, even if Microsoft wouldn't add drivers to Windows 7 or 8 to facilitate that? Would Intel or AMD ensure that PCs built on their new chips could run Linux?
There were lots of guesses, but nobody really seemed to know, so I bided my time and waited for the dust to settle. I'm not in the market for a new PC anytime soon, after all, and probably won't be until Windows 7 support stops completely in 2020, so I could afford the time.
Today, my
From PC World:
Three new models of Dell’s slick XPS 13 Developer Edition will be available with Ubuntu OS and 7th Generation Core processors in the U.S. and Canada starting on Oct. 10.
Prices for XPS 13 DE will start at $949. Dell also announced the XPS 13 model with Kaby Lake and Windows 10, which will ship on Oct. 4 starting at $799.
[...]
Dell has remained committed to Linux while major PC vendors shift to Windows 10 on PCs. Intel made a major commitment to supporting Windows 10 with its new Kaby Lake chips but hasn’t talked much about Linux support.
XPS 13 DE is perhaps the sexiest and thinnest Linux laptop available, with an edge-to-edge screen being a stand-out feature. It is the latest in Dell’s Project Sputnik line of laptops, and it is targeted at computer enthusiasts who want a Windows or Mac alternative.
Head over to PC World for more details, or to Slashdot for more discussion -- the folks discussing this development over there will mostly be more better informed than I am. I'm just happy that consumers will continue to have options, viable alternatives to Windows 10, in spite of Microsoft's best efforts. That's good news.
It feels like it's been a better-than-average week for pro-consumer news.