Attention Wal-Mart shoppers: There's a new laptop available and it’s cheap, really cheap. Working with operating system vendor Linspire--helmed by former mp3.com founder and former member of the 400 richest Americans, Michael Robertson--mega-retailer Wal-Mart Stores has introduced the $498 Balance laptop. The machine is the lowest priced laptop to include an operating system and an office suite, far cheaper than notebooks from companies such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard . Unlike traditional systems such as Microsoft 's Windows and Apple Computer 's OSX, the Balance runs on Linspire's self-named Linux-based platform. As if the notorious Linux wasn't a sharp enough thorn for Bill Gates, the Balance's office suite is fully compatible with Microsoft file types. With its combination of compatibility and ease of use, complimented by Wal-Mart's market reach, the Balance will attempt to sway consumers from higher-priced traditional computing to a more affordable option. The task is daunting, but the price tag surely helps.
