Wal-Mart, Linspire Team On Low-Budget LaptopWal-Mart, Linspire Team On Low-Budget Laptop

Basing a laptop on open source operating system and applications software, Wal-Mart and Linspire said Monday they have broken the $500 price barrier with their $498 Balance laptop.

The laptop uses the Linux-based Linspire OS, an Internet suite from Mozilla, and OpenOffice's Microsoft-file-compatible office suite. "Wal-Mart and Linspire worked together to offer (this) laptop," Linspire stated. "The Balance notebook is the lowest-priced laptop currently on the market to include a complete operating system and office suite."

Linspire said the offering also includes Mozilla's Internet suite with browser and e-mail programs. The OpenOffice applications enable users to open, edit and exchange Microsoft-compatible word processing documents (.doc), spreadsheets (.xls), and presentations (.ppt). The Internet suite features spam blockers, and a built-in firewall. The laptop package also includes access to hundreds of free software application programs.

The laptop has a 1.0 GHz processor, 128 MB RAM, and a 14.1-inch LCD screen.

The laptop is available at Walmart.com and Linspire.com