Microsoft only wants to play on mature markets. That is the main point. Asus need to open the
market, used Linux and now made a deal with Microsoft (or was forced), where price should be
the same for both versions, even if necessary to put a little more hardware in the Linux
version. Almost fair, probably to avoid regulation issues.
This month in the Brazilian edition (#41 - April '08) of Linux Magazine (the German branch,
not the American one), with an interview with the Strategies Manager of MS Brazil, where he
presents this "strategy" in full terms. The article is only available online for subscribers
of LM.