Question: Is is possible to install Windows on the new ultramobile PCs (UMPCs)?

The IT Guy says:
As the selection of UMPCs (such as the Asus EeePC) continues to grow, they get more and more attention. Many districts, however, aren't ready to jump into Linux just yet. The manufacturers have heard this, and most of these UMPCs now come with an option to have Windows XP installed. This will bump up the cost, however.

If you have the capacity, you can upgrade the devices yourself. One option is called Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs. It's a stripped-down version of Windows XP designed to run on older computers which is only available to districts that have corporate contracts with Microsoft (such as School Agreement or Software Assurance). There's a nice step-by-step set of instructions on how to do the installation on an EeePC. If you want to install the full XP, I recommend the tutorials at http://www.digwin.com/. While the instructions at both of these sites refer to the EeePC, they should work on similar laptops from other companies.

Be aware that while this is not a hugely technical process, it isn't one for beginners, either. Some of the command-line instructions can, if typed in ever-so-slightly incorrectly, erase the hard drive on your computer. Proceed with caution!

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