Engadget reports today that Asus added to their download section a place for applications that will run on the Eee PC in the CNR format (more later.) Unfortunately, the CNR installer is not yet on the Eee PC, so putting the website up in the first place was probably a mistake (and they have taken it down now), but it is great to know that this is being planned. Here is why it is so important:

Until now, and for at least a few days more, the Eee PC’s default OS has been locked down (see all my stuff on Ubuntu Netbook Remix). This means that anyone who wants to do anything outside of the Eee PCs default applications (edit: easily – it is possible) has to install a new OS. Now, or presumably soon, you will be able to go to the Asus website (and probably CNR.com, too) and click a single button to install an application. This is what Click n’ Run (CNR) lets you do.

Long time readers can probably understand why I am so enthusiastic about this. I have complained about the Eee’s OS being too locked down (see link to Ubuntu Netbook Remix posts above) and I have talked about the merits of CNR and similar solutions. To me, this seems the perfect use of a good technology to fix a problem. It makes sense, too, since Linspire (the company that created CNR) was just bought by Xandros (who makes the Eee PC’s OS.)

It may be a lot late, but it is bettter than nothing. Hopefully, this will help to get people to more carefully consider the options and, perhaps, opt for Linux. Still many will want to install their own OS, but at least now the default OS is more flexible, as it should have been from the beginning.

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