The ASUS 1015E is definitely an affordable mini-laptop running Windows 8, but how about an Ubuntu-powered ASUS notebook for $215?

ASUS apparently plans to go for even lower prices, offering a brand new Ubuntu Linux laptop with a dirt cheap price tag. For the sake of comparison, the 1015E Windows 8 mini-laptop model sells for around $249 to $299.

A couple of online retailers are currently showing listings for an ASUS notebook model which apparently is ready to go on sale for as little as $215. Needless to mention, this is most likely exciting news for Linux and Asus fans alike.

The new ASUS 1015E-DS03 Ubuntu-powered notebook is basically a small laptop with a 10.1-inch display, sporting a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. Under the hood it packs an Intel Celeron dual-core processor clocked at 1.1GHz, coupled with 2GB of RAM and a 320 hard disk drive.

Just like its Windows 8-powered counterpart, this little gadget supports Bluetooth, packs two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port, HDMI, Ethernet jack, stereo speakers and a headset jack. The six-cell battery provides quite a decent performance, with a 7.5-hour working time frame.  

In terms of portability, the ASUS 1015E-DS03 weighs in at roughly 2.8 lbs and measures 10.3 x 7 x 1.4 inches in size. In other words, the two ASUS 1015E notebooks are pretty much twins except for the fact that one runs on Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system, while the other rocks Ubuntu Linux.

Considering that Windows 8 gadgets don't seem to be in very high demand, having an Ubuntu Linux alternative may be preferable for many. On the other hand, not all consumers know their way around a Linux operating system and the familiarity of Windows might sound more appealing. Either way, ASUS covers all bases and boasts attractive price tags for interested buyers.

Today's market sports increasingly enticing offers and price tags, so ultimately it comes down to consumers' needs, preferences and budgets. ASUS' new Ubuntu-powered notebook adds one more option to an already plentiful market.