The current operating-system choices for folk looking to buy a cheap-and-cheerful netbook generally lie with either a Linux implementation or Microsoft Windows XP Home.

Looking around online etailers, it's often difficult to make an informed guess on the additional cost of having XP, because the specification for non-Windows netbooks is often different.

However, the overall price of a budget netbook - at around £200 - is such that Microsoft isn't making a whole heap of cash from bundling in XP.

A report in the Wall Street Journal indicates that Microsoft's play at gaining the majority share in the ever-increasing netbook market has come at the cost of vastly reduced XP Home license fees, citing an income of less than $15 once rebates have been factored in. Compare this with the $50-$60 for bundling in Vista for regular desktops and laptops. Yes, the Redmond outfit has already paid for XP a long time ago, but it's practically having to give it away now.

Microsoft's aim, of course, is to cement its position in the netbook market by taking a hit now but then cashing in with Windows 7 Starter Edition. The very cost of netbooks - or, more precisely, a lack of - has forced the software giant's hand, so it can only be a good thing for the consumer.

Have you bought a netbook recently? If configured with an operating system, did you go for a Linux variant or XP? Are XP-equipped netbooks good enough for the job? We'd love to hear your thoughts.