The technology and buzz keep on coming in the netbook space, which consists of lower-cost, smaller-size notebook computers (many of them Linux-based) that are as much like a smartphone as they are like a PC. One of the most exciting develoments this week was Dell’s introduction of its first line of netbooks to come with both WindowsXP and Ubuntu Linux. What was even more exciting was to hear that Dell is working with Vodafone to offer its new netbooks in a broadband wireless package, which is perhaps the most compelling application of the smaller, more mobile netbooks.

Hopefully, Dell, a mainstream OEM leader when it comes to Linux, will not follow Google’s Chrome and offer the 3G only for the XP version. If they truly want to jump ahead and stand out from the netbook crowd that has gathered, they should push the technology, add the 3G and keep the Linux.

Linux certainly has cost advantages for netbook manufucturers, which typically pass savings or technical bonuses on to consumers. There’s also a real possibility that Linux will have an advantage when it comes to adding applications. After all, if you pay $350 for a computer, do you really want to spend $100 or $50 or even $25 on applications for it? With Linux, users will have the ability to browse, add and, equally importantly, remove applications as they wish. Try that with XP. Some vendors, including Xandros, also see an opportunity in providing the applications and content that go along with netbooks, at least ones that are running Linux.