In a move that’s seemingly insignificant but actually very significant, Ubuntu Linux is now available for purchase off-the-shelf from Best Buy.

Reasons why this is important:

When a software product “graduates” from the internet to being an actual in-store item, this means that non-nerds see it and will probably buy it. Why? Because it’s only $19.99 - far below the price of the cheapest version of Windows Vista.

The fact Best Buy carries it means they now have a reason to carry “Ubuntu compatible” items for not only software but hardware as well. Vendors will be very interested in producing hardware and software specific to Ubuntu now that they know it’s actually on the shelf.

Linux purists will obviously see this as absolute heresy. Charge? For a Linux distribution! BAH! WRONG! BAD!

No, not bad. Good. You *nix guys want to see Microsoft go down the drain so bad you can almost taste it. If there’s a boxed item directly next to those shiny copies of Vista with a much lower price tag, this is a step in the correct direction. You’re going to have to deal with some corporate junk in order to put a dent in Microsoft’s stranglehold on PCs.

Want to know what’s even better? The sale comes with 60-day support. Yep, this means someone who buys Ubuntu actually has a real live phone number they can call to speak with a real live human for help. That’s just plain awesome.

This is a very strong move forward into making Linux more mainstream.