| Lenovo denies ditching Linux |
Sep. 08, 2008
[Updated 4:30] -- Lenovo, which years ago purchased IBM's personal computer business, appears to have quietly stopped offering Linux as a pre-installation option. None of the company's 49 ThinkPad and IdeaPad notebook models -- nor its many ThinkCenter and IdeaCenter desktops -- can currently be ordered with Linux.
Lenovo does offer four high-end ThinkStation workstation models without any commercial operating system software, but all of its other systems now carry the "Microsoft Tax," it appears. That is, in order to purchase one of the systems, you have to pay for a Microsoft Windows operating system license.
Lenovo's executive director of external communications, Ray Gorman, denied in vague terms that the current situation marks a strategic shift, though he did admit the company is "refining its Linux strategy." He added, "Lenovo is not abandoning its commitment to choice of operating system, and actually is increasing the role of the Linux operating system in Lenovo's product portfolio."
All evidence to the contrary.
Gorman continued, "In 2008, Lenovo offered preloaded Novell SLED 10 Linux on some of its ThinkPad notebooks, targeting business users. We are now seeing greater demand for Linux from consumers and those in education, and are bringing Linux preloaded on soon-to-be announced Lenovo netbooks targeted to education."
Actually, Lenovo already announced its Linux-based S9 netbook models, when it launched its Netbook line about a month ago. However, the company provided pricing and availability information only for the Windows XP-based "S10" model, saying that the Linux-based "S9" model would be limited to overseas education markets.
In other words, if the government of some large country wants to order a few hundred thousand of them, they'll build some, and not before.
Gorman continued, "We will continue to certify Novell and Red Hat Linux on our ThinkPad notebooks and ThinkCentre desktops. Additionally, we will be offering Linux on our Think servers, an area we are seeing a greater demand for Linux."
Background
IBM's ThinkPad line played an important role in the history of Linux, becoming the first notebook from a major manufacturer to be available both certified and pre-installed with Linux (Red Hat was the flavor of choice back in 1999, and the ThinkPad E600 was the model that everyone wanted, if memory serves). And too, prior to buying IBM's PC business, Lenovo -- even then China's largest PC maker -- offered Red Flag Linux pre-installed on some systems.
After acquiring IBM's PC business, Lenovo's first Linux ThinkPad shipped in January of last year with Novell SUSE Linux pre-installed, to positive, but not glowing reviews. Prior to that, Lenovo talked about Linux a lot, and even mulled Ubuntu as a pre-install option. Now, though, the company has apparently stopped offering Linux as an option on its T-61 and other popular ThinkPad notebook models.
It's no secret that for decades, PC vendors have offered free technical support for Microsoft operating system products, a business reality that has helped Microsoft achieve its famous market-beating profit margins. Once bitten twice shy, systems integrators like Lenovo are understandably chary of adding Linux to their support burdens. Lenovo's initial trial with Linux was a limited release that left the user to load SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop on the system themselves, and seek support from Novell should anything go awry.
Linux arguably benefits from superior online support resources, compared to Windows. However, none of that does much good if the user is not able to go online. The typical PC support call costs $35, according to a spokesperson from Everex, a top-10 global PC vendor. Meanwhile, PC margins face increasing downwards price pressure from the new crop of ultra-low-cost "nettops" and "netbook" PCs.
At the same time, it seems unfair for PC vendors such as Lenovo to force customers toward a single operating system choice, with so many great alternatives to Windows these days.
-- Henry Kingman
Thanks to Tamas Papp at Princeton University for letting us know about this. Additionally, Robert Pogson wrote to let us know that Lenovo recently added Linux as an option on some IdeaPad netbooks.
Do you have comments on this story?
Talkback here
NOTE: Please post your comments regarding our articles using the above link. Be sure to use this article's title as the "Subject" in your posts. Before you create a new thread, please check to see if a discussion thread is already running on the article you plan to comment on. Thanks!
Related stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
Approaching the Linux Desktop
The purpose of this paper is to help organizations evaluate the Linux desktop against their own enterprise needs and discover what benefits the Linux desktop might bring to their organizations.
Migrating To Linux: Application Challenges and Solutions
Several solutions exist to help organizations migrate in an orderly fashion from Windows to Linux desktops. This paper establishes the characteristics of an ideal cross-platform solution and reviews these alternatives in light of this ideal standard. The paper takes a closer look at the pros and cons of various solutions and outlines the business benefits that can be achieved.
Linux Advantages: Publicly Available Information on Linux Software
This paper offers a brief summary of readily-available Linux information to help businesses sort out this widely misunderstood operating system.
Top 5 Strategies for Managing Linux
Despite continuous evolution in the manageability of Linux, a 2006 survey cited manageability concerns as a top reason why organizations are hesitating to adopt Linux. Levanta believes Linux can be as manageable, if not more so, than other operating systems by following key strategies. These strategic recommendations were developed from experiences in numerous customer environments, both large and small.
Why Choose Novell for Linux?
This paper outlines the benefits of switching to the Linux platform and choosing Novell as a high-performance, enterprise solution.
Enterprise Linux Selection Guide
Considering moving your enterprise to the Linux operating system? Since there are so many similar versions, choosing the right one can be tough. This paper offers a clear process to help you make an informed decision and get the features, support, and cost that are right for your business and technical needs.
Overcoming Challenges in Managing Linux
Levanta has created a new administration model with innovative technology that breaks down the barriers to making the most of Linux systems. This paper will provide an in-depth look at the workings of Levanta’s product, the first Linux appliance of its kind.
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 for Retail Businesses
Discover why major retailers have switched to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop in the back office. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 is a low-cost desktop that offers a complete set of productivity applications and interoperates seamlessly with the other Windows, Macintosh and UNIX desktops in your store.
Moving to a Linux Desktop
Migrating from Windows to Linux on the desktop can be a substantial undertaking because it has the potential for touching -- and perhaps disrupting -- every user in your organization. Unlike a data center (server and infrastructure) migration that is largely transparent to users, the cultural and administrative transitions and environment readiness required to support a Linux desktop migration are extensive.
Seven Good Reasons to Exchange Exchange
This paper describes seven compelling reasons why you should switch from Exchange to Scalix.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed