Linux StinkPads ahoy! (and compendium vol 10)

Strike a light, Mary Poppins, it's only Tuesday's IT Blogwatch: in which ThinkPads are to officially run Linux. Not to mention something for everyone in today's "And Finally"...

Jim Finkle gave us a tinkle on the old dog and bone :

Lenovo Group Ltd., the world's No. 3 PC maker, said today that it will start selling versions of its laptop computers preloaded with Linux software from Novell Inc. instead of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system ... Lenovo announced its plans at the start of LinuxWorld, an annual conference for IT managers that's being held in San Francisco this week.
...
PC makers have been reluctant to embrace Linux, but that view is starting to change. In May, No. 2 PC maker Dell Inc. began selling three models to U.S. consumers that come preloaded with the Ubuntu version of Linux, which is commercially sponsored by Canonical Ltd. ... Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth, who runs privately held Canonical, which sells service contracts to maintain Ubuntu software, said in an interview last month that he expects Dell to expand its Linux PC program. [more]

Eric Bangeman adds:

ThinkPad customers will soon have a new configuration option, as Lenovo and Novell have announced that the popular laptops will begin shipping with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 (SLED) preinstalled. Although the ThinkPad has been certified for Linux for some time, this marks the first time Lenovo will ship a laptop with Linux preinstalled—while providing both hardware and OS support. Novell will provide software updates directly to ThinkPad owners, however.
...
SUSE will be available on T-series ThinkPads (Lenovo's business-class notebooks) beginning in the fourth quarter. Aside from the choice of operating system, the SUSE ThinkPads should be in all respects identical to their Windows-running brethren.
...
Unlike Dell, which has targeted its Linux offering primarily at the enthusiast community, Lenovo's SLED laptops are targeted at the enterprise. Whether they are running Ubuntu, SLED, or some other distribution, the availability of Linux preinstallation from mainstream vendors increases the visibility of the operating system and gives component makers an incentive to provide better Linux drivers and hardware support. If Lenovo is willing to collaborate with the Linux development community to improve the Linux laptop user experience, it will be a big win for all Linux users, not just the ones who buy laptops from Lenovo. [more]

Ryan Block smells something funny:

We're not sure why Lenovo (and anyone else) is making such a big stink about the fact that it's going to be selling laptops bundled with SUSE Linux on there -- they did announce this deal almost a year ago. Still, actually snagging a Linux ThinkPad is easier said than done (namely because the machines apparently weren't made available to consumers and businesses), so put your tuxes on, the pre-loaded Linux party starts Q4 for anyone with enough cash to snag one. [more]

Does Paul McNamara spy a trend?:

That whooshing sound they're hearing in Redmond may be the dam bursting on PC makers preloading their machines with Linux.
...
About a year ago, the companies first announed their intentions to collaborate on a high-end ThinkPad. Today's news expands upon that relationship. [more]

Scott Gilbertson couldn't resist calling it a, "Linux Bandwagon": [I'd fire him -Ed.]

The first ThinkPad being offered with SLED 10 pre-installed is the ThinkPad T60p, one of Lenovo's core business-oriented machines. It boasts an Intel CoreDuo 2GHz processor and can handle up to 2GB of memory. The graphics capability is nothing to sneeze at, either: the T60p has an ATI FireGL V5200. Lenovo will offer software and hardware support, but Novell will manage software updates. The company hasn’t announced any pricing details for the new machines.

With Dell already selling PCs with Ubuntu pre-installed, two of the top three computer makers in the world are now offering Linux as a pre-built option. And the Linux option appears to be spreading, Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth said last month that he is negotiating with “other large PC makers” interested in offering machines with Ubuntu. [more]

Here's Jerry Gartner (no relation):

So why is this news now? Dell and Lenovo announced pre-loaded Linux a year ago to no great fanfare outside of the Linux community. The market is different now; mounting user dis-satisfaction over Microsoft products, and the cool reception of Windows Vista both contribute to vendors desire to offer more to consumers. These latest Linux offerings are aimed specifically at enterprise too - previous efforts were geared toward the home market.

Interestingly, Linux users account for nearly 4% of operating system market share - the same percentage of marketshare that belongs to Apple - not bad for a product with no corporate marketing money behind it. [more]

And toppavak likes the news:

I'm particularly excited about Lenovo handling the OS support themselves, I've owned a thinkpad for several years now and have always had amazingly prompt and effective support from them... My optical drive's tray broke a couple weeks ago, and it took them exactly 4 days to get it fixed from picking up the phone to getting the laptop back in full working order. [more]

head_dunce laughs:

I remember not too long ago about how Lenovo would not install or support Linux. And the first comment on that page, "They'll come crawling back to us when Vista turns out to be a flop." Ha. [more]

But Outland Traveller is disappointed about the Novell connection:

No one should support those particular Linux vendors who assist Microsoft in their efforts to deceptively and in bad faith portray Free Software as illegal. Lenovo - How about some Red Hat or Ubuntu offerings?

On the positive side, one can argue that for a Free Software user it's better to pay for Novell's product than Microsoft's, because at least the hardware is more likely going to be compatible with other, more respectable Linux distributions.

A good step forward, but there is much room for improvement. [more]

And Mistlefoot agrees:

Small steps in the wrong direction aren't good steps. They actually get you further from your goal ... the Novell - Microsoft agreement is NOT THE RIGHT direction.

When I want to run a LAMP server or toss Ubuntu on my new box I can do that. I do have the freedom to choose. Agreements like the Novell - Microsoft agreement lead towards losing many of those freedoms. [more]

To which, Ngarrang retorts:

Some may deride Novell for their deal with Microsoft, but Lenovo is targeting the corporate world, not OS Holy War advocates. In the corporate world, big businesses want certainty, even in the face of possibly-baseless claims.
...
Dell, HP/Compaq, Lenovo/IBM...these are the big three that the Linux community needs to really push the off-the-shelf sale. The sales of these three dwarf all of the rest of the competition. Thus, I say bring it on, Lenovo! Soon, all of the other 1st and 2nd tier vendors will fall into the new order of the world or risk being left behind. [more]

Buffer overflow:

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Previously in IT Blogwatch

• Dateline Las Vegas: hackers whack a mole hack (and outed-FSJ)
• Who wants a free Google phone? (and comic() {comic();})
• Something wireless in the AAir (and LOLpresidents)
• Microsoft's OSI open-source offer (and Nasha... hic!)
• Grub-by open source searching (and weirdest mating ritual)
• Older posts

And finally... A surreal and supremely inane compendium of miscellaneous knowledge, Vol 10

Richi Jennings is an independent technology and marketing consultant, specializing in email, blogging, Linux, and computer security. A 20 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You too can pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook.