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HP to Globally Launch Linux-Based PCs
Rade T. writes "Reuters UK reports that HP, the No. 1 personal computer and computer printer maker, said on Wednesday that its putting its weight behind personal computers that run the Linux operating system. I guess this is the first serious step towards solving the problems that Linux faces on the Desktop/Laptop."
Why is this going to be any different than Dells attempt at selling Linux Based PC's ? Dell tried it and it failed. For a lot of reasons, support, lack of customers and about 50 other reasons. Im curious as to why HP thinks they can make this succeed.
If the same system is available with MS-Windows or Linux, will the Linux system be cheaper (No M$ License fee)? My cynical bet is that the systems will cost the same . . .
Given the niche they're shooting for, "Fink said that he expects businesses to use Linux where employees only need a few applications, such as in a call center or support center where workers need to access only a database and e-mail."
I don't think Microsoft is going to be doing a lot of crying in their beer. They might be looking over their shoulder, and they might like it to be otherwise, but the end result will be nominal at least in the near term.
Based doesn't mean that the code base came from Unix. I'd agree with Reuters in that Linux is based on Unix from a design perspective. It's no coincidence that the command line is extremely similar, or that errno.h is similar, etc.
It's a shame that the Asian market gets it first (for selfish reasons), I would like to see a fully functioning Novell/Suse desktop (the people at the Brain Share "show" are getting a sneak peek now).
HP and Novell Expand Relationship to Offer Linux From Desktop to Datacenter
/. "topic" now?
Can Novell please get a
legal. fun. profitable. pick two.
First HP goes with Apple for music (iTunes and HP iPod) and now they are trying out Linux... that's twice microsoft has been bested in favor of open standards. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but go HP!
Quid festinatio swallonis est aetherfuga inonusti?
Africus aut Europaeus?
The news article is too vague. It mentions nothing about the model/ features (specs) price, etc. for the proposed linux desktop. Maybe its too early for that, or maybe HP simply doesnt want to disclose the details... yet
I would assume that HP would adopt a single flavor of linux, to decrease their hassle/improve support. and i can just image the tech support people once they've been'trained' to fix user problems on linux.
Don't worry - its just stigmata. Pass me a napkin and don't you dare tell my mother.
Novell is still the best backbone around. Secure and easy to admin. Redhat abandoned the desktop. /.?
Do you ever read any article on
Professional Politicians are not the solution, they ARE the problem.
Honestly, Java Desktop System (aka, Suse/Gnome/Staroffice/Evolution/Gaim) is pretty good for newbies and for corporate desktop transitioners. If HP (a gigantic OEM) partners with Novell to push Suse, we'll finally get reputable (brand aware) hardware pushing linux, as opposed to Microtel or other tiny vendors. Even JDS is pushing crap through walmart. Hopefully this will really open the eyes of the public and introduce Linux to the mainstream world. Hopefully this will push Novell to integrate Suse with Ximian and make a complete desktop OS that any newbie transitioning form M$ can use. Cheers to HP.... and finally a good linux laptop(?).
It is a strange fate the Linux desktop seem to take.
;) ) on desktop, is because it allows me to organize many browser-windows, editors, IM-windows ect. without cluttering the UI. Yet here the Linux-desktop is being presented as a tool for the light-weight users.
Most of us, who already use Linux on desktop on a regular basis, consider ourselfs power-users. One of the reasons I use Linux (well... KDE
It would seem we have little in common with these new Linux users.
One OS can be based on another with out a single line of code being copied... lets take a look at the dictionary.com definition of based>.
I like #4, "The fundamental principle or underlying concept of a system or theory; a basis"
Linux is quite similar to Unix in terms of its higher level command set (ie what a user types in to a console to say... list the contents of a directory). By building a system which is functionally similar to an existing system, you help to ease the transition from one to the other, you base your new work on old.
Another example of this would be XPde, tell me it isn't in some way based on the Windows XP GUI, I highly doubt a single line of code was copied from Windows XP into XPde.
Help Brendan pay off his student loans
And then I read the article, HP is *supporting* Novell in their efforts to ...
Love the spin on the intro. Was this an HP marketing guy who submitted the story?
When HP budget injets and scanners come with Linux support in the box then I will take this sort of news seriously.
And if you thought that was boring you obviously havn't read my Journal ;-)
ACC is an open standard. The DRM is your problem.
- Hyundi car - sets of pedals, levers lights engine.
- Ford car - sets of pedals, levers lights engine.
Just because the two things operate, or appear similar on the surface does not infer that one is based on the other or vice-versa - it simple means that both operate using similar principles.Linux isn't Unix Based, it just happens to work like it. And by the way, it is mostly GNU tools that work like Unix!
I think 'Fink' has become rather archaic in the use of labeling someone a turncoat. It will probably mean little outside USA/GBR.
These computers should be a big hit where budgets are tight, and proprietary operating systems and software have a tougher job of making inroads. The undercurrent of recent events is that many outside the USA see it as vital not to be chained to a US corporation, which makes arbitrary decisions about what's needed in an 'operating system' and rolls out a new model every few years maintain steady revenue, even bulldozing existing markets for products now bundled.
I suspect Microsoft is really secretly working on their own Linux distro and wonder when we'll see it. What better way to steer the ship than to be a captain.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Look at all the unsupported scanners SANE Project HP search
Your demands are not realistic, you could not reasonably expect HP to support any linux distribution someone could throw one one of their machines. There is so much variety in the linux world that a technical support team would be hard pressed to help the disparate needs of their customers, I would be surprised if they would even support version of SuSE or RedHat that was customized in a significant way (for example a custom kernel or non-stock filesystem type or desktop environment). Tech support just doesn't work that way, and you can't reasonably expect them to be able to help people that deviate too far from the stock system they understand.
What you _can_ reasonably suspect is that they will officially support a select few distributions that have special relationships with the company, to ship drivers that work with those distribtions, and finally *release specs* to their hardware and the source to their distro-specific drivers. That way, other distributions have all the information they need to get their systems to work with HP's hardware if they desire it. That is far more reasonable that what you propose.
501 Not Implemented
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
Unless they have the worlds largest TSR centre I just can't see them handling the support needs that Linux is going to require.
"How do I install X application/game/hardware with Linux"
"I bought Microsoft Office.. why doesn't it do anything in LInux"
Unless you already know what you're doing with Linux... you might as well use Windows 95 if you want to have any clue on how to do something.
Linux still has to clean up the user experience before it'll be a real desktop alternative to Windows. (or even MacOSX)
I used to use Unix on a daily basis over a decade ago, and this week I decided to install linux. I was awed during the Fedora install at the relative ease of use, and the clean, professional GUI.
The feeling of awe ended when I tried to do something mundane, simply install an nVidia driver. I'm sorry, but the average person isn't going to want to open the inittab and edit it with vi. Also, if I can write a script to change run level why cant there be a menu for it in the GUI (KDE/Gnome), I mean I just kinda felt like not much had changed on a whole. Of course I don't want to get flamed, I mean I have only been a GUI using Linux user for about 48 hours, it's just I used to code fortran in vi, I don't think editing a cfg file should be standard operation in driver installation.
I understand that Knoppix is supposed to be great at working with hardware, from what I hear,but still, my experience leaves me feeling like not so much has changed in 10+ years, and Linux does not appear ready for household sub-100 IQ Nascar-lovin everyday use.
Given the niche they're shooting for, "Fink said that he expects businesses to use Linux where employees only need a few applications, such as in a call center or support center where workers need to access only a database and e-mail."
...it's remarkable how many employees only need a few applications - e.g. word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool (*cough*Powerpoint*cough*), browser, email. Like what I've been doing lately, a market study.
All the blahblah around it is written in a word processor, actual data collection via sending out emails and a webhoster with my php script (tested in browser), data analysis in spreadsheet (SPSS would be better, but well...) and a presentation of the data. That's basicly all the tools.
No real advanced features used either. Why? Because it's what I do with the tools that matter. A dazzlingly good market analysis has nothing to do with using Office XP or OpenOffice or Notepad. The calculations I do is on the level of TikiCalc that I used more than a decade ago in school.
It's about asking the right questions, reaching the right people, and drawing the right conclusions, not the fancy headers. Once the current batch of Microsoft tools reach their EoL, it can happen very fast - at many companies at once. Simply because Linux is enough to get the job done. It doesn't matter if it doesn't have every feature under the sun.
Kjella
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
Any 15-year-old?
I wouldn't say any. There's a fair number of 15-year-olds out there with a healthy interest in computers and how to make them work. Linux is an excellent way of teaching them that.
So, uh, take your generalisations and go home. Thank you.
Karma: Non-Heinous
If HP decides to offer the same box with Linux from the start, that is good news, even if we decide to put another Linux distro on there. That's because:
Linux user since early January 1992.
I agree. But if they are targeting only companies that have a linux expert as system administrator, then why do they even need Linux pre-installed? The sys admin can make his own pre-configured system and install on PCs with no OS.
But slowly the idea started to emerge that not everyone needed the full power of a mainframe setup. Cheap simple extremely limited machines started to appear wich could do a few tasks but that was all they needed to do. These machines where DOS and later Windows machines.
Now linux is doing the same. Sure Linux does not have the same capacity yet as a windows machine but windows did not have the same capacity as a mainframe. The question is does it do what is required well enough?
There is a difference. Dos/Windows got in through the lowend single purpose workstation. Linux is going in at all angles. High end server, middle file/printer server, lowend single purpose workstation, specialized appliance (firewall).
MS is scared. HP selling linux as an option is not something MS wants to see.
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You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.