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HP Releases Linux-Based Notebook

Posted by timothy on from the too-bad-this-is-unusual dept.

SteamyMobile writes "As the article says, 'In a sign the Linux operating system may be gaining traction beyond server and other back-room systems, HP said Tuesday it will be the first major PC maker to ship a business notebook computer pre-installed' with Linux. This is great news because, as anyone who has ever tried to run Linux (or even Windows XP) on a laptop knows, laptops come with all kinds of funky hardware, and it's often a mess trying to find and configure the right kernel modules to make things like software suspend work correctly. Having it shipped pre-loaded, and with support, makes it easy for me to decide where I'm getting my next laptop. Linux has been ready for the desktop for a while now, but it is good to see companies like HP acknowledging that."

2 of 392 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Ahhhhh....One Second Please by IGnatius+T+Foobar · · Score: 5, Funny
    Joe user types are not going down to Best Buy and buy a notebook with an unfamilar OS on it. They're going to say, "I want a windows laptop!" and the trained monkeys will dutifully point them in the right direction.

    Hmm, I think you've got it wrong. It actually goes something like this:
    1. Joe user walks into Best Buy and asks for a Windows laptop.
    2. Trained monkey shows Joe the laptop and offers him an extended warranty.
    3. Joe says that he likes the computer and will buy it, but doesn't want the extended warranty.
    4. Trained monkey offers the extended warranty again.
    5. Joe refuses the extended warranty again.
    6. Trained monkey offers the extended warranty again.
    7. Joe refuses the extended warranty again.
    8. Trained monkey offers the extended warranty again.
    9. Repeat the previous two steps ad nauseum
    10. Joe walks out of the store frustrated and orders his computer online.
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  2. HP public denial in five ... four ... by Random+BedHead+Ed · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've seen this happen before. Many times. And as I write this, Microsoft is calling HP to remind them of the terms of their mandate^H^H^H^H^H^H^H contract. And as the conversation progresses, the potential cost increases to HP's Windows licenses might get a mention.

    Five seconds until HP fires off a press release stating that they are not really selling a Linux laptop. Four. Three. Two ....