Lenovo Preloading SUSE Linux on ThinkPad

An anonymous reader writes "For years, the holy grail of the Linux desktop has been to get a major computer vendor to commit to preloading a Linux desktop. It's finally happened! Lenovo has made a deal with Novell to preload SUSE Linux 10 on its ThinkPad T60p mobile workstation. Ironically, in June, Lenovo was in hot-water with Linux fans because an executive had said that the company would no longer support Linux on its ThinkPad line. But the company did a quick about-turn. Who knows, maybe Mr. Dell will finally get the message, too?"

Comments

hardware is a commodity business

[User 956]

Who knows, maybe Mr. Dell will finally get the message, too?

Dell understands that the hardware business is a commodity business. There's two ways to make money in a commodity business; a. volume, and b. premium marketing

They've mostly maxed out the profit-through-volume business model, so perhaps it would be a good time for them to start positioning certain products in the 'premium' space. Linux enthusiasts are willing to pay more for a product that caters to their tastes. Case in point: the WRT54G-L router from Linksys.

Re:Minor vendor, major vendor

[kfg]

It's hard to beat an incumbent?

KFG

Better for other distros too

[Harmonious Botch]

Even if it's not your favoite distro, the drivers will be similar, so installation will still be easier.

Re:Minor vendor, major vendor

[Excelsior]

Nice logic, good point....NOT. For every minor vendor that commited to preloading Linux and never became major, there are thousands of vendors that are commited exclusively to Windows and never became major. For reference, see pricewatch.com or Computer Shopper. Good try though.

Re:American Way

[Doc Ruby]

The American Way: wave a (made in China) American flag whenever something has an American label, and turn your back on anything even vaguely "foreign".

How about that Microsoft monopoly abuse decision? They abuse Americans. How about that MS corporate tax payment? They don't pay any, but Americans have to pay for all the government services they consume - including all the government SW revenue we pay for.

Linux, on the other hand, is an essential tool for millions of taxpaying Americans. Which represents the best American traditions of hard individual work paying off in results rewarded by merit, not corporate leverage. And it's an immigrant which has brought its experience to build America, in the best American tradition.