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No Linux IdeaPad For Lenovo's US Customers
narramissic writes "When Lenovo's new IdeaPad 'S' series netbooks hit stores in October, U.S. buyers will only be given one option: Windows XP on the IdeaPad S10 (making it not so much a series as a single offering). Meanwhile, people in most markets Lenovo serves, including Singapore, China and the U.K., will be offered both of the company's new IdeaPad netbooks (the S10, which has 10.2-inch screen, and the S9, which has an 8.9-inch screen), and the choice of either Microsoft Windows XP or a Linux OS. Before you start feeling too sorry for yourself, consider the price tag: the S10 will sell for £319 (US$629) in the U.K., but in the U.S. the starting price is $399." Liliputing (a cool site for anyone interested in sub-notebook computing) has posted a few bits on the IdeaPad, including some short videos.
I foresee a black market in Linux system restore discs...
You can download Linux for free!
"the S10 will sell for £319 (US$629) in the U.K., but in the U.S. the starting price is $399"
Why is this, does it cost more to ship it to Europe or is it we're supposed to subsidise the US market?
davecb5620@gmail.com
Actually it seems that they think the UK consumers are stupid, given the price hike they are imposing.
Actually, we usually get screwed more on the price. More often than not, UK folks end up paying in pounds what US folks pay in dollars.
I foresee a black market in Linux system restore discs...
You can download Linux for free!
Yes, but the nice thing with an OEM restore disc is that it will have all the drivers pre-loaded. Tracking down appropriate drivers can be decidedly non-trivial.
To buy an Asus EEE PC. Not that IBM has a bad reputation with respect to being Linux compatible, but it was nice to have it come installed and just work out of the box.
The society for a thought-free internet welcomes you.
Ehhh...Lenovo had a chance of replacing ridiculously small touchpads found in all netbooks with a trackpoint, ending up with THE best netbook on the market.
Instead...they're only average/good... :/
One that hath name thou can not otter
Here in The Netherlands it's impossible to get the Linux version of the eee pc 901.
Did you actually found the Eee 901 for sale in the NL already? (Just asking because I haven't seen it anywhere).
this is the distro used in acer low end notebooks, no X, just a black screen. Great for presenting a Windows alternative!.
and I would take that anyday instead of paying for XP / Vista.
Please, note that Dell is only selling Linux pre-installed in "selected" markets...
People in countries with higher wages pay more for products. Who would've thought? Maybe that price comparison should factor in the two countries' average incomes.
In other news, rice costs more here than in India. They must think we're stupid.
Free the Quark 3 from asymptotic confinement! Bring your charm! Don't get down! All colours and flavours welcome!
Perhaps MS explicitly or implicitly threatened Lenovo with patent infringement if it tried to sell a Linux-based product in the US. More likely than not, MS patents would only be enforceable in the US.
I'm not saying any MS patents are really worth anything, but large businesses would bend over backwards (or forwards?) to avoid lawsuits.
VAT and basic marketing principles. They can sell for more so they do.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
More likely they think consumers in the US are too stupid to know that both versions of Windows are a POS with respect to something that "just works" without constant diddling or calling your computer friends to set right again. Then there are built in discounts for all the junkware likely to be installed on the US edition.
I can agree with the Windows critique, but Linux.. "just works" and "without constant diddling or calling your computer friends to set right again" ?
Sorry, not true.