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After Protest, Lenovo Releases BIOS For Loading Linux on Yoga 900, IdeaPad 710S (liliputing.com)

Lenovo received a lot of heat in September when it said the Yoga 900 and Yoga 900S hybrids would only support Windows, and not Linux. The company has now changed its stance, though there is still a catch. An anonymous reader shares a Lilputing article: But now you can install Linux, because Lenovo has released new BIOS options for those laptops. There's a bit of a catch though. Lenovo's new BIOS has an AHCI option that lets you install Linux... but if you're using the new BIOS, then Windows is not officially supported. In fact, Lenovo says it's not officially supporting the new BIOS either... if you want to install it, you're pretty much on your own if you run into any problems. While Lenovo is presenting this as an either/or solution for choosing whether you want to run Windows or Linux. But some users have discovered that it is possible to set up dual-boot system using the new BIOS, allowing you to choose between Windows and Linux when your computer boots.

74 comments

  1. the answer is simple.... by Nadella+Onions · · Score: 1

    fuck Lenovo. the future is print your own computer anyway. these kinds of things just speeds that plow.

    1. Re: the answer is simple.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Lol. Better tell and about the printing technique. They can kill intel now by simply printing their cpus. Ohh. That's not what you meant? Let's call the icus then and you an idiot. Go watch star trek some more looser

    2. Re: the answer is simple.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ENGLISH motherfucker! you type it?

    3. Re: the answer is simple.... by Nadella+Onions · · Score: 0

      Lol. Better tell and about the printing technique. They can kill intel now by simply printing their cpus. Ohh. That's not what you meant? Let's call the icus then and you an idiot. Go watch star trek some more looser

      you really think computer parts won't be 3d printed one day and you call me a "looser"? better you drop out of beauty school and go back to high school.

    4. Re: the answer is simple.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you really think computer parts won't be 3d printed one day and you call me a "looser"? better you drop out of beauty school and go back to high school.

      Different AC here. I don't think that you are are loser (or whatever), but I also think that you must not have a very good understanding of the near-magic performed in intel (& other fabs). See Indistinguishable From Magic: Manufacturing Modern Computer Chips,

      From here
      "Typical consumer FDM printers have a layer thickness of 0.2 or 0.3 mm."

      Some of Intel's fab are 14nm (0.000014 mm), and think of the materials & consistency involved.

      IMO it's gonna be a long, long time until anyone can 3D print more than a few gates.

      Don't get me wrong. 3D printing is awesome & can probably solve lots of interesting problems.

  2. Big deal : no spyware for me, thanks. by Thanatiel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Lenovo has been caught putting spyware on its laptops.
    Who in his right mind would buy any of their products ?

    --
    Irrelevant news and morons using moderation to mod down what they disagree on. 2018 resolution: so long.
    1. Re:Big deal : no spyware for me, thanks. by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      on its NON BUSINESS laptops.

      yes, that matters. that's a big detail you omitted (for some reason..)

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    2. Re:Big deal : no spyware for me, thanks. by devnulljapan · · Score: 2

      Last time I looked, they were the only ones making laptops without those goddawful shiny glossy screens (been using Thinkpads since IBM's T21).
      First thing I do is format and install the OS of my choice anyway. Not that that excuses preloading crapware on their machines.
      I do need a new laptop though -- would love some recommendations for Linux-friendly brands.
       

    3. Re:Big deal : no spyware for me, thanks. by sexconker · · Score: 1, Troll

      If your OS of choice was any flavor of Windows since Vista, then you'd have the spyware installed at every boot. It's injected from BIOS/UEFI into Windows at every boot.

    4. Re: Big deal : no spyware for me, thanks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Asus zenbook has a non glossy screen, and though it doesn't really support linux, at least it runs quite well on it.

    5. Re:Big deal : no spyware for me, thanks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For a "nice", (as in modern and not a huge brick), and fully functioning laptop it looks to be mostly between various lenovas, the dell XPS and macbook pros, the dell XPS is the only specific model I know definitely "just works" the others you gotta be more careful when selecting hardware for not only model but specific version of the model, older macbook pros are generally well supported.

      Although I'd be very happy if someone knew of some other good and well supported alternatives.

    6. Re:Big deal : no spyware for me, thanks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the world woke up to the awfulness of those screens, haven't seen one for ages - and I work in a PC store.

  3. Intel already posted Linux source for this by godamntheman · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you want to use Linux on this platform in "RAID" mode with the supported BIOS, the source code to enable it is part of this patch series from an Intel developer: http://lists.infradead.org/pip.... It's not pretty, but it sounds like that's just how the hardware works.

    1. Re:Intel already posted Linux source for this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is a way better option than messing with the BIOS. Thanks!

    2. Re:Intel already posted Linux source for this by godamntheman · · Score: 1

      It would be a lot easier if it was merged to mainline and ported to a distribution. Until that happens, you'd have to merge out-of-tree code into your kernel and create your own installation image. Not for the feint of heart!

    3. Re:Intel already posted Linux source for this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Faint"

    4. Re:Intel already posted Linux source for this by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      As it should. This was never an issue of a BIOS problem and very much a missing driver from Intel for something that their hardware should be capable of in any operating system.

    5. Re:Intel already posted Linux source for this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No, it's a BIOS problem. The hardware has a perfectly compatible AHCI interface. Lenovo just decided to disable it.

      Sure there's a "fake raid" (i.e. no hardware, just a driver) that lenovo is pushing. What's even weirder is lenovo is pushing his on a laptop with a single drive (thus no R in RAID). On top of that it breaks compatibility with MS Windows as well, thus you have to install lenovo's version of windows.

      Strange that so much effort is spent making sure users can't reinstall MS windows from microsoft media, or linux. Almost as if lenovo doesn't want users to remove what comes stock with the laptop. Another rootkit perhaps?

      Now that they got flack they shipped a bios to enable AHCI... but still don't want windows users to use it. Again, as if lenovo doesn't want users to have a clean windows install. Question is, why?

    6. Re:Intel already posted Linux source for this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it's a Microsoft problem. The broken Windows driver model they refuse to fix forces Intel to create hardware to work around it, otherwise this mode would have never made sense to implement in the first place. Hardware working around software?! It's supposed to be the other way around....

  4. "consumer" vs "business" computers by yuhong · · Score: 2

    I have been thinking about whether the distinction between "consumer" (eg IdeaPad) and "business" (eg ThinkPad) machines even makes sense. This is not even limited to Lenovo of course.

    1. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1

      Reminds me of an old ATA controller that had two models, that literally came off the same line, with all the same bits. One was standard ATA, the other had RAID support. There was a trick where you jumpered a connection and loaded the RAID firmware (free to download as an "update") and ta-da you have a RAID controller. Saving you about $250 in the process.

      The difference between "consumer" and "Professional" systems is often window dressing. And it isn't that big of a secret.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    2. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes it does. And always opt for the "business version." Manufacturers have a lot more dollars at risk if they half-ass those machines than they do if a handful of consumers gripe about niggling issues with their machines.

    3. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by yuhong · · Score: 1

      I mean the reason why the distinction exists in the first place though, for example PC retail price wars.

    4. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by DarkOx · · Score: 2

      It makes a lot of sense. A huge part of the cost of a modern laptop is case materials, as compared with the guts.

      I need my business laptop (Macbook Pro) to stand up to being open and closed at a minimum of several times a day. It needs to be able to be shoved in a messenger bag that gets banged around in rental cars etc. It needs to do all this without the display hinges failing or the case fatiguing, it needs to say looking nice so clients don't think we use some old beater hardware for our work etc.

      My home PC needs to do none of these things. It might need to have the lid open and close once per day tops, and almost never leaves my desk. Its not nearly as important what it weighs in at, etc.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    5. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just like the difference between different-priced models of graphics card.

    6. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by Carewolf · · Score: 0

      I have been thinking about whether the distinction between "consumer" (eg IdeaPad) and "business" (eg ThinkPad) machines even makes sense. This is not even limited to Lenovo of course.

      For Lenovo it makes sense. The consumer parts are the ones that are complete crap and loaded with cramware and spyware. The pro-lines are the good ones, and for actual professionals (only other companies pro-lines).

    7. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by tlhIngan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I have been thinking about whether the distinction between "consumer" (eg IdeaPad) and "business" (eg ThinkPad) machines even makes sense. This is not even limited to Lenovo of course.

      Sure it does. The goals differ in several important ways.

      Cost: A "Consumer" laptop has to be as cheap as possible. Under $500 preferably. A business laptop can cost a lot more ($1500-2000) as long as you focus on what business users care about - small, lightweight, etc. Also, use higher quality materials that can withstand mobile use.

      Accessories: Business laptops are generally purchased en masse, or at least purchased alongside similar models. Thus, if you have a line that share accessories like docking stations, adapters, batteries, power cables, etc, this simplifies IT departments inventory, etc. Consumer laptops don't generally require docking stations so you can get rid of those and the only things require standard ports.

      Features: Business laptops need management features - remote management, inventorying, etc. Consumer laptops generally don't, though a LoJack option might be desirable,but optional.

      Operating System: Business laptops generally run a stable Windows - Windows 7 is typical. Consumer laptops generally run the latest since that's what all the splashy advertising shows, so they'd ship with Windows 10. (Windows 7 is typically a Windows 10 downgrade license). In addition, business laptops may be used by people in a company who don't necessarily run Windows, so alternate OS support is desirable, like Linux.

    8. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      what distinction?

      we shop for "home" from the "soho/small business" part of dell. so what?

      we just bought a 'home' model acer (aspire slim desktop, fairly low cost) from azn.. it's bios is fucking locked-down can't disable secure boot, so can't run anything other than windows... and so also can't run numerous diagnostics and backup tools we have either...

      secure boot is a fucking scam and a sham. the only thing it "secures" is microsoft's hold on your hardware.

    9. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that's what I've experience with low cost laptops too. They are locked down and all PCI and USB peripherals will be disabled if you use the classic BIOS. I wonder how MS got out of this unscathed.

    10. Re:"consumer" vs "business" computers by Rastl · · Score: 2

      I have been thinking about whether the distinction between "consumer" (eg IdeaPad) and "business" (eg ThinkPad) machines even makes sense. This is not even limited to Lenovo of course.

      Mind you my knowledge is from some years ago but there was a very important reason for the difference. Consistency. When a company produced a busines line they committed to using the same parts in every machine. The consumer line can be a mixup of components since they're standalone machines. But having a thousand of the same model laptop in a business means they expect that they'll all work the same.

      This may have changed but I doubt it. Businesses don't have time to deal with multiple types of components that may or may not work in their environment. What they test is what they expect every time they buy one.

  5. Makes it sound like a bad thing? by unixisc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    but if you're using the new BIOS, then Windows is not officially supported.

    They make it sound like it's a bad thing. But if one wanted to support Linux, why would one be interested in Windows? Laptops nowadays are inexpensive enough that if one had to, one could buy a separate laptop for Windows. In fact, given the way some Windows 10 updates have disrupted dual boot capabilities, I'd say that the only safe way of doing things would be to have completely separate laptops for Windows and Linux/BSD. Screw this whole business of dual booting, and dedicate complete systems for either platform

    1. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lenovo can do whatever they want, not sure why people are whining. Buy a different computer.

    2. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by yuhong · · Score: 1

      I think the point is that they didn't officially test it with Windows, which is a bad thing.

    3. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by The+Conductor · · Score: 1

      Another way is to run Windows in a VM. Dual-booting sorta assumes you use both OS's about the same amount, and don't switch frequently between. I would submit Linux users who need Windows need it for That One Thing (e.g. Outlook, or some employer-specific program) and are better served by running Win as a guest OS. Conversely, in my experience, Windows users' need for Linux is often driven by some development environment (often for some chipset devkit) and run a Linux VM for that. To me, the only reason to boot Windows is access to OEM-supported drivers (and then Windows just becomes a driver layer, with security problems, for my Linux VM), so therefore, once the hardware supports Linux, I can't think of any reason to run Win on the bare metal.

    4. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Again, no it's not! They already have a BIOS that works w/ Windows - their default BIOS - which any Windows user should use. Just don't try using either BIOS w/ the other OS. And get separate computers if you need both the OSs

    5. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Fuck that. Separate disks / arrays with power on passwords.
      On boot only supply the password to the drive you want to power up, be it Windows or Linux.

    6. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have dual booting setup on my laptop, but use Ubuntu for almost everything. Used to boot Win8.1 once every few month, but I'm finding that I'm putting it off more and more, because I don't want to deal with the inevitable windows updates, countless messages of stuff needing attentions, etc. I'm seriously thinking about mounting the windows partition from Ubuntu, having a look around to see if there was anything important on it, and just format it to ext4 or maybe even try btrfs and use the disk space for something more rewarding.

    7. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least on my laptop, battery life is much better on windows then on linux. The power optimization daemon that Lenovo created means my old W520 can last longer then my friends W530 running Gentoo with several hand tweak to the kernel, and his had the advantage of using an additional slice battery along with the equivalent 9 cell batteries on our laptops.

    8. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Freedom also means the freedom to choose your operating system. It should not be an either/or game, therefore in my view having a laptop that can only boot one OS is faulty, no matter what that OS might be.

    9. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The whining has at least two functions. It may make a difference if Levono is sensitive to bad publicity, and it makes potential buyers aware of the fact that they better buy another laptop if they're interested in running Linux on it.

    10. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Works fine w/ a desktop, if you have different bays for different drives. In a laptop - which this story is about - you don't have that option

    11. Re:Makes it sound like a bad thing? by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Many 15" and larger laptops have space for multiple 2.5" drives. Often you give up the optical bay to do it.

      You also have the option of doing embedded SD/USB storage as well. Running your secondary OS off of a good micro SD card or one of them tiny USB drives permanently attached to the mobo is an option.

  6. Hmmmmm by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Lenovo's new BIOS has an AHCI option that lets you install Linux... but if you're using the new BIOS, then Windows is not officially supported."

    Lenovo: "ARE WE NOT MERCIFUL?"

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:Hmmmmm by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      They are providing a workaround for an INTEL PROBLEM.

      Linux the OS that has the best hardware support in the world. .... except when Intel decides it won't show the OS your HDD in one of the modes the chipset can operate under.

    2. Re:Hmmmmm by ssam · · Score: 1

      It was the BIOS that was hiding AHCI. With some soldering skills it was already possible to download the bios, disassemble, remove 1 line of code, reflash and then enable AHCI and install Linux.

    3. Re:Hmmmmm by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Irrelevant. It was a lack of an Intel driver for an Intel chipset which performs a common function selectable in the BIOS that prevented this.

      Stop excusing Intel for not providing a complete set of drivers and hampering functionality under Linux just because you could otherwise run your computer using a subset of the available hardware features. We complain about lack of performance of graphics drivers between Windows and Linux, we complain about not having 100% open source in that scenario. Why give a free pass to Intel in this case just because AHCI works as an alternative to no driver at all?

  7. Re:Real Reason by bws111 · · Score: 3, Informative

    So according to your brilliant analyses, a hardware vendor offering a piece of hardware that Linux did not support was a plot by Microsoft? I say 'did not support' because now Linux does support it, and there is no need to mess with the BIOS.

  8. Re:Real Reason by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    No, it's because systemd is shit.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  9. Remember Superfish? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Lenovo used Superfish. Serious buyers stay away from Lenovo after that one. Idiots OTOH still sponsor Lenovo and bitch about the evil corp not supporting Linux.

    1. Re:Remember Superfish? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      -1 eh? The truth hurts ya motherfucking shills.

  10. Too much work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It really is too much work to live a Linux-only lifestyle. Despite what we may have convinced ourselves to believe, we are still hitting obstacles such as hardware that doesn't work properly on Linux (or with full functionality), software that people want to use for various reasons but isn't available in Linux, and so on. Windows might be a bitch at times but at least you don't have such obstacles to make life more stressful than it already is.

    1. Re:Too much work by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yeah I suspect in the near future you will get a virus or maybe some ransomware or just a crud filled slow system and you will be thinking about tjos while your stress level with skyrockets.

      At home I have made the switch to a linux only lifestyle... one machine still has a dual boot. I rarely ever boot back into to windows and I don't have to mess with malware bytes, mcaffee, etc. And when it is time for a new OS upgrade I can do this in couple of hours with yum or apt-get to install all my tools.

    2. Re:Too much work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've been managing that comfortably for over 15 years now, with far fewer problems than I used to have with Windows and that I still see people around me have with Windows. A lot of the software I'm fully used to now isn't available in Windows, at least not without running Linux in a VM or installing Cygwin.

      In other words: Windows has obstacles too, it works both ways. What is easiest to use is what you're used to, and in my experience being used to Linux is considerably less stressful than being used to Windows.

  11. Magnusson-Moss? by Khyber · · Score: 0

    It sounds like they're tying warranty for a third party thing (Windows) to their stuff.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  12. NSA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    NSA had to finish the port for linux, patience guys; they're working round the clock to protect our nation against freedom.

  13. Keep buying... by XSportSeeker · · Score: 1, Troll

    This is the sort of thing that happens when a company that had malware and rootkits on it's BIOS reported multiple times don't get enough of a financial backlash to get a hint.
    http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/n...

    Protip guys: DON'T BUY STUFF FROM LENOVO.
    Just don't buy. It's simple. Lenovo is not an option, period.

    They couldn't care less about clients protests, as long as they keep selling their crap filled laptops.
    If you buy stuff from them, you'll get what you deserve.

    There have been enough warnings already. This here is a drop in the bucket.

  14. For new shiny toy. For enterprise, the opposite by raymorris · · Score: 2

    > hardware that doesn't work properly on Linux

    I use four different models of RAID cards, from two different manufacturers. I'm fairly sure neither is supported by Windows 10, and all will be supoorted by Linux for another ten years. That's true of a lot of hardware I use, but I use heavy-duty hardware, not some toy from Best Buy.

    If your interest is in the latest new toy from Best Buy, Windows has a slight advantage. For serious, big boy hardware that you plan to use for many years, Linux has a HUGE advantage.

  15. no choice for you! by frovingslosh · · Score: 1

    some users have discovered that it is possible to set up dual-boot system>/I>

    Giving paying customers a choice? That's a bug and will be fixed in the next release of the BIOS.

    If you actually want a choice you might consider grabbing the BIOS now while you can before you need it.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  16. Sheesh by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1
    I mean this in the most congenial way Lenovo.

    Assholes!

    What manner of company would tie themselves to the company that has killed the computer market?.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  17. Why bother by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who the fuck buy lenovo anyway. Have you seen their keyboards on the laptops? It's a horrible piece of shit.

  18. Windows sucks Linux for the win by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do you guys seriously still run Windows? Seriously why? Even if you aren't comfortable with Linux Macs are light years ahead of Windows.

    Objectively after using both systems for a couple decades Linux is better software. I would like to see a hardware manufacturer take Linux seriously and build a Linux only laptop. As in viable competitor to the MacBook Pro (with an ESC key) with a similar level of quality. None of this crap yoga stuff (I actually own a Lenovo Yoga 13 what a piece of crap).

  19. Can't install windows via AHCI? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds like lenovo doesn't want windows users removing that malware/crapware/rootkit version of windows with a direct from Microsoft image.

  20. Re:Real Reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not claiming it's a microsoft plot, after all the BIOS hack prevents offiical microsoft media from installing.

    However linux does not have support. You can't take a mainline kernel from kernel.org and get it to boot. Nor does any normal linux distribution support the hack.

    There does exist a patch, but it's not part of the linux kernel. So it's possible to get it running with a fair amount of work, that doesn't make it "supported by linux".

  21. Re:Real Reason by bws111 · · Score: 2

    Uh, no. This had absolutely nothing to do with secure boot. The laptops in question had an SSD controller from Intel. Linux could not see the controller when it was in RAID mode. The BIOS did not provide a way to turn off RAID mode, so Linux didn't see the disk. You could still boot Linux from USB, etc, which would not be possible under your wonderful conspiracy theory. Intel has now released patches for their drivers, and now Linux can see the disk. Amazing!

  22. How did tech companies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Become rock stupid.

  23. Re:Real Reason by amiga3D · · Score: 2

    Your statement is backwards. Not that linux did not support it but it did not support linux. When a vendor deliberately makes hardware incompatible with software it's not the software that is at fault. The simplest way to avoid this is of course to avoid such hardware vendors.

  24. Stupid people buy Lenovo/Apple/Dell/Sony/Toshiba by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This isn't the only issue with Lenovo. These companies are utilizing digital restrictions to prevent users from doing things like replacing there wifi card with ones that are properly supported under GNU/Linux. If people stopped buying from these companies we'd actually have some better options in the GNU/Linux world for laptops. Until then we'll suffer at the hands of shitty corporations and be second class citizens. All because the majority are too stupid to recognize the damage its doing to our ability to have decent GNU/Linux laptops.

    ThinkPenguin's made good on it's efforts to move things forward by sponsoring the development of a modular computing standard called EOMA68 that aims to bring the design of laptops and other computing devices into the hands of the community and its users. The problem with designing good properly supported systems today is two folds and this is why a modular computing standard matters.

    1. It's too costly to design and manufacture new devices:

    As an example Canonical wanted to put out a new phone design, but despite raising millions couldn't put it off because it wasn't enough. What the industry does is they build off stock reference designs and other companies components. This reduces the cost, but it also means that competitors products are often nearly identical beyond some superficial changes and/or branding/support/marketing/ or higher level software changes.

    2. Manufacturers for the most part aren't in control of the devices they're designing and don't care about niche markets.

    If a manufacturer wanted to do something different like give its users full control over a laptop it manufacturers it simply can't. A manufacturer would have to gain the cooperation of every company that designed a component going into its laptop. It isn't even possible to design an X86 laptop only around components where the full set of source code has been released. Intel and AMD are uncooperative for certain parts of the CPU.

    With devices designed around EOMA68 the number of units of a device's design that need to be manufactured to make it cost effective drops. The core components (computer cards, so CPU/ram/etc) can be manufactured in quantities that scale up (and are spread across many different devices) reducing the total cost of the new devices. Crowd funding new designs drops significantly as only a part of the design needs to be manufactured and it can be manufactured in smaller quantities.

    You can argue the first EOMA68 card that was crowd funded was based around an ancient CPU and SOC. This is true. It doesn't matter in the scheme of things though as users can upgrade the card to the devices these cards go into at a fraction of the cost had they had to replace the entire device. It also doesn't matter because older slower cards are still going to be useful far into the future for other devices based around EOMA68- like routers and entertainment devices. So we can actually begin to start designing decent and properly supported GNU/Linux hardware for the first time. The next crowd funding campaign will be coming shortly for a much faster four or eight core CPU computer card. The war is not over, but we're catching up. We do still need to wait out X86's death or at least for non-X86 CPUs to catch up speed wise (it's coming). We also need to fight for companies to release graphics and wifi code for newer faster tech.

  25. Re:Real Reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It was the Superfish scandal. But the Lenovo shills gave you a -1 score because they are desperately trying to bury the truth.

  26. curso NR 10 by Instituto+Santa+Cata · · Score: 1

    Curso NR 10 online curso NR 10 curso NR 10 online

  27. Re:Real Reason by bws111 · · Score: 1

    What idiocy. The vendor did not 'deliberately make hardware incompatible'. They made hardware that worked for what they were selling, which was a laptop with Windows 10 installed. No, they didn't check if it would work with Linux, they were not selling Linux. They probably also did not check if it worked with any of the BSDs, or Solaris, or iOS, or Android, or AIX, or Z/OS.

    Yues, the simplest way to avoid it is to not buy it. But that is not what happened, is it? No. Instead of admitting they bought the wrong thing, we have idiots claiming that it is some Microsoft conspiracy, or defective hardware, or some other such nonsense.

    The world is not going to stop releasing new hardware just because some OS doesn't work.