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Toshiba Supports Linux

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the isn't-that-helpful dept.

Matts Kallioniemi writes "Toshiba just now put up a Linux support page. Quite a change from two months ago when they refused to even think about Linux. Now if I could only get a Libretto ff 1100, but Toshiba Sweden are not importing the Libretto any more. :-( "

2 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. Some more information by Chilli · · Score: 3
    I assume, not too many are clicking on the "Japanese page is here" link. Which is a pity, as it is common on bilingual Web-pages in Japan that the Japanese pages have more information than the English ones (that's not to protect the information, but because it is an awful lot of work for the average Japanese to write English).

    So, here some more information for the Japanese-impaired ;-)

    • In Japan, they offer pre-installation service for laptops and desktops if you order more than 10 machines; interestingly, not only for Linux, but also for FreeBSD (not too surprising, as FreeBSD is quite popular in Japan). IMHO this means that they really have some people with technical expertise working on that project.
    • If I understand correctly, they also plan to develop machines that have Linux pre-installed for normal sales.
    • Furthermore, they plan to develop utilities (not further specified) and drivers of their own.
    • They also want to offer free and commercial user support and plan to create a training centre.
    • There is already information on the DynaBookSS PORTEGE 3300CT PAP330xx and LibrettoSS 1010CT PAL101xx available. Are they sold outside Japan?
    Seems to be a pretty honest attempt to cooperate, which IMO should be acknowledged by supporting them.

    Chilli

    PS: I am sorry for any inaccuracies, but I am neither a native speaker of English nor Japanese.

    --
    -=- Just a random lambda hacker
  2. Regional habbits by Oestergaard · · Score: 3

    Seems the US is the most Microsoft using region. Then Europe, then asia (dunno 'bout africa and others).
    Asia is far away from the states where Microsoft lives, both in miles and culture. No surprise that the irrational choice to just use microsoft stuff like everyone else is less widespread there.

    Denmark where I live, used to be a very IBM loyal country. Banks used OS/2 when IBM was pushing that, and apple computers have never really been widely used.
    Sweden (right next to us), has always had a lot of apple machines.
    It seems that Denmark now is a Microsoft loyal country. The RIPE region has something like 50% of all web servers running Linux, and around 15% on windows. In denmark (which is a part of RIPE) those numbers are reversed. (What _is_ it with us and large firms?)

    A friend I have went to Russia to tell some university people how they could solve their computing problems by buying PCs and putting Linux on them (that was a solution they could afford). But they weren't really interested in Linux, they wanted windows because that's what we use in the west. They smoke Marlboro there too :)

    It's really fun to watch how culture and regional differences influence people's decisions.
    Meanwhile I'll just be an illoyal dane running the OS that works.