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Lenovo drops its pre-loaded Linux for PCs and laptops

Lenovo officially stopped online sales of desktop PCs and laptops with Linux as a pre-installed operating system instead of Microsoft Windows XP or Vista.  A year ago, the company started shipping select models with the Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop operating system, but online sales simply weren't high enough to keep the program going.

"Our commitment to Linux has not changed," a Lenovo spokesperson told Computerworld.  "What's changed is that customers will no longer be able to order Lenovo ThinkPads and ThinkCentres with pre-installed Linux via the Lenovo.com web site."

A small handful of Lenovo workstations and ThinkPads were available with Linux, but interested consumers will now have to purchase Linux-powered Lenovo products through the company's channel organization, which is designed more for business customers and not regular consumers.  Suse and Red Hat Linux are already pre-certified for ThinkCentre desktops and ThinkPad laptops, with Canonical's Ubuntu Linux pre-certification in the works.

Computerworld "Cyber Cynic" Steven Vaughan-Nichols showed a certain level of disbelief at Lenovo's decision to stop offering pre-loaded Linux to home users.

"So, for the foreseeable future the first-rate ThinkPads are only going to be available, in the U.S. at least, with, not even a second-rate operating system, but that third-rate piece of operating system offal we call Vista," Vaughan-Nichols wrote.  "Lenovo, how could you do this to us?"

Moving forward, the company is working on new Linux-based servers and the IdeaPad netbook over the next six weeks.

Analysts have been baffled by Lenovo's decision, as Dell and other competitors are only increasing the presence of Linux operating systems with the products they ship.  In fact, when Dell opened up a suggestion site where customers could offer opinions on what the company could do to help customers, offering pre-loaded Linux was one of the most popular choices. 

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A step backwards for Linux...
By quiksilvr on 9/13/2008 8:38:17 PM , Rating: 1
The point of having Linux on consumer PCs were for people to get a better understanding (or realize the existence) of the OS. Business people already know about Linux and know that it is a superior operating system to use, especially when working on servers.

Not a lot of people know that you can install Ubuntu for free online (and people don't really trust downloading such files off the internet, if its on their PC already it's alright to them).

I hope that HP is true in that they will start to make their transition to Linux to compete with other PC companies. For some reason Apple was mentioned directly and not Dell or Acer or the other higher selling PC companies in the world.
http://gizmodo.com/5049061/hp-exploring-shift-to-l...




By SectionEight on 9/13/2008 10:58:00 PM , Rating: 3
I think most people nowadays buying a computer have previously owned one. Chances are it was Windows, so therefore all the software they own is for Windows. It's hard to make a switch like that. A lot of people ask me why I went with a PC instead of a Mac (I'm in grad school), and I tell them it's because all the software I own runs on Windows. I don't want to buy another version of Office or whatever. Linux is the same way. I ran it for a while, and ran OpenOffice for a while after switching back to Windows. Linux has it's uses - there is a lot of specialized software that runs on it - but I think most people in the market to replace an existing PC will choose Windows. I think Lenovo made the right choice for their business.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By raskren on 9/14/2008 11:11:59 AM , Rating: 5
quote:
Business people already know about Linux and know that it is a superior operating system to use, especially when working on servers.

You're kidding, right? Who are these mythical "business people" you speak of?


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By GotDiesel on 9/14/2008 11:37:49 AM , Rating: 3
Me for one.. our company has 60 something servers
all running linux and a few windows servers..
most desktops are xp though..

our it dept has a dozen "windows" experts as the maintenance on windows is very high.. the two linux ppl spend a lot of their day doing nothing as the servers are so reliable..

go figure..


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By raskren on 9/14/08, Rating: 0
RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By twil on 9/14/2008 7:19:31 PM , Rating: 2
I'm sorry the school system failed you in reading comprehension. Its relevance is obvious to all fluent in English.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By Samus on 9/15/2008 3:05:15 AM , Rating: 1
server's and workstations are completely different things. if you look at the lenovo site, server's can still be equiped with a linux os, where linux makes sense in business.

from a workstation perspective, linux is a nightmare. it lacks remote managability and deployment, a familiar user interface, and application compatibility.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By Penti on 9/15/2008 5:27:30 AM , Rating: 2
Actually it doesn't Suse which was loaded on Lenovos desktops has great tools for system management, deployment of software, configuration management ZENworks! It costs money but so does any other system management software.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 9/15/2008 8:43:06 AM , Rating: 1
ZENworks? Are you kidding me? I've been using ZENworks for years and I will tell you that it is the worst piece of shit ever to grace the IT world. Might as well go with a real solution from another vendor that has a reputable product. If ZENworks is a selling point you are so screwed it's not funny.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By Hellfire27 on 9/15/2008 10:49:12 AM , Rating: 2
I completely agree. ZENworks is a turd. Our campus had to get rid of it due to the fact it caused more problems than it solved. Me, and the rest of the IT department, rejoiced.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By Penti on 9/16/2008 8:25:01 AM , Rating: 2
But is there much of a choice? Not sure how well Altiris handles Linux deployment and system management but the other alternatives are essentially just a bunch of scripts. Altiris might be a better choice though.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By mikefarinha on 9/15/2008 3:47:33 AM , Rating: 1
quote:

"You're kidding, right? Who are these mythical "business people" you speak of?"

Me for one.. our company has 60 something servers
all running linux and a few windows servers..


So you have business people running your linux servers? And since this article is about Linux preinstalled on laptops can I assume that all your linux servers are being ran on workstation grade laptops?

quote:
our it dept has a dozen "windows" experts as the maintenance on windows is very high.. the two linux ppl spend a lot of their day doing nothing as the servers are so reliable..


Most likely your linux servers do one simple task while your windows servers run the bulk of your business.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By Samus on 9/16/2008 3:35:33 AM , Rating: 1
Linux is great as a server because if all you need is a web or mail server, it's a great price. Free.

What are your other choices? Windows Server + Exchange for what...$3000, with questionable security improvements over Linux? How about Novell Netware + ccMail. Ohh, yea, they've been replaced with Novell/Suse. Mac Server? Give me a fucking break. Mac's belong in schools and homes so kids can't infect the toy computer with spyware.

Linux can be made just as secure (if not more in some ways) than Windows Server, it just required you keep up on the patches and run it behind a decent firewall. Duh.


RE: A step backwards for Linux...
By jonmcc33 on 9/16/2008 12:49:02 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry, but after working with Windows servers and Exchange for years and comparing them to Linux solutions, the Linux solutions pale in comparison with features and options. Security aside, that's about all Linux has and you can easily secure a Windows server if you know what you are doing. Exchange is the standard for business e-mail, everything else is so far below it that it's not even funny. It integrates perfectly with Active Directory and your client Office suite is unbeatable as well.


Hire me
By icanhascpu on 9/13/2008 9:19:49 PM , Rating: 1
Look guys. Honestly. Srsly. Let me put a little dropdown menu on your site that has a few options; XP, Vista, Linux.

I'll even put pictures and smilie faces and a little info about each choice.

When someone picks one, Ill install it and you guys can sent it off. Like omg, not everyone likes Linux on their systems? Learn 2 supply and demand. Flexibility in business will help you grow!




RE: Hire me
By raskren on 9/14/2008 11:15:32 AM , Rating: 4
quote:
When someone picks one, Ill install it and you guys can sent it off. Like omg, not everyone likes Linux on their systems? Learn 2 supply and demand. Flexibility in business will help you grow!

This is just fanboy drivel.

It doesn't make sense from a profit standpoint to continue offering unprofitable product lines.

Furthermore, you mention supply and demand. It is clear that there is no demand compared to Windows.

This is just one of several OEMs that at one time responded to the vocal minority of hardcore Linux users that do everything they can to create this fake demand for preinstalled Linux.

When the OEMs cave and actually offer it preinstalled, there's no sales to back up this imaginary demand.


RE: Hire me
By icanhascpu on 9/14/2008 5:40:10 PM , Rating: 2
Fanboy? I run and prefer windows OS. You're an idiot!


RE: Hire me
By codeThug on 9/14/2008 6:54:15 PM , Rating: 2
You have to realize that this site is full of L. Ron Ballmer lackies, toadies, and microtologist "tools".

Kool-aid Kool-aid taste great, wish I had a clue can't wait.


This's stupid...
By zolo111 on 9/14/2008 12:10:50 PM , Rating: 3
Demand is low, huh??? I bought a couple of thinkpads for myself and a family member 6 months ago. I wanted to go with the linux option, but after comparing thier offerings, turned out it cost the same $$ if I go with a vista basic or linux for the same exact specs. So, I picked up the vista basic option for both machines, better resale value!

When they offer linux & vista basic at the same price, anyone with half a brain will go with the vista basic option, then slap a linux distro once they recieve thier machine for free!




Right
By sprockkets on 9/13/2008 9:05:48 PM , Rating: 2
Well, Lenovo is their own company. IBM though is one of the biggest contributors to the kernel, which still though would have done this anyhow.

But let's just put it this way, SuSE Enterprise Linux Desktop is based off an old version of SuSE, and it sucks. The current 11.0 finally sped up some of its faults with package management. So, I wouldn't get the laptop with it anyhow. Nor is it up to date enough to run on new laptops either.

Of course, the blogger pointing this out did quote in a previous article this as far as stability is concerned:

http://gizmodo.com/5035456/blue-screen-of-death-st...