Linux Follow Up
September 7, 2007
Post a Comment (925 Comments)
I’ve been following the discussion in the comments with much interest and a few things are becoming clear to me:
- That we’re spending way too much time on the enterprise market and not enough on the enthusiast market. Enterprises have been, and will continue to be, slow to adopt Linux for some of the reasons I outlined, but there are nonetheless a LOT of people running Linux out there, especially on their ThinkPads.
- That I need to try Ubuntu. One of our competitors has done so and it seems to be working out for them. (I won’t say who, because every time I mention a competitor by name, you should see the five-alarm fire that erupts over here. You all know who I’m talking about though.)
- We’re not anti-Linux and I’m not anti-Linux. Like other vendors we’re trying to figure out what our strategy should be. You all know that I can never comment on anything unannounced, so I took an extreme stance to stimulate discussion.
Thank you all for the well-reasoned and articulate discussion. I hope that it will continue. I’m going to put another poll question up asking which Linux you all would like to see offered. (Though I think I know the answer already). Due to the limitations of our polling plug-in, I think it may disable the previous poll, so if it disappears, that’s what happened.
n
What Linux distribution would you most like to see supported on a ThinkPad?
September 7th, 2007 10:39 am
Do it the Linux way.
I do not understand why vendors are so focused on distributions (and Linux business models). Provide high quality drivers (or enable a community to provide them). Linux support for your hardware emerges automatically. Watch closely what is happening an be ready to make your (service?) business as soon as the time is right.
Little costs, little risk, win-win for all.
Regards
Thomas
P.S. Don’t limit your market for Linux to a fraction of the Linux market by selecting a “Linux vendor” or two.
September 7th, 2007 10:56 am
On the other hand, if you must go for a single distro, keep in mind that Ubuntu is Debian and that it would probably pay off in the long run to support the base distro (Debian) instead of something as volatile as Ubuntu.
September 7th, 2007 11:16 am
Ubuntu and Debian help each other. Ubuntu is more polished than Debian and has a much smaller package set. Debian (unstable) gets packages updated more frequently and has a lot more to choose from.
Regardless of the distribution, this will likely improve support for all Distributions.
September 7th, 2007 11:16 am
What I love about ThinkPads, and why I’ve always bought ThinkPads, is that with careful selection you can get a model which is Linux friendly. For example, the laptop I’m writing this on is a X60 (1706-8GG to be precise) which has Intel networking, Intel sound, Intel graphics. Practically the only parts of hardware which is not openly supported is the BIOS, which means I’m at your mercy when there are ACPI bugs or for example the virtualisation hardware is disabled (which was recently fixed at last). Everything else I care about works out of the box, although I’ve not used the fingerprint reader or the modem (I think the modem requires closed source software).
In an ideal world Lenovo would have more laptops which had hardware with fully open source drivers (which at the moment means Intel, but AMD’s latest announcement might add them), the BIOS/ACPI code would be open source, and there be the option to either buy them with a preinstalled Linux distribution (Ubuntu would be my preference here) or with no OS installed at all. Lenovo would also have dedicated Linux engineers who ensure that the hardware is fully supported, and fix any quirks.
It is very interesting to note that whilst Linux installs with no problems on a lot of ThinkPads, it appears to be very tricky and broken on the consumer laptops…
September 7th, 2007 11:24 am
From a strictly greedy point of view, I’d be interested in Debian/Ubuntu being supported by Lenovo. I recently purchased a Thinkpad T61p and found the only distribution that was relatively easy to configure for my laptop was Ubuntu. OpenSUSE was a distant 2nd place. Perhaps this is because of the volatile/cutting-edge nature of the beast. But it’s nice to have software that works on new hardware. Thomas’s comments sound appealing, but don’t you have to do what he says just to support any Linux distribution properly?
September 7th, 2007 11:41 am
Thomas:
I don’t think this is about driver support only.
I guess Lenovo have an opinion about how to deliver the best overall product for their customers. Ie. I had an a “hidden” partition on my IBM laptop from which I could restore the system as it was when it was delivered and from within Windows you can press the IBM button and preform different diagnostics and burn rescue CD’s. I’ve also seen users using some specific IBM software to to connect to wireless access points. Not something I was impressed of after using Network Manager for so long. But these are just examples of why I think this is more about having a kernel module which just works.
I might be wrong but I don’t thing you should worry about kernel stuff (or other possible integration) not being available for everyone. But if you want to make sure the entire package (Desktop Environment, software and other niffy stuff) integrates well with the laptops, I think working close together with 1 or 2 specific distribution makes perfectly sense.
What makes me vote for Ubuntu is my naive conviction that Ubuntu works well with Debian to get things back upstream, and I would rather work with a distribution wich have a release strict model like Ubuntu. And I really think Ubuntu rocks!
September 7th, 2007 11:45 am
Thomas:
There is one simple reason why. How many people install Windows themselves, and how many get it on prebuilt PC’s?
If Linux could make it by people installing it themselves, it would have been done a long time ago.
Whatever they put on it, this is the best way for Linux to gain market share, people in general are too lazy to install and configure themselves
September 7th, 2007 12:06 pm
I’d pick Debian if I had to: then all debian-derivatives would get all of your fixes automatically. What’s more important though, is that A) you make sure your device suppliers have open drivers or at least open specs and B) you make it easy for kernel/distroX developers to get your help when they need it…
September 7th, 2007 12:47 pm
There are two completely separate issues here:
* Choice of Linux distributions. Here, being, uhm, somewhat biased, I always recommend Debian; I run even my critical servers on the unstable branch, carefully upgrading so that I am always at the most recent working kernel/apps/security updates.
I have been running Debian on IBM/Lenovo laptops and desktops for years, with tolerable to excellent success (getting better all the time).
Any updates done to Debian will eventually trickle to Ubuntu (and the opposite as well).
With SUSE/RedHat business type images (or Debian Stable), updates can be much harder to obtain (though Debian Stable does have a backports repository). This delay has caused me much consternation on several occasions
The reality, however, is that from a business standpoint, you need to match your competitors – and, if possible, offer more … whilst staying competitive price/feature wise. That may limit what you offer, due to the manpower for validation of your hardware/software…
That brings me to the second issue:
* Hardware support for Linux… This is where you, as a company, need to focus ! Making sure that your components have reasonable drivers in the stock Linux kernel. When you manage that task (which means pushing AMD, who is now headed in the right direction, NVIDIA, etc. to get NDAs in effect, or, better, open source their drivers), you remove barriers to any and all distributions (that have a sufficiently new enough kernel).
For many business users, their company will have an approved distribution (likely RedHat or SUSE), with their own modificiations. They will be looking for hardware which supports that distribution, and, again, you win here if you work with your vendors and the Linux kernel folk (instead of one/few distributions).
I am fortunate, that whilst my company has a corporate approved client for Windows and one for Linux, I have always been able to wipe that and install what makes *me* more productive…
For the hobbiest, you’ll likely not please them all, no matter what you can offer pre-installed… So your best bet is to offer the most popular (or match the competitors) and yet, make it trivial for the hobbiest to install whatever distribution floats their boat.
Intel is now doing a great job of supporting a large portion of their hardware on Linux, so much so that AMD is having to improve and has made a strong comittment on their graphics cards… There is now a free HAL for atheros cards…
The upshot is that you can now put together a strong suite of laptop/desktops with components that are, or will be natively supported by the Linux kernel… I see your major need as a builder being one of demanding that your suppliers provide you with components that support not only Windows (du jour), but also the current Linux kernel.
That is where you can really differentiate your product from the competitors… By offering products guaranteed to work with Windows, Linux, & likely {free,open,net}BSD
September 7th, 2007 1:09 pm
While I support Ubuntu, I would like to see 2 or 3 distributions supported each one catering for a different level of use for example, home, Business and so on.
September 7th, 2007 1:12 pm
I’d love for you to support Debian. Barring that, I’d love to see a Debian derivative such as Ubuntu. But honestly, while I would play with the preloaded installation, I’d almost certainly install a distro myself anyway; choose something good for the people who can’t or won’t reinstall, and count on people who have a preferred distribution to install that distribution instead. The availability of machines with preloaded Linux, to me, just means that 1) I can show in my purchase that I intend to use Linux with the system, 2) that I won’t get a “please reproduce it with Windows” when I need support for a *hardware* problem, and 3) that the hardware will work under Linux.
September 7th, 2007 1:32 pm
Support gNewSense – it has no proprietary components or binary firmware. If you can support that as your base distro, EVERY OTHER DISTRO will work atop it.
September 7th, 2007 1:34 pm
My vote is for Ubuntu. I’m already running it (Feisty) on a Thinkpad R50e and I’m pleased to say everything already just works.
September 7th, 2007 1:46 pm
I’d like to echo previous comments and say: Please put some extra thought in to support for the hardware you use, and the availability of free software drivers. If you have to make concessions on the drivers front, make sure there are open APIs—the beauty of this is that people will then write free drivers, and you may later be in a better position to provide support for them.
I don’t really care what distributions you support out of the box (I voted for Debian as my distribution of choice, and as the foundation of other popular distributions like Ubuntu, gNewSense, Xandros), just that (a) things work; (b) people have the same freedoms to use, modify, and distribute the software required for things to work as they do with other free software.
September 7th, 2007 1:55 pm
Ubuntu and ThinkPad X60, an ideal match :
quote : “The upshot was that within just a few minutes I had a lightweight notebook with 3G connection ready to go. I have been a long-time user of Linux and owned my fair share of notebook and desktop computers. To date, however, this has to be the best possible combination of hardware and software I have managed to lay my hands on.
Even my wife, a long-time Apple user, is eyeing out my neat little X60 enviously.”
http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1695
September 7th, 2007 2:50 pm
[...] http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=98 [...]
September 7th, 2007 7:37 pm
No distribution-specific support please.
Even though I support Debian/Ubuntu this is definitively not the right way to go. Get your drivers into the official kernel OR provide distribution-independent source code (maintainers will care for integration into their distributions themselves) OR provide hardware specifications (which will enable the community to do all the work (i.e. less work for Lenovo)).
September 7th, 2007 8:31 pm
I’m with char (and others) who say don’t go the distribution-specific route. Distributions are a bit like politics… we will never agree.
Besides that, people who run Linux tend to be the kind who aren’t that intimidated by at least some limited personal tweaking. Give us drivers, and let us choose our own distro.
Better yet, give us great hardware and just offer your support to the software/OS community where it’s needed to thrive. Don’t let the Thinkpad become another throwaway brand in the HP/Dell/Acer school. The t61 series was my targeted upgrade from my t42, but the forum reviews are all over the map on build quality, and having worked with some of the R61 series, the default software build is a flake of OS problems. But…. that’s o/t, my apologies.
STICK TO HARDWARE!
September 7th, 2007 8:49 pm
Here’s my answer: Don’t support Linux. Support software and drivers that can be run on Linux or on BSD or on any other operating system out there. If documentation were available for hardware, then everyone can benefit, even for Windows as well, which people were mentioning problems with.
Sure, Lenovo can create ready-made drivers and custom-built Linux software to ensure Linux support, but making everything Linux-specific only benefits Linux. There is an opportunity to let everyone benefit here.
September 7th, 2007 9:46 pm
I don’t want to be overly repetitive, but it’s important to emphasize that, as others have already said, distribution-specific support is not the right approach from the development point of view.
I do not mean to imply that Lenovo should not sell systems with Linux preinstalled, au contraire, of course it should. But the development program should be kept distribution-neutral. and separate from the packaging of, say, a customized Ubuntu distribution for preinstalled sale.
On the development program, it would be very unwise not to work with the community, the linux-kernel group as well as the as the specialized ThinkWiki and ibm-acpi groups. Closed development is not the Linux way, and, IMHO, should be considered only as a last-resource whenever source code cannot be shared for trade secret or legal constraints.
On the enthusiasts v/s enterprise aspect of the equation, by appealing to the enthusiast first, you will develop the corporate competencies required in order to support enterprise customers without making a massive investment upfront, that, as you have already stated, you might not recoup. Instead, you will be ready whenever your enterprise customers demand Linux, amortizing the investment over a much larger user base.
September 7th, 2007 9:48 pm
If I may make a bold suggestion, what I think Lenovo should do join the community around the Thinkpad brand and open source OS’s. You already have a fairly dedicated community of Linux/Thinkpad users (thinkwiki.org, for example), so why not work with them by contributing to it and looking for common issues and hardware that people have trouble with and avoid them. With the right support from Lenovo, the Thinkpad could easily become THE hardware for Linux users. It may be a niche, but it could be a very profitable one.
September 7th, 2007 10:20 pm
I agree with posters who say keep it as free and open source as possible. Generic Linux support -or at least hardware compatibility – will be far more popular with the Linux community and newbies alike. I do think Ubuntu is the best choice for preinstallation. Throw in the official guide book and you win handsdown. Lenovo already have the closest thing to a Linux-ready laptop on the market and would be my first choice for a new one anyway. Good luck and keep the pressure on the component manufacturers to open source their software – PLEASE! Oh, and please keep the install plain and simple – no extra “goodies” or partitions. It makes reinstalling too messy.
September 7th, 2007 10:23 pm
@ Char
very good point about hardware specifications. The open-source community has never been squeamish about writing their own drivers, and thus doing a lot of Lenovo’s (and chip companies’) work for them.
Just for the love of all that is good in this world, please please please get your business partners to open up their hardware specifications and documentation! No more reverse engineering! Its an inhumane task to force the community into, but if they didn’t have to do that then I’m pretty sure you’d find all your hardware/driver issues solved for you.
September 7th, 2007 10:58 pm
I just ordered a T61 on the Labor Day sale. The configuration was carefully based on comments at the Ubuntu forums. Posts of what hardware works and what doesn’t. I did order XP Pro, but I intend to put Ubuntu on it with a dual boot.
I plan to use the T61 for both office and personal tasks.
September 7th, 2007 11:25 pm
I’d like to see Debian and or Ubuntu supported!
September 8th, 2007 3:15 am
As others have alluded to, don’t bother trying to do a “Thinkpad with Redhat” model range, but simply put pressure on *all* your component manufacturers to work with the open-source people already trying to write drivers. This way every model will be supported. Linux people are always going to reinstall the OS anyway – even if its a linux preinstall.
September 8th, 2007 6:29 am
OpenSuse, IMO, would make the best choice for an enthusiast Linux distro. It has great configuration tools and the best power management for notebooks (“laptops”) of all the major non-commercial distros (I have tried all of them). It should also be your natural choice since you will be already implementing hardware support for SLED, which is based on openSuse.
September 8th, 2007 6:45 am
My preference would go to CentOS and RHEL. I am now running CentOS 5 on my thinkpad and what is really required is making suspend/resume and hibernation work (fast and simple) without any tweaking.
Also other hardware components could be supported better, improved driver support, better power management, make all the graphics chipsets and wireless chipsets supported by the kernel so that every thinkpad configuration is known to work out of the box.
95% of the work is already done for general purpose use, but it’s the 5% that will make the real difference. People are moving to Apple/MacOSX because that 5% is done well. Instant suspend and resume, hardware support and no messing around and wasting time to get something working. Lenovo can fix that if it spends some resources on making sure their hardware is supported before it leaves the factory.
September 8th, 2007 7:07 am
I cannot help but feel that there is a big difference here between the principle and the practice. In principle, many non-consumer PC users would like to be able to use a Linux distro because of the principle of not being held to ransom by Microsoft (especially when the dreaded ay comes when support for XP is withdrawn). But, in practice, the very same users are going to be using specialist proprietary software, most of which is designed only for an MS platform.
Hence, it sounds like a good idea, but is not practical. I use a dual boot T43p (XP and Suse) which I bought via an intermediary who did the configuration. Given a free choice, I would use Suse but, out of necessity, I have to use XP because I am bound, by company policy, to use a document storage system based on Adobe and Adobe has little interest in developing products for compatibility with Linux distros.
September 8th, 2007 7:39 am
Running also CentOS 5.0 on my thinkpad r60 here for the same reasons dag already mentionned …
I’d prefer continue to use Thinkpad Hardware, but with a better linux support, especially for the wireless nics and vga adapter : my r60 comes with an ipw3945 wireless nic that needs a daemon process to be used (sic ! .. but i know that’s more an intel problem) but the real problem is with the vga adapter ( ATI Technologies Inc Radeon Mobility X1400 ) that needs the proprietary ati/fglrx driver to run … but this one lacks aiglx features , so compiz/beryl support is not working out-of-the-box ….
September 8th, 2007 10:04 am
An important point that easily gets missed is visible in the previous poll is that what you call “the enthusiast market” here are at least two different kinds of users:
1. people who want a Linux/Unix Laptop that simply works out of the box
2. hardcore enthusiasts (not meant negatively – and this group also includes me) who want to run their favorite distribution on their computers
The first group even goes into the enterprise market – consider as an extreme example people using SPARCbooks. Such people might install Linux themselves if they have no choice, but if one vendor offers a preinstalled distribution that’s a plus that might influence which laptop to buy. It doesn’t matter much for them which distribution you choose as long as it works out of the box and is well supported (in any respect – ranging from hardware support over security updates to a good support in case of problems).
For the second group the important point is that all hardware is supported by Linux – and these are also the people who often care that this does not require nonfree software. If you offer a laptop with a preinstalled Linux that doesn’t use binary-only drivers this will also an attractive laptop for these people – the preinstalled Linux is in this case simply some kind of “supported by Linux” certificate.
Which distribution to choose for the first group of users?
Debian has been mentioned by quite a few people, but there some points against Debian:
- Imagine you will want to offer a laptop with Linux preinstalled at the beginning of next year. Unless you want to create a fork of Debian you will face the problem of trying to offer Debian 4.0 containing software that was current in 2006 (that’s when Debian 4.0 was frozen) on hardware released in 2008 to users who might in some cases want more recent software.
- Debian has improved much in user friendlyness but it’s not the market leader in this respect and the users who really want Debian on their laptop are usually users from the second group.
- Debian has the image of being only for hardcore Linux users. No matter how good it has become, offering Debian as the one supported distribution will make your marketing for reaching the first group of users harder.
The natural choice seems to be the distribution the competitor whose name you don’t want to say is offering. I’m biased in this respect, but the advantages I see are:
- Good in terms of user friendlyness and providing current software and hardware support.
- There is a vendor who can do the software support for you.
- The vendor has not left the private users market to focus on the enterprise market as some other vendors did.
- It’s currently the most hyped distribution. That’s not a technical point, but like the saying “no one has ever been fired for choosing IBM” it’s what would appear to most spectators as the logical choice if you want to attract desktop users and would make your marketing for reaching the first group of users easier.
September 8th, 2007 10:12 am
An important point that easily gets missed that is visible in the previous poll is that what you call “the enthusiast market” here are at least two different kinds of users:
1. people who want a Linux/Unix Laptop that simply works out of the box
2. hardcore enthusiasts (not meant negatively – and this group also includes me) who want to run their favorite distribution on their computers
The first group even goes into the enterprise market – consider as an extreme example people using SPARCbooks. Such people might install Linux themselves if they have no choice, but if one vendor offers a preinstalled distribution that’s a plus that might influence which laptop to buy. It doesn’t matter much for them which distribution you choose as long as it works out of the box and is well supported (in any respect – ranging from hardware support over security updates to a good support in case of problems).
For the second group the important point is that all hardware is supported by Linux – and these are also the people who often care that this does not require nonfree software. If you offer a laptop with a preinstalled Linux that doesn’t use binary-only drivers this will also an attractive laptop for these people – the preinstalled Linux is in this case simply some kind of “supported by Linux” certificate.
Which distribution to choose for the first group of users?
Debian has been mentioned by quite a few people, but there some points against Debian:
- Imagine you will want to offer a laptop with Linux preinstalled at the beginning of next year. Unless you want to create a fork of Debian you will face the problem of trying to offer Debian 4.0 containing software that was current in 2006 (that’s when Debian 4.0 was frozen) on hardware released in 2008 to users who might in some cases want more recent software.
- Debian has improved much in user friendlyness but it’s not the market leader in this respect and the users who request Debian on their laptop are usually users from the second group.
- Debian has the image of being only for hardcore Linux users. No matter how good it has become, offering Debian as the one supported distribution will make your marketing for reaching the first group of users harder.
The natural choice seems to be the distribution the competitor whose name you don’t want to say is offering. I’m biased in this respect, but the advantages I see are:
- Good in terms of user friendlyness and providing current software and hardware support.
- There is a vendor who can do the software support for you.
- The vendor has not left the private users market to focus on the enterprise market as some other vendors did.
- It’s currently the most hyped distribution. That’s not a technical point, but like the saying “no one has ever been fired for choosing IBM” it’s what would appear to most spectators as the logical choice if you want to attract desktop users. And it would make your marketing for reaching the first group of users easier.
September 8th, 2007 1:15 pm
Suse, Debian, Ret Hat, etc… have all been around for several years and have shown they cannot bring about a “Linux Revolution” where masses convert to Linux.
Ubuntu is very young, and many people are flocking to it. If you were smart you would ship Linux and become a part of the amazing growth Ubuntu is having. I personally know of multiple people who have purchased a Linux Ubuntu computer from “you know who.”
Please, unlike “you know who” offer a large selection of Ubuntu shipped computers.
September 8th, 2007 1:19 pm
More important than which distribution is chosen for preinstallation, since all distributions use fundamentally the same code base, is support for all that specialty hardware that laptops have.
I bought a new laptop for my Mom a couple months ago, to have Linux put on it. It’s an HP, and it has lots of pretty buttons that now do nothing. Volume control, screen brightness, LCD/VGA-out switch, etc.
Unlike my first laptop from 1998 where all those buttons work just fine regardless of OS, these functions are not handled in hardware any more. They are software driven, with drivers written by the manufacturers for a particular OS that isn’t Linux.
Even where software efforts exist to do important little things like screen brightness, it seems very likely that the hardware isn’t supported (yet).
It would be very, very nice if those buttons worked with Linux. And since all Linux distributions use the Linux kernel, you’d only have to write it once. With that driver and just a little attention to hardware selection such as network chipsets, 100% full Linux support is achieved with very little effort.
September 8th, 2007 2:51 pm
[...] is the link. Go make your voice heard for Ubuntu! Like this post? Share it! These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share [...]
September 8th, 2007 3:12 pm
You have two blank options and adding new ones doesn’t work anymore.
September 8th, 2007 3:36 pm
Kubuntu please.
September 8th, 2007 3:44 pm
The reason they need to support a distro is that as a business providing support to customers, they will be able to give easier, faster service if they have trained people who are familiar with the kernel version, version of X, and so on, that will be on your computer. Each version will have its own idiosyncrasies, and with a supported distribution, the support team will know what they are. If they don’t know these things, then troubleshooting will be harder. Imagine trying to convince a support person that your DVD drive is broken and you need a new one under the warranty, but they are saying “Well, my DVD drive works in Ubuntu so maybe Super-LinuxOS-Xtreme-2.0 just doesn’t mount the drives correctly…” Even if the drive is at fault, they can’t know this for sure without a whole lot of extra testing. I think Ubuntu is the way to go for official support, and if Ubuntu works that that also means that more advanced users will be able to get any distro to work.
September 8th, 2007 4:00 pm
I belive it is a general misconception that people think that choosing a supported distribution means hardware support / drivers will be developed for that specific distribution.
Choosing a supported distribution means:
1.
Lenovo has a say on which software is bundled with their laptops. They will of course bundle all the software which they think gives the enduser most of their Lenovo laptop.
2.
Lenovos tech support know they version of the provided kernel, xorg etc. and which external hardware is supposed to work ie. webcams, printer, LCD screens etc.
Developing hardware support for a specific destribution only would be plain stupid, I might be naive but I think Lenovo knows that.
That said… gimme Ubuntu preinstalled on my next ThinkPad. YAY
September 8th, 2007 4:15 pm
[...] Here is the link. Go make your voice heard for Ubuntu! [...]
September 8th, 2007 4:21 pm
You should keep in mind the argumentum ad populum. This is not a vote. On the other hand you have got open source zealots (which blogged and spread the word already, Ubuntu will SMASH your vote) with little purchase power and intent (you are already pitted against Dell and couple others) and on the other hand you have got (small) businesses that absolutely require distributions that were made by businesses and supported out of the box differently and that have purchase power. None of your competitors are really supporting them and their needs all-out with Linux.
So, take your bet. SuSE either Redhat. And BLANK. Yes, the enthusiasts can roll out their Ubuntus and whatever in just couple minutes anyways. Companies that require SuSE or Redhat are more used to (especially when migrating from the Windows world) demand their option with the hardware already. Besides, if the hardware works on one (open source drivers or good binary blob solution) it will for sure work on the others as well.
Plus, I doubt Canonical’s resources to support you on the same level as Redhat or SuSE on making sure the last finishing touches for your hardware will be perfect. It’s not about that I wouldn’t like Canonical but most of the kernel developers ARE working in Redhat or SuSE, either on the community distribution versions they are sponsoring or the commercial one.
So, wisest both business and risk perspective: Offer two options.
1) Blank (for hobbyists)
2) Redhat or SuSE (decide your strategic partner)
September 8th, 2007 4:36 pm
I am running Ubuntu Feisty on thinkpad X30 here and it works wonderfully even though it is quite old (PentiumIII 1.2ghz). Even compiz-fusion works with the intel graphical ship.
Ubuntu & Debian +1
September 8th, 2007 4:43 pm
What Lenovo should do:
1. Make sure ALL offerings work with Linux in general. Hardware with open specifications and available drivers. Just make the following saying true: If there is the name Lenovo on the box, then linux will work.
2. Install the most popular distrobution by default (Ubuntu now, but go with the flow and change when the most popular distro changes)
3. Offer _optional_ ’software-level’ support for that particular distro. That is, we can choose to pay for software level support. (you can out-source this)
4. Give hardware level support for all offering with Linux.
5. Do not pre-install windows, but optionally sell the windows-oem cd with the laptop.
6. Do not preinstall crap on windows or linux. Vanilla OS-es. No trailware, adware and other programs. You want to make an extra buck? Do it with payed-for bookmarks in the browsers and search-plugins.
7. Install Open Office on all offerings and operating systems.
8. Supply a linux-based recovery cd with each offering. This cd can search the hard-drive for virusses on all operating systems, fix broken records and recover files. Call it Lenovo Emergency CD. Make sure it contains besides forensic and systeem tools (partition manager, virusscanner), a browser, a messenger and OpenOffice. So if in need they can just boot and browse the web.
When you do it like that, you will be the safe, default choice Dell once was.
No crapware, freedom to switch operating systems (because all hardware will be supported), rescue disk. And Open Office by default.
Trust me on this. You will not just sell Linux based PC’s this way, you will sell more Windows based PC’s as well. Your customers may not take being able to switch operating systems into account, but they will be pleased when you do. It also means that in general they feel ‘good’ about you. Because when they need you, you are there. Not in a users-are-stupid way, but in a empowerment way. (they can still call you, but by giving a forensic cd, most people will try to fix it themselves and feel better when they can.)
September 8th, 2007 4:51 pm
Dell will warn you if a configuration item you have chosen will delay the shipment — in a similar vein, make the Lenovo order site warn if you are selecting an item that does not have open-source drivers. And make sure that every product can be purchased with open-source-friendly components for all its functionalities.
Next step is to make sure firmware upgrades can be done from Linux. And lastly, provide (as Dell does) repositories for the major distribution to download any Lenovo/Thinkpad-specific drivers or utilities (including the firmware updates above!)
Dell provides binary packages for RHEL, SLED and Ubuntu, if I recall, and for most of these (or all) the source is open as well.
September 8th, 2007 5:17 pm
Well, as a forums admin for Ubuntu, I voted for Ubuntu, but really any of these would be a good choice. I have been looking closely at the T61 and this would probably push me over the edge.
I also agree with the previous poster that driver support, etc., that is done by Lenovo for this would not merely benefit one distribution, but would likely benefit all.
September 8th, 2007 5:27 pm
What makes the free software community an important customer base is not its size, but the fact that it is made up of the people who constantly are asked the question “-What computer do *you* think I should buy?”.
Go for hardware support in the form of free software drivers included in the generic kernel. That means convincing your suppiers to publish specifications for the hardware they want you to include in Lenovo laptops.
Offer a preinstalled *standard* Ubuntu, this will give several benefits:
* Convenience for non-technical customers.
* Good for showcase sales scenarios.
* A way to “vote with your money” and a way to escape the so called “Microsoft-tax”.
* Showing one distribution which works out of the box, with no special configuration or proprietary drivers, works as “proof” for that it can work with any distribution.
If you absolutely want to include thinkpad specific configuration then make it freely distributable so that it can be part of the any distribution. Then getting that optimized configuration back after a reinstall can be as easy as “aptitude install lenovo-thinkpad-optimization-metapackage”. No need for hidden partitions there.
September 8th, 2007 5:37 pm
I’ve been involved with buying several new ThinkPads lately (for myself and for family, etc). Ubuntu compatibility is never really a problem, I’ve chosen configurations with Intel graphics and wireless and the result is excellent. The only negative part of the experience was talking to the Lenovo representatives who, extremely rudely, refuse to give me Windows refunds and tell me to return the entire laptop if I don’t intend to use Windows with it. The situation is pretty ridiculous to me, here you have one of the best laptops out there, with very Linux-friendly hardware options, and company representatives who are set up to rudely tell you not to use Linux. Lately I’ve steered people to Dell with their pre-installed Ubuntu systems so that they can skip that part of the ‘experience’.
If you can fix this, especially by offering Ubuntu much like Dell does, especially on Intel wireless+graphics models, then you’ll surely see much more brand loyalty from the Linux community. Keep in mind that a huge number of developers at open source conferences use ThinkPads.
September 8th, 2007 6:23 pm
My personal preference is for Debian. I would have bought a lenovo had there been a linux installed one available. instead I went with linuxcertified. sorry. But, that lappy had Ubuntu installed which gave me enough confidence to wipe it and install Debian.
What does this mean for you? Go with hardware that has kernel support or at least work to get kernel support for that hardware. Image the HD with whatever you want, just make a promise (and keep it!) that there is kernel support and we’ll install whatever we like. You can offer support (or not) based on whatever distro you imaged the drive with and that’s fine. If we know enough to boot and install our own OS, then that’s our problem. We’ll suss out a solution all on our own… provided there is support in the kernel.
It is so simple really.
September 8th, 2007 7:08 pm
Ubuntu Rocks !
September 8th, 2007 7:21 pm
I’d say Ubuntu, simply because I love the community so much, and the distro is highly configurable to those who want to. I’d also love an easy option to choose my desktop, but since I’d probably just do a quick switch via [Synaptic, Adept] package manager, it wouldn’t be a big deal. For a desktop, I’d buy one, sure, but definitely for a laptop, since it’s not really a do-it-yourself type thing yet…
September 8th, 2007 7:28 pm
I would buy a a fully tricked out T61 with Ubuntu gutsy in a nanosecond.
Please…pretty please.
September 8th, 2007 7:40 pm
Certifying or supporting your hardware/software tools on only one distribution of Linux is saying you might as well use Windows. You need to foster and support, the on-going support effort that the community already has to enable the use of your hardware to be easier, you need to invest in that almost-free (monetarily) structure that already exists.
September 8th, 2007 7:56 pm
I’d go with Ubuntu myself. Considering the immense scope of the community, the high activity of that community, and the organization and infrastructure of the community I think it’s an obvious choice. Currently, they’re pushing to make sure there’s a local community in every state of the US, nevermind there are many outside the US already. The devs are active, and have a nice short release schedule which means they may (and most likely will) be able to take advantages of changes to hardware, new products, etc. Not only that, but Ubuntu (by virtue of Canonical) has a clear leadership and support structure already in place. Additionally, Ubuntu has shown itself to be a -real- desktop distribution. It has games and high performance drivers for the home user and enthusiast, as well as business applications and management tools for the workplace. Couple this with their commitment to provide a solid release every 6 months that includes most of the latest and greatest and it gives an attractive opportunity for anyone. If you have any doubts as to the activity of the community or the popularity of the distribution, I’d head over to http://www.ubuntustats.com/ and just watch for a few minutes. I’d be willing to bet you don’t see inactivity for more then 2-3 minutes -tops- personally I’ve never seen inactivity longer then 45 seconds.
September 8th, 2007 8:17 pm
Make all your computers Linux Compatible (TM). Scenario – I walk with a friend to the local computer shop. I drop a Knoppix Live-Cd in the DVD-ROM tray and reboot the computer. If the computer runs Linux out of the box I will recommend it. If not, then not.
That friend might buy 30 Laptops every 3 years. If I have to choose it will be Debian, but I like SUSE and Mandriva too
September 8th, 2007 8:31 pm
[...] to see on Lenovo laptops? I thought I should link to it here, in case anyone actually reads this. Link! [...]
September 8th, 2007 8:48 pm
I would like to see Ubuntu as standard, because it’s probably the easiest to use and has the best community, both of which are needed to attract and keep users not experienced with Linux.
However, I also think it’s absolutely important to make all necessary drivers totally free, and not just packaged for Ubuntu (like Dell has done in some cases), so that if somebody wants another distribution, they can install and use it hassle-free.
September 8th, 2007 8:48 pm
You should definitely start shipping Thinkpads with Linux pre-installed. I use Ubuntu on my T43 for work and just about everything works out of the box. Out of necessity I use the free VMWare server to run Outlook, but as a Linux system administrator it’s great to have a laptop that I can run my OS of choice on.
September 8th, 2007 8:56 pm
Personally, just knowing that the hardware would run Ubuntu would be good enough for me. Some sort of certification. Preferably out of the box working with Ubuntu, if not some sort of link to a support page with clear, model-specific instructions of what to do. Easy and simple — not all us Linux users are geeks!
That sort of information and support would certainly sway me more towards purchasing the Rolls Royce of laptops, the Lenovo Thinkpad
September 8th, 2007 8:56 pm
I love FreeBSD and use it on several desktops and laptops, but it’s not Linux.
September 8th, 2007 8:58 pm
I’m a Debian user of many years yet I voted for Ubuntu. The reasons for my choice are two-fold.
Debian is not focussed on bringing a current Linux desktop to users. I most certainly don’t reccommend Debian Stable as an exciting alternative to Windows or OS\X when asked. I reccommend the Debian distribution people call “Ubuntu” and have noticed a high success rate.
Debian itself is concerned with the server market and a stable and secure base from which to derive other distributions tailored to specific needs. These are good things and Debian does it very well. Vanilla Debian however is not – in itself – a success whatsoever in the ‘desktop market’ which is where Linux expansion in laptops actually occurs. While Debian on Thinkpads would have a small and loyal buyer following, it would not sustain the selfish economic interest of Lenovo in the longer term.
Ubuntu however is Debian derived and has a reasonably sane charter where FLOSS driver development is concerned. Ubuntu proves to be relatively newbie-proof and as such Ubuntu developers direct nearly all its effort in this area.
I would seem that what’s good for Ubuntu will be good for Debian on the desktop upstream- or at least that’s the myth I sing to myself.
September 8th, 2007 9:03 pm
If Lenovo “officially supports” any distribution of Linux, that means that all of the hardware should work well. If 1 distribution is supported well, they all should work well since the underlying stack is well… the same between them all.
Ubuntu wins for having one of the most tightly integrated and polished desktops of them all though. Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy) is going to make a great release.
September 8th, 2007 9:05 pm
I really don’t think the distro you pick to automatically install matters that much. If one linux distro runs without glitch, than any other decent linux distro can be configured to work on that laptop too. Even though I’m a Gentoo user I used to test laptops with Ubuntu livecds because I figured if Ubuntu could run it Gentoo definetely could. In the end people will always disagree, but I personally could care less. If all the hardware is linux supported its good in my book.
September 8th, 2007 9:08 pm
FreeBSD is Linux?
September 8th, 2007 9:12 pm
I do believe you have been dugg
September 8th, 2007 9:17 pm
Although I’m biased (I’m a Debian Developer), I think (as others have already said) it’s best to go as far upstream as possible. For hardware compatibility, drivers, etc, work with the kernel upstream. For anything desktop/software-y, I would work with Debian. Both Debian and Ubuntu are very popular, but the nature of Ubuntu’s development (taking Debian and modifying it) means that it’s easier for code to go from Debian to Ubuntu than the other way around (one way is automatic, the other requires human effort). Working with Debian ensures that Ubuntu and the hundreds of other Debian-Derived Distributions (Knoppix, Mepis, etc, etc, etc….) all work well.
September 8th, 2007 9:23 pm
Let me just tell you this. While I am no huge apple fan, I am seriously considering getting a mac book just for pure stability and protection of my data. Windows isn´t secure, and this is coming from a non-geek-hacker–whatever you want to call me. I want something stable on my laptop, and unix/linux, from my best understanding though limited knowledge, are stable, secure, and can get the job done without crashing.
Yes, I want a mac book, but I CANNOT deal with a trackpad. I´ve owned thinkpads for going on a decade, and they have always been top of the line products, except the operating system that came with it always crashed. I put ubuntu on a a21 model, and, oh my god, it delivers! But it´s old, and getting older. I want a new system that works out of the box. I don´t want to wait for driviers to be developed, and I certainly do not want to write them, nor have the time to write them.
I really want to get a thinkpad, but I may be willing to compromise and buy from apple and deal with their stupid trackpads (just my opinion!) just to have a stable, working operating system. I don´t have time for system crashes.
However, adding linux support — making everything work hardware wise — will push me over the edge. Not really particular about the pre-installed version, because I can always wipe it clean if I don´t like it. Linux support is a lot better than it was 10 years ago, but until the people making the hardware give support to non-ms operating systems, linux is always one step behind, although it seems like the linux community is getting reallly good at coming up with solutions, FAST. And it´s getting better and better. An optional install of a desktop BSD that is as easy as Ubuntu would also be great! Give us a choice. I do agree that maybe making support open for all the free OS´s like BSD and linux would be a better choice, although it might be easier to implement on linux. Give it the community! I
The day you throw your weight behind something like linux on the thinkpad is the day that I click the order button without thinking twice. Please, I desperately do not want vista on machine!
Coming from a normal, non-computer nerd user. Yes, linux is starting to reach that point! Help push it past the tipping point! I´m sick of hearing about how free software advocates are cheapskates. Please, people will pay for a top of the line product that works out of the box. Look at Apple and its followers. There are ways to make money of off open source.
September 8th, 2007 9:24 pm
I would vote for having a machine that works perfectly on the vanilla Linux kernel from Kernel.Org so that I can install basically any distro out there .. ( and none of the fanboy crowd get the rights to brag
)
September 8th, 2007 9:25 pm
I voted for Ubuntu, although I myself would rather use Fedora. Ubuntu, because it is tunring out to be the easiest Linux distro for the “non-computer literate” person, the guy that would otherwise run Windows.
Why are people running Windows? Because their machine came with it pre-installed. The average person would easily adopt Linux, if it was pre-installed and as easy to use as Windows (relatively speaking).
Hook up a modem, connect to the web – done.
Hop on a wireless network with a few mouse-clicks – done.
Read my email, read news, watch youtube, download images from my digital camera, upload my pictures to friendster, myspace, where ever – done.
Chat with some olf neighbors from before I moved to the West coast – done.
And now here comes the difference: Misspell a web site, catch a virus, download 381 trojans and spyware – oops, not in Linux though. And if the average person finally understands that – then we’re in business.
Regards,
Chris
September 8th, 2007 9:26 pm
It doesn’t really matter which distribution you use, you will have to massage it to make sure it works with your hardware and then write a version of thinkpad tools that
runs under linux.
Actually, if you just released a version thinkpad tools that I could install on my x61, I would be overjoyed… I can take it from there.
September 8th, 2007 9:35 pm
I’m suggesting Mandriva, for reasons that might not be as obvious.
1) I think Lenovo needs to differentiate itself from Dell, and an option to Ubuntu (which by the way I like would be a good move)
2) I would like to see strong support for a number of distributions. To my way of thinking Red Hat, Suse, and Ubuntu have “made it”. I’d like another one to make it into the “big time”.
For those reasons I’d like Mandriva. Nice desktop system, they’ve been players for a long time, can do support, and … its another distribution. outside of the already major players. They offer something different.
September 8th, 2007 9:36 pm
My personal preference order is:
* Solaris
* FreeBSD
* If you have to only offer Linux, then anything that doesn’t use RPM. Debian and Ubuntu come out on top.
Given the way most businesses work, you’ll probably want to partner with some other business for your non-Windows offering. In that case, please put Sun and Canonical at the top of your list.
I’d also like to point out that the current crop of Windows recovery disks are obnoxious beyond belief.
The biggest problems are:
* You wipe out the entire disk so any data partitions or other operating systems are lost. I can’t keep my data on a separate partition to protect it from Windows disasters nor can I recover Windows without going through a huge re-install process involving any other operating systems I have on the machine. This is _really_ annoying.
* You don’t supply a “normal” version of windows so I can’t just “insert the Windows disc” to fix filesystem issues (there are many issues with Windows that can be recovered by just putting the CD in the drive and clicking recover. Your recovery partition just doesn’t solve some of these problems.
September 8th, 2007 9:37 pm
I think since, this has been dugg, the results should be taken with a whole heap of salt, as digg is pretty much a ubuntu haven.
September 8th, 2007 9:41 pm
I think this will make a lot of people happy. I am running Linux (Ububntu) on two of my Thinkpads and one HP. I would have loved to order my Thinkpad with Linux installed and I do not need support other than keeping Bios and drivers updated!. Thanks for the thought.
September 8th, 2007 9:44 pm
Oh, and I tried to add an option via:
* Firefox on Solaris
* Firefox on MacOS X
* Safari on MacOS X
and none of them worked. Please make your website more portable.
September 8th, 2007 9:47 pm
[...] En la encuesta Ubuntu va ganando por muchísimo a todos los demás, vota por tu distro aquí. [...]
September 8th, 2007 9:49 pm
There are two different problems, I think.
One thing is “support” a distro (or all linux distributions) with open and free drivers, and other is to spend one compatible model with _a_ distribution.
Yes ubuntu rocks, specially on Canonical rocks. (s/rocks/sucks/g)
A distro from lusers by lusers, alias “the ilegall windows legalliced”. Lot of monkeys using-breaking-formating-speaking_on_the_net and blablaBLOBbing. And very few producing drivers.
There have been many passed and present problems, on ubuntu and their collaboration with other distros, specially with Debian, OpenSuSE developers, etc. all it led by Canonical, closed sources, bad attitudes and Marck S.
A lot of monkeys will vote, post, and remain stupid, but I hope that you have more things in account, at the time of choosing. To support Ubuntu directly, will not repel in benefit of the rest of the community. Unless people imitate to OpenBSD, that being a millionth part of developer and users, who Ubuntu, has a very good support for thinkpad* and family (and cleanest, better, open and OWN code). Also they have more (and cleanest, better, open and OWN) wireless drivers.
Ubuntu is as easy (or less) of use as any other user oriented distro (fedora, suse, etc)
And by the mediatic world, blablas and “brillant” people, is a easy to broke, to reboot users to his closed systems, and to listen people saying “ahh… this is linux?… pfff” or thinking that they are choosing a “user friendly” distro, and then having the SAME problems that Debian (if you don’t read, and know about the system administration and the comand line, you are lose).
I understand that enterprise world and Lenovo is not looking to slashdot that they support OpenBSD. But PLEASE, don’t support Ubuntu directly, they have money and interest to stole what they want. PLEASE support directly the kernel.org project, and if posible, without binary or hex BLOB’s. Also support open documentation and OSI developers of any operative system.
In other way, if you spend with and package for, Debian. Be sure that all the rest of distros of the universe, will have benefit of it, including the massive ubuntu. You can talk with one of your competitors, about supporting Debian… He will say all you need to know (and the machines supported, works fine on all other distros).
Also you can search on google, about “other” machines, “supported” on other linux whit NDAs, blobs, and closed attitude… all the results are problems and users crying. One example was one Aralion PCI IDE RAID that I spend some years ago. It was “linux compatible” … ah…. redhat compatible … ah … == 2.4.22 compatible … ah… with bolb and only suported by the seller. So it was NOT linux compatible. Now Aralion is dead
Sorry for my english, congratulations and good luck.
Regards.
Inigo
September 8th, 2007 9:54 pm
If you want to differentiate your products from those of the competition, you want to try a different distro than Ubuntu or Suse.
I suggest you try PCLinuxOS. It’s not backed by a megacorporation, but that also means you only have to make a deal with an individual, which might make for easier negotiations.
September 8th, 2007 9:54 pm
My suggestion is for several distros.
Most enthusiasts and home users use Ubuntu. IMO, this is simply the easiest OS to install for x86 hardware. I’m happy to expand on the reasons if you wish but the result is that it can be installed (including most common applications) in less time than it takes to install the base unpatched OS for the leading commercial vendor and the installed system provides a familiar and near perfect experience for most users..
For the commericial market, you will want to get behind either Red Hat or SUSE. This is more important for ThinkCentre and rack products but clearly has an impact on the laptop market.
Another area to consider is the home server/automation market. Right now Linux is exensively used in dedicated plug and play network devices. This whole sector is crying out for something smaller (in every sense) and cheaper than Shuttle but more packaged (and cheaper) than Arcom. A very low-power Ubuntu laptop, with plenty of ports and possibly with a detachable screen would fill that bill perfectly.
September 8th, 2007 9:58 pm
PCLinuxOS
You could easily adapt this OS to fit your needs, it is a very stable and robust OS
Even the most dumbed down windows user can understand the basic funtions of this
I believe KDE> GNOME anyhow
September 8th, 2007 9:59 pm
Solaris 10 x86
September 8th, 2007 10:03 pm
I think the indicators on this poll are clear. Thats where the blend of open-source and proprietary mesh so well with Ubuntu’s less than staunch approach to the free software paradigm.
It’s great to see that the dam wall has broken and OEMS are getting caught in the torrent.
The recent surge of customer-facing support that Linux is getting along with the recent bolstered support of open standards (a-la ODF) are all-important for the social acceptance for this operating system.
September 8th, 2007 10:04 pm
IF you intend to support a Linux variant on the Thinkpad line, please keep the following in mind:
1. We want the same care and (perhaps proportionate to market share) effort you put in to your Windows laptops. There’s a good reason you’ve done so well with those lines in big businesses and with home users alike. Offer support for your products and teach your customer support staff (be better than your competitor whose first line staff generally doesn’t know what “Ubuntoo” is). Linux culture begins in house so educate all your staff in house to think about it – from your product engineers to your channel sales managers.
2. As an adjunct to #1, make sure to provide the same software stack you provide under Windows. Applications to control hotkeys and display management and the like. Sure, some vocal users will complain about these applications coming stock in the system, but they are the ones who would buy and use your products anyhow. You are going to after the everyday user who wants an alternative or a price-reduced version to Windows and wants the same control over their system – they don’t want to fumble with the commandline to do generally useful things with their laptop (like “xrandr -s 3″ to change the resolution).
3. Pick and choose your distro based on popularity but also weigh in usage. 95%+ of users don’t care if their driver is proprietary or not, they just want the best experience possible. If it makes sense to use proprietary drivers, then do so – you obviously have much more influence with those hardware companies as you are their volumous customer and you can set the bar for quality (this point and the next should tie in with the product managers that are dealing with hardware vendors – if they know about Linux, they are more likely to request/require it).
4. Go across the board with your products. Don’t pick and choose a few lines and call it a victory like your competition. Think about it with every product when you create it and make sure all future products will consider it. Economies of scale take over and you don’t lose money in the big effort to get everything going again on EVERY new product sku. You can phase it in with some existing products and all new products.
5. This isn’t OS/2 so don’t get scared off about making an investment in the future.
September 8th, 2007 10:05 pm
Three reasons I love Ubuntu:
1. KDE (i.e. Kubuntu)
2. APT
3. x11vnc
I don’t think x11vnc works in Debian sid, although I have yet to check. It’s not in lenny at any rate.
September 8th, 2007 10:12 pm
Funny. Right at this moment, I’m trying to get the webcam and the sound of my Lenovo 3000 N200 working – on Gentoo.
September 8th, 2007 10:23 pm
pclinuxos 2007 is a highly refined red hat or mandrake. it is rock solid. it is extremely user friendly and is constantly updating only when the pclinuxos team has verified the updates will not crash the current installation.
it recognizes a wealth of hardware configuration and runs on my toshiba laptop fantastic.
my next choice would be mepis.
ubuntu gave me problems, and mandrake is far more expensive than windows or osX.
mandrake has protected the linux user so well, you can hardly use it.
i am a freeBSD fan, but that is not for the person who is afraid to learn to be a techie.
September 8th, 2007 10:23 pm
If you guys started shipping the T61 w/ Ubuntu preinstalled, I would have bought one already (despite the measly 160GB hard drive). In fact, the measly HD and the preinstalled Ubuntu laptops offered by Dell have probably been the only things keeping me from buying a Thinkpad…
September 8th, 2007 10:34 pm
There’s no reason the distro shouldn’t be Ubuntu. It’s not an opinion, it simply is the easiest to use and manage with a huge repository of software to select from. I’m not going into a detail here about why it is superior to all the alternative distros, but the numbers speak for themselves – it is, by a wide margin, the most popular distro out there. That’s not to mention that is has the best community of users out there. And it’s userbase is growing.
Someone here said that Ubuntu shouldn’t be pre-loaded onto a Lenovo because they would have competition with Dell and people would go with the latter. That doesn’t make any sense, even if the OS is the same the hardware is different. I’d still take a Lenovo over a Dell anyday.
In any case, whichever Linux distro is chosen – even if Lenovo were to take a pro-Linux and opensource stance, the entire community would benefit. Recently the news that AMD would be working with the community to make opensource drivers for their graphics cards was very much looked forward to by Linux users, and many believe that Dell had something to do with it. If you simply make more manufacturers support Linux, you need not market a product with one distro in mind – simply put a sticker that says “Linux compatible” and that alone would make the laptops very appealing to entire community as opposed to people who use a specific distro.
September 8th, 2007 10:35 pm
Lenovo comienza consulta para decidir que distro GNU/Linux traerán sus equipos
Lenovo ha comenzado una encuesta entre los usuarios para decidir que distro GNU/Linux incluir en sus equipos. Cualquier puede votar. Hasta el momento gana Ubuntu, seguida de lejos por Debian
September 8th, 2007 10:40 pm
I really wanted to vote for Ubuntu. I think it’s the most integrated and hardware scalable desktop Linux around, with the ability do be both a beginner distro and a fairly ‘advanced’ distro, but I think it’s more important to have open support for hardware.
The bottom line is that having hardware with great Linux support makes the distro question moot. Most people who want linux and a usable desktop can install Ubuntu themselves in 15 minutes (Maybe 30 on older hardware). No biggy. What they don’t wan’t is to spend the few minutes it takes to install it and then have to wrangle around to get the hardware working fine.
September 8th, 2007 10:40 pm
I see this as a no-win situation as far as I’m concerned. Let me explain. More than likely you’re going to end up choosing Ubuntu because you think it’s market demand. That simpley makes you look as though you’re just following Dell around with a notepad. It’s also not allowing for choice in the matter really as the people who format and put their personal favorite distro on will not get support for it should something go wrong because your people are only trained in Ubuntu.
Why not just change it up, go with a flavor no other company is thinking of that’s just as good if not better? I voted Freespire because it really is a good distro and don’t let the Ubuntu fanboys fool you. I also find SLED to be great as well. There’s quite a few other established and quality distros out there that I think would probably sell just as well if not better. If you’re really going to do this (Which I’m assuming you are), try something different.
September 8th, 2007 10:51 pm
UBUNTU FTW!
Seriously, the purists are fighting the hype when the hype is wellfounded. The purists would have you believe that the only way to do it is to roll your own version of linux. What they fail to see is that people will buy what just works and Ubuntu just works.
I’ll do support for lenovo, dell, or anyone that wants to go with ubuntu in a heartbeat. Enough said. Ubuntu has the people in mind, not hardcore linux enthusists.
You need to fill a call center, let me know. I believe in ubuntu that much.
September 8th, 2007 11:00 pm
Firstly, thanks so much for being open with us and being willing to get feedback. Secondly, congrats on getting dugg.
I’m writing this to you on a T41 ThinkPad running Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn). I would LOVE to see Ubuntu on ThinkPads out of the box, especially since UNC Chapel Hill (my school) and many other universities have contracts with Lenovo. It would make our lives so much easier and so much better if “ThinkPad” were _always_ synonymous with “works with GNU/Linux.” Unfortunately that’s not quite the case right now, which means that for my next laptop purchase I’ll be going to one of your competitors–the one that will sell me a laptop with Ubuntu–unless your company decides to offer ThinkPads with some flavor of GNU/Linux pre-installed to the individual consumer.
Again, thanks so much for being open and for considering our concerns. I’ve loved my T41 and I do hope I’ll be able to stick with Lenovo for my next laptop.
September 8th, 2007 11:03 pm
Ubuntu is great. However, the biggest problem with Linux is it’s poor driver support. I own a Z61p, and the ATI card in here has driven me nuts. It’s prevented my laptop from properly suspending and hibernating.
What really needs to be done is to have a customized Thinkpad distro. Take Ubuntu, and create a Lenovo version. Add ThinkVantage tools, have good support for dynamic display switching (this can be done via aticonfig at the moment, and through RandR 1.2 in the future). Having proper OS support for the hardware installed is a killer feature. Think OSX, and how it just works on Macs. The same could be done with Thinkpads.
September 8th, 2007 11:15 pm
I also marked Ubuntu in the list, as it is both what I use personally and what I think would be most appropriate at this point in time to offer on a pre-installed OEM basis. HOWEVER, I would like to echo the previously voiced points that open drivers and hardware will allow any distribution (or custom-built version) of Linux to work well on Lenovo machines, even if official support is only offered for one or two distributions. I would also like to agree that helping Debian helps Ubuntu, and helping Ubuntu helps Debian. I still find Ubuntu slightly better for most end-users in a desktop environment, but Debian certainly has its place, so it would be a great bonus if that was supported either actively or just by drivers, etc. working their way back upstream.
I currently own a ThinkPad, and having switched to only using Ubuntu (no more dual-boot with Windows), my plan had been to buy my next machine from System76. Depending on the quality of the products you can put out with Linux support, you may have a chance to compete with that business yet – and I certainly look forward to see what comes on that front.
September 8th, 2007 11:16 pm
To me CentOS is the obvious choice. You get the power of RedHat without the licensing nightmare of RedHat.
September 8th, 2007 11:19 pm
[...] read more | digg story 豪杰 @ 3:18 am [filed under Digg [...]
September 8th, 2007 11:21 pm
I agree with Cristóbal, I recently decided to get a T61 and unfortunately I was unable to get it without Windows Vista (not an option, unable to get a “Windows Tax” refund). I love the hardware but despise the “We support Linux” rhetoric with nothing to show on the part of Lenovo thus far.
September 8th, 2007 11:26 pm
I like Thinkpads, but why do they have to look so ugly on their bottom and have such edges that make it look fragile? Why not take a page from Apple and make something that’s a work of art from top to bottom, even flipped over, and smooth to your hands? And why don’t most laptops have a glow-in-the-dark keyboard or where small LED lights shine underneath the letters? It’s hard to see those special keys at night in the dark on an airplane.
Last, I’m an Ubuntu addict and I hope that Lenovo continues on this path to consider shipping Linux, following suit of Toshiba, Dell, and HP. I’m such an Ubuntu addict that I managed to convert my wife and children to it and keep them happy with the choice. The multimedia support in Feisty Fawn has been a big help in that direction.
September 8th, 2007 11:26 pm
[...] following behind Dell, is asking the community via their blog which Distro would you (the consumer) like to see them start bundling on their computers? The [...]
September 8th, 2007 11:30 pm
I feel Mandriva and/or Red Hat is the way to go. Considering that RPM based distros are more popular in In my opinion more supported. I may even mention centOS but there are those that still want MP3 Support in a open source world. Even though Ubuntu has a great install base through the eyes of most Ubuntu still remains to be a “entry level” Linux distro.
September 8th, 2007 11:35 pm
As so many others have said, all the linux community wants are drivers and hardware support – given these, it really doesn’t matter which distro you pre-install because we can put our favourite one straight over the top.
Open source drivers and hardware support means your laptops will continue to be supported solidly as linux develops, and some devs/users may even show you new tricks.
Remember that linux works as well as it does because there are heaps of small tools, each of which does one thing very well and can pass information to others easily. Don’t try to imagine what people could want and allow it. Instead, allow them to connect the dots themselves and let them work out how to assemble the options into what they want. Linux is the lego of the software world: we love it *because* we can throw out the “proper” ways and build whatever we want
September 8th, 2007 11:56 pm
What I would like to see is people selling Linux built in for a cheaper price(since after all the operating system is FREE!)….so having a system which is safe,secure and gives you a cheaper product to sell would be great. I also agree with the comment about many universities having contracts with Lenovo and it would be great to start marketing these new slightly cheaper laptops.
Ubuntu or Ubuntu derived distribution should probably be considered since it is one of the easiest for those who use windows to adapt to (then if they are real die hards they can move on to others).
September 8th, 2007 11:56 pm
I would love to see a *nix distro option for pre-installed on future Lenovos. Enough to comment when I normally do not. Although I’m technically a BSD guy, Ubuntu appears to be working out quite well for for the *nix enthusiasts.
Thank you for your consideration in *nixes. I have no professional or commercial incentive for making such an endorsement, only a personal one as a fellow enthusiast.
September 8th, 2007 11:58 pm
rather concentrating on the distro, they should really focus on what hardware they can bring about to support linux. linux does have a good future, provided vendors take the right actions towards it
September 8th, 2007 11:58 pm
Let’s face it, it doesnt matter which distros they choose, most of us here will probably put in our own.
But as someone who still has a T21 rocking on with Gentoo, I will definitely get my next laptop from a company that carries Linux.
So we dont really matter in this discussion, its the non-geeks that we are trying to reach.
For newbies (my friends know the only tech help they can get from me is if they use Linux) I recommend Ubuntu, Mandriva or lately PCLinuxOS (which is based on Mandriva I believe) which has impressed me so much that I added it to one of my boxes.
Those arent my favorites (which are Debian, Gentoo, Slackware) distros but those are the three which are very user friendly.
Ubuntu is the one with all the press (and their fanbois rival the Apple ones) but the other two are just as easy if not more than the U (installing a dual boot on PCLinuxOS was a breeze and very well explained which drive was Windows, which was to be partitioned while the Ubuntu one gave you cdrom, cdrom0, hda, swap and things which mean nothing to the majority of non-geeks).
Hopefully because of the Dell deal, Lenovo wont choose Ubuntu and we will get a little competition.
And again, as my father pointed out to me when I gave him two dozen LiveCd to choose for his new dual boot: “They all look the same”.
I think the desktop environment is almost as important if not more because thats what the newbie will see and interact with.
For ex-Windows users I think KDE is the logical choice. Whenever I give Ubuntu and Kubuntu LiveCDs to friends, they almost always go with the KDE because its closer to Windows which is to be expected.
So pay as close attention to the graphical desktop environment as you do the distro.
These are all very good: Blackbox, GNOME,Enlightenment, IceWM, KDE, WidowMaker, XFCE…
Of course, if they go with Free/Lintspire, I will burn my T21 and get a Macbook on which I will install Debian
>Three reasons I love Ubuntu:
>1. KDE (i.e. Kubuntu)
Ahh yes, the kids from Digg are finally here!!
September 9th, 2007 12:02 am
I haven’t had time to wade trough all the omments, so my apologies if what I’m about to say is repetitive.
I vote for Ubuntu, not out of religious conviction, but because it works on laptops. Specifically, it works well on my T60. The two “major” distros both have trouble on that machine. I first loaded Linux on a laptop in 1995. My first Linux PC was in 1993. I’ve watched the hardware support in Linux go from extremely spotty to very complete. But there is a lag with the newest hardware. The newest laptops on the market may not get to be fully supported for a bit, since the hardware vendors and the system integrators all test for compatibility with Windows, and then call that good enough. This is less universally true than it once was, but it’s still an issue.
The slack gets taken up by the Linux communities. They tend to respond to a lack of hardware support fairly quickly. But it takes quite a while for that support to get taken up in the mainline distributions. (I can speculate as to why this is, but I don’t know for sure.) Specifically, on my T60, RHEL5 WS nd SLED 10 both have a problem with hibernation. FC6, FC7 and The newest Ubuntu all work fine. (For me, hibernation is not optional. I travel quite a bit in my job.) I haven’t tried OpenSuSE, but I’m willing to bet that hibernation, and pretty much everything else, works there too.
So, Ubuntu is the only commercially supported distribution I’ve tried that can hibernate and wake up my T60. How do you get Open Source speed in a commercial distribution? Well, you leverage off Debian, that’s how. This is the largest community supported distribution out there. The members of the Debian project react quickly to hardware problems, and throw new code, in varying degrees of readiness, into the unstable Debian distribution. There is a rigorously defined process for taking half baked code from there into the “testing” distribution, from where it will eventually show up in “stable” through the process of a new Debian stable release, based on the prior testing distro. The “stable” distribution is extremely stable, again by strict policy. So if you are putting a commercial OS together based on Debian, you can pick and choose code to include and make trade-offs between stability and support for new hardware. If you also participate in the Debian project, and help make some of those unstable drivers reliable, then the Open Source process is working like it should, which means the arrangement itself will be stable, since it benefits both parties. (All this works a lot better if hardware vendors and system integrators participate too, of course.)
Also, on top of the essential support for new hardware, Ubuntu delivers excellent usability as well. The UI is clean and functional. Patching, and adding or removing software is very easy. A complete set of productivity and entertainment applications are available, yet they don’t result in menu clutter. It’s a winner from lots of angles.
So that’s my vote, and I’m sticking to it!
Regards,
Howard Owen
September 9th, 2007 12:05 am
Oh, yes and I too will do guerrilla advertising for any company that comes out as a true innovator puts up a Linux based OS on any of your PCs as an option. (Please, Apple is advertising the no “Fat” policy of giving me a bunch of things I do not need….and sadly I must agree with them vista for instance on my Lenovo desktop is just too much….I don’t care how great it looks but the fact that it can barely run on my PC with all this other junk should be considered)
September 9th, 2007 12:27 am
FreeBSD is NOT a linux distro. It is a different OS, a wonderful one. And open source.
September 9th, 2007 12:33 am
I would really like to see truly open drivers for everything. While there is a vocal minority of Ubuntu users, the most important thing is to just get the drivers, and then they’ll work on whichever distro you choose. I really like Fedora / RHEL, and things seem to “just work” there better than any other distro, so I’ll be installing either of those onto all of my computers. To see that as the default OS would be great, but seconday to having the drivers.
September 9th, 2007 12:36 am
It doesn’t matter what distro is chosen. I will still run my flavor and know it will work just fine.
September 9th, 2007 12:44 am
Hmmm, Linux distributions. They are seemingly endless! Within that seemingly endless list, there are a few that stand out with popularity. They aren’t hard to find. Of course the most popular will no doubt score the highest on any poll. I think the first question you need to ask when choosing a distribution is how much time do you want to dedicate to system maintenance. Rolling releases such as Gentoo and Archlinux, tend to demand a lot of maintenance, and if you wait too long to update them, the chances are greater that something may break. On the other hand, there’s no need to upgrade to a never version as those distros always stay up to date. Basically, if your fairly Linux savvy, I think a rolling release would be perfect. I would recommend Arch over Gentoo in that category as it’s just must simpler and down to earth defaulting to binary/pre-built packages. If you need tones of customization and have the time to spare, Gentoo would be great as a build from source distro, although arch can do that as well fairly easy.
If you want something that will stay stable without any hassles, at least until the next version comes out, I think Ubutu is the top dog in that category.
That’s just my humble opinion as a previous Debian and Gentoo user and current Archlinux user. : )
September 9th, 2007 1:10 am
As a fairly-experienced GNU/Linux user, and with experience with Red Hat, Gentoo, SuSE/OpenSUSE, Ubuntu and Debian, I’m inclined to lean toward OpenSUSE or Ubuntu, based on my experience setting up and using these distributions.
I’ve got a ThinkPad A31 that runs (k)Ubuntu 7.04 rather well, and it’s getting on in years. On the same note, my aging HP Pavilion desktop and my new Toshiba Satellite also run Ubuntu great, out of the box and if Lenovo had a reasonably priced notebook with any Linux distro preinstalled, I would have purchased one of them instead of my Toshiba (really cheap at Wal-Mart, and it has Intel graphics and wireless).. Lord knows how much better I like my ThinkPad than my Toshiba, and if I had to do it over, I would’ve spent the extra money for a Lenovo machine.
However, that being said, I’ll support Lenovo with whatever decision they make as far as distributions go, as long as they make their contributions available for all distros, at least in source. I know my next machine is going to be a ‘Pad, if they choose a distro, that’s for sure.
CSC
September 9th, 2007 1:24 am
Arch>pclos
LOL
September 9th, 2007 1:42 am
In my experience, the only thing i’ve really had trouble with under linux/bsd on my thinkpad T43 is the ATI video card. Please ditch ATI and choose somebody a bit more open-source-friendly. If Lenovo keeps up the good work on the thinkpad line that was started by IBM, and continue to improve making their laptops linux/bsd-friendly, they will most likely be the laptop of choice in my home continuing into the future (despite being significantly more expensive than many of the other options).
September 9th, 2007 1:58 am
[...] guess what, now Lenovo has this to say in its blog: … One of our competitors has done so and it seems to be working out for them. (I won’t say [...]
September 9th, 2007 2:08 am
I’ve had a lot of successes with Red Hat actually for enterprise and technical/scientific computing.
I’ve yet to try Ubuntu (took me a little while to figure out the “competitor” in question), but I’ve heard lots of good things about it.
The one bad thing that I’ve so far is that it can be excessively loaded with tools/apps.
Help solve the dependency issue, and it can be an excellent computing platform.
September 9th, 2007 2:16 am
Hi,
I’m already using Ubuntu on my T60, and I had to struggle a bit with some drivers (of course wireless and graphics).
Being able to get a preinstalled Ubuntu would be really great, especially for newcomers that don’t want to spend much time on finding how make this or that work properly. I’m not sure whether some of the other distributions would make sense (e.g., Gentoo) when they are targeted at particular, experienced users.
September 9th, 2007 2:24 am
I think it is a great idea to step in to the linux based laptops, with dell going for Ubuntu and HP going for RedHat. Since the poll results show Ubuntu as clear choice, lenovo should go for it. One of the shortcomings of Linux on laptops is the hardware support. With dell already going for Ubuntu, and if lenovo goes for Ubuntu again, I assume, consumers are most likely to go for either dell or lenovo, as they hope to avoid hardware specific problems and better driver support. And the choice consumers will have to make will depend on price, performance and support between the laptop varities that dell and lenovo provide. Either way linux as a distro is gaining acceptance around the world.
September 9th, 2007 2:29 am
Thanks for the opportunity, to vote here. I hope I will really not be forced to buy an Ubuntu Laptop/PC and pollute my computing with proprietary bits.
I’ll really prefer Fedora but I might recommend Lenovo to some enterprise type folks if you ship Red Hat also.
But lets stop and look again, why bother me and you ? why not you guys do upstream work for your hardware support and also get your component providers involved in the same.
For the OS shipping matters, you guys should better be enhancing your “Thinkvantage” framework to ship any distro as per the customer requirements – or at-least provide choice of distros. Simply put enhancement/support packages for particular distros.
September 9th, 2007 2:43 am
The Open Source philosophy is a simple one: If you (the vendor) aren’t willing to support it, provide the information and tools to let the users support it themselves.
Note that this doesn’t always mean providing only drivers. This is because not only is Linux in motion, but so also are the apps. Drivers that are complete today may not be tomorrow. You should also look to providing detailed documentation so that if/when you walk away from the driver effort, the community can take up the slack where needed.
If non-disclosure contracts prevent you from sharing specs, then you should clearly identify the problem vendors so that pressure can be applied to them (and not to you guys) to open up. Genuine need for trade secrecy is actually quite low.
Thanks for reading.
September 9th, 2007 2:50 am
Why is BSD here ? I thought the question was on whic *Linux* distro.
September 9th, 2007 2:50 am
Oh! please don’t go for ubuntu. Give some options to the intermediate users.
September 9th, 2007 2:58 am
[...] 9th, 2007 at 8:58 am (Dichiarazioni, Riflessioni, Linux, Ubuntu, Open source) Dal blog di Lenovo, il più grande produttore di computer della Repubblica Popolare (?) Cinese, apprendiamo che [...]
September 9th, 2007 3:37 am
[...] Lenovo Interested in Linux, Opens Poll for Distro [...]
September 9th, 2007 3:37 am
[...] Lenovo Interested in Linux, Opens Poll for Distro [...]
September 9th, 2007 3:39 am
too bad that simplymepis aint PR’ed as good as ubuntu, because it is more polished than ubuntu, and _in fact_, users would get pure debian on their computer (debian repositories are used directly).
September 9th, 2007 4:02 am
It’s interesting to see Lenovo coming up with the preloaded Linux thing.
As for my personal stance on the issue: I was soo close to buying a T series model (probably T61, don’t remember too well), but in the end I got an HP model. The reason for this was that all the Thinkpad configurations with high-resolution displays had an ATI graphics card which requires proprietary drivers, which in addition are quite crappy too. The HP model had a 1400×1050 screen *and* integrated Intel graphics, which was the tipping point for my buying decision.
In the end it really comes down to empowering the users: Give them a sensible default (I think it’s out of question that this will be Ubuntu) but don’t lock them into that. There might be a lot of Ubuntu users and lovers, but there are always a lot of people that won’t let their distro be determined by their laptop choice. It’s rather the other way round. Which means (you heard it already): hardware with open specifications and/or GPL drivers, and cross-distro, open sourced Lenovo extensions, in case you need those at all. Provide that and Linux enthusiasts will buy your laptops regardless of the distribution that you put on it.
September 9th, 2007 4:05 am
I`ll agree with that people who say: “Don`t think too much about distro. Think about supported drivers”. Why? Because if you will have avaliable good drivers for all hardware, any distribution will include it. And all other properties of a distro are question of taste. Some like suse, some redhat, some debian. Just make sure that your drivers work in all of them. Basically, this means – give us OPEN drivers, not, say, binary rpm for redhat-x.x.
If you want to sell with pre-installed linux, you either need your linux engineers group, who will test selected distribution for functionality on all your models and report/correct bugs to distro maintainers or conclude a deal with some linux vendor who will fix all bugs on vested models and it will provide you changes to selected distro for it to work on that model
September 9th, 2007 4:07 am
Just open drivers to you hardware like Intel do – and community provides drivers for these notebooks. And we wouldn`t f**k with Ricoh cardreaders or Ati drivers.
Voted for Ubuntu, but personally use Debian.
September 9th, 2007 4:11 am
I run Ubuntu 7.04 on my Thinkpad Z60t, and it has been a near wonderful experience. My machine is outfitted with the Atheros wireless card, which Ubuntu set up to connect flawlessly, along with the display driver (Intel 915) and the correct screen resolution. I have been surprised up to this point that Lenovo wasn’t the first PC maker to offer a Linux distro as an option, as the Thinkpad line meshes so nicely with it. I also have a ThinkCentre desktop running Ubuntu Server to host my website. I truly hope that with the ongoing mass adoption of Linux on the desktop that we will start to see non-wine-based real ports of popular 3rd party apps. I am not against paying for quality software. Dreamweaver and PC Games come to mind, but I would like to use the programs I choose to pay for on the platform of my choice. I have experienced vista now for 5 months, and I have never seen such a hacked together, buggy, bloated, and ANNOYING piece of software ever. There are thousands of others that share my viewpoints, and wish for an OEM supported alternative from Windows. If nothing else, a custom built “check the box” dual boot setup would give customers a friendly taste of the Linux environment, or serve as a potential last resort for copying files after a Windows crash. Cohabitation in my opinion would give curious people the chance to familiarize themselves with Linux which would liken the chance in the future of choosing a Linux distro over Windows.
Linux to me represents freedom to choose how my software interacts with my system, freedom from spyware and malicious code, as well as the hype and threats from the anti-virus companies and their products that are obtrusive and annoying. I like the fact that I can turn on my Thinkpad and know without a doubt, that everything will work as it had when I last shut it down. To me, this stability and freedom is priceless.
Along with my progression of Linux, like any software, came a learning curve. Software installs differently that is does in Windows, and the simplicity of the GUI might actually confuse some folks, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as radical a leap that Windows 3.1 was to Windows 95. With this said, I look forward to buying my future T62 pre-installed with Linux.
September 9th, 2007 4:37 am
SUSE和openSUSE怎么分开的？
September 9th, 2007 4:44 am
The technical users generally don’t care what distribution it comes with so long as the hardware uses free non-proprietary drivers. We ALL (technical users) have our own particular distribution and nobody really cares if anything comes on it at all. In fact we would rather nothing come on it at all-as long as it is throughly GNU/Linux friendly. With open standards/specs/drivers it is pretty much guaranteed to work with all current distributions and future upgrades of any particular distribution. The reasons people want GNU/Linux laptops available besides just disliking Microsoft Windows, Mac, and proprietary software is a minority operating system attracts less development and support than a larger minority or majority operating system. If GNU/Linux grows it will because you satisfied the technical users by releasing GNU/Linux friendly hardware and provided support for the less technical users.
The users who are NOT your current market target with GNU/Linux need something like Linspire that contains a limited amount of non-free peaces. I dislike any reliance on non-free software, but I’m not about to deny non-technical users use of GNU/Linux because they aren’t ready for a completely free edition.
September 9th, 2007 4:52 am
I’m not sure where this is fair enough.
Have you seen the number of ubuntu votes. That’s for sure that ubuntu geeks have been clicking on this repetitively.
I’m a kubuntu user, but disgusted by the attitude of the ubuntu hypocrite community.
September 9th, 2007 5:00 am
Ubuntu!
September 9th, 2007 5:01 am
Please add OpenLX Linux as one of the options for voting.
OpenLX Linux was release in India in early 2005 and has crossed 1,50,000 shipments and 1,00,000 downloads. Additionally there are unknown downloads from other mirrors.
It has users in 30 countries.
Sudhir.
September 9th, 2007 5:19 am
God bless Lenovo (and that other manufacturer) for taking a step in the right direction. Being a forward thinking company is what garners you profits down the road.
September 9th, 2007 5:23 am
Ubuntu saxx by default
September 9th, 2007 5:24 am
saxx = suxx
September 9th, 2007 6:03 am
[...] Lenovo is clearly interested in distributing Linux on future ThinkPads, so clearly interested that, like Dell did, they started a poll so users can choose the distro. While I write this article, Ubuntu is leading (as expected) with little less than 5000 votes (approximately 4000 more than Debian, currently on the second place). If you had to acquire a ThinkPad, which distro would you like to find on it? You can vote here! [...]
September 9th, 2007 6:12 am
[...] Pareikšti savo nuomonę galite čia. [...]
September 9th, 2007 6:14 am
The particular distribution doesn’t matter, as long as the hardware has Linux-friendly. The way to force that is for the OEMs to refuse to use hardware that is not Open Source friendly for ANY of its computers, whether they’re sold with Windows or Linux preloaded.
September 9th, 2007 6:15 am
If you do start offering Linux on your laptops, please do so in more markets than the US. There are a lot of Thinkpads running Linux on other continents too.
Regards,
Kenneth
Norway
September 9th, 2007 6:19 am
Damn Ubuntu-Fanboys. Just go for Debian, Ubuntu should work fine too then.
September 9th, 2007 6:22 am
We advise you to use Vector linux.
I voted for Slackware, but prefer VectorLinux. VectorLinux is the best distribution, replaced Lycoris.
September 9th, 2007 6:27 am
Sigh, so many votes for Ubuntu, sure, it’s good, but I think it is just a tad disproportionately represented.. I, for one, would like to see Fedora or OpenSUSE pre-installed.
But far more important for me are:
1. Free and open driver support. Better hardware support in the mainline means everyone benefits.
2. Make it available in Australia, unlike certain other competitors. Pretty please?
September 9th, 2007 6:29 am
Ubuntu would *probably* be the best choice for first-time users, as it is easy to set up and use without obscure error messages. But note that SuSE and Redhat are mostly good as well.
For users who are used to Windows, (i.e. 99% of users) an option such as SuSE or Kubuntu would be of huge benefit as it reduces the learning curve. In fact, SuSE 10.2 has many features in common with Windows Vista (good for advertising), and has a nicely polished, usable interface.
Also, SuSE and Redhat offer much better commercial support and partnership options then Canonical offerings. It may be wise to go with an old player as far as the marketing side of things goes.
Overall, I would be voting in favour of SuSE, as it has a more polished interface than Red Hat and also has great SysAdmin tools. But I certainly wouldn’t mind if Ubuntu or Kubuntu was chosen, as all of these distros are polished, easy to use and stable.
Thanks Lenovo for choosing Open Source. I’m sure it will benefit you in ways you could never imagine, as well as providing consumers with a better, cheaper alternative to a Microsoft world.
BTW, are you planning to ship those computers in Australia? The rest of the world apart from America *does* use Linux as well!
September 9th, 2007 7:05 am
[...] Here you can vote for Linux distribution to be pre-installed at Lenovo ThinkPad notebooks. As usually Ubuntu is the most popular distribution, Debian is second, Fedora is third: [...]
September 9th, 2007 7:15 am
Separate options for SUSE, SLED, and openSUSE? It only really makes any sense to have openSUSE and SLED (since this exhausts all the options), or just SUSE.
September 9th, 2007 7:30 am
Ubuntu is the right choice- it is the most user friendly.
September 9th, 2007 7:39 am
By the way, it’s worth pointing out how very useless these type of polls are, since distributions like Ubuntu will always do things like post about it in every conceivable place in order to effect the results, with clear instructions to “go here and vote Ubuntu”. My guesses are that it’s hit Planet Ubuntu (check), Ubuntu Forums (check) and the fully functional and organised Ubuntu Digg army on digg.com (check).
I just hope these kind of serious decisions aren’t made by small popularity contests.
September 9th, 2007 7:46 am
it’s not a fair poll.. Ubuntu should be excluded from the voting list since it’s too popular to conquest.
p.s. voted for debian, of cause.
September 9th, 2007 8:02 am
freebsd is not a linux distro
September 9th, 2007 8:14 am
Pretty cool news especially that I’ve just decided to buy a Lenovo notebook
IMHO a good option would be also to sell notebooks without OS at all and “just” make sure that there are good drivers which support Lenovo laptops in 100%…For instance I’m a Gentoo user and I’m sure that you won’t be selling laptops with pre-installed Gentoo 
Ubuntu would be a good choice, it’s very popular and stable, with great community and support, but keep in mind that it’s not about the distribution, it’s about the drivers.
September 9th, 2007 8:31 am
Rather than ask what Linux distro you should first ask “what sub-set of users” you initially want to target.
If it’s 1st time Linux converts, moving away from Windows, the choice would be very different from an experienced (by that I mean someone who has used it for more than 12 months, but not someone of guru status) user.
Guru’s might like a specific distro, but if the hardware is Linux friendly they can (and will) install their distro of choice. (Pick something, it doesn’t matter really as it’ll end up a home brew anyway)
Experts probably could install their own distro but may just be happy to have a decent distro installed and stick with it. (Pick a decent main-stream distro – e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora or OpenSuse).
Beginners don’t want to know about installing, they just want something that’s going to work and doesn’t scare them by looking too different. (Pick something aimed at converters and be prepared to hold hands for a bit – PCLinuxOS, OpenSuse, Kubuntu).
Whatever you pick you’ll get people moaning and people crowing so you also can’t win.
One thought, if you go the (K/X)Ubuntu route you could always start with all 3 windows managers and provide a way for people to pick their favourite. I’m Gnome type, but I can see why others would choose KDE or XFCE – the base distro is the same.
September 9th, 2007 8:36 am
I would like to see another distro other and Ubuntu. I’ve tried it a few times and I don’t see the ooo and ahh about it. Dell is using Ubuntu I would like to see Lenovo use something else.
More choices..We don’t want Ubuntu become another Microsoft… Give the other distros a shot….
September 9th, 2007 8:40 am
Linux Mint
September 9th, 2007 8:44 am
I am stinking fressshhh newb to Linux: ie uncorrupted and unbiased ( heh: or opinion worth nothing?)
have tried and tested all the top distros you mention in VMWorkstation: dont care about ‘eye-candy’ or ‘Wobbly Windows’
Fwiw; for me PCLinuxOS just worked. Very Nice.
Realise the ‘generics’ in VM not the same as installation, but…
Why not do your own: “Lenovo Linux”: could be tweaked for your different HW.
I assume you have some *nix experience: IBM and alll..
Why not get behind PCBSD?
Already a good little system, liked that too.
Obvious problems with some HW compatability
How far do you want to go?
HD space hardly an issue, have the option of dual boot built in… !!
If you build it, they will come..
Thx.
September 9th, 2007 8:45 am
I selected Ubuntu, but I don’t care as much about the distribution as I do in making sure the work Lenovo puts into making the one distribution work is open source.
I also hope that Lenovo is proactive in engaging the community in this development. For instance, I have been wanting polished docking support for years and years and years. I would happily test whatever Lenovo released in this area. Though I don’t want to imply that proactive engagement just means using us as beta testers. I would hope we could be involved on many levels, from Summer of Code style involvement to Lenovo having a presence at things like the Ubuntu developer summits so they can be an active part of the distribution-of-choice community.
September 9th, 2007 9:03 am
Voting for Kubuntu/Ubuntu though. It’s the best distro for end users.
September 9th, 2007 9:05 am
I think you have to pick Ubuntu because the Ubuntu forums and wikis are so damn good. A lot of people are buying Linux for the first time preinstalled and don’t want to deal with problems – good support offloaded from you counts. Ubuntu is also simplified in a lot of areas. Anyone who has ever used Linux before can install whatever distro they want (because they had to in the past) so the whole point is moot. Install Ubuntu because it is the best for new people, provide support through Canoical and don’t offer it yourself, you’ll make money and not have to train new people.
September 9th, 2007 9:08 am
archlinux rulit, i niipyot;)
Ubuntu est mosk
September 9th, 2007 9:13 am
To reach the mainstream of the enthusiast market, you should not focus on a distribution but on making sure all the hardware works with any distribution. You will gain significant mileage with hardware that is “Linux Certified”. This option will take care of the geek crowd.
To reach the next group, non-geeks who don’t want windows, add the option to preinstall one of three to five distributions.
In either case, you need to provide a more diverse selection of desktops and laptops. Dell will find sales lagging because of these limited choices.
For the enterprise buyer, I love the Novell SLED product. This also needs to be on a diverse selection of hardware.
I have been a ThinkPad user for many years and have an x20 running Ubuntu.
Having said that, my next notebook choice will be driven by the ability to get linux preinstalled so that I know everything works out of the box. If I had to make that decision today, I would be ordering from Dell not you.
September 9th, 2007 9:28 am
希望联想能让更多的电脑预装LINUX，并且提够驱动模块。这样我们可以安装自己喜欢的LINUX而不用任何限制。
September 9th, 2007 9:38 am
The only way to have a good linux distro suitable for anyone is something like a gentoo base system (emerge system) with a working kernel. anything added later is futile and too much dependant on user needs. Until xorg will not configure itself I’d add a vote for a working xorg.conf shipped with the system. A precompiled (bin) distro or anything like thousands of window managers is totally useless and gives users more problems: stick with MS products instead.
September 9th, 2007 9:40 am
è isso aew pessoal! bora vota no UBUNTU! Humanidade Para Todos!
Quero ver todo mundo fazendo vaquinha ou juntando grana pra comprar esses thinkpads! não vamos decepcionar hein!!!!
September 9th, 2007 9:41 am
I have voted for Debian. Simply because I like it and no matter which OS a computer or a laptop comes bundled with, I’ll be removing that and putting Debian onto it.
Given a chance of voting for two choices, I would have voted for “Anyone that refuses to carry binary-only drivers, so that all others will also benefit, as it will require documented hardware” as well. If a distro doesn’t refuse to carry binary only drivers, what is the point in calling it an “open source” distro, leave alone calling it a free software distribution. But then it is possible to live without such drivers when using Debian.
September 9th, 2007 9:42 am
another idea is just to certify the full linux compatibility and let the users decide which distro to install. this is what linux has to be meant.
September 9th, 2007 10:14 am
There is no difference between FreeBSD and Linux graphical interface. But BSD is more stable, productive and secure. It would be great if you could install FreeBSD on laptops at least optionally.
September 9th, 2007 10:26 am
[...] Linux in Ihr Repertoire aufgenommen haben, denkt scheinbar auch Lenovo darüber nach. Auf lenovoblogs.com läuft deshalb eine Umfrage welche Linux Distribution man zukünftig gerne auf den Thinkpads sehen [...]
September 9th, 2007 10:28 am
Why not give the option to the customer?
I think the default should be Ubuntu, it’s very popular, but not everybody’s preference. Geeks have to have their Debian/Gentoo/Fedora/FreeBSD/etc. Linux is all about customizing, so let your customers “be linux” and choose the distribution.
If I’d have the option for my loved Fedora, my next notebook WILL be a ThinkPad)
September 9th, 2007 10:47 am
Linked in italian page:
http://pettinix.blogspot.com/2.....ro-da.html
September 9th, 2007 10:55 am
[...] 9th, 2007 by David Rodrigues Depois da Dell, agora é a vez da Lenovo lançar um questionário para determinar qual o linux preferido pelos utilizadores para pré-instalar no seu [...]
September 9th, 2007 11:06 am
I bought a Lenovo (not a ThinkPad) laptop last summer. I took an Ubuntu Live CD with me and went to a couple of stores, tested what worked well out of the box, and made my choice from that.
At least one sexy little Lenovo laptop didn’t work – I would have bought that one if it had, and it was more expensive than the one I finally did end up buying (which works perfectly). So Lenovo made a sale, but still lost out on the few dollars extra they would have gotten from a bigger sale.
Anyway, the point of this is that I no longer have the patience to fiddle with drivers. I bring a boot CD with me and if it doesn’t work right away, I’ll go elsewhere. If you can make that experience work perfectly with several (or alll) distros on all of your laptops, then it will certainly lead to more sales.
September 9th, 2007 11:20 am
[...] es la cuarta en cuanto a fabricación de ordenadores, empezó con sus Thinkpad T y ahora ha abierto una encuesta para conocer qué distribución se prefiere para instalar en sus [...]
September 9th, 2007 11:31 am
[...] Lenova Taking Distro Suggestions Blogged in Software, Corporate, Hardware, Personal Computers, Good Guys, Operating Systems on 2007-09-09 So Lenova is taking distro suggestions for a linux laptop. [...]
September 9th, 2007 11:34 am
[...] vendors are getting in on the action — HP recently announced RedHat desktops in Australia and Lenovo is polling for a distro (guess who’s winning
). These major vendor deals, combined the numerous small vendor [...]
September 9th, 2007 11:41 am
I’m interested in Lenovo/IBM notebooks because its history, designs, specifications, have always been the most intelligent, smart, beautiful, powerful, stable, durable, unbiased, community listened… etc.
I don’t own a laptop but I would buy a Lenovo for sure and it doesn’t matter what Linux distribution it comes pre-installed with, as long as it is not RPM based, commercial or a completely obscure, never heard of before, small community distro. In other words, something with the least bit of support available (paid or free) and with promising new technology.
I voted for Kubuntu just because I like Ubuntu+KDE, but any choice of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Fluxbuntu, Edubuntu, Debian, LinuxMint, Gentoo or Arch would be great.
September 9th, 2007 11:53 am
[...]
September 9th, 2007 12:16 pm
Many large organizations do not rely on vendor-supplied OS’s. New systems are wiped and a standard image containing corporate standard apps and configurations is installed. There have been attempts to have vendors install the image (generated on a test system provided by the vendor), but in practice this rarely works due to the need for bug fixes and last minute hardware configuration changes.
Many potential customers already have a preferred distro and would be best served if Lenovo would a) make sure that open source drivers and related tools are available for their hardware, b) test the major distros and work with the distro to ensure that everything actually works, and c) sell bare systems at a discount. Having Lenovo staff actively participating in making sure linux distro support actually works will be the best possible publicity because Lenovo users will have good experiences running linux.
September 9th, 2007 12:16 pm
[...] on over to Inside the box and cast your [...]
September 9th, 2007 12:31 pm
Matt:
I do believe you opened a much larger can of worms than you anticipated…
September 9th, 2007 12:51 pm
Hello! FreeBSD forever rulez!!!!! I am love PCBSD this is operating systems ther gud!!!
September 9th, 2007 1:09 pm
My votes to ‘Open2′ – spell’d as Ubuntu!
September 9th, 2007 1:24 pm
I’m a ubuntu user, and proud at it, however I think that the main reason I would buy a machine with linux preinstalled, is the likelihood that the hardware will be more “supported”. Any distro would be great only that I would expect no binaries blobs and more free drivers and contribution to the kernel
September 9th, 2007 1:36 pm
ALT Linux
September 9th, 2007 1:44 pm
[...] vendors are getting in on the action — HP recently announced RedHat desktops in Australia and Lenovo is polling for a distro (guess who’s winning
). These major vendor deals, combined the numerous small vendor [...]
September 9th, 2007 1:45 pm
It’s great to finally see some discussion of this on this blog!
Lenovo’s position of actively fighting Linux usage when I was trying to buy an X61 Tablet forced me to go to a different vendor. I ended up giving up on getting a tablet, and went for a small and light Panasonic. It’s a nice machine at around 1/3rd the weight of my T41p, but I miss a few features of the ThinkPad line (a full dock, volume controls that always work, TrackPoint) and I was hoping to give tablet computing a try before I’m out of college.
It’s too bad Lenovo currently cripples Linux users so much compared to IBM before it (voided warranty for installing Linux, requiring acceptance of the Vista EULA to use the *hardware*).
I used a T41p with Gentoo as my laptop for three years. It was a great laptop, and I hope Lenovo fixes things on the Linux side soon.
September 9th, 2007 1:51 pm
IMHO, there’s almost no difference what distro will be pre-installed (though I’d prefer Mandriva). The reasons for this are simple:
- if a pro buys a laptop, s/he may install anything s/he may wish;
- if an “ordinary user” buys it, s/he will not know the difference (for some time, at least), as long as everything works out of the box – which I am sure Lenovo will provide.
P.S. I guess I must give my two cents to support Mandriva. Being a non-techie person, and a 44-year-old fossil
, I feel most comfortable with Mandriva Control Center. In fact, so comfortable that I’m typing it on a laptop running Mandriva that I installed and tuned myself – including two kernel updates.
September 9th, 2007 1:59 pm
I wish you would pick a distro that’s not ubuntu because compared to others I’ve tried it’s not that good and it made my windows-loving friend never want to touch linux as it was bad when I got it for him, but I believe just using multiple distros and allowing you to pick the one for you in the custom config would be a better idea. I just don’t want ubuntu to dominate, but windows sucks for him now too as I mentioned vista to him^^ Even though the comment might upset ubuntu ppl and others, I feel that others should be available too.
September 9th, 2007 2:16 pm
[...] Głosowanie Opublikowany wrzesień 9th, 2007 Uncategorized Lenavo na jednym ze swoich korporacyjnych blogów ogłosiło głosowanie, w którym to czytelnicy mogą zaprezentować swoje zdanie na temat tego jaką dystrybucję linuxa w/w firma powinna instalować na swoich laptopach. Jak do tond przewaga Ubuntu nad innymi dystrybucjami jest miażdżąca i nie wydaje mi się aby to się zmieniło. Zagłosujcie tak jak uważacie to za słuszne. Możecie zrobić to tutaj ankieta. [...]
September 9th, 2007 2:33 pm
[...] Ésa es la pregunta que hacen desde Lenovo Blogs. [...]
September 9th, 2007 2:33 pm
I always wanted ThinkPad, just because it looks blunt.
No fancy candy colors, no glass-like case, no cool-design, but simple yet powerful system. And the colored IBM… 
But really, I personally think, that good option would be version WITHOUT any OS. I will install my beloved Archlinux, I will not have to remove existing OS, someone will not have to install that OS, check if everything works, etc.
And I agree that supporting software/drivers will be much more help. Not only for Linux, but also for other OS-es like FreeBSD (which I personally don’t like due to its community ;þ).
PS: Good news I hear recently, from AMD (I might decide on ATI again instead of Intel graphics card), and from Lenovo (I might rethink my decision about next notebook to be HP).
But I’ll wait…
September 9th, 2007 2:37 pm
[...] Lenovo está haciendo una encuesta para saber las distribuciones (seguro optan por una nomás) que deberían agregar a su línea Think Pad, hay muchas opciones, SUSE, Mandriva, Debian, Gentoo, FreeBSD, Ubuntu (en sus 3 versiones, por ahora Gnomo está ganando, hay que tener en cuenta que no todos saben las diferencias entre Ubuntu (Gnome), Kubuntu (KDE) y Xubuntu (Xfce)), Red Hat, Fedora, Slackware, Open SUSE, Open Solaris, y otras distribuciones no tan populares, al menos no para mi. La verdad que Ubuntu es ya casi un estándar, la distribución que más ha avanzado, yo le puse mi voto a SUSE, pero cuando vi los resultados me desilusioné, Ubuntu ya tenia todo controlado, después de todo es una de las distribuciones más actualizada, lo que es bueno para los usuarios. [...]
September 9th, 2007 3:16 pm
I believe Ubuntu +Gnome is the logical choice.simple interface,no messy things for a new linux user to do as like in a kde distribution.
I use Debian and would have voted for it,since most of the distros which are popular are debian derivatives.but Debian Sid is changing fast.
So option is =>Ubuntu & Gnome Desktop Environment
September 9th, 2007 3:19 pm
Sabayon Linux – Spawned off version of Gentoo, has Beryl built in.
September 9th, 2007 3:22 pm
I agree with some other posters that say to go with Debian, and all other Debian derivatives will follow.
In all actuality, I don’t care which distro. Just make sure that 100% of the hardware can be used to it’s fullest potential.
September 9th, 2007 3:35 pm
You don’t have to actively support a single distribution if your hardware documentation is available to the public. A few people will do the hard work and write drivers and within a few weeks the whole world can enjoy your hardware with Linux, OpenBSD, NetBSD…….
September 9th, 2007 3:37 pm
Just documentation, please.
Every OS has it’s own little way of doing things. So long as lots of useful documentation is available, no one is tied to what Vendor X wants to provide support for this week/month/year.
Plus, open documentation from Vendor X for a given part means that when some other, less-friendly, vendor uses the same part it is already documented and probably useful. A vendor supplied driver, while expedient, doesn’t have the longevity of documentation.
September 9th, 2007 3:47 pm
[...] Więcej na oficjalnym blogu Lenovo. [...]
September 9th, 2007 4:05 pm
please surprise us by providing not one but the top-three voted distros. also provide cds of the next three to five. this will give the right signal to everyone, and endorse your support for FOSS not just any distro-of-the-moment. won’t take much space.
niyam bhushan
September 9th, 2007 4:14 pm
Open up documentation for the hardware. Then the various projects
can write and maintain the required drivers. That is the only option
that is open source friendly (as opposed to just friendly to this or that
distribution of this or that open source operating system).
September 9th, 2007 4:16 pm
The bottom line, in my opinion, is that if the hardware vendor provides open system and provides documented hardware to the consumer, then the consumer has the best number of choices. I use more than on alternative OS, but my favorite is OpenBSD. Don’t focus on the most popular, but focus on doing it right: making things open so that all the OSes can support your laptops.
September 9th, 2007 5:12 pm
DEAR LENOVO:
Please consider pre-installing pure Debian. If you make the system compatible with Debian, all the Ubuntu fans could easily install Ubuntu instead.
Debian is the sane choice.
Thanks,
rel
September 9th, 2007 5:14 pm
Creo que un requisito para elegir distro es que no solo sea la Distro de moda, sino que tenga experiencia en lo que hace como Mandriva que hace años ya hacia lo que ahora hace la distro de moda y que tiene una mejor apreciacion sobre lo que es el Software Libre.
September 9th, 2007 5:50 pm
I think it’s cool that you’re doing this.. but I’d like to clarify something..
The following:
OpenBSD
OpenSolaris
FreeBSD
Are not Linux distributions, They are operating systems.. Unix-like and standards complaint.. but share no relation with the Linux kernel.
While it would be nice to support them, Please.. don’t spread misinformation.. Do a little preliminary research
Thank you…
September 9th, 2007 5:53 pm
thinkpad T series + ubuntu preinstalled + affordable price = holy grail.
September 9th, 2007 5:58 pm
I agreem with many others here that the core goal should be a distribution-independent piece of hardware.
I may be personally partial to Ubuntu (I voted that way), but If you instal Ubuntu + IBM proprietary hardware drivers, you’ve missed the point. I should be able to pull Ubuntu off and replace it with Fedora, SUSE, Slackware, Gentoo, or even DSL (Damn Small Linux) and be able to make the hardware work (albeit with some re-building necessary in some cases)
All that said, I believe that a polished end-user experience is critical to any system shipped with an operating system. Obviously I don’t expect much if I requested the hard drive to come blank, but if I ordered Vista, I expect everything to work. The same should be true of any Linux distribution. I think Ubuntu performs hansomly in this regard, so that’s my final vote.
September 9th, 2007 6:13 pm
[...] Inside the Box به توزیعی که دوست دارید در thinkpad نصب بشه رای بدید (tags: ubuntu linux) [...]
September 9th, 2007 6:48 pm
By supporting Linux, you can be more competitive (since your customers need not to pay for those Windows licenses any more) and therefore have
more customers.
Any linux distribution is more or less the same, don’t care too much about
that. Right now, I would recommend Ubuntu as the most user-friendly.
But beleive me, one distribution or another is mostly a question of taste.
And one more comment: don’t you sell computers Linux-based computers in USA. Less-developed countries are a potentially important market for you, also. Since nowhere is so important for enterprises to reduce their costs than there.
September 9th, 2007 6:59 pm
Lenovo should put more effort on providing “Linux Certified” PCs and drivers. For example, I tried running Novell Suse Enterprise Linux last autumn and many things in my ThinkPad X41 never worked:
- integrated MMC/SD slot
- integrated sound card
- correct display resolution.
It seemed that even basic compatibility testing hadn’t been done, even thought they were supposed to be certified to work together.
September 9th, 2007 7:07 pm
I do not believe that it is necessary for hardware makers to use a distribution that has 100% Free drivers. It will be merely adequate for you to (1) supply hardware that works today with Linux, and (2) pressure your suppliers to provide Free drivers or let them know that you will be using other hardware that does have Free drivers.
If enough hardware makers do this, then the 100% Free driver problem will take care of itself. As more and more hardware offers pre-installed Linux, this starts to have a snowball effect.
September 9th, 2007 7:55 pm
I’ll echo what many have already said here: work to ensure open-source driver support for the hardware. I’ll put on what I use; your customers who require a supported configuration can use whatever you put on.
September 9th, 2007 8:07 pm
I have an answer to the “tech support nightmare” scenario that some have suggested in terms of hardware support if/when something goes wrong.
“Oh, but are you running the Distribution that came with it?”
It doesn’t matter what operating system the user wants to run if a HARDWARE DIAGNOSTIC BOOT CD is included with the package.
Then, with any problem, the user can put the live diagnostic disk in the drive, boot it, and select the subsystem to test. The results will then be available to the Lenovo support people directly.
If the hardware passes the diagnostic disk tests, then suggestions can be made about driver version and software.
I’ve worked a _LOT_ of help-desk, and a standardized test with predictable results would be a Godsend. A standard liveCD diagnostic disk would provide that.
Oh, and if it won’t boot? Well, then it’s likely the user is correct about the CD drive failing!
I’ve read a lot of people making the same point I tried to make in my previous post: Ensure hardware support in the vanilla Linux kernel, and the distributions will take care of themselves. Helping KDE and GNOME developers with screen dimming controlls and little things like that would be great too.
By making the diagnostics OS-agnostic (even Windows users will boot the same diagnostic disk), and ensuring vanilla Linux kernel hardware functionality, Levono can offer a variety of “supported” Linux distributions preinstalled or at least with distribution CD/DVD installers included free/cheap, since what is installed is separate from what is used for troubleshooting.
September 9th, 2007 8:14 pm
[...] Checkout: Linux Follow Up [...]
September 9th, 2007 8:19 pm
100% not half-assed (!) linux support creates choice and choice attracts customers. The enthusiast market is not only linux though. What the highly technical enthustiasts from the Free/Open/NetBSD camps need, is free documentation of the chips in the machine and liberal policies on things like wireless firmware binaries. Please do not belittle their efforts, because things like OpenSSH have grown on BSD soil.
There are all sorts of undocumented chips in my T60p, most prominently the ATI graphics chip. Market pressure is already making them rethink their very open-source unfriendly policy.
September 9th, 2007 8:26 pm
Really, any easy to use Linux, preferrably Ubuntu would be far better than the Vista I got with my machine. It really sucks. Even XP Pro is far better.
I think the urgency is to immediately stop offering Vista unless requested, regardless of when they figure out the Linux
September 9th, 2007 8:34 pm
[...] Inside the Box » Blog Archive » Linux Follow Up (tags: lenovo linux) [...]
September 9th, 2007 8:35 pm
While I voted for Suse because that’s what I use on my laptop and my desktops, what’s really important is not which distro you choose to install, but that there are Linux drivers available for all the hardware bits.
When it’s time to replace my Compaq laptop, I’m only going to replace it with one for which there are Linux drivers available for ALL the hardware. That means the nic, the wifi, the audio, the display, the buletooth as well as supporting all the other stuff like SD memory cards, etc.
The bottom line ought to be that everything is fully functional, no matter what OS I choose to use.
September 9th, 2007 8:55 pm
Ubuntu would be the obvious choice, CentOS is also very nice.
September 9th, 2007 9:39 pm
I think that every linux laptop must run Compiz Fusion natively, thanks…..
September 9th, 2007 9:44 pm
[...] 11%), lo que deja en claro como andan las tendencias de los internautas. Para hacer sentir tu voz, haz clic acá para acceder a la [...]
September 9th, 2007 10:23 pm
I’m planning to buy a lightweight laptop in the next month to run Ubuntu. I’d prefer an X61 based on the hardware and past good experiences, but Dell’s recent announcements are a point in their favor. This is only one machine, true, but Ubuntu users are thought leaders for broader perceptions of the brand.
There’s a big step between having no official support and having one supported distribution, whatever that is. Once one of them works, that support can be carried over to every other distribution and to non-linux-kernel OSs.
September 9th, 2007 10:35 pm
[...] 在最近由Matt Kohut所写的Lenovo Inside the Box blog posting这篇日志上，联想的Kohut在针对世界范围竞争分析中说道他已经针对Lenovo和Linux进行了好几场讨论。 [...]
September 9th, 2007 10:35 pm
It’s good news to hear that Lenovo will offer something to the linux users.
In my opinion, offering Mandriva Linux could be a very good choice.
1- The distro is really good and I think the guys at Mandriva would be more than happy to work with lenovo as they already do with Intel for example.
2- The MCC and all the drakwizards available is a real strength. Easy to use & efficient.
3- Mandriva Linux is a general purpose distro (unlike PCLinuxOS for example witch is more a english-Desktop Linux OS ) and starting with it could led to use it as a server OS on other PCs without much pain.
4- Offering Mandriva Linux could be a good way to offer something different from DELL
regards
September 9th, 2007 10:39 pm
Ubuntu, it’s very easy for use, it’s very friendly.
Ubuntu es mi opcion, debido a su facilidad de uso y amistad con el usuario, ademas de su gran comunidad y apoyo incondicional.
September 9th, 2007 10:43 pm
Which distro you ship with is important for beginners, what you do about your hardware support is important for every body.
Ship with ubuntu, but don’t stop there. Select the parts in your computers specificaly with GNU/Linux compatibility in mind. Publish open source drivers and specs for any piece of hardware you develop your self, and put pressure on hardware vendors to release open drivers and/or documentation
September 9th, 2007 10:56 pm
[...] http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=98 [...]
September 9th, 2007 11:14 pm
Ubuntu es la mejor opción!!!
September 10th, 2007 12:24 am
Hope to see FreeBSD on ThinkPad, because of its unite
September 10th, 2007 12:32 am
Hi,
When I bought my Lenovo N100 2 years ago, it had zero support for Linux. Still, I tried running Ubuntu Dapper Drake on it, after trying out a few other top distributions and discarding them mainly for “display problems”.
As from my experience of using it for the past 2 years, I can strongly stay that Ubuntu works with Lenovo. Almost all the hardware are working perfect, except the finger print reader and the web cam which aren’t due to driver issues. If Lenovo could have provided me with the drivers for these two, I would have proudly said Ubuntu on Lenovo works like a charm. Still, I have a workaround to make those two things work, but am lazy enough to do so.
I would prefer Lenovo to support one or few of the top Linux distros. IMHO, supporting Debian based distros will end up in a huge user base for Lenovo+Linux as both Debian and its derived distros like Ubuntu enjoy a majority of the Linux Desktop market. All I would like to seek is support for Linux in the way of drivers, thus making our hardware work
September 10th, 2007 12:39 am
I use Mandriva linux on my 3rd thinkpad now. I will be happy if I could just buy my thinkpad without MS windows and if all hardware is supported (suspend to ram, suspend to disk etc).
September 10th, 2007 12:46 am
I’d prefer Ubuntu, Mandriva and Gentoo:-)
September 10th, 2007 1:00 am
I don’t know why how stupid PC Manufacturer is .
Why don’t provide “RedFlag Linux ” ?
And the important thing is ,why make Linux as a selection on PCs/Notebooks/Servers/Smart Phone?
Why they are intent to make MS pleased?
I love the open source software,and hate the MS.
As Manufacturer ,it should provide more selection for user .
Let Vista go to hell.
September 10th, 2007 1:06 am
一流的公司做标准。二流。。。。三流。。
联想，应该更清楚。联想应该更注重高端的研发。而不只是在于制造。
被人牵着鼻子走的感觉不是很的的。
但是，我不明白，为什么联想，明知而不为。遗憾。
September 10th, 2007 1:09 am
prefiero kubuntu
.. bueno antes juntar plata xD
pero que venga ubuntu esta de maravilla! solo me quedaria instalar kde y demases
September 10th, 2007 1:28 am
我喜欢Ubuntu 和debian
September 10th, 2007 1:43 am
As a Thinkpader that has run Linux since 1996 (for the purposes of making money) – on my thinkpad 350 – publish the specs, then the question is moot, and I’ll be able to run OpenSolaris, FreeBSD, or whatever the heck _I_ need to do my work.
its been years since I ran windows natively on the hardware – I use VMWare for the rare occasions I need to work unproductivly.
September 10th, 2007 2:12 am
Debian and second choice is Ubuntu. Problem is what user will do when new version (6 months in case of Ubuntu..) will do? A user (I am not talking about geeky developers/power users!) who can be playing Frozen Bubble on thinkpad
Is s/he able to do ’smooth update’? Will thinkpad take care of this?
Personally, I will love to see Swirl on Thinkpad. I don’t own any Laptop, but thinking about Thinkpad..
September 10th, 2007 2:24 am
Without a doubt, its gotta be UBUNTU. Nothing other than Ubuntu. I am glad that after Dell, Lenovo is taking interest in Linux based computers. But unlike Dell, i hope that Lenovo makes their linux based computers available worldwide.
Cheers,
Harish
September 10th, 2007 2:46 am
I don’t know why openSuSE is so under represented, coming from ubuntu and kubuntu, openSUSE seems much more polished and in fact even easier to use. The installation is slightly more complex, but the end product is well worth it, no ugly black grub screen, beautiful menu, great theme, easy to use tools,
I was satisfied with ubuntu but ended up losing enthusiasm, so made the switch to suse. Highly recommend openSUSE for lenovo, a much more polished product than ubuntu, and that polish would serve lenovo far better than offering the same distro as another rival company in my opinion.
September 10th, 2007 3:03 am
In my opinion for a Desktop the best option is Kubuntu and for a dedicated server Debian.
But I think that the best option is that each one can choose the distro that he will use in his computer.
I have friends that uses Suse, Gentoo, Ubuntu and all of them are happy with their distro. This is the best think, each one can be free.
September 10th, 2007 3:06 am
Ship with Ubuntu and go further to provide a “Hassle Free Computer”, as demonstrated by http://www.zonbu.com (but ship Ubuntu not Gentoo).
In other words, ship Ubuntu, but also provide a complete support service for home users and SMEs as in -
o complete automatic backup of all files in real time to something like Amazon S3 storage
o completely managed updates of software to your computer
o Online support
I’ve been using Ubuntu on the T40 and T22 for a number of years and it works really well.
September 10th, 2007 3:27 am
Enquisa de Lenovo para elixir distribución GNU/Linux
Lenovo (agora fabricante dos ThinkPad de IBM) quere vender os seus portátiles con GNU/Linux preinstalado e para coñecer os gustos dos usuarios está facendo unha enquisa na rede. Participa!
September 10th, 2007 3:30 am
I voted LinuxMint, loving it, but knowing that I voted Debian-(K)(X)Ubuntu-Mepis-FreeSpire. It must be clear to lenovo what direction to choose….
September 10th, 2007 3:35 am
Anyone that refuses to carry binary-only drivers, so that all others will also benefit, as it will require documented hardware
September 10th, 2007 3:36 am
I have a Lenovo 3000 V100 for myself and it runs Ubuntu really well! But some hardware drivers are bad supported or not working at al. Please put some pressure to the hardware vendors especially to ALi Corporation in Taiwan!!! They give no specs. at all!
Something nothing to do with Linux, the support desk in The Netherlands is really rude!!!
I really think it is idea to give people a choice to decide which OS they want to use!
September 10th, 2007 3:40 am
choose ubuntu – great community, support, stability and _simplicity_ that most users will appreciate!!!
September 10th, 2007 3:40 am
Lenovo should offer BOTH UNIX/BSD and Linux system to choose from:
1. UNIX/BSD: PCBSD/Solaris/…
2. Linux: Arch/Ubuntu/…
Also there is PCBSD [ pcbsd.org ] a preconfigured FreeBSD with graphical installer + graphical user interface + graphical tools + great for casual user PBI package system + FreeBSD ports + FreeBSD binary packages of course and all power that comes with FreeBSD.
September 10th, 2007 3:41 am
I think Debian & Ubuntu are the best choices… The other’s distros are just focusing in the wrong direction, if we want Linux on Laptops we need a Distro focused on Desktop like Ubuntu.
I love Slackware but come ‘on Ubuntu (Debian) it’s Great!!!!
September 10th, 2007 3:42 am
[...] Planeta :: Cuenta The Inquirer que Lenovo ha abierto en su blog una votaci
September 10th, 2007 3:43 am
I hope Ubuntu wins! And also, I wish you had done this just a month ago, when I bought a lenovo laptop, erased all Windows partitions and installed (k)ubuntu on it! I wished then that I could bought it without the windows license.
September 10th, 2007 3:54 am
If the laptop will be a commercial product, it will run on Ubuntu.
As Ubuntu focuses on usability, it it the best candidate if you want to sell the laptop to non-geeks. Geeks will install whatever they like anyway so they will be happy that they don’t have to pay the Microsoft tax if they buy a new computer.
September 10th, 2007 3:56 am
Hi, I use Ubuntu for 2 years now on a Thinkpad R31 and it works OK! Never had to re install this OS. (Windows crashed twice in 3 years on this machine)
September 10th, 2007 3:59 am
“differ your choice from other vendors” is my opinion in a bad English form .. in italian sound like this: “Differenziando la propria offerta dagli altri distributori di pc con linux preinstallato si dona agli utenti una maggiore libertà di scelta (molto apprezzata nel mondo del Software Libero) e si coprono le richieste di quegli utenti ancora insoddisfatti.”
September 10th, 2007 5:06 am
Ive been waiting for a linux laptop for a long time. Dell doesnt sell their linux computers in Sweden and i trully hope you wont make the same mistake.
Free specs is the key to have successful linux compatible hardware. You dont even really need to have 100% finished drivers with 100% functionality. Just make it run quite acceptable and realease the specs. Free drivers will follow for sure (from the community or/and with your help).
It is very important that all hardware will soon have fully functional free drivers, especially wireless network, which generally lags in this matter.
As I am a student, it would be really nice to have them in somewhat more economical versions as well (quite below 1000$).
September 10th, 2007 5:06 am
I live in Switzerland and my requirements are,
- 13.3″ Notebook with Ubuntu 7.10 with English keyboard.
English KB and software are such a pain here from big vendors like you and Dell. For this I admire Apple. For same price I can configure localized hardwares and softwares or international version. I am looking forward this to happen. cheers.
September 10th, 2007 5:16 am
*BSD is a Linux distribution ?
September 10th, 2007 5:37 am
I prefer Kubuntu for a Desktop and Debian for a Server.
September 10th, 2007 5:40 am
我用过fedora core 4 5 6 openSUSE 10 10.1 10.2 SLED10 ubuntu 5.04 5.10 6.06 7.04 mac os x tiger ,现在只用ubuntu单系统了。windows xp只在virtual box中虚拟运行，而且基本上很少用XP。我并不是计算机科班出身的。但是我觉得linux其实并不难。只是硬件厂商 软件厂商对她的支持太少了而已。
September 10th, 2007 5:48 am
联想不要跟风DELL，要想预装LINUX，就用心的运作。不要把LINUX作为向微软叫板的筹码，也不要把LINUX作为WINDOWS的廉价替代品，更不要把LINUX作为市场宣传的噱头。不要只看到市场占用率，要像IBM一样，把自己的产品支持LINUX作为企业文化（虽然IBM也是有商业目的的），像IBM一样，要有长远的战略眼光。这样的企业才是值得尊重的，才是伟大的~！
September 10th, 2007 5:49 am
I exclusively use FreeBSD on my ThinkPads for years. I have most of the hardware, including accelerated graphics and suspend configured and working great. If you want to offer support for Linux, please support whichever distro you want, but give us documentation. This makes a difference between developer machine and a consumer console.
September 10th, 2007 5:52 am
Debian już nie jest tak trudny jak kiedyś
mój 16 letni syn od 3 lat korzysta z Debiana i jest zadowolony
ja zresztą też
mnoga ilość pakietów czyni z niego idealne narzędzie do wszystkiego
Pozdrawiam
September 10th, 2007 5:52 am
Florian got it right: most important thing is that the components of the laptop are supported in Linux. If some component is not supported, help Linux community to create support. This way all the distributions will eventually run on your laptops.
September 10th, 2007 5:55 am
I think Mandriva would be your best partner in this effort, as you both aim at similar groups and your reputation is compatible. Otherwise, I agree with Florian about the hardware support — if Lenovo requests Linux compatible hardware, you will get it.
September 10th, 2007 6:10 am
The point that “Linux users will want to tweak so it doesn’t matter” is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The kind of people who CURRENTLY use Linux are tweakers.
The kind of people who CURRENTLY use Windows are those who just want an installed system that works.
I run a Linux server, but Windows desktops.
I’d like to see:
- a pre-installed O/S that just worked, and stayed working
- support from the vendor who sold the machine
- knowledge that there were a whole bunch of other companies out there able to provide support when needed
Providing pre-install / support for one distribution wouldn’t STOP everything working for other distributions, but WOULD bring people like me into the Linux desktop world.
For that reason, I’d REALLY support such a move. Personally, I’d be happiest with either Debian or Ubuntu, with a slight leaning to Ubuntu (because, bluntly, irregular stable releases are what I want, not the ability to constantly tweak and change.)
Mark
September 10th, 2007 6:13 am
I’m sooooooooooo happy to see Lenovo is trying to talk about the Linux. What I’m concerning is that Lenonvo is not as strong as IBM, he’s afraid of getting Microsoft mad. I’m born in China, I understand many Chinese company seems weak to raise their points.
I bought two thinkPads so far. One is X60 and another is T61p. X60 is working out of the box while T61p has some problems because of its newest hardware without proper and mature drivers. Even though, I succeeded to make Ubuntu to work well in these two boxes.
In my family, my wife is using X60 and I’m using T61p(sometimes use the old Dell Inspiron 9300 with Ubuntu too). All of these are working well, so we shouldn’t doubt Linux’s usability.
But there’re still something that makes me unhappy. I have to buy two Windows XP licenses and one Windows Home Premium license because they are included in laptops’ price even I seldom need Windows. If I need to use Windows once or two times per quarter, I will only need to buy one license and run it in my virtual machine.
So it will be better for Lenovo to provide T or X thinkPads without preinstalled Windows. We’ve bought so many licenses that we don’t need.
Another thing I should mention is that please Lenovo to provide the best laptops to support or preinstall Linux(Ubuntu). Dell offers laptops with Ubuntu, but I dislike it because they don’t offer them in their best laptops. That’s why I refuse to buy Dell again.
September 10th, 2007 6:24 am
[...] Lenovo, it’s poll [...]
September 10th, 2007 6:29 am
A very good initiative from you guys at Lenovo. Just keep in mind that there are lots of people outside the US, and the larger European countries that would love to buy a laptop preloaded with Linux. I live in Sweden and I know quite a lot of people that would consider buying a Lenovo laptop if it came with Linux.
September 10th, 2007 6:31 am
[...] on over to Inside the box and cast your [...]
September 10th, 2007 6:48 am
Please, do not focus on a special distribution. The Linux world is different from the Windows one, It may be common to release a few drivers for the few Windows Versions like Vista, XP ect. But from my point of view it would not make sense to release binary-only drivers for every specific kernel in every supported distribution. Do it the Linux way, release the specifications and let the experts do the work for you.
Nevertheless, then feel free to sell your computers with a popular preloaded distribution like Ubuntu or Debian.
September 10th, 2007 7:02 am
Is there a reason this poll recognizes people basing on IP address? I get complaints from my company, that after one man voted, other can only view results.
I cant vote either. My vote would go for OpenSolaris (and I see someone addded the option).
September 10th, 2007 7:04 am
I just fight with Lenovo to get full refund for unused Windows OEM. I will fight to end because I have nothing to loose. Lenovo only tests market for linux box (as like Dell).
September 10th, 2007 7:10 am
For me, first thing I do with a new computer is repartition and format. I am a guy who has to know exactly what is going on on his machines (aka Gentoo enthusiast).
For the standard “just user” type, provide support and deliver preinstalled system by the more user centered distributions (*buntu, …) and for the enterprises a enterprise linux.
Most important is that there are working drivers with full support of all the features, best suited in the kernel/xorg, full ACPI support and documentation. Maybe some distribution specific howtos, but we can take care of that ourselves (we have experience in that
)
September 10th, 2007 7:12 am
[...] Im Lenovo Blog habe ich natürlich auch schon für Ubuntu abgestimmt. von Barhgrol | Switcher, Linux, [...]
September 10th, 2007 7:45 am
What an “enthusiast” wants is to run their own choice of distro without feeling they have paid for unused licences or support form Microsoft/Novel/RedHat. (Reguardless of what this actually costs Lenovo)
To do this they need a laptop shipped without a paid for distro and to know that there is a good Xorg driver for the graphics chipset. (Many may accept the free binary ATI drivers for Linux or Nvidia’s Drivers for FreeBSD/Solaris/Linux. Some may accept paid for XIG Linux/Solaris Drivers)
Lenovo need the distro or distros they ship, which may not be the final choice of the consumer, to not generate an unmanagable number of support queries from the less exerianced “enthusiasts”. (It is possible to get into this position, just expaining that the OS is unsupported by Lenovo and to look “the comunity”).
To this end Ubuntu-LTS and PC-BSD (User friendly FreeBSD) are probably among the most practical choices. However both are backed by commercial entities, who sell support. This may concern some.
September 10th, 2007 8:06 am
We really welcome the news you are going to support a major linux distribution of users’ choice(1)!
Two quick comments:
1) Please, put some thoughts in choosing hardware components that are supported by open source drivers. That is a major issue.
2) Alternatively, please, sponsor/join forces with existing open source projects to develop open source drivers to support the hardware you choose.
This approach would allow you to support a very wide range of distributions.
(1) = In our case is business users, and we have opted for debian on servers and ubuntu (kubuntu flavour) and mandriva on desktops.
Thank you in advance.
Regards
September 10th, 2007 8:33 am
I ‘d likely to hear this information,but it’s better that lenovo can give us more selections that we can choose whichever os to install on our computer,and not limited on the ThinkPad,that is the best way,of course it is also limited on the driver,especially with the video card,
may be lenovo can label the “linux compatible “on their computer
BR.
helai
September 10th, 2007 8:51 am
[...] di DELL (ma forse anche no), Lenovo vuole distribuire computer con Linux preinstallato, e con un sondaggio chiede alla comunità di indicare quale distribuzione preferirebbero [...]
September 10th, 2007 8:53 am
[...] empresa que se suma al carro de usar Linux en sus distribuciones. Actualmente estan haciendo una encuesta entre los usuarios para que elijan que sistema operativo preferirian que viniera instalado en los [...]
September 10th, 2007 9:01 am
I usually don’t post in blogs but this one feels like I should.
Levono makes great laptops of best quality as I read on the wen and I look forward to try one some day.
However I do not want to pay 60$ extra for a Windows OS, nor do I want to pay 5$ extra for a Linux distribution. This is because I own windows XP pro and vista business already (legally) by College (MSDNAA).
So my opinion would be supply a Linux distro for free or just give me a button to select no OS at ordering. I can install Linux myself anyway. Overall it’d be a great step supporting Linux (especially talking about drivers), many (experienced) people will love this.
September 10th, 2007 9:04 am
Dear Lenovo,
I think that Ubuntu is the best choise.
Why?
Ubuntu is realy user frendly, stable, and designed aroud the new Linux users.
Acer and Dell love it, think about it!
Regards
September 10th, 2007 9:07 am
http://www.lenovo.com/linux
September 10th, 2007 9:32 am
I vote for Ubuntu due to its large user’s base but as someone already said please support Europe, just do the opposite of the competitor you mentioned.
I think most of Linux users are european and a lot of open source programmers are european plus plenty of institution are switching to Linux these years.
Regards
September 10th, 2007 9:35 am
I don’t really care which distro is bundled in my laptop, since I always install my own anyway. I can agree with the previous person commenting about Lenovo’s recovery partition, it is absolutely horrible in regard to using more than one OS, so I end up wiping it and installing windows 2000 manually for a dual boot, but then I have to hunt for the windows drivers myself, which is getting harder all the time…
Lenovo should push the hardware suppliers to open up their documentation. I’m not even thinking about getting a new ThinkPad with the current pains of new hardware, I always buy a used one that is a few years old and works painlessly. Having information about driver support in different OSs in the web shop is definitely a good idea, but I think a company as important as Lenovo can make a real difference in getting closer to all hardware having proper docs available.
Lenovo should also open up their own docs to allow suspend, the function keys and other features to be implemented in all OSs (like the *BSDs). There is absolutely no excuse for you to not give your own customers the docs they need to use the products they have paid for.
September 10th, 2007 9:36 am
[...] questo indirizzo troverete il [...]
September 10th, 2007 9:43 am
Ubuntu …. . the best choice….
Friendly.. easy to install and use.. comunity supported.. and infinity of users and new users using it..
I use ubuntu software on my laptop and desktop.. 2 years using it..
free software is the best choice..
September 10th, 2007 9:52 am
No offense, but I’m totally sick of the Ubuntu hype! IMHO they stole it from Debian without giving anything back (Ubuntu build service anyone?!) and hype it over the edge – yes I admit their PR is good.
The reason I don’t get. It’s neither more user friendly, newbie friendly, easy to configure by a significant amount than any other distribution. Last but not least it lacks stuff that works out of the box with other distributions (e.g. WLAN with WAP – works out of the box on openSUSE). It just seems to me that some of the M$ trolls finally made it into linux and now pull the same shit like before.
IMHO you should go with openSUSE. It’s easy (graphically) to configure with Yast and therefore newbie friendly. It’s stable. Their buildservice provides loads of ready to install packages. Last but not least you could use their buildservice to build packages automagically for other distributions too (Debian, Fedora, RHEL, …).
September 10th, 2007 9:53 am
The questions i think Lenovo is really trying to get answered under this discussion:
Which distro preinstalled is gonna make people buy a thinkpad?
Answer:
1) for a linux-user-now : any of them will give them pretty security on hardware support for choosing
2) for a friend of a linux-user-now : any of them will give the friend of them pretty security on hardware support for recomending it
Which out of the box experience will get best cost/ benefit relation meaning less problems more user satisfaction?
1) for a linux-user-now : install what you want because i´ll reinstall it before you say “pretty thinkpad”
2) for a friend of a linux-user-now : ubuntu will left the expert friend time to explain some basics and get a free beer at the same time
September 10th, 2007 9:55 am
@coobox: mandriva and pclinusos are more userfriendly that ubuntu … ubuntu isn’t stable and hits repos are very less aupdated
@lenovo , let clients choose theyr preferred distro to install when they buys a pc froma multiple choose … pls don’t force to an unique distro
September 10th, 2007 9:59 am
[...] le preferenze degli utenti sulla distribuzione da preinstallare. Potete trovare sul loro blog un sondaggio e dare la vostra [...]
September 10th, 2007 10:00 am
I would suggest – just do it.
Preinstall what ever distributive you like, but please support your own hardware not certain distributive.
What Lenovo notebook must have.
1. To Preinstall the version of one most popular distributive these days.
(You may easily change the name so far people looking more at another one)
2. To provide the support of the hardware.
September 10th, 2007 10:01 am
Where’s Kurumin linux?
September 10th, 2007 10:12 am
[...] you look at this post of Lenovo running the Poll on which Linux to ship with, they have had far more votes on the poll that they have had diggs. In fact, the ratio is only [...]
September 10th, 2007 10:33 am
Just my 2 cents.
IMHO IBM should not go to the Ubuntu way too. Indeed we will end up in a monopolistic position of Ubuntu, and this is not the way to go for Linux and others distributions.
Dell choose Ubuntu, fine.
HP may choose Ubuntu or Suse.
In this case, IBM should choose Red-Hat or Mandriva forn pluralism considerations
September 10th, 2007 10:37 am
This poll shouldn’t be handed to management because it is unscientific.
Ubuntu fanboys can hit reload all day — they have nothing better to do.
September 10th, 2007 10:43 am
All free and open source projects have clever developers that are able to write and maintain proper drivers for devices. There is no need for blobs (i.e., binary-only drivers). Really!
We can say it one thousand times: what a free/open software project requires *is* accurate documentation, not closed-source drivers that will not be maintained when the hardware becomes “obsolete”. Open documentation allows our drivers to be improved (to increase performance and fix bugs) and audited (for security reasons).
For ThinkPad computers the most important areas that have a lack of documentation are hardware devices and ACPI (this one is critical for the new ACPI-only T60, X60 and Z60 series). We certainly need documentation available without signing NDAs (we are not looking for trade secrets, just a way to “speak” properly to these devices). Document hardware is a requirement to provide an appropriate support for hardware. We need:
– hardware documentation for the UPEK biometric sensor (the STMicroelectronics biometric coprocessor)
– hardware documentation for the embedded security subsystem
– hardware documentation for the Intel 82801FB modem
– hardware documentation for the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG and 2915ABG (required for proper support of these adapters that is currently weak), and other network adapters
– documentation for future devices attached to these computers as they are added
– …and permission to distribute the firmware for the Intel wireless adapters and softmodem with the operating systems (to get these wireless network adapters working on a clean installation, without downloading the firmware from Intel).
Open documentation is required to provide fixes, increased reliability and support for devices once they are EOL’d by manufacturers. We are currently fixing bugs and improving performance on ten years old devices, something we would not expect from a hardware manufacturer or vendor. They have other goals and priorities, we can however continue supporting hardware once it is EOL’d.
In this matter, I would ask for all the votes for OpenBSD to be added to the “open documentation” entry. As most of you know, we are not accepting binary-only drivers for our operating system. We are looking for open documentation *not* binary-only drivers, so these votes are currently wasted. We will never accept a closed source driver in our operating system so we are looking for documentation.
Thank you very much for this superb initiative!
Cheers,
Igor.
September 10th, 2007 11:02 am
nice initiative Lenovo,
I just voted for Ubuntu but I don’t think that the distro is key point for this activity.
I would prefer that you work hard in order to push the HW manufactures to publish the spec of thier product, that would really increase the quality of your products.
September 10th, 2007 11:12 am
[...] Posted by admin In Dichiarazioni, Riflessioni, Linux, Ubuntu, Open source 9Set 07 Dal blog di Lenovo, il più grande produttore di computer della Repubblica Popolare (?) Cinese, apprendiamo che [...]
September 10th, 2007 11:15 am
[...] Para votar desde Aqui: Linux Follow Up [...]
September 10th, 2007 11:22 am
[...] Más información y página de voto [...]
September 10th, 2007 11:32 am
[...] volete leggere qualcosa a riguardo vi rimando a questo link che vi porta direttamente al blog ufficiale [...]
September 10th, 2007 11:33 am
希望预装可以加快开源驱动的开发。
September 10th, 2007 11:45 am
I vote for Suse because a that’s a best distro in the world!
September 10th, 2007 11:51 am
[...] Le sondage n’a pas l’air très sérieux, mais c’est tout de même sur lenovoblog.com. [...]
September 10th, 2007 11:53 am
I was a HARDCORE windows user until last year when I switched to UBUNTU. I’ve never looked back.
UBUNTU has the power of DEBIAN, the user base, the simplicity of day-to day use.
Other distros are really good, but from a LENOVO standpoint, UBUNTU would probably give you (the company) the least amount of grief. Plus if you guys use AMD/ATI system with the new open source. That would really lay the smackdown on DELL. Plus, you guys (IBM/Lenovo) has a better “hardware quality” reputation than DELL.
September 10th, 2007 11:56 am
First, I’d like to commend Lenovo for making the move to offer Linux, and I hope you follow through on this plan. I think we all knew Ubuntu would lead the poll, but that doesn’t have to be the only choice. Any distro that will support your hardware offerings would be welcome. Frankly I’d like to see two choices – one of the ‘easier’ distros for the new-to-Linux crowd, and one more ‘hardcore’ distro for the advanced user. If Linux is to succeed in the desktop market there has to be as smooth a transition as possible to wean Windows users off MS products, but we should not neglect the power and control of the core Linux distros in favor of fancy GUI’s and eye-candy.
September 10th, 2007 12:13 pm
We’ve been using wide range of Thinkpad’s with Linux for years in production. Expertise in house and desire to have working systems are keys to success. Govermental security is core business and Linux is only way to go.
September 10th, 2007 12:17 pm
I voted for a distro before reading all the comments. Now it seems clear that the best path for Lenovo would be to not worry much about which distro and instead make it your priority to supply open drivers and excellent Linux-compatible multimedia capability. Your competition so far has botched this by their failure to concentrate on the open driver issue. Taking a new approach would give you a distinct advantage and win you a loyal contingent of early-adopter customers actively promoting your hardware to their less-adventurous connections. What most hardware and application businesses don’t seem to understand is that every Linux (or BSD) customer becomes a part of the best viral marketing campaign you can get.
When you do choose a distro, I’d go for Debian or a derivative installed, but not depend on any one derivative for support. Debian itself is the long-term proven version — whether it or a derivative is installed, software and hardware support should be based on Debian, which will make it easy for all its derivative distros to adapt as needed or wanted. There is no good reason to appear to limit choices to Ubuntu, Knoppix, etc and thereby diminish Linux’s great advantage of offering a solution for every individual computing need.
I hope Lenovo follows through with its exciting-sounding plans for Linux. The openness you’re showing is already beginning to win you enthusiastic fans that your competition can only wish they had. Thanks for being a smart company.
September 10th, 2007 12:51 pm
Such a fanatism for a distro… It’s very worrying. I think all those Ubuntu fans don’t love / understand free software. They only love their distro with their beloved gourou and slogan… A very bad thing for GNU/linux, imho.
September 10th, 2007 12:51 pm
SomebodyAnonymous
No company that has an agreement with Microsoft to sell PC’s with Windows installed is allowed to sell a PC(or laptop for that matter) with no OS installed.
In the past companies have had charges put against them by Microsoft and criminally convicted as Microsoft views it as “promoting piracy”. I think that is why Dell installed FreeDOS onto its Dimension N-series PC’s and IBM/Lenovo did once install Linux on selected Thinkpads.
September 10th, 2007 12:55 pm
I own an IBM ThinkPad T42p (2373) running Ubuntu 6.06. In my 20+ years of working with computers I have used a very broad array of computers. This ThinkPad/Ubuntu combo blows the whole lot out of the water. My next computer will likely be a Lenovo laptop and I can only hope they are maintaining the IBM quality standard. If I can avoid the hassle of confirming full hardware support for Linux because Ubuntu or some other Linux distribution is pre-installed, a purchase will be that much more likely.
My only gripe? The left ctrl key is in the wrong spot.
September 10th, 2007 1:09 pm
The [enthusiastic] crowd, poll results are here. They are the people targeted by this move. Ubuntu is the way to go, since it’s the most spread distro here. Later in future with wider adaption and better recognition of linux may allow producing different distro lines. For now as long as the hardware is compatible with ubuntu, it shouldn’t be problem to other people in the field.
September 10th, 2007 1:15 pm
Why not design a laptop that work with a standard Linux Kernel, it would be nice if it would work with a somewhat recent kernel version, say 2.6.18. That way all distros should work fine out of the box.
I say focus on the kernel, and not the distro. If you have to preload something, fine. Atleast allow people to remove it and go with the distro they prefer.
September 10th, 2007 1:21 pm
I really want two things from a Lenovo Linux laptop:
1. Ubuntu support – it’s what I use, and is very newbie friendly, both the software and the community supporting it.
2. Support for all hardware with open-source drivers, ideally drivers that are in the main Linux kernel source tree – the only guarantee that the drivers will work properly and can be forward-ported (and will be automatically forward ported if in-tree) to new Linux versions.
That’s it – do that, and continue to make nice hardware, and I would prefer to buy your laptops, as they still have the IBM heritage and I always liked IBM laptops.
September 10th, 2007 1:23 pm
as said before, i think you should realease the drivers of your hardware under a GPL/BSD based license. So every linux/BSD/Free OS will support your hardware.
September 10th, 2007 1:25 pm
Recently bought a Thinkpad R60e, running Mandriva (I’m a Mandriva employee). Very happy. I’d like Mandriva pre-installed, of course, but I agree with Davey, free, Free, and open specs and drivers would be much better than supporting any single distro.
September 10th, 2007 1:46 pm
[...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments [...]
September 10th, 2007 1:47 pm
[...] so all those Slackware fans out there still have time to get themselves organized.[Via Digg] Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsOffice Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the [...]
September 10th, 2007 1:50 pm
Making a “distribution independent” laptop in unrealistic, let’s face it. If Lenovo is to sell a Linux-compatible laptop, then it must be bundled with a particular distribution – there is no way around it.
Coming from the corporate side, I vote for a major Enterprise distribution (RHEL or SLED) with a support contract or a free clone (Centos or Scientific Linux). My company uses RHEL 4 as the main platform across the R&D organization (a lot of our software is not yet officially supported on RHEL 5, but it’s coming pretty soon). However, our laptops (Thinkpads) come with Windows only (#!#@$%$). I think our IT department would jump immediately if the Thinkpads would come with RHEL already installed from Lenovo (and buy a few THOUSANDS of them right away).
There are two little problems to be ironed out before that happens
1. our company uses MS Exchange as a mail/calendar server. The existing Linux solutions such as the Evolution Exchange connector are really bad and cannot withstand our abuse (at least they couldn’t withstand *my* abuse).
2. Power Point. No other explanations are needed on this one…
September 10th, 2007 1:52 pm
Please continue to create a culture of open documentation so that we can write and support code for thinkpads for generations to come. We already love thinkpads and they are already a market icon. Continue to solidify and promote your leadership in this area so that competitors are forced to follow you!
September 10th, 2007 1:54 pm
[...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments [...]
September 10th, 2007 1:59 pm
Ubuntu ya ha ganado, no hay nada mas que pedir…
AHORA SOLAMENTE QUIERO SABER CUANDO LLEGA A BOLIVIA LOS LAPTOPS THINKPADS CON UBUNTU…. ESTOY DESESPERADO…
September 10th, 2007 2:03 pm
[...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments [...]
September 10th, 2007 2:06 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:09 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:10 pm
If Lenovo wants to continue to keep it up with the highest mark earned by IBM, it is right about time to bring onto PC hardware a really serious and powerful operating system – LINUX.
And one more thing about LINUX – a really friendly software lets you know what is inside.
Use ALT Linux! Made fresh. Make clean.
September 10th, 2007 2:13 pm
you late! I have Debian GNU/Linux on my IBM laptop already.
September 10th, 2007 2:17 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:18 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:29 pm
Look at the web server logs to see WHAT LINUX distro is being used to BUY THINKPADS. I would hope that your sys admins would be giving this to your marketing people already.
Ask the sys admin or web master for the “USER-AGENT Strings” from the confirmation page at the end of the order. This will tell you what your users are running, and this may be the best way to know what they want to run.
September 10th, 2007 2:33 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:33 pm
Отлично работает
September 10th, 2007 2:35 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:38 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:41 pm
My god! don`t be the ignorants. *BSD is NOT linux. I would like to have a BSD OS on Lenovo computers, but don`t you ever call this a linux!
September 10th, 2007 2:52 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:52 pm
What I would suggest is that you support at least one major distribution, like Ubuntu, but that you use hardware that can be supported by strictly open-source drivers.
Also, be aware that distros do wax and wane over time. Expect to have to change your supported distribution every couple of years to keep up with the market. Since most Linux distributions are pretty similar under the hood, this should not be such a big deal.
Also, be sure recognize that there is a culture here, not just a market. You’ll upset (and lose) a lot of your customers in this market if you go against that culture.
In either case, thank you for considering our needs/wishes.
Paul Smith
September 10th, 2007 2:55 pm
I see more basic issues that need to be addressed before asking about distributions.
In the enterprise market, I’d vote with Dag for CentOS or perhaps Novell. Enthusiasts don’t care about support, but enterprise customers will. I’d be surprised if Ubuntu or Debian are widely used in the enterprise world because of the need for support. You need to offer products that fit well with what the rest of the company is running.
In the small business and home market, I think the most important issue is not distributions, but licensing of codecs. Selling machines to ordinary folks that won’t play music and video is a non-starter in today’s market. I’ve been waiting to see how successfully Dell and Canonical pursue this route, but if they drag their feet, then perhaps this is a way for you to differentiate yourselves. Every machine sold in these markets needs to play all the major proprietary formats like MP3, Windows Media, DivX (XviD), and AVI, as well as the free formats like Ogg, Matroska, and H.264. If you can’t put a DVD in the machine out of the box and have it play in Kaffeine or MPlayer, that’s going to be a non-starter for a large segment of the marketplace.
As for me, I use Fedora on the desktop; my daughter’s laptop (Dell 640m) runs Ubuntu. We both prefer KDE over GNOME.
September 10th, 2007 2:56 pm
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September 10th, 2007 2:57 pm
[...] go and add your vote for Ubuntu (or your other favorite distro if you please)! tags: ubuntu, lenovo, lenovo linux, thinkpad, [...]
September 10th, 2007 3:00 pm
Sidux runs fine on a 6 years old ARMADA
September 10th, 2007 3:04 pm
Best bet is support a large distro like Debian.
Why support the kids if you’d support The Mother? ^_^
September 10th, 2007 3:05 pm
[...] Enterprise Desktop on its T-Series ThinkPads for its mainstream business users. But in a recent blog post, Lenovo’s worldwide competitive analyst Matt Kohut said that the company is realizing that [...]
September 10th, 2007 3:07 pm
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September 10th, 2007 3:09 pm
[...] sus máquinas con sistemas operativos libres. Ahora es Lenovo la que a través de uno de sus blogs consulta a los usuarios sobre qué distribución prefieren integrar en sus equipos. De momento y para no ser muy repetitivo [...]
September 10th, 2007 3:14 pm
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September 10th, 2007 3:28 pm
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September 10th, 2007 3:28 pm
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
We want no pre-installed systems or drivers, we want documented hardware!
Got it?
September 10th, 2007 3:35 pm
I would not expect Lenvo to support Gentoo, but I still had to support it as an avid user. Ubuntu really would be the best route to go. If nothing else, they have the user base for it. Plus I am way more inclined to buy a laptop with linux just so that I dont have to pay microsoft’s tarrif…
September 10th, 2007 3:42 pm
Please, be clever on this decision: choose OPEN DOCUMENTATION!
Truly open documentation (not requiring signing a NDA) will benefit ALL operating systems — will benefit the entire open source community. I do not care if the choice is Linux, BSD or Unix. What will happen when the cool Linux distribution you choose is not so cool? What will happen when the ABIs/APIs change in an incompatible way? (something that happens too usually on Linux.) Will you be running the same kernel revision in 2015? Do you expect updated drivers for current ThinkPads (up to T43 models) being developed in 2016? Do you think that Lenovo can afford it? Do you think they will have the time to write updated drivers for machines that were EOL’d ten years ago?
Why closing the drivers to a single operating system or, even worse, a single Linux distribution? Just to show that your “distro” is the only one supporting that hardware device? Is it good for the open source community?
If you really trust on the developers of your operating system -and you should, as you are using that Linux/BSD/Unix flavour-, why not providing them with open documentation so they can write and maintain their own drivers? If you do not trust on the developers of your operating system and believe that a closed source drive is better for you, why not choosing Windows?
Please, choose open documentation, so anyone can benefit from high quality drivers.
It is a matter that we (OpenBSD) consider seriously, as we see it will benefit the entire open source community.
Be clever. Let the developers of your operating system write and support hardware drivers. Provide them with open documentation!
Think again before choosing a closed source driver. We have an opportunity to do a right choice now… it is so crazy voting for a closed source driver when all of us can get technical documentation for hardware.
I am sorry if this post sounds harsh, but these ones voting for a closed source driver should wake up and think what they are choosing before it is too late. It is not difficult at all. If you trust on the developers of your operating system, let them write the right driver and maintaining it forever.
Igor.
September 10th, 2007 4:00 pm
Honestly, I don’t think most of us care what distro is pre-loaded. Sure, Ubuntu’s great for pre-loading. The part that I care about is the support. Is it possible to get all the pieces working under Linux (without binary-only drivers)? Can it all be setup under one of the BSDs? Is there documentation on how to set it up under Linux and BSD? If Lenovo covers those items, I really don’t care what distro it ships with because the chances of me actually keeping the pre-installed system are rather low…
September 10th, 2007 4:02 pm
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September 10th, 2007 4:08 pm
[...] empresas que ofrecen GNU/Linux como sistema preinstalado en sus computadores. Para ello ha abierto una encuesta para conocer qué distribución se prefiere para instalar. Por ahora va ganando Ubuntu con 13207 [...]
September 10th, 2007 4:16 pm
First of all, I am *very* pleased to see Lenovo do this. I chose Ubuntu as the distribution, mainly because it is currently the most popular Linux distribion right now, not because of my own preferences (CentOS, of all things).
However, I am not in the market for a laptop right now. I have already bought a Dell Linux laptop, and do not need a laptop for a couple of years. However, I much prefer Thinkpads over Dells, and only got a Dell because they were the only mainstream laptop with Linux support when I was in the market earlier this year. Should Lenovo continue to support Linux 100% in a couple of years, my next laptop will be a Thinkpad.
- Sam
September 10th, 2007 4:23 pm
I voted for Ubuntu, Other then the fact that I am using Ubuntu for 6 months now,
I think that because the other Big company choose Ubuntu, Lenovo should be the same…
It will be easier to support from a techy point of view.
I also finding Ubuntu to be much more user friendly then the others.
JJ
September 10th, 2007 4:27 pm
Ubuntu is the best option cause other hardwares manufactures already begin use it like Dell and Acer, that’s mean easy to develop drivers and testing. The simple use learn curve is another reason.
September 10th, 2007 4:33 pm
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September 10th, 2007 4:34 pm
I preffer Debian as my Distro of choice and Thinkpads as my hardware of choice. So much so that I have four different TP models in my possession. Not everything works perfectly, but it’s getting better with time.
This is an opportunity for Lenovo to Leapfrog Dell, Sony, et al. and really shine and offer the customers a very real choice for Linux on Laptops.
I strongly believe that Lenovo should *NOT* choose any particular distro. It would very much be to Lenovo’s benefit to make the drivers for its hardware open (where ever possible.) and ensure that they are included in the mainline Linux Kernel. Barring that, they should at least publish Low level H/W information so that a driver can be written by the community.
This is a very important decision and it shouldn’t require much mulling over to see which path will yield the most benefit for Lenovo and Linux users alike.
September 10th, 2007 4:36 pm
Ubuntu or debian and most importantly hardware support by Gnu-Linux drivers.
September 10th, 2007 4:46 pm
I want from a Lenovo Linux laptop:
1. Debian GNU/Linux support
2. Ubuntu support
3. SimplyMEPIS support
September 10th, 2007 4:57 pm
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September 10th, 2007 5:14 pm
oh, i can see that all these guys want the windows of linux, haha, guys get gentoo, a real man’s distro
September 10th, 2007 5:27 pm
Linux Mint!!!
September 10th, 2007 5:31 pm
i voted for debian even if i actually use ubuntu.
but i think that the point is not “wich distro”, but the fact that there will be a distro (anyone) on lenovo laptop.
i hope seeing get real as soon as possible.
do the linux way.
cheers from italy
ale-bu
September 10th, 2007 5:33 pm
Ahora, lo importante es saber :
- CUANDO es que esto: tener un Linux pre-instalado en una maquina LENOVO, va a ser disponibilizado,
- y con que drivers ?
- finalizando: a que precio y con cual configuracion,
- y por último, estara disponible para todos los paises ?
September 10th, 2007 5:34 pm
Mandriva
September 10th, 2007 5:36 pm
You don’t help by saying “Supports XYZ Linux”. When I see that, I think, “huh, _ONLY_ supports XYZ Linux, _WON’T WORK_ with ABC Linux; it must have some binary drivers or other nastiness”.
Please, just ship the things with blank drives and I’ll install it myself.
If you insist on saying that you ’support’ something, say “Supported by Linux kernel version 2.6.nnn or later and X.org version 6.9.nn or later”, and name the major chips that it uses.
September 10th, 2007 5:48 pm
PclinuxOs the best distro, friendly and stable
September 10th, 2007 5:49 pm
PclinuxOs see http://www.distrowatch.com
the best solution
September 10th, 2007 5:55 pm
Lenovo fragt: “Welches Linux hättens denn gerne?”
Ähnlich wie Dell das vor einiger Zeit getan hat, fragt jetzt Lenovo (ihr wisst schon, die die IBM das Notebookgeschäft abgekauft haben):
“What Linux distribution would you most like to see supported on a ThinkPad?”
Derzeit liegt U…
September 10th, 2007 6:09 pm
I prefer Debian to ubuntu. – Debian is stable and enough simple to use, Ubuntu is simple but is not more stable.
September 10th, 2007 6:11 pm
Anything but Vista ! I just inflicted a Lenovo 3000N upon my girlfriend with Vista and she wants it GONE!GONE!GONE! Give me back my old, slow Dell, with XP ! NOW!NOW!NOW! I really wish I could wipe the MF and put linux on it, it seems like fantastic hardware. Maybe I will pick up a SATA disk and install on that. If it had a ide disk, I would have done it months ago. However, I have the old slow Dell, with fedora. Nice box. Get rid of the cycle-sucker, it performs fine. And, with the help of some friends in Berlin, I run the proprietary Nvidia drivers, even if the screamers at RH don’t like it.
September 10th, 2007 6:19 pm
1) We do NOT need tech support from Lenovo if we buy a Linux Thinkpad.
Lenovo doesn’t need to provide free tech to Linux Thinkpad customers. You can provide it for a fee to those who want to pay for it, or outsource the tech support to a third party, or simply recommed a third party tech support. We do NOT need Linux tech support from Lenovo. If that is what’s keeping you from offering us Linux Thinkpad, I will repeat: “We do NOT need tech support from Lenovo if we buy a Linux Thinkpad.”
Chances are that a week after Lenovo releases Linux Thinkpads, 500 websites will popup online offering Linux Thinkpad guides, tips, tricks, tutorials, etc. Google’s search box will be the our tech support.
2) It is not necessary to preinstall a Linux distro on a Thinkpad.
First, installing Ubuntu is so easy even a caveman can do it. Second, Many Linux users prefer making their own partitions and loading their own packages, so the preinstalled Linux OS is more likely to be wiped out anyway.
3) We just want bare thinkpads and Linux drivers on the driver download page. That is all.
I believe Lenovo can sell tons of thinkpads without any operating system on it. It will be cheaper for us to buy, and will be cheaper and faster for Lenovo to build. It is a win-win scenario.
So many people are using Linux on Thinkpads, please do not force us to pay for crappy Windows if we NEVER use it. On occasions we must use it, we just run XP in VMware. Don’t even get me started on Vista, it is a joke. Putting Windows directly on hardware is stupid. It will take over the machine and there will be no CPU cycle left for us to use it.
September 10th, 2007 6:34 pm
For the enterprise space, (a space where Thinkpad still dominates), RedHat is Enterprise Linux. Mathmatica, MATLAB, ProE, Veritas, ArcView, Oracle, etc. Most high end enterprise applications are built for RedHat. Only SuSE is a distant second alternative in the enterprise space.
For the enthusiest space, I don’t really see Thinkpad in this area personally. However the Enthusiest space is well suited for Ubuntu.
Where I work we buy Thinkpad’s because it’s the only laptop with a three button touch pad, and the middle mose button is immensly important to enterprise scientific applications, and we run these applications on RedHat.
Where I play I use Ubuntu on an HP with Cedega for World of Warcraft.
September 10th, 2007 7:09 pm
I think someone should check to see where all the ballot box stuffing is coming from. This dominance from Ubuntu is not from its dominance of creating the best Linux distribution, it is clearly from Ubuntu being the best at clicking the “vote for me” button. I have used Ubuntu along with a number of other distributions and have found it to be one of the worst as far as bugs goes. Just look at Launchpad. The majority of the bugs I experienced were Ubuntu only bugs that I haven’t experienced using other distributions. They at least have a great community, but with the number of bugs, I just can’t see it being a good thing for Linux as a whole if computer manufacturers start sending out PCs with a version of Linux that definitely doesn’t show off much more than how often it can crash in comparison to MS Windows. As a matter-of-fact, maybe Microsoft is the one doing all the voting for it.
September 10th, 2007 7:26 pm
[...] e del suo IdeaStorm, la distribuzione da adottare sui prossimi ThinkPad sarà scelta tramite un sondaggio. Partito Venerdì, 7 Settembre, il sondaggio ha accumulato in 48 ore ben 13.402 [...]
September 10th, 2007 7:32 pm
[...] Lenovo está a fazer uma sondagem para saber que distribuição os clientes gostariam de ver suportado nos [...]
September 10th, 2007 8:29 pm
i vote for arch coz its lovely
September 10th, 2007 8:37 pm
Please consider carefully the open hardware documentation option. Experience has proved that binary only drivers provide impaired user experience and impose a high development costs on the vendor. ATI proprietary video drivers demonstrated this and it seems ATI is now going the path of open documentation for its video hardware after years of poorly written, feature limited, buggy and slow binary drivers.
Open hardware documentation allows developers who deeply understand OS internals to write a driver which will not only support all the features of your hardware, but which interacts sensibly with the rest of the system. It will also virtually extend OS support to any other platform out there willing to support your hardware.
Ubuntu has its aim (Windows Desktop replacement) and its target user base (end users). People screaming for Ubuntu support here may not even understand that open documentation would get them better drivers in Ubuntu itself than any vendor provided driver. It will also get the same driver in all other linux distributions. It would also probably mean integration of the driver in the kernel, so users can experience out of the box full functionality without the need of separate download and installation of drivers from Lenovo and the resulting costs in customer support issues on your side.
This kind of approach requires you to cooperate by providing:
1. Good open documentation of your hardware.
2. A little cooperation between your engineers and OS developers / distributions to resolve complex issues/bugs.
3. Provide development hardware to developers where needed.
If you want to take a decision on driver development, I’d rather listen to kernel hackers than to end users. I’m an end user myself, maybe a bit more technical and informed one, so please contact OS developers directly, but I think the above summarizes key points about open documentation and cooperation versus propietary binary drivers.
I won’t even comment on which OS/distribution you should offer preinstalled on Thinkpads. This is a marketing issue: just preload what users want. By the way, if user requests change with time (which is likely to happen), walking the open path will allow you to painlessly switch to a different OS any time you need.
Just for completeness sake: I am writing this on a T60 currently running Ubuntu just because it provides basic hardware functionality, but binary drivers prevent a lot of features to just work or provoke unwanted behaviour (eg. correct suspend/resume with 3D acceleration) . I’d love to run OpenBSD, but I’d lose features I need because drivers are not available or are limited in functionality due to the absence of proper documentation.
I am a user of your products, and I think the best for me as a user would be open hardware documentation allowing for complete and correct drivers to be written for your hardware to run on any platform.
September 10th, 2007 9:22 pm
I am a casual user, not a developer or even enthusiast. I have Mandriva 2007.1 installed as the only OS on my Thinkpad T30. This is the primary computer that I use, although I do have a desktop that I dual boot with XP and Mandriva.
I have not tried Ubuntu because I fell in love with Mandriva immediately and removed XP from the Thinkpad. It is definitely user friendly and work great on my Thinkpad.
September 10th, 2007 9:25 pm
All the people I know have never installed an operating system or configured anything. So, I can’t really recommend Linux till it comes installed in the computer. I’ll buy linux-loaded home computers (or at least linux-supported) and push open formats. Open source includes the the operating system, the great applications available, and the formats for everything. Getting the open-source model over the market share hump will be a great accomplishment. I recently went to a local copy shop and they wanted my graphics in Adobe format. I resisted and it turned out to be negotiable.
September 10th, 2007 9:32 pm
My vote goes to Debian/Ubuntu. As far as drivers go, I’d love to see Lenovo push NVidia in the direction of making better binary driver or (even better) releasing specs for the chips, so community can take care of writing drivers. Currently using T61 with NVidia NVS140M and it’s such a PITA. If I had known that suspending to ram (or disk) would cause this much grief, I would’ve opted for a cheaper and better supported intel graphics.
September 10th, 2007 9:50 pm
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September 10th, 2007 9:51 pm
Personally use SuSE for Desktop and CentOS for server, probably changes to fedora, also attracts to me debian.
I consider that drivers must of being OpenSource (GPL) and to be available for all the distributions, if is thus. I promise to buy a TinkPad, will recommend them like the best option. in my country (El Salvador, Latin America) it is an amount in constant growth at professional, personnel level linux in its different distros.
September 10th, 2007 9:55 pm
I had to buy laptop as a gift for my daughter who is now a postgraduate student in civil engineering at University of California Berkley and we went for brilliant
ThinkPad T60p ( with Windows XP professional).
This summer before my daughter left for California I had great opportunity to
run several different Linux distributions on it and ,you know what ,you Ubuntu fanboys,Feity Fawn miserably failed. It wont even boot to login screen.
PCLinuxOS runs great but still no support ( OOTB out of the box ) for blutooth, and
somehow I was unable to get the best possible screen resolution ( ATI FireGL ).
CentOS runs reasonably well as well as Fedora 7 Live-CD and Knoppix 5.
They all suffer from lack of support for function keys which just remins me
of how important is for you to provide all necessary drivers in order to have fully
functional ThinkPads.
I wouldn’t mind getting ThinkPad with Ubuntu as long as all Lenovo components
are supported by most recent Linux ( or BSD ) kernels since I would wipe out disk anyway and install my favourite distribution ( either PCLinuxOS or Debian Etch ).
Don’t let us wait to long Lenovo ! My oldie Compaq Armada ( Celeron 400 MHz) running SAM-Linux is dying, do you hear me?!?
Good luck to you!
September 10th, 2007 10:01 pm
I prefer Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 (Etch) on my Lenovo Thinkpad T60. It’s really a fine system. It’s now my second ThinkPad with Debian.
But I would like it more if you and your hardware partners provide *FREE* hardware specifications.
The FLOSS community will help you then to provide fine drivers for your hardware and then all distros or more general all parties will profit. This is the spirit of the community
and will attract a lot of people.
If you want to support a specific distribution please do it for Debian/Ubuntu as Ubuntu is the most prefered distro of FLOSS-enthusiasts and Ubuntu like many other distros is based on Debian.
When I need to buy a new notebook I will install Debian on it unless it’s just on it; but I will try also other FLOSS-distros including the BSD-variants, OpenSolaris, and
Darwin to test the planned and existing free software coded by myself. and my comrades on them.
I like my ThinkPads because of their superior quality and because of their Linux compatibility.
September 10th, 2007 10:43 pm
hi there,
i am been able to make to work my lenovo t60, the fingerprint reader, etc, after following several posts. The option (which as far as i know, isn’t able yet) that i really miss is not been able to use the ‘fn+f7′ keys for using my ubuntu with a datashow device or things like that.
I hope you have a solution for that soon!
thanks
September 10th, 2007 10:56 pm
I have a preference for Ubuntu/Debian myself, although I am open to other distros. I just have one small request. If you are going to provide Linux versions of laptops please make all of the laptops available with Linux. That other company who’s name you cautiously tip-toe around, does not provide a Linux based laptop with a screen larger than 15.4″.
September 10th, 2007 11:06 pm
Wow, other than some of the Ubuntu comments (both for and against), I’m very impressed with the response and the level of thought that has gone into many of these posts. It makes me feel proud. Regardless of distro the important thing is that sensible discussions take place without distro bashing.
The last 2 laptops I’ve bought have been purchased with linux in mind and although personally I wouldn’t care what distro was on the laptop as I’d put pclos on it anyway the knowledge that I wouldn’t have any unexpected hardware issues would send my money to the most linux friendly maker.
If I had a second vote it would probably go to mint as although I dislike gnome, mint is very easy to set up and doesn’t require much effort to get working.
What an amazing opportunity this is for a maker though. I mean free support and a chance to embrace the community that is crying out for a maker to give it a voice.
Post out 22 prototype laptops. One to Linus, one to Stallman and the others to the top 20 distrowatch OS’s.
You would get a great response and 20 custom made remasters uploaded to linuxtracker.org for example. Support the community and it will support you.
I’m quite sure the maker that did this first would make a stack of money as every linux user would make a point of buying and recommending the makers products.
There are so many cool things that could come from this. Imagine having 3 partitions on the laptop when it was shipped: A large blank one, a swap one and one that had a nice gui and 20 linux distros that could be run as live cd’s or installed. Just a thought..
Anyway there is only one way to find out when Linux will make it and that’s to give it a shot. Everyone that uses it knows it’s the way forward.
September 11th, 2007 12:02 am
I agree pretty much with e2. I don’t really care all that much about which distro Lenovo goes with.
The key thing is use drivers that are as open as humanly possible and to collaborate with the free and open source software community as much as possible.
My sense is that the first computer maker that completely embraces the FOSS movement without fear or hesitation is going to have the loyalty of the community sewn up for years.
I think that Lenovo is well-placed to become the community’s next “best friend” given that Thinkpad notebooks have pretty much always been the “notebook of choice” for Linux users.
Would Lenovo rather have the community as its “best friend” or would Lenovo prefer to fritter that opportunity away to a competitor?
Don’t forget that alot of us noisy, boisterous techno-savvy early adopters of tech often work in IT departments and are in a position to influence purchasing decisions in alot of corporations, governments and organizations.
September 11th, 2007 12:05 am
I think Ubuntu is the right direction for lenovo, but I also think Lenovo should strongly consider acquiring a company that already is known for selling PCs and notebooks with Ubuntu as a frontend to Lenovo, such as System76. If Lenovo bought System76, you would be making a true statement to the linux community that you are dedicated to the support of Linux. System76 selling IBM thinkpads with lenovo support and I would be buying one the minute they were available. You guys are my two favorite Computer distributors, I realize System76 is much much smaller, but if you two joined forces it would be unstoppable. Just my two cents…
September 11th, 2007 12:13 am
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September 11th, 2007 12:27 am
I would go with Ubuntu – it’s here to stay… and it is definitely the most “complete” distro for the normal, non-technically inclined user. These non-geeky users are the targeted audience so the goal is just to make sure everything works “out of the box” and for that, I can only recommend Ubuntu. There are still a few things to “polish”, but Canonical is really getting there! And the support – although it is community-based at this point – is actually excellent! As for the geeks, the hardcore terminal freaks and other extreme “binars”, it will also be good for them, as they will be able to concentrate on other things than editing “conf” files and shell scripts, like, for example, building nice non-binary, open-source ATI drivers!!!
Ubuntu all the way!!!
September 11th, 2007 12:32 am
I voted for SimplyMepis, but I’m also heavily biased towards the distribution. For personal users there really are only two options, PCLinuxOS if you like a RPM distro, and SimplyMepis if you like Debian Based Distribution. I also think Leveno would be better served by offering both a RPM and a DEB based option, instead of having only a single vendor.
September 11th, 2007 1:22 am
Ubuntu is my top choice. I have just bought a Lenovo Laptop Product id 0768A61. Using Ubuntu 7.04 with the available docs on Ubuntu (and on Novell for Pulseaudio ), everything works except I did not try the fingerprint reader.
September 11th, 2007 1:29 am
[...] Linux Follow Up | Vía: [...]
September 11th, 2007 1:35 am
[...] en unos de mis favoritos Blog, encontre una noticia que les paso. Lenovo a puesto en su blog una encuesta acerca de cual seria el sistema que los usuarios prefieren que se instalara en sus nuevos equipos [...]
September 11th, 2007 1:35 am
Only Freebsd
))
September 11th, 2007 1:42 am
Why doesn’t Lenovo just ask the Linux vendors what they are using?
http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/23168/
http://lxer.com/module/db/index.php?dbn=14
September 11th, 2007 1:44 am
I’m using Arch Linux on an IBM ThinkPad R40 right now. (Started beginning of this year).
The only issue that will arise once in a while, is of power saving functions and the IBM function keys (Fn+F3, etc)…For suspend to RAM and suspend to Disk, etc. I recently updated/upgraded the system, and WHAM!
All the powersaving and key functions went up in smoke! I previously used powernow, ibm-utils (or something like that) and it was great! Power status, temps, battery level, etc were all there! Now they’re all gone!
Someone needs to unify a framework for powersaving, etc functions on ThinkPads under Linux. (Provide Gnome and KDE based versions). Maybe a ThinkPad only distro based on Debian or Ubuntu?
Maybe Tubuntu?
(ThinkPad-Ubuntu)
Or Tebian?
(ThinkPad-Debian)
The easiest way is for Lenovo to get those hardware companies to write open drivers (or establish a project where non-distro specific utilities required by ThinkPads and drivers can be written by the community from specifications released under Non-Disclosure Agreements).
September 11th, 2007 2:24 am
I voted “Anyone that refuses to carry binary-only drivers, so that all others will also benefit, as it will require documented hardware” because it doesn’t realy matter wich distro the decide to use (they are all good), what matter is that I can change it later without problems. It’s very easy to do. Also the ather Open Source Operation Systems could work on them.
That’s all, bye.
September 11th, 2007 2:41 am
[...] muchas cosas se podrían contar hoy, como la encuesta de Lenovo para ver que distribución Linux incorpora en sus equipos, o el futuro Palm Treo 500, que parece que llevará Windows Mobile 6 (esta gente de Palm cada vez [...]
September 11th, 2007 2:50 am
I second the very first comment: Don’t get fixated on a single Distro; rather make
sure the Hardware you put into your machines is well supported by preferably free
and open drivers. Most users are going to wipe the default installation anyway and
put their preferred distro on it (I copy a Gentoo installation I made in 2002 to all of
my machines and build custom kernels for each)
September 11th, 2007 3:07 am
Please do not be ignorant and remove OpenBSD, Open Solaris and FreeBSD from the list of Linux distros.
The above poll is typical reflection of gagaga Linux community of Windowzzz wanna be. If there were 2 or 3 distros of Linux instead of 352 maybe hardware vendors would have more incentive to support it.
Direct support for Ubuntu is trying to creating another OS X and with all due respect Lenovo stands no chance in that kind of marker (click here click there) if for no other reason but for the fact that OS X is better Operating System than most distributions of Linux kernel with whatever else is on the top of it.(Debian, Gentoo excluded and maybe few other serious Linux distributions)
As a long term customer of IBM ThinkPad series (currently own both running FreeBSD as the ONLY operating system) I believe that generic support (open documentation, drivers etc ) is probably way to go.
If you really want to have an outstanding product put FreeBSD on Think Pads and you will beat the ****** out of Apple. Such move would have limited economic consequences but great public relationship effect.
No matter which Linux distro you directly support the economic effect would be also negligible since Linux holds only 0.5% of the Desktop market (mostly as a dual boot systems)
You may as well then create real value (which Think Pad hardware always was)
coupling your Hardware with a really ROCK solid operating system as FreeBSD.
September 11th, 2007 3:18 am
I want PC-BSD or FreeBSD…
September 11th, 2007 3:20 am
I’m an Ubuntu user since the 5.10 release and it’s logic that i hope in an Ubuntu Inclusion in Lenovo computers.
Ubuntu is a magical, stable, powerful and easy-to-use operating system today on the market.
Ubuntu forever!
September 11th, 2007 3:22 am
[...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life! [...]
September 11th, 2007 3:26 am
Make sure that the laptop/s will be avalible in all the countrys where you can get Lenovo laptops, and dont do like a other computercompany that dont sell their ubuntu computers in all the countrys they sell there laptops.
Then I also think its important that all hardware should be supported by FOSS drivers, no binary blobs.
September 11th, 2007 3:37 am
Prefer GNU Debian based systems, any of them who can run well on my x61 tablet. (no sound, not all of the func keys now)
September 11th, 2007 3:44 am
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September 11th, 2007 3:56 am
I vote Ubuntu,
not because that’s the one I use (I use Debian), but because I think that’s the best one to be sold to beginners. if they want to, they’ll be able to install something else because they’ll be sure everything works fine
September 11th, 2007 4:20 am
[...] Qui il sondaggio. [...]
September 11th, 2007 4:54 am
get free developers on your side. get hobbists on your side. get users on your side. rest will crumble. but to get those people, you need to be open toward them. open. open. open. there’s no space left for binary only in linux community. when i hear binary only i run like the wind. and i dont need my hardware vendor to tell me which distro to use either. i can’t rely on someone telling me what to do or use. first thing i’ll do is defy him and install what i want, which is most likely unsupported.
listen to stallman. freedom is everything.
and would it be too much to ask to get some decent developers while you’re at it? what in the name of “are you there god” are these people doing? who tough them to do drivers? so complicated, so poorly documented, so dependent of distros. if linux would have been made by binary only developers it wouldn’t exist at all. that’s the thing, developers have 0 consideration for users, admins and ultimately for linux, for the distro itself, for other programs. what if xorg-x11 would have been made like ati drivers?
September 11th, 2007 5:24 am
I’m ordinary user. At very begining my question would be: why linux instead of windows for me? Second question would be after answer – why do, personaly i, need other os than fedora or suse distributions. Can you think about why i reject other distributions? Because I’m not a fan of linux. Because I choose linux for free and therefore i tolerate some linux applications anoyed bugs. But not so much. My choose is suse because of large, almoust 8gB, distribution. But this distributions not so spreaded as fedora in internet. Would be fedora on 8gB DVD and i will choose fedora instead of suse. I reject any distribution with all it’s problems with instaliations and particulary from the internet. I need as much packets on any distribution DVD as posible. At this time my preference is windows because of lack multimedia on linux in distributions. Particulary TV, caption, divx, DVD, mpeg2divx…
I would say for linux fans – if you choose for me yours favorite distributions then linux will be exotic OS for ordinary users for a long time.
September 11th, 2007 5:33 am
[...] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments [...]
September 11th, 2007 5:37 am
I woud like Kanotix
Kanotix is a rock-solid Linux based on Debian etch, which contains the newest packages and recognizes more modern hardware than any other operating system in use today.
Give the little Distros a Chance!
Greets Adapter
September 11th, 2007 5:43 am
I personally am a Ubuntu user on a daily basis and I have got it running on a R40 for my fiance and she is loving it. It’s more responsive then Windows ever was on this computer, this aside the point is that Lenovo needs to ensure that the Linux community at large has access to drivers for all new and old hardware components used in Lenovo computers.
The best way Lenovo could assist is to ensure that hardware specifications are made available to the components used in their computers. There are teams ready of volunteers to create the necessary drivers.
This will ensure that people will use Lenovo computers regardless of distribution preferences. However I see no reason why Lenovo shouldn’t select a distribution to preinstall on its computers to both show its support to distribution providers as well as support to the Linux community at large this way.
September 11th, 2007 6:05 am
Kurumin is very userfully!
And now is based on Debian etch.
September 11th, 2007 6:19 am
[...] votar aqui Mas informacion: [...]
September 11th, 2007 6:28 am
Why cant I add Pardus as an option? People should also know, that there is a state-of-the-art GNU/Linux system which works out of the box, and which is made to be a replacement of Windows
Of course Pardus is still to small to be a commercial option, but people should know it IS an option.
http://www.pardus.org.tr/eng/index.html
September 11th, 2007 6:42 am
uhm..wrong question. Never ask linux users what kind of distro is the best. A big flamefest will usually be the result. It is impossible to make the correct choice. I for example, do not like ubuntu. I use it everyday on my powerbook, but on my thinkpad I find it to be inferior to Mandriva. The thing is, everybody has his favorite distro so you can never do it right. Choosing SuSe will mean you also collaborate with the dark-side, using Ubuntu will mean you follow the joe-users hype of the day, etc etc.
So maybe the following idea is worth consideration.
I own a thinkpad since last year. I hated having to pay MS to get one, but well. It works well. Several kernel people have one too. Nice machines with few hardware bugs. I like it better than my old macs (maybe partly because of powerpc problems when you want to use proprietary software under linux).
When I got it, I didn’t even boot it in windows but installed linux right away. Later, for some reason I decided it was useful to have windows around but somehow the rescue partition refused to install the image (well, it looks like win98 so i was not so surprised it was broken). I decided to write a linux script that would unpack and install the windows and 3rdparty programs images. The advantage was that I could choose what “extra-ware” got installed, leading to a smaller windows install. And i got to choose a small partition size for windows as well. It was a lot more useful to me than the win98 thing provided by Lenovo… Why on earth did you use windows for this? most of the scripts were in python IIRC, only problem was hunting down a linux version of pqideploy.
This got me thinking. It’s pretty trivial to install a minimal linux that is setup to let you choose several distro’s to install. You can choose one provided as image on the HDD (for people who do not have broadband), and the rest can be installed from the net via a “click n run” like interface. Most distro’s offer a net install. This would make most people happy. Just provide a standard framework for how to start a vendors installer and they will continue to do the work for you. You can even certify distros that work well on your laptop by clearly mentioning that in the selection menu. But there really isn’t that much difference if you make sure the hardware is well supported upstream. I am sure several vendors will be very happy to make a deal with you to provide support for these versions.
And also, this would prevent people having to upgrade from the older version on the disk after buying the laptop, since most linux distros have releases much more frequent than windows (even ubuntu or debian upgrades still cause weird problems occasionally).
So I’d say, think different and do different from the rest. And choose an option that fits the different world of linux.
Danny
September 11th, 2007 6:59 am
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September 11th, 2007 7:10 am
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September 11th, 2007 7:25 am
Personally, I want a real root account. I do not really care to sudo everything. I’ll go For any flavor of SLED/openSuse, Red Hat/Fedora, PCLinix OS. I have played with Ubuntu/Kunubtu, but I am prefer a real root account. I personally would not take software support, only Hardware support, But – Red Hat and Novel definitely offer top notch support for a Linux Distribution if it were required.
Your Competitor already has Ubuntu, so to be different why not offer Ubuntu and SLED as a choice. When you boil it down – the drivers will all be compatible. If you want business laptops, Red Hat and Novel are by far the safest bets.
September 11th, 2007 7:32 am
MEPIS is more stable than Ubuntu and easier than Debian. KDE is most popular environment among newbies. SimplyMEPIS is in fact the best solution.
September 11th, 2007 7:39 am
Interesting as a summary of the fame of the various distros actually:
1 – by popular demand: Ubuntu 15156
with less than one third votes from first:
2 – Debian 3700
with less than one sixth votes from first:
3 – anything without binaries 1852
4 – Kubuntu 1724
5 – Fedora 1663
with less than one tenth votes from first:
6 – Gentoo 1230
7 – Suse 1049
8 – Mandriva 921
with less than 1/20 votes from first:
9 – FreeBSD 708
10 – Opensuse 699
11 – archlinux 568
September 11th, 2007 7:39 am
[...] de ellos ha sido Lenovo, del que ya hablamos hace unas semanas, que ahora ha publicado una encuesta en uno de sus blogs oficiales, con el objetivo de que seamos los usuarios los que elijamos la [...]
September 11th, 2007 7:46 am
PC-BSD would be my suggestion (www.pcbsd.org)
September 11th, 2007 8:35 am
Ark Linux.
It’s easy enough for anyone, it supports lots of hardware, the developers are open, and it’s really easy to build customized versions e.g. with custom branding and custom applications added:
http://wiki.arklinux.org/Customized_Ark_Linux_CDs
September 11th, 2007 8:36 am
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September 11th, 2007 9:04 am
There was a poll, and anything else byted the dust in front of Ubuntu.
You may consider the eventuality of offering also kubuntu (4th classified
and in many ways similar to Ubuntu except that for the DE) to those
preferring KDE, but the results aren’t confused or fuzzy.
September 11th, 2007 9:15 am
For those doing calculations, SUSE and openSUSE = SAME Distro
1061 + 707 = 1768
And still no promotion of the poll on SUSE Forums, they must be in hibernation.
September 11th, 2007 9:29 am
We are an enterprise customer and the reason we use SLED 10 on our Thinkpad is because it works. The previous OS (Windows XP) was unstable to the point of being unusable ( 4 hour reinstalls etc.) for reasons we don’t have time to figure out. We are into production and don”t have time to be a research facility. Novell can take on that role.
We use IBM Thinkpads because of the hardware quality. Hopefully Lenovo will continue that tradition…….fdr
September 11th, 2007 9:39 am
1) Offer Linux drivers on the driver download page.
2) List “No operating System (Subtract $50)” as an option on shop.lenovo.com.
3) Watch your thinkpad sales go through the roof.
Don’t let us wait for too long. I am in a market now for a new laptop. If Lenovo offer’s Linux drivers on all the internel components, I denifitely will buy a thinkpad. If Lenovo drags its feet and wait for another two years, I might just get a Dell Ubuntu laptop.
September 11th, 2007 9:53 am
I voted for PCLinuxOS. I used to work for a non-profit and we needed a Linux alternative for the OS on systems that were donated to us. PCLinuxOS has worked flawlessly with everything we had been given whether it was laptop or desktop — Compaq, Dell, IBM. I stopped searching once I stumbled upon it. Also, it is fast becoming the ‘next big thing’ in the Linux community (according to Distrowatch).
Peace be with you.
+ OD
September 11th, 2007 10:24 am
Most of my colleagues use Debian on their ThinkPads. Personally, I prefer to use OpenBSD on my ThinkPad X41. Important for us:
- Open Source drivers. No blobs please!
- Good power management. Please keep supporting APM in addition to ACPI.
- We’d like to buy our ThinkPads without an operating system license.
September 11th, 2007 10:45 am
Well, I’ve read some post of people that desagree the support to only one distribution. I guess they’re wrong. Support one distro will focus the energy on one target, with higher probability to get a distro working fine. I would prefer have just one supported distro (even if it’s not mine favourite) working fine to have many supported distros working badly. However I guess this distro should not be tied to a company, should be lsb compliant and with standard configuration tools that makes changing to other distro no much hard (ie no yast).
As Ubuntu is shipped with Dell’s pc, I guess it’s the best choice. If all Company will focus on the same distro Linux marcket will be less confusing, and at the and all Linux users will benefit.
September 11th, 2007 11:00 am
And please, if you do something like that, please make sure that European market isn’t let behind.
Currently it’s a pain to buy a configured Thinkpad in Europe (it’s just not possible).
September 11th, 2007 11:12 am
I voted PCLinuxOS. That is the distro I install and am moving anyone I previously installed with Suse to. It is multimedia ready, easy, solid and offers a fit and finish to a KDE based distro that is second to none. Regardless, and at the risk of starting a flame war, Pick a KDE based distro. Ubuntu is great, I prefer KDE, so it is not for me. Overlaying KDE on top of Ubuntu takes a lot of time and lots of tweaking. K-Ubuntu out of the box is decent, but is, imho, not as polished as the KDE based distro’s.
For any laptop purchase, a KDE based distro would be my first choice.
TripleII
September 11th, 2007 11:16 am
Someone mentioned earlier that asking GNU/Linux folks about distros invites a flame war. That may be, but I think the thoughtful user realizes that it’s the solutions, not the distributions, that make GNU/Linux stand out above Windows and Mac operating systems.
This is an interesting poll — and as others have mentioned, Debian and Ubuntu have a relationship that should essentially put the pair together, and my vote goes for Debian.
Although I want to make a pitch for a distro that I’ve just tried and like very much — hoping it can get traction. That distro is Linux Mint, which I think has a bright future.
Larry the Free Software Guy
http://larrythefreesoftwareguy.wordpress.com
September 11th, 2007 11:29 am
Suse and OpenSuse are the same distro? Really? Since when????!?
September 11th, 2007 11:58 am
That would be a great move, especially in Europe
OpenSuse or (K)ubuntu are fine!
September 11th, 2007 12:02 pm
[...] in the world, is wondering what Linux distribution to support on their Thinkpad computers. They are running a poll on their blog to find out what their customers want. Ubuntu is currently leading, followed by Debian. Thank you [...]
September 11th, 2007 12:46 pm
[...] Il produttore di pc Lenovo sul blog aziendale chiede agli utenti quale distribuzione di linux deve mettere sui suoi pc. http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=98 [...]
September 11th, 2007 12:54 pm
I want to buy a pre-installed laptop with a common Linux distribution.
If it does not suit me the drivers should be in source or common binary blobs so I can switch from Ubuntu to lets say openSuSE.
I do not want to buy software support. I would like hardware support based on Ubuntu since you obviously are going that way. Deal would be if hardware does not work on your provided Ubuntu live CD it is broken.
Yes I want suspend to ram. Hibernate is not that interesting on Linux since it boots 10x faster than any xp or vista.
September 11th, 2007 1:04 pm
First, *BSD is not Linux
Second, if you ever ship notebooks with a preinstalled Linux/*BSD/Plan9/whatever-operating system, please remove the silly “Windows”-Key!
September 11th, 2007 1:25 pm
Those who think that Ubuntu is just for beginners are sadly misinformed. Ubuntu has enterprise level support and a brilliantly easy to use server edition. I personally run production DB and web servers using Dapper (the current Long-Term Support edition). I also administer 10 Ubuntu work stations used for serious scientific computation.
Also, the complaints of”fanboys” are nothing more than ubuntu-envy.
Don’t believe me. Check out Google Trends:
http://www.google.com/trends?q.....amp;sort=3
September 11th, 2007 1:48 pm
Plain and simple, Lenovo should emulate early IBM. Make the laptop as generically hardware compatible as possible. Then provide the option to choose a distro CD from the top 20 distros or the top 5 parent distros. Like say Debian, RedHat, Mandrake, Gentoo etc (not a real list people). Once support for the parent distors is in place children like Ubunto, and PcLinuxOS will be able to kjeep up with driver support fairly easy.
September 11th, 2007 1:57 pm
I have been using Ubuntu on a dual boot with XP, just in case. I can honestly say I haven’t booted XP for months. It has to be Ubuntu. I am looking to buy a new Notebook, and really like Lenovo. This would clinch it for me!!
September 11th, 2007 2:22 pm
me gusta freebsd mucho, pero para notebooks, lo mejor es un linux
por eso, arch!
ahora si es para personas comunes
pclinuxos
ubuntu
September 11th, 2007 2:27 pm
The important thing to bear in mind is that underneath the glitz all Linux distributions are the same. Linux professionals know that, but the general public don’t look any further than the glitz.
Therefore, if your target market is the general public, then you have to install a simple, light weight Linux distribution, which cuts it down to Ubuntu, Kubuntu or PCLinuxOS.
I have found that MS Windows users get on more readily with KDE than with Gnome, so that leaves Kubuntu and PCLinuxOS. That will give Joe Soap something to get going with rather easily, while a professional will quickly replace it with his own Frankenstein Linux version anyway.
Just my tuppence worth.
September 11th, 2007 2:38 pm
Yes, we want an original ThinkPad keyboard without the stupid Windows key for all GNU/Linux preinstalled notebooks!
September 11th, 2007 3:03 pm
Why do we have to have so many Distros?
“I like Ubuntu”; Why? Because it boots faster than SUSE.. guess what? You suck and who care how fast it boots. I highly doubt that you are so damn productive that 20 seconds is going to matter.. You make my life more difficult by creating fifty different distros. I’m so sick of it. Lets get down to a few distros with a common base so linux can take over the server market and someday the desktop. I’m sick of the distros.. Maybe I’ll create a distro for people who are sick of distros..
September 11th, 2007 3:09 pm
[...] RELACIONADOS: EN EL BLOG OFICIAL DE LENOVO LA GRAN PREGUNTA…: http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=98 « En un toque de [...]
September 11th, 2007 3:13 pm
Everything is Ubuntu these days, but do yourself a favor and
try PCLinuxOS.
Out of the box it is more user friendly than Ubuntu, yet bears some similarity to Microsoft Windows.
Thanks from a Linux community member
Rich D.
September 11th, 2007 3:18 pm
With respect, the plea for a choose-your-own distro at install time is not realistic. Fine if you are selling only to kernel hackers, CERN scientists and other geeks. That is not supportable in the rest of the market, as anyone who has ever run a helpdesk could tell you.
I am a long time Windows user who has used Ubuntu for a while and I have yet to get a distro with which the wireless simply works (as well as Windows, which sticks in my craw to say), and I’m not betting on it working with the next release either.
I respect Debian and I like having root but Ubuntu has a runaway momentum, and a trusted release cycle, and only PCLinuxOS (which works perfectly with all hardware I’ve tried it on) is close. If it’s a numbers decision it should be Ubuntu by a mile.
To maintain its resale value any machine with Linux pre-installed should be capable of being downgraded to Windows Vista and should thus retain Windows keys. However, they shoud have little penguins on them
September 11th, 2007 3:22 pm
CentOS 5 please
Willy
September 11th, 2007 3:26 pm
[...] jamais, vous voulez participer au sondage, suivez le lien [...]
September 11th, 2007 3:38 pm
I have run SuSE, SLED, OpenSuse, Ubuntu…
…But, having been running Linux Mint for 4 – 5 months now. I comes with a whole host of versions. Check it out.
JJMacey
September 11th, 2007 3:45 pm
I am a fan of Ubuntu linux, and I would very much like to get a thinkpad. If lenovo would offer ubuntu pre installed (or pretty much any big linux distro – as long as hardware support is there I can wipe and reinstall my fav), I would snap one up real quick.
The thinkpad with SLED that is being offered now is not an option for me, as I would want to get an R series (besides I am not gonna pay a hefty premium just to get a thinkpad that works with SLED, cause thinkpads are generally friendly towards linux anyway).
Summary -> Offer Linux on all thinkpads! I would buy it!
September 11th, 2007 4:07 pm
[...] Allerdings ist nicht klar, welche Distribution. Die Präferenzen gehen momentan Richtung SuSE. Das lässt sich aus dem Weblog eines der Analysten von Lenovo schliessen – die Pläne sind schon sehr konkret, sonst würde man diese Nachricht nicht [...]
September 11th, 2007 4:11 pm
“plan 9 from bell labs”
this one really made me laugh
September 11th, 2007 4:21 pm
I’m using Gentoo on my 3000-N100, and I think it would be a good thing for Lenovo to support. This isn’t a big help to the average user, but the things Lenovo would have to explain to support Gentoo are the things that you’d need to tell other distributions in order for them to support your hardware themselves. And I think that distributions provide more effective tech support than OEMs can, for the simple reason that problems tend to arise from things changing or being unusual, and the software side changes a lot more often for any given user than the hardware does, so the distribution is going to be getting more localization of problems. But then distributions need to know technical information about the user’s machine (How do I find out the exact hardware configuration of this user’s laptop so I can specify the right drivers to enable? What odd interactions do you get between programs and hardware and the BIOS?); this information, however, is the information that enthusiasts running Gentoo will be asking anyway, so your responses to Gentoo questions will help other distributions answer user questions when your hardware matters.
September 11th, 2007 4:30 pm
I think you should do two things:
- First: Get your driver support to be on the kernel so all distributions can benefit
- Second go with one distro and make your software (diagnostics, backups, etc) available with them and get it to work out of the box. From there it will flow over to all the other distros and everybody will be happy
Lookng forward for one of those thikpads!
September 11th, 2007 5:21 pm
I’m happy about any laptop specially assembled for Linux usage: I’m about to buy one but it’s really tricky to find one that suits my needs AND linux.
I don’t care that much about the distribution or whether linux is actually preinstalled. More important, however, should be THAT you support it with selected hardware and offer the options to buy your laptops without windows.
September 11th, 2007 6:07 pm
[...] Here is the link. Go make your voice heard for Ubuntu! [...]
September 11th, 2007 6:20 pm
Hello
I am the developer of comfusion (ubuntu + compiz-fusion), capable of making work the effects of compiz-merger in dvd-live for the portable one with very low resources, better all that is the machine, improve the effects, I write this for which Lenovo’s page does not leave me to add my distribution COMFUSION
Http: // pollolinux.blogia.com/
Marco A POllolinux
September 11th, 2007 7:10 pm
“Anyone that refuses to carry binary-only drivers, so that all others will also benefit, as it will require documented hardware1″
is best option I meant to vote for that but Slackware falls under this option as well (my distro of choice). If the Hardware Manufacturers document their hardware then all Linux distros would be able to support it rather then only a few Simple as that! why vote for only one distro? doesnt make anysense (Linux distros were not made to compete with each other, kills Idea of GNU software)
September 11th, 2007 8:07 pm
# kai Says:
Suse and OpenSuse are the same distro? Really? Since when????!?
Since the person who designed the poll had SLED and SUSE as a choice (and then someone, after several days, added openSUSE), what do you think is the difference between this original option (SLED & SUSE)???
Leave the semantics aside, please!
September 11th, 2007 8:23 pm
This is all I have to say:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=503233
September 11th, 2007 9:01 pm
It would be a step forward. No ndiswrapper, no suspend-problems.
)
Lenovo would be the way to go for a Linux-User.
I think the most sensibel choice would be to pick the Distro with the biggest Community.
That would be Debian/Ubuntu or Fedora (no Suse please … please … no Suse … Ok?
If you ask me, i would pick Fedora
September 11th, 2007 9:28 pm
I am not reading any posts. I am however, OK with pointing out that FreeBSD is not a Linux distro. It is a true decsendant of AT&T Unix. As for Linux, The two easiest distributions to install are OpenSuSE10.2 and Ubuntu7.4. However, Ubuntu Ultimate 1.4 is pretty sweet to the eye candy crowd and is basically Ubuntu 7.04 anyways.
My 2 cents.
September 11th, 2007 9:31 pm
THE paradigm shift: Open BIOS and Open (Hard)Ware…ask
OpenBSD.
September 11th, 2007 9:57 pm
Linux on a ThinkPad 500 got me through college and grad school. In fact, the TP500 picture at thinkwiki.org is of the very computer sitting here on my “museum” shelf.
Would it be too late to request a DOS+Windows 3.1 refund?
As long as I’ve pined for a Linux-preloaded 1st-tier laptop, I’m actually not sure I’ll buy one now, what with the sudden abundance of even more portable and innovative “open” gadgets: Nokia N800 (have), Neo1973, Asus Eee, OLPC (TBD), and maybe even the Google phone. Wish I could justify having one of each.
Anyway, if I ever do buy a Lenovo laptop, it would have to have all of its bits and pieces working with a stock Ubuntu installation.
September 11th, 2007 10:55 pm
As for the auto industry,
Siemens NX CAD software runs on Redhat.
September 11th, 2007 11:16 pm
I have used Linux on Thinkpads ever since a T22 was available with (gasp) Caldera. I read that there may be plans to offer Linux for home users on low-end machines only (the non-Thinkpad Lenovos, R series). I hope that won’t be the case. I am in the market for a T series Thinkpad every 2-3 years, and so are a lot of people I know. Oh, and it should have a tasteful penguin sticker on the outside of the machine
September 12th, 2007 1:25 am
I recently ordered a new thinkpad and would have requested Debian if the option had been offered.
Like most comments here, I agree that the real issue is quality hardware with well established driver support options. Almost any distro would work if the machine avoids proprietary and closed source components.
Support the community with well established kernel driven support for Lenovo machines and the sales will follow. Kernel devs would would appreciate dedicated resources to better integrate new hardware.
September 12th, 2007 2:58 am
Although I’m typing this on my Lenovo Z60m running Mepis 6.5.something, I would suggest that Lenovo have a Ubuntu offering for “consumers” and a RedHat offering for business.
In the long run, choosing hardware devices for your notebooks that have open source drivers or at least open and well-documented APIs for the drivers will perhaps bring you your greatest ROI.
There are many websites and a wiki for enthusiasts who prefer Linux on their Thinkpads — having open drivers will ensure that the technological savvy buyers will look to your product first because they know that drivers are available and will stay current.
September 12th, 2007 3:10 am
sory… ;-P i can’t speak engglis very well..
but install UBUNTU, XUBUNTU, EDUBUNTU, and many more…
is better..and nice
and one more Unstall Win xp, BadVista, dan kroni-krini nya….wkkwkwkkwk
September 12th, 2007 4:32 am
I think Ubuntu, or better Kubuntu (KDE is simpler for an user coming from Windows), is the best choice. It’s the simplest real free *unlike Novell’s) and open distribution. I think that a power-user like an easier OS than an extra performance improvement (Ubuntu and derivated uses i386 packages, unlike gentoo that build all packages with maximum optimisation)..that’s why Windows has gain the market in past years!
September 12th, 2007 4:54 am
Because simple popular and good support in the forum, sery easy to new soft with synaptic.
Bye
September 12th, 2007 6:17 am
I voted Debian because I think it is Debian that you should support, though possibly (K)Ubuntu that you should offer preinstalled. I actually use Gentoo myself, but seeing support for Debian would give me confidence that drivers are available for all your hardware whatever distro I chose to use.
I’d love to see you offer full support for Gentoo, with sourcecode ebuilds available for all drivers for all ThinkPad models … but if you’re hoping to sell ThinkPads to users who are coming to linux for the first time then your preinstalled offering should probably be less expert-friendly than Gentoo.
I agree with others here that it is important that you should make drivers — preferably sourcecode drivers — freely and easily available for all your hardware, so that your users can install and run whatever they want.
I also think that it is important that you should make linux (whatever distro you choose) a standard option on all your machines — or at least a wide range of them — all over the world. Don’t do what Dell have done in the UK and offer just one model of laptop with Ubuntu, and that a disappointingly low-spec machine (and at a higher cost than the same machine with Windows). Be proud to offer linux, offer it everywhere, draw attention to the fact that it is available — don’t hide it away, offer it in dual-boot configurations so that users can choose to pay the extra 50-100 bucks (or whatever) and have Windows as well if they want (explain that decision to them).
Above all, though, make the machines easy to buy. Offer them direct on your own website at sensible prices (I believe you do in the US, but you don’t here in the UK). It’s hard to find a retailer that stocks Windows ThinkPads (apart from a few R models) in the UK, and even the big online vendors don’t offer the full range — even if linux ThinkPads were available I might have difficulty finding anyone actually selling them. That is not good for business.
September 12th, 2007 7:03 am
I believe Open Source drivers it’s the way to go.
Installing a distribution is easy because it’s automatic. For Debian (and Debian-based), create the preseed file, I know that Suse has an automatic installer, I guess that all distributions have an automatic installer.
I’ve a T43 and it just works, the wireless card is Intel, the graphic card is Intel, the chipset, … Drivers is the key.
September 12th, 2007 8:37 am
[...] en una reciente publicación en su blog, el analista de competitividad mundial de Lenovo Matt Kohut [...]
September 12th, 2007 9:28 am
Supporting Debian benefits all other distro since it’s the distribution with the highest standards regarding open source policy, it’s the most commonly used distro among developers and many popular distros are Debian’s “child”.
But the most important regarding Linux integration would be to cooperate with Kernel developers team : most of the hardware is kernel dependent more than distro specific.
Send an email to Linus Torvalds and the FSF about what should be done to ensure broad access to your laptops for any Linux users.
Anyway, Lenovo’s current policy regarding Open Source rocks, it will be seriously taken into account when i’ll renew my machines. Go on !
September 12th, 2007 9:51 am
I have been running Ubuntu v7.04 on a T60p system provided by my employer and it has been working very well. The ATI graphics was a challenge, but I got it worked out. The degree of desktop usability provided by Ubuntu along with the amount of end user info out there and the ease of use and size of the repositories make Ubuntu a good choice for end user focused systems.
Lenovo does not really need to limit themselves to just Ubuntu as long as they can provide Linux friendly hardware that would allow a knowledgeable user to install the distro of their choice. Just be sure to provide systems with video, m/b, network, wireless, etc. hardware that has good native Linux support and Lenovo will go a long way toward being the Linux users hardware vendor of choice. They don’t really have to offer specific support for many different versions, the end user community can do their thing if the hardware lets us.
September 12th, 2007 10:08 am
[...] the fourth biggest computer manufacturer in the world, is making a poll asking YOU about which distribution of Linux should run on their systems. If this kind of thing interests you, [...]
September 12th, 2007 10:13 am
[...] grand public dans un futur proche. C’est dans cette optique qu’il propose un vote sur son blog afin de déterminer quelle est celle qui satisferait le plus grand nombre [...]
September 12th, 2007 10:19 am
Please ADD Sabayon Linux Distro!
I vote them!
September 12th, 2007 10:48 am
thanks for the blog and giving importance to customers!!
Ubuntu is the simplest and automatic distribution at this time! The only big problem as all the other distributions is the drivers for the newest hardwares.
If this problem is solved, I’ll buy one for me and more for my family and friends.
Come on Linux…
September 12th, 2007 10:50 am
I like my ubuntu on my T60p because it’s very easy to install with the binary drivers (ipw3945 and fglrx) but I prefer an entire free hardware !
Lenovo, do the first free laptop !
September 12th, 2007 11:04 am
[...] que dans un billet sur leur blog, Levono se pose la question de proposer d’autres distributions. Dont ubuntu [...]
September 12th, 2007 11:09 am
I think that giving the customer a choice from the top five Linux distros would be a good idea. In time maybe expand the Linux line-up to the top ten distros. You would have lots more happy customers.$$$$$
Eric – Fedora 7 is awesome!
September 12th, 2007 11:15 am
I think this is great! I’m running Ubuntu GNU/Linux on a ThinkPad T43p since more than one year and I can even use the fingerprint reader! (thanks ThinkFinger developpers!) Before that Ubuntu was running on an “old” 600X
September 12th, 2007 11:20 am
My brother and I both have Thinkpads (x40 and t43). We also LOVE linux. We use Debian on our servers but when it came to putting it on our laptops, Ubuntu was a simple choice. It is fast, stable and user friendly.
Since I added my Ubuntu partition (6 months ago), I never went back to Windows. I kept the windows partition in case I would need it but Ubuntu has everything I need for personal use or for work.
As for SUSE, the package manager sucks and the whole thing is pretty damn slow. I might as well put Vista on the machine.
Good luck with your findings. I am happy that you are still evaluating the situation.
cheer
http://techno.fm
September 12th, 2007 12:07 pm
Please open the document of hardware and sell thinkpad without any OS installed. It is the best for all open source project.
September 12th, 2007 12:16 pm
[...] it seems Lenovo is running a Linux distribution poll to gauge interest in the various distributions, as a possible precursor to pre-loading one on some [...]
September 12th, 2007 12:47 pm
My experiences with different Linux distros so far have been very difficult, one version works and then the updated version doesn’t… and generally nothing stays the same in the long run. However the average user doens’t like to learn how to do the same thing again and again when something changes, so my suggestion is to stay away from Linux and choose one of the BSDs instead or Solaris. They are far more stable systems in every way and not at all as difficult as their reputation seems to be. In fact I’ve found OpenBSD and NetBSD to be very easy to configure.
September 12th, 2007 1:04 pm
Choose hardware that is fully supported and having open specifications is the way \o/
September 12th, 2007 1:34 pm
I voted for Mandriva, because that is what I use (I recently switched back after giving Kubuntu a try).
However, I do not really care what distro you pre-install, as long as the hardware is easily supported. I can then install whatever I choose and everything will work out of the box. Linux installers are incredibly easy to use these days, and people who cannot manage even a simple installer can usually find someone to help (I have helped a few people out myself).
September 12th, 2007 1:38 pm
I really doubt the very nature of this kind of polls means something more than “our users want open source friendly hardware” …
As a matter of fact, going with (for instance, Ubuntu, which has the lead with 17418 votes) would mean neglecting the rest of the would be consumers desires ( which account for, roughly 20226) …
So, which way to go?
IMHO .. just sell laptops with quality, well documented hardware so 20226+17418 would be consumers can reap the benefits of your effort, and let them choose whatever operating system they like … or at least give them the chance to switch safely from whatever you want to preinstall to whatever they want to use, assuring them that swtching to another OS won’t be a problem, because all distros support their laptop hardware …
my 2 cents
September 12th, 2007 1:58 pm
[...] Fuente: Lenovo.Blogs [...]
September 12th, 2007 2:01 pm
[...] le Blog de Lenovo se trouve un sondage vous permettant de choisir la distribution que vous voulez voir apparaitre dans leur futur [...]
September 12th, 2007 2:02 pm
[...] le Blog de Lenovo se trouve un sondage vous permettant de choisir la distribution que vous voulez voir apparaitre dans leur futur [...]
September 12th, 2007 2:28 pm
I voted Debian because so many distros are based on it, and it’s very adamant about free everything. If you put out computers that work with a default Debian install, they are pretty much sure to work on any other distro because they’d be using all free drivers. I use Ubuntu, and I love using it, but it is lenient on binary drivers, and I would like to see the computers be fully Debian-compatible, which would be default make them usable for Ubuntu and practically any other distro.
September 12th, 2007 2:33 pm
[...] adaptée aux particuliers. Lenovo se lance donc sur les pas de Dell, et demande aux internautes de choisir la distribution qu’ils souhaiteraient voir sur ces PC.. Aucun planning n’est fixé, [...]
September 12th, 2007 3:18 pm
I am writing this comment from a X61s with Ubuntu. So please, support it officially, that would be great!
September 12th, 2007 4:13 pm
I use Debian but my vote goes for Ubuntu as it’s still much nicer with newbies.
September 12th, 2007 4:48 pm
The BSDs are NOT LINUX. The BSDs are real UNIX, and not UNIX LIKE.
Having said that, my vote is for OpenBSD.
September 12th, 2007 4:52 pm
What kind of professionalism and knowledge you show when you list BSDs under Linux distributions? This is boring. Linux people seem to behave the same way in Open Source world as Microsoft does in global market: extreme ignorance and lack of will to understand things.
September 12th, 2007 5:03 pm
[...] s’en assurer, votez pour Mandriva à ce sondage proposé le site blog du constructeur : http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=98 This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 at 11:03 pm and is filed under [...]
September 12th, 2007 5:35 pm
Great, just be sure to offer the stuff worldwide.
September 12th, 2007 5:40 pm
We just need a laptop with documented hardware so that we can write drivers. The best solution will be a laptop including only hardware with open source drivers already written. After that put any distribution you want we will be happy (installing a distribution on a friendly computer is a 30 minutes-3 clicks process)
September 12th, 2007 5:46 pm
After DELL with Ubuntu and Shuttle with Suse, it’s a great pleasure to discover that lenovo offers it’s own solution with GNU/Linux inside! And for my distrib choice, without hesitate, UBUNTU powa!
September 12th, 2007 8:55 pm
# Alex Davis Says:
September 12th, 2007
As for SUSE, the package manager sucks and the whole thing is pretty damn slow. I might as well put Vista on the machine.
What SUCKS is people like you who come to places like this and engage in cheap whorehouse distro bashing, SHAME ON YOU!
I wish Linux will have the same market share and support (software & hardware) as Vista has and will have!!!
Notebooks (“laptops”) require proper power management utilities, and in my experience, having also tested Ubuntu 7.04, Kubuntu 7.04, Mandriva 2007.1, Fedora 7, Mint 2.2, PCLOS 2007, Mepis (6.5), openSUSE 10.2 is the ONLY one that works properly when on AC power on my Acer machine.
For those that bring up the issue of package manager, SMART is available for use across the various distros and works very well in Fedora 7 and openSUSE 10.2, amongst others. It is said to have superior package dependency management capabilities. I use it and was able to easily switch between Fedora 7 and openSUSE 10.2 because of it.
Cheers
September 12th, 2007 9:19 pm
It cannot be said enough: if you want to be seen as “the new IBM” as far as laptops are concerned, choosing well-supported hardware is the only place to start.
Linux distributions vary only a little bit from one to the next. Although distros often add configuration and installation utilities, and package management, the software is mostly the same between linux distributions.
Thus, if you focus on one distribution, you can add programs and configurations specific to your laptops; however, if you focus on good hardware choices in your laptops, you will support not only the distribution of your choice (should you choose a specific one) but also cater to the Enthusiasts who wish to do things for themselves.
The biggest area for Linux-related improvement on the Manufacturer’s end of things is having exceptional documentation and comprehensive hardware specifications. Focus on making sure your components are well supported by vanilla linux kernels and drivers and you will also make your laptops compatible with every distribution there is.
September 12th, 2007 9:46 pm
There is some great discussion here and I agree completely with the point a number of posters are citing, that being that it is a multi faceted discussion revolving around 1.)hardware support with open drivers ..and 2.)OS.
Being relatively new to linux myself, I see what the common newbie experiences when being converted over from Winblowz. Drivers issues with regard to hardware in thier systems are among the most frustrating of issues. The biggest of those being Video and Connectivity to the outside world. I think if those two hurdles are overcome(and it’s getting better all the time!), all the rest will start to fall in place and the “2.)OS” issue becomes less of an argument with regard to users.
System manufacturers will still need to consider market penetration with thier choice in OS because they are afterall working with a bottomline and profitability considerations. There are already legions of (insert-distro-here) community support for various top tier distros and that will help as long as the manufacturers are vigilant about pointing new system buyers to those communitys if they don’t themselves provide some measure of inhouse support. Cutting down the frustration factor for new users will go a long way to not only growing the potential linux user base but also then giving the manufacturers reason to support a growing market which is of course to have linux on the desktop as a validated “choice” for system buyers.
September 12th, 2007 10:14 pm
All your competitors offer Linux, so you might offer BSD, preferably FreeBSD because of the number of ported applications (17500+), speed and reputation in stability and excellent resources usage (according to many surveys, much better and subtle than Linux).
Linux distros tend to commercialise, they tweak third-party applications (Xorg, KDE, Gnome), usually fooling users that they are their authors in very aggressive campaigns that bear much resemblance to what usually does one huge (and in FOSS community) infamous software vendor. And you will end up in offering yet another non-flexibile graphical interface.
Ship Thinkpads with small and nasty FreeBSD and users will have much more choice — isn’t it a great way to advertise your laptops?
September 12th, 2007 10:33 pm
There are a lot of comments here like “support Ubuntu officially” — what does it mean? What is different in supporting Ubuntu and supporting Mandriva? They are both Linux kernels, GNU tools, Xorg and GUI, all packed under one name. The same drivers, the same resources (in)efficiency.
People can run KDE and Gnome on FreeBSD just fine (I prefer it, but the same goes for other Open Source systems that are not Linux). And under their real names, they don’t need Gnome foot replaced by a “distro” symbol. We speak here about other things: if Lenovo wants to officially support another OS, we speak about efficiency in using their hardware, quality of native drivers, etc. This is a real life: and I bet that FreeBSD wins here over Linux.
Many people here argue that distro X is catchy for Windows users. Soooo?? Maybe it is, bravo! Offering BSD, you’ll offer a real alternative and new refreshing way of thinking, and this can be very catchy for many users if advertised appropriately.
September 13th, 2007 3:00 am
why not a educative distribution and more for public distribution ?
Mandriva is the best distribution for the school.
Stay a see so mandriva not is a best distribution for the all people…
Dell is partner de ubuntu, lenevo can’t parteners ubuntu for me !
Stay suze, fedora, pc os linux …
sorry for the bad english
Bye
September 13th, 2007 4:52 am
[...] Dell, Lenovo decided to ask users which Linux distribution they should put on Thinkpads. Seriously, who cares? If I buy a laptop that comes with Linux pre-installed, my first step would [...]
September 13th, 2007 4:53 am
“This is a real life: and I bet that FreeBSD wins here over Linux.”
Interesting, but why FreeBSD got less than 2,5% of the votes then?
Other choiches are almost all linux based….
September 13th, 2007 5:33 am
[...] Distro To Be Supported on IBM ThinkPad http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=98 Thank you all for the well-reasoned and articulate discussion. I hope that it will continue. I’m [...]
September 13th, 2007 5:42 am
This poll is not fair, since many commercial distribution (RedHat, Suse but also Mandriva) are used in big companies, where only *one* person can vote (since i presume there is an IP validation). On my organisation for instance, we are on the site more than 1000 and only one vote is allowed due to the IP limit.
No question why ubuntu is so much above the others (like debian, kubuntu, etc), those are not used in real business work (and will probably never be the target dor the Lenovo+GNU/Linux installation).
To be complete, i must add i’m a Mandriva afficionado (for years), i’ve tested a 4/5 other systems/distributions (as an expert user) (Ubuntu, Fedora, RedHat6/7/8/9, CentOS, LFS, FreeBSD, Debian) and the only one providing me sufficient robustness on a day to day basis *is* Mandriva. Not to say it works like a charm on Lenovo laptops due to its excellent hardware coverage.
Do you have any way of including the corporate (SOHO and big companies) votes into the poll (i mean most of us vote on their working hours …).
September 13th, 2007 5:57 am
As stated before, a supported distribution doesn’t really matter to me.
But providing a system with open drivers that work well for your hardware would be the best thing you have ever done. That way all the distributions would work very well with your laptops.
I own an IBM x31, and now it’s very well supported by Linux (should I say perfectly ?).
I have nothing more to ask.
The fact is that now we have to be careful about what we buy and often have to wait for the “old” computers until they get good reverse engineered linux drivers.
If you support it as a new product it would be a lot easier.
Thanks for that good move.
September 13th, 2007 7:06 am
If the laptop is Linux compatible, we do the rest. We spend lot of time looking for hardware compatibility, and sometimes we have not that time. We bought two laptops for our office, we pay for two Oses that we do not use. But they are very good laptops to use with Linux. We never need support for common things as mail, word processor, slideshows, remote desktop, etc.
Thx,
Jorge
September 13th, 2007 7:12 am
[...] Dell, Lenovo decided to ask users which Linux distribution they should put on Thinkpads. Seriously, who cares? If I buy a laptop that comes with Linux pre-installed, my first step would [...]
September 13th, 2007 7:26 am
Hi,
I think the right question is not which alternativ OS you might support. I’m sure that if you give the specification of your hardwares (or at least a proprietary library with a documented API) you’ll see the ermergence of a lot of free software for all non-Windows OS. Then the distributors maintainers will choose if they offer packages for their own distros. The gain is evident for everyone: you only have to develop a library, compile it for the different available architectures (linux x86, linux AMD64, BSD, …), user-end apps will be done by the community.
On the other hand, if the poll was done to know which alternativ OS you might preinstall on the Thinkpads then it’s your own choice. Maybe a popular distro as Ubuntu is right, even if Ubuntu is Debian. In my opinion, the best choice would be to offer the choice between MS Windows, a linux distro (which one doesn’t really matter, surely Ubuntu and Mandriva are more user-friendly), and no OS. Of course, the prices of the machines should be adjusted, users have in mind that Windows is quiet expensive, Linux should be cheaper, and no OS should be even cheaper (for the same hardware I mean). I was surprised when I saw other constructors sell Linux with a higher price than Windows (for the same hardware)!
Offering a choice upon the OS the user want to run is a good policy I think, but to be really innovativ, you should not restrict the choice between two particular ones.
Regards,
Tâm
September 13th, 2007 9:00 am
I agree with what I read above, at least it is important that lenovo provides good driver support and open spec to the community (kernel team etc…)
but what people tend to forget here is that they’re advanced users and already know about linux. For lambda users which have always heard of windows, because they’ve bought their PC with it, giving them an alternative might be a good choice.
I voted for mandriva as they provide locales for many countries (70 languages if I’m not wrong)
They also have a mandriva control center which is easy to use for beginners, unlike ubuntu…
PClinuxOS also has it as it is a mandriva-based distribution.
Plus mandriva is present in 140 countries so you might there have a strong partner to work with.
I suggest you to make your own opinion and try some of them, at least the biggest one (you will then have partners to work with) which are imho Mandriva, Red Hat, Novell and Debian.
I’m sure you have engineers who know a lot about ergonomics and they’ll make the good choice.
What I mean here is that this poll is only targeting linux users. If you give windows users a user-friendly alternative, they’ll be satisfied.
If some people don’t have their distribution sold with the PC, i’m sure they’ll install it themselves
but as far as newbies are concerned, giving them a fully functional system which runs perfectly out of the box is perhaps the most important to me.
Anyway thanks a lot for taking time to listen to us, my next notebook will be a thinkpad, even if there’s no mandriva inside !
September 13th, 2007 9:12 am
Re: to kai
Hi,
> “This is a real life: and I bet that FreeBSD wins here over Linux.”
>
> Interesting, but why FreeBSD got less than 2,5% of the votes then?
> Other choiches are almost all linux based….
I meant: “A real life for hadrware manufacturer who want to chose the best operating system (native drivers etc), and not to choose between ways how kde/gnome icons are arranged and renamed on the screen — which appears to be the main battlefield in distro wars”. In other words,
1. let Lenovo test native BSD and Linux drivers and decide: _this_ is a real battlefield.
2. when the core is good, they will easily add GUI — that’s not crucial
3. they don’t need distro control center; they should make something like Lenovo-BSD-Control-Center.
And to answer: One reason why BSD and other options are not more numerous because of the title of this page: “what linux distro you want”. I personally found this page by pure accident. These results don’t reflect actual situation.
Secondly, you say “other chioces are almost all linux based” and that contains the part of the answer. As I have already said, they are not linux-based, they _are_ one and the same Linux. Our personal installations of FreeBSD often differ more than two Linux distros.
Those fiery fans of ubuntu don’t have a contact with kernel: they just like their distro, and most usually confuse Ubuntu/Linux with Gnome. Yes, they don’t like “Linux”, they love Gnome with Ubuntu icon, “Gnome control center” renamed to “Ubuntu Preferences” (maybe not precisely this, but the Gnome titles are renamed, I know that).
Nobody denies the fact that Linux distributions are the most popular Open Source OS solution nowadays. But _that_ certainly doesn’t make them better. Windows is even more popular — so why don’t you use it _because_ of_that_? It’s easy to be just popular in the modern world.
Even you Linux users should worry about this distro fanatism. Read this comment:
http://lenovoblogs.com/insidet.....ment-22054
But that’s linux problem, and in my opinion it is a logical consequence of linux’s attitude.
Finally, I sincerely hope that Lenovo will not make its decision according to the numbers of Gnome fans who think they love Ubuntu, but according to BSD vs. Linux system-level performances.
September 13th, 2007 9:25 am
The Ubuntu hype isn’t worth much in the long term and it would be pitiful if also IBM/Lenovo jumped on that train (Dell is already there). The Debian project is a broader approach and one of the most complete bases for GNU/Linux installations. I have been using Debian on a ThinkPad T40 for several years and it works smoothly — no issues, no problems: [Pentium M, Intel chipset, ATI Mobility Radeon (3D), Atheros pcmcia (madwifi), Intel ethernet and sound, AC'97 modem, etc.]. I am writing on it right now sitting under a tree in my garden (wifi). It would be easy supporting Debian…
If they decide to support Mr. Shuttleworth’s copy, I wouldn’t care much, just delete it next time I buy a ThinkPad, as I did with Windows when I bought this one. More important is getting laptop hardware which is well supported (free drivers) by all free operating systems (GNU/Linux, xBSD, OpenSolaris…). Most ThinkPads are already quite close, so it should’t be difficult. Actually it should have been done long time ago…
September 13th, 2007 9:27 am
I understand what you mean but diversity does not necessarily make it bad! you’re perhaps right as far as ubuntu is concerned but that’s not the way you should see it. The most important is that people may be more productive or at least as productive as with windows or free bsd or mac or whatever you want.
and I agree with you : being popular does not necessarily mean being better.
that’s why I only quoted Mandriva, Novell, Red Hat and Debian, which have been present for years and have brought a lot to the community while ubuntu brought us launchpad and rosetta….
but i don’t think Lenovo should make a lenovo-BSD-control-center as you say. First because they need to have experienced engineers to work on it, while they could be working on hardware support for example. Secondly if they already have a solution, running well, why should they waste their time on it? it’s just like reinventing the wheel… and i costs a lot of money.
anyway I can’t talk about BSD as i’ve not tried it but I will
September 13th, 2007 10:07 am
Great initiative! I hope Lenovo will provide open documentation for all hardware components on ThinkPads and support OpenBSD.
September 13th, 2007 10:42 am
I do my everyday work on a MacBook Pro, but I bought myself an used IBM T41 to have a machine I can play with Linux and evaluate things without risking to break anything serious. I chose the T41 particularly because it had a reliable and fast infrastructure (gigabit, 11b/g, graphics accelerator) that could entirely be supported by free drivers.
Technically, I got “burned” with the Atheros WLAN still requiring the HAL blob (I look forward to OpenHAL), but a friend of mine runs one with all-intel Hardware and her’s is genuinely non-tainted with full hardware support. While she runs Feisty, I already play with a pre-release Gutsy, btw.
That said, I’ve grown to love the machine. Originally picked up really cheap from a leasing return sale, more or less as a toy and for the sake of owning the last genuine IBM laptop in the Richard Sapper design tradition, I’m stunned by its total, unconditional solidity in hard- and software – with an FRU# for every bit for the very unlikely event something might go wrong. Being designed as slim and fat-free, it’s one of the best computers ever built.
But to appreciate its values, it’s important to know what’s ticking inside. I was pleased and surprised to see that even the accelerometers came with proper kernel support, for example. So, for the discerning, technically oriented enthusiast (I’ve used an ICE to hack a stock kernel to work on bare 8260-metal before), just use a balanced design of the finest and best documented components inside, like the T41 already has.
With that in place, those who care (and are willing to pay for the privilege of a high-end design), will sort it out anyway. Support for the machine will filter down to the projects and end up in the Kernel or in X and finally in a version of Ubuntu or Fedora that just works, non-tainted, within one or two releases. You might want to help them a bit to speed things up, though.
As for what distro to choose for an initial install, i’d guess Ubuntu, not even for the reason that it might be superior, but that most customers would want to run it – so the fewest customers have to start their experience with a re-install. Just make sure the other distros slip on reasonably neatly.
If you use ubuntu, however, I might suggest to look into their branding options, and have a theming designed that reflects the colors and angles of the historic Sapper design better than “Human”. (Did anyone note, btw, that the ThinkPads go really with with Sapper’s Tizio…?)
September 13th, 2007 11:17 am
It would be a very good thing to have linux in standard
September 13th, 2007 11:54 am
I use FreeBSD6.2 and KDE deskenvironment on Lenovo Sunrise 125c laptop.
FreeBSD was very excellent but I worried ATI graphiccard driver on FreeBSD….
September 13th, 2007 12:05 pm
I voted for Mandriva. Not only is it a very polished distro with excellent hardware support, the internationalisation support in terms of translation coverage, input methods for Asian languages etc. is second to none.
September 13th, 2007 12:45 pm
Poll relevant ?
Is a poll really relevant when i, just voted for the 4th times for the same distro ? And i am not geek nor fanboy to just try to increase the number of votes for my favourite distro by any means.
What would be great is
1- to allow the buyer to choose between windows (since it cannot be different) and between no OS
2- to build the laptops so that all components are linux-supported by a open source driver. So any distro could be used
Anyway i really hope that Lenovo do not have to use a poll to choose a distro but can make a choice by itself by testing several distros (it is easy to find which are popular and easy to use), by writing the pros and the cons and choice. If not i really have doubt on Lenovo
September 13th, 2007 1:35 pm
As a desktop user, Well I would say that it would be best to offer many Distributions for User Choices, a Beginner might choose Ubuntu, where a more experienced user might choose Mandriva or OpenSuSe or some other Linux, but that choice is Linux no matter what.
A Good solid Distribution like Mandriva can and does suffice the more tech savvy users, its a good challenge for a Stable System. So if you have a Lenovo Laptop to place a Linux on, make sure the USER has the Choice of Distribution for their level of experience.
Yes Linux is the “Geeks” Operating System and Windows is the “child’s” OS. Lets grow up our Children a step at a time, and remember Linux is Linux and has a Plethora of Desktops and Configurations to use and have a “Personal Computer” again. Yes the PC is gone with that “Other” operating systems insistence of Forcing the issue of Compatibility to just “Their” OS.
Make a Choice, not a mistake and Lock your Users into a BOX and make sure they have help, sure the BOX is there, and the OS is there but who helps? This would be an optimum Decision to give Choice to what they want, that “Other” Operating System does not Give Choice.
September 13th, 2007 2:41 pm
Lately i’ve been asked by someone why if what you show me is free and as good as you tell me (because i was demonstrating Ubuntu to that person) it is not offered in the store, most people don’t know about it and so on.
I could only answer that me neither i wasn’t aware on Linux potential just a while ago in june of last year (2006). It’s fairly new on the desktop side and has been progressing rapidly in the last 2 years. Since then i’ve installed about ten Linux ubuntu on machines of the people around me (relatives, neighbours and also clients). And none of them ask me to go back to windows.
Why ? Because i never do a plain install, i configure the system so it is ready to function properly with codecs and so on. And they appreciate the stability and the ease of use of ubuntu compare to previous setting on windows.
I salute initiative from builders like you to offer linux option, hoping that ordinary people will buy it and that a new species of technicians like me will arise from the offer you provide
September 13th, 2007 3:10 pm
In terms of what OS to support on thinkpad, i would like to see BSD as well as Plan9. However, from your categories, i do NOT see what BSD is under Linux. Was it running off kernel.org?
September 13th, 2007 3:22 pm
I feel that FreeBSD would be the best bet since it is well documented in the good tradition of IBM, and in China they have develped thier own OS based on BSD and would do well in forwarding a OS that can be certified, Like MAC has done with Tiger.
FreeBSD gives you many port that are ready to install over 16,000 software packages (PORTS) with a large community of submiters developers and a broad range of users.
Linux is used a lot, but BSD is documented the most.
FreeBSD Offers a centralized source to find all PORTS and kernel information http://www.freebsd.org, and the http://www.freebsdfoundation.org suport and helps host many events all over the world.
September 13th, 2007 3:43 pm
My, my….hundreds of responses. Doesn’t this say something important about people’s dissatisfaction with Microsoft and a desire to escape from the “big brother” atmosphere created in Redmond?
Here’s why I like Ubuntu:
1: my Wi-Fi works. Even my oddball NetGear PC card Wi-Fi is recognized and it works. The menu is simple; which signal do you want and that’s it. None of this “select glerk/slkk/blee/ or fppt/slee/bluk” —-those terms are meaningless. Just tell me in plain english what you want, and I’ll make my selection.
2: If I can’t play a video file or need a program, I just go get one from a list and it installs. Without endless re-boots.
3: It’s fast. Sure, some call Ubuntu bloated…but my 1.5 gig processor and 2 gig of ram runs like crazy with Ubuntu.
4: I can test the distro using a live CD. Then I know if it will work on a particular machine. Try -that- with Vista, eh?
5: I can run the distro out of RAM, or install it on the drive, or even dual boot. And that procedure is a no-hassle experience.
You see, the Ubuntu creators understand that it’s the -details- that make or break a product. Their details are all nicely done.
September 13th, 2007 5:42 pm
“most usually confuse Ubuntu/Linux with Gnome. “
So when I run Gnome on FreeBSD does that make it Ubuntu?
“Those fiery fans of ubuntu don’t have a contact with kernel.”
In my experience the average Ubuntu user is someone who actually wants to get some work done. If I want to spend time hacking config files and kernel modules, there’s always…BSD. And BTW, been there done that (the hacking and BSD).
September 13th, 2007 6:17 pm
Re: mgo
> Here’s why I like Ubuntu
What a funny list
Everything you said is 100% non-Ubuntu specific, and note that
1. it’s not Ubuntu that recognizes your card but Linux kernel; and please don’t mock Unix commands, do you “Ubuntu users” know what you are using at all?
2. Please tell me what OS needs reboot after installing video player program.
3. Nothing specific about Ubuntu: it’s fast just as linux kernel + Gnome are.
4. There are plenty of other Live CDs. The same for 5.
Please tell me what “details” Ubuntu assemblers (not creators) invented that don’t exist elsewhere?
I thought the original question was seriously asked.
September 13th, 2007 7:52 pm
[...] Lenovo Interested in Linux, Opens Poll for Distro [...]
September 13th, 2007 8:15 pm
as much as i like Ubuntu, I would rather prefer it if some other distro got this deal… It seems like the lines between Ubuntu and Linux are getting pretty blurry for those not in the know… and that really is sad. Isn’t freedom what our community thrives on? And doesn’t choice form an essential part in that freedom? I feel a lot of that choice will be sacrificed if Ubuntu lands a second major deal.
Lenovo, how about ensuring that free drivers are available for your machines. That is the best thing you can do to get a good sales figure from this crowd. After that, provide how ever many distros you want. And don’t worry about tech support… we’ve been handling that part very well so far!
If you really want to make a splash with the not-so-geeky crowd then provide (sell?) legal licenses for all the multimedia codecs and all the other stuff lacking in free (as in speech) distros like a vanilla Ubuntu install. That should really ease things up for new users.
But if you really have to go with one diistro, I would prefer it not to be Ubuntu so that we can all be because we all are…
September 13th, 2007 9:31 pm
aldebaran-greetings
Ok, granted, my -technical- understanding of Linux is weak…but my -perception- of how well a particular distribution works on my ThinkPads is what I based my opinions of a Linux distro upon.
For Linux to gain more momentum it must be presented to the new users in a way they can understand, and not be confused by menus and commands that are completely foreign to them.
>do you “Ubuntu users” know what you are using at all?>
No, I suppose not. I am not a computer expert, I am a computer experimenter, and try to have an open mind about new ideas. But when new ideas are presented without proper keys to their usage (like the Linux commands-perhaps you could point me to a good guide) then, of course my response will not be very positive.
In every instance in the marketplace, a product or concept will succeed in direct proportion to the clarity of its presentation.
An Microsoft comes up short in the way many of their products are presented to the users, as well, it’s not just “Linux problem”.
September 14th, 2007 3:22 am
Ubuntu is bettler . –from china
September 14th, 2007 4:05 am
I have tried quite a few Linux distros starting with Slackware, SuSE, Debian, RedHat, Gentoo and Mandriva.
Mostly on IBM PC hardware: Thinkpads (from the ancient 770 to T42), Desktop PCs, and rack mounted servers.
My current distro of choice is Mandriva. It’s stable, reliable, easy to install and upgrade, supports a whole bunch of hardware and is really nice to use.
With Mandriva, things just work: 3d graphics, wifi, etc etc.
Try it.
September 14th, 2007 4:07 am
Oopsie: I forgot to mention that Mandriva also has very extensive language / locale support.
It’s the first distro I have seen to offer a Welsh language version.
September 14th, 2007 5:32 am
[...] l’autre Lenovo organise un sondage pour demander aux consommateurs quelle distribution Linux ils [...]
September 14th, 2007 7:11 am
[...] the PC vendors world-wide, holder of the ThinkPad brand from 2006, has launch some days before an initiative online similar to that one indetta from Dell, some month makes: the Chinese multinational asks its [...]
September 14th, 2007 7:20 am
For the non technical user, I believe there should be at least three choices: Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu. For the independent technical user there should also be a choice between Debian and Slackware. Please don’t get locked into a single-model mentality.
I would place myself in the technical user arena. I could care less about gaming or watching videos on a PC but hardware compatibility is an absolute must.
September 14th, 2007 7:54 am
Oh yeah, and btw … if choose to preinstall something, I will _no_doubt_ buy you a reasonably priced (no where near those overpriced suse proleaded laptops you guys sold some time ago … ) Mandriva Powerpack preloaded laptop …
If I wanted an Ubuntu preloaded laptop, I would have already bought my own from Dell already … but I didn’t
Btw2: check on Dell’s libsmbios and firmware-tools ’cause your lappys would most definitely need something like that
http://freshmeat.net/projects/libsmbios/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/firmware-tools/
my another 2 cents
September 14th, 2007 8:04 am
Hi
Running Ubuntu 7.04 (Fawn) on a Thinkpad T30.
Absolutely smooth. Need Automatix to get the codecs, but otherwise OK
(Actually, Google Earth reboots the system, but so what!)
-Regards
-Andy
Oulu, Finland
September 14th, 2007 8:06 am
The geeks have spoken, Debian or Ubuntu for them. But they will always be able to sort any machine out, and will almost always load their own anyway. But to make life easy for the people who need to buy a system pre-loaded, nothing beats Mandriva. It could easily come with regional settings for urpmi already set up. The hardware and peripheral handling by Mandriva is exceptionally good. This is the system for the masses. There will be no complaints.
September 14th, 2007 8:41 am
Comment ne pas deviner qu’Ubuntu est plébicité
September 14th, 2007 8:49 am
Computers are becoming like clothes or cars: each people want its own “personalized” version.
That’s the higher strength of Linux over proprietaries solutions: personalization.
So pre-install whatever distro you want, but bear in mind that people want choice, so make available drivers to download as you do for win or mac and people will use yr laptop in the way they want.
September 14th, 2007 8:58 am
who cares what OS is on the machine when you buy it, because the first thing any respectable user would do is to reinstall it. Then again, there’s alot of irrespectable users out there who would trust and use just about anything, they could benefit from some kind of easy to use children’s or school linux perhaps?
September 14th, 2007 9:20 am
Why only one? In this day of huge hard drives and LVM, offer several, and an easy way to delete the ones you don’t want and regain the disk space.
1. Ubuntu with Java, Flash, codecs, mstcorefonts preinstalled as default
2. DesktopBSD
3. CentOS
4. OpenSUSE
This would give a great start to someone who wants to be immediately productive with their computer, or try out different OS flavors. If someone wants something more technical, like Fedora or Gentoo, they’ll install it from scratch anyway.
September 14th, 2007 9:32 am
Seriously, why not just honor the Windows refund offer in the Microsoft EULA? You wouldn’t have to create an extra SKU for a Linux version of a product, just send people a card that where can stick their Microsoft license sticker, write in their serial number, and mail it back. You could even give the refund in merchandise credit that people could spend on an extra battery or a power supply or something.
The device driver issue is a no-brainer. Since the manufacturer doesn’t know when some Sales person will close a big deal to deliver Linux laptops for a big EDA or software development customer, nobody knows what’s going to need Linux support, so you have to apply a Linux driver filter for specifying parts anyway (as Matt Domsch from Dell points out they’re already doing).
September 14th, 2007 9:37 am
As IBM software developed for the linux platform runs only in distributions based on SUSE and RED HAT and considering the relationship between the big blue and Lenovo, my feeling is that Lenovo will have to choose between SLED, openSUSE or Red Hat, because of the support they offer.
September 14th, 2007 9:53 am
wow! what a lot of responses! i like to see the drivers released so that Solaris, OpenBSD, Linux and whatever other operating systems the owner of the machine want to use will have no problems installing.
thanks for asking for the feedback.
September 14th, 2007 10:09 am
If Lenovo’s systems were guaranteed to Just Work™ with any new Linux distribution (meaning that patches have been submitted upstream), I would definitely buy a laptop from them.
September 14th, 2007 10:16 am
I’ve always felt pretty loyal to ThinkPads, because the two i’d owned worked flawlessly with Linux (at least the feature i personally needed). So, i was very disappointed to find that on my new (third) ThinkPad, an N100, i think, the sound doesn’t work at all, neither under Mandriva (which is what i use) or any other distribution. It would be so nice to know, “this model is supported and everything will just work.”
September 14th, 2007 10:27 am
We have been running Mandriva since it was mandrake 5.1, it and kde are the combination that were desktop and user friendly enough to get us to switch over. For about 5 years I have been running my personal laptop a Thinkpad x21, despite it now antiquated PIII 700 and small 384 MB or ram it performs reasonably well with the latest version of Mandriva 2007.1 every thing works great just with the default install (except the modem). It has been years since I used dial up so no loss to me. I love the fit and finish of the Thinkpads, the keyboard light is sooo coool, and I was a track pad fan until I used the keyboard dot. The ergonomics of how your fingers stay near the homerow keys is great, and it does not care if your fingers are wet…
I would love to not have the Microsoft tax included when I upgrade this aging x21 in the next year, I will be looking forward to excellent linux hardware support, a factory install of mandriva and a well configured KDE desktop!
Thanks for asking, and creating this poll.
September 14th, 2007 10:29 am
I just want the hardware to be certified for Linux. For a laptop the most important thing is that the wireless work with Linux out of the box, i.e. Intel or Atheros, and under no circumstances Broadcom unless they change there policy about providing Linux drivers. I’d like your whole product line to be Linux compatible. This isn’t very hard to do because most things are supported by Linux these days. If you were to take the position that you won’t use a component that doesn’t have a Linux driver then the few vendors who have been recalcitrant would be forced to come around.
I’m indifferent to which Linux distro you use because I’m going to replace it anyway. Even if you were to put Fedora on, which is what I use, I’d end up reinstalling it because I have my own way of doing things. However there are lot’s of people who would like it preinstalled so just pick the top two vote getters. Linux is Linux so if it works with one it will work with all.
September 14th, 2007 10:41 am
Mandriva is an excellent Linux distribution.
I’ve move all my personnal computer form XP to it. It’s releable and I’m definitively satisfied.
September 14th, 2007 11:18 am
Mandriva.
- Easy entry Linux distro, especially for existing Windows users
- Good hardware support.
But imho, there should be an agreement between Mandriva and Lenovo to make sure that ALL Lenovo hardware is sufficently supported. If not, sorry.
September 14th, 2007 11:18 am
I really like the Linux environment on any distro.
I just vote for Mandriva because it has very good tools for working on every hardware that I used since 2003, and I really has great experience with this distro, not only for the stability of this distro, but for the easy configuration tools and the great desktop environment that Mandriva give us. I installed it on Servers, desktop machines (from different vendors) and also in Laptops too. I personally have a IBM Thinkpad and it works great with Mandriva.
I’m satisfied with this Distro.
September 14th, 2007 11:26 am
Even more than you guys shipping linux, I would love to easily be able to, from where I live (which currently includes Spain and Belgium), be able to order online any Thinkpad model, customize it a little (faster CPU ? More memory ?) just like I can on the US site, and get it shipped.
I have gone to amazing lengths to be able to get two of your distributors in Spain to give me what I want (they kept offering me Dell machines instead matching my request – which included “give me an Intel graphics chipset please”), until they gave up on me. I ended up ordering a model from an English provider, and sacrificing some customizations in the process just to be able to FINALLY give Lenovo some money for a laptop I wanted from them. Process took 40 days, it’s just flabbergasting how hard it is to get a laptop from you guys.
Bear in mind that this is a company laptop, we are a Linux shop, we have 25 people working for us, I’m the CTO, and my CEO is laughing at me for wanting to put up with this stuff and not just get a Dell like he does, which he can pretty much order on the spot directly from our Dell contact.
http://thomas.apestaart.org/log/?p=520
September 14th, 2007 12:02 pm
Je ne pratique que la langue française.
September 14th, 2007 12:11 pm
Considering also your previous blog entry “Linux On a Mobile PC” I understand Lenovo found our that there is no enterprise market for Linux on laptops. You are propably right on this.
However, Lenovo believes in makeing somehow some business “with Linux”. Be it the enthusiasts, or someone else. If you believe selling pre-installed Linux is a market, (k)ubuntu is probably right for you today.
But, as long as Lenovo does not know or has not decided on how to make money with Linux, enable the community to create the best distro for your hardware. You can always ship it pre-installed as soon as it is ready and the market is apparent.
While I am a Linux user (also for business) for over a decade, I am not convinced, the time is right for pre-installed Linux. As far as I am concerned there are two types of Linux users: type A knows what he does and is able to install any distro. Type B has no idea what we are talking, browses the web, reads email on whatever computer type A is preparing for him, whether or not the OS was preinstalled.
But there is also type C somewhere inbetween A and B. He risks to order a Linux laptop not knowing what he is doing. And as soon as his favorite Windows app is not running, he will be disappointed. You will have an angry customer. Do not sell to him.
Regards, Thomas
September 14th, 2007 12:14 pm
Lamandriva est simplement superbe et très stable. A recommander sur les moyennes et grosses configuration. good
September 14th, 2007 12:59 pm
The facile answer is I want to pick up the box at Tescos, plug it in a browse- then I connect to my life. But expanding on this- we have three problems what we want, what the company needs and what the neighbours need.
Starting with the neighbours- “You know about computers can you just help me with—” They are easy. It must work- and the last 5% must whizz. So here we are into K/Ed/Ubuntu. But I do suggest you maintain a ‘trusted repository’ of user tester and recommended debs. A one button install utility, to live with your Thinkpad Tools- and I one button Skype link to a remote help desk.
Me, all I want is the BIOS flash screen to say, all drivers open source, and list of driver names with comforting green ticks saying tested with Linux kernel xyz. I want a barebones Linux/Unix system that will run the Thinkpad tools and Firefox/Thunderbird .
With the kit will be a set of OEM OS DVD- when inserted they will demand a credit card payment to purchase the licence of that OS. Some may even be free- but that s the price of a level playing field.
The same system could apply for company machines- the specs of these driver DVD will be open source (with test suite)- so that third parties can build Thinkpad Linux Dvd s for their clients . Sled/ RedHat may be their source distros. What matters is the Lenovo gives them the Tools they need to generate this new business and pushes the support issue out of house.
I didn’t say, but I can wait until Wednesday before I go down to Tesco’s so its not urgent. The choice of a base distro is a bit irrelevant. Stability- pull down what ever is shelf, you can issue the option DVD’s a little bit later. Do it across the entire range- and document clearly incompatibilities (missing drivers).
September 14th, 2007 1:30 pm
Three thoughts:
1) Ubuntu has hype, and hype is useful if you want momentum. I have tried Ubuntu, and although I returned to Mandriva, I liked it fine.
2) Make sure that there are open source drivers for all the hardware, so that enthusiasts can choose their favourite distro, knowing that the hardware is a good choice. The sheer number of different preferences in distro, and the enthusiasm for this conversation, illustrates the value that the cross-distribution compatibility of the machine will be at LEAST as important as what the distro shipped with it is.
What I really don’t want is to buy a machine tied to a specific patched distro that I can’t update myself without relying on binary code forthcoming from Lenovo. Because an exercise like this can have its plug pulled by the company at any time, this is an important consideration even for a non-tweaker.
3) Don’t offer just one hardware specification with Linux. That’s not the way to sell lots of laptops to different people, or there would already only be one kind of ThinkPad, one kind of Dell…there’s even more than one kind of Apple!
September 14th, 2007 1:32 pm
I’d go for Sabayon Linux but its missing from the list!
September 14th, 2007 1:37 pm
Just received an email invitation from Mandriva team to vote for Mandriva. This indeed inspired me to vote. Of course, I voted for Ubuntu
September 14th, 2007 1:37 pm
[...] Vote Here Powered by Gregarious (35) [...]
September 14th, 2007 1:54 pm
I use Mandriva 2007 Spring on an IBM T23.
It runs very well and haven’t had any problems so on Lenovo’s new Laptops Mandriva should provide an exciting and complete computing experience.
Side Note: My Girlfriend uses Mandriva Linux and she’s a complete Linux newbie!
September 14th, 2007 2:21 pm
[...] they don’t know which distribution to use. So why not help them out by voting on this poll over at the Lenovo [...]
September 14th, 2007 2:26 pm
Lenovo,
Great – it’s been said before, but just support the hardware. Thinkpads have long been favorites among Linux users, and they’ve *never* been pre-loaded with a distribution.
I love my z60t, and I even wrote about it (Linux on the IBM z60t). Keep up the good work. I’m sure I’ll be needing a new laptop in another 6 months or so.
September 14th, 2007 2:53 pm
entièrement satisfais de linux en général, manque juste des logiciels conçus plus facilement et généralement à une distribution win 32! plus de logiciels c’est ça qui freine linux!!
September 14th, 2007 2:57 pm
Mandriva.
Although I agree with the others that have pointed out that support for ‘nix drivers will cure the issue, for almost all distros.
I use CentOS on the servers, and several distros on my own boxes, but I ALWAYS install Mandriva for people that ask me to save them from Microsoft. I’m 68 years old, and been in this business for all my working life, and even now that I’m ‘retired’ I spend enormous amounts of my time dealing with computers, and computer users.
I’ve learned two important things: Stay as far away from Microsoft as possible, and if you’re installing something you will be expected to ’support’ install Mandriva –it will make your life MUCH easier.
A pragmatic GPLv3 supporter. That means I trust Linus with the tech, but RMS with the political sense to protect the tech.
September 14th, 2007 3:10 pm
Ubuntu seems to be the favorite suggestion, But as long as all the hardware ” just works” under linux it will not matter too much if someones favorite is not chosen. Maybe give a choice of how to partition the drive, extra partitions so the buyer can add thier choices and a dedicated home partition.
September 14th, 2007 3:16 pm
Mepis 7.0, http://www.mepis.org/ , which is based on Debian and Kubuntu plus adds improvements, has got to be the best, user friendly distribution that would be perfect on a laptop. However it seems to be a well kept secret. The next best would be OpenSUSE since it is very dependable and is supported by a big company like Novell.
September 14th, 2007 3:30 pm
This is like asking what kind of salt you need to boil nuddles. I fix computers (PC), disassemble and reassemble them and give them to friends or family who can’t afford a brand new machine. They want to surf on the web, send E-mail and pictures or whatever to their friends and they don’t bother a single bit about what makes it work.
Try this simple test, put mozilla instead of IE and the regular user will ask if WinX is still running.
The young generation has no problem. The old people are coming to it fast and they catch up real quick, what they don’t like is the obvious contradiction between programs, application which can’t remember preferences and most of all intempestive useless warnings with errors codes telling them they are stupid idiots who can’t click yes or no.
When I tell them I installed Linux they simply say “thank you” and they ask me how they can do this and that.
Once in a while I ask them how it is going, so far, none of them has called me names.
Make it easy and friendly and don’t loose focus, any one is smarter than a computer chip.
Cybenitecally yours.
September 14th, 2007 3:38 pm
I think the most important issue is hardware compatible for all Linux, BSD… distributions. For example Asus Motherboards have a testing firm which tests and certifies what version of Linux works on a specific model of their products. Let the user decide which OS he wishes to load. What ever you decide will not be correct in the mind of some folks. Your survey and Blog comments prove this. I currently have a T23 which runs Suse quite well. I am in the market for a new ThinkPad. However I am at a loss of the exact hardware which is Linux or BSD friendly in the current ThinkPad models. I am not sure what model to buy.
My other gripe is why must I have Microsoft Windows pre-installed. Give me an option to not have Windows install and drop the price, but give me the choice. All that Lenovo needs to do is tell me what version of Linux or BSD .. works on the hardware I am buying, and allow me not to have Windows installed, I’ll be happy. I wonder if others feel the same way?
Regards, Clay
September 14th, 2007 3:46 pm
My sincere opinion?
MANDRIVA.
Why?
Works fine, very fine for sure.
Have a robust and useful set of tools, great for home users. All needed things for advanced workers too with many flavors.
Don’t have a “all the way profit” in mind.
And, best of all… SIMPLE and EASY!
September 14th, 2007 3:56 pm
In reality, Ubuntu’s good (and seems to be the runaway winner here…)- what you NEED to do is pre-install with one, maybe two or three distributions and then do NOTHING that would hamper any of the other Linux distributions out here.
This means no Broadcom.
This means (currently) NO ATI/AMD parts (though if they get a gel in 8.42/8.43 or get that open source driver going…).
It means things that are either fully open source (preferred) or FULLY supported by the vendor (NVidia, for example- or Intel…).
It may mean more expense in the short term, less pennies being shaved off of your BOM, but at least as the community’s experience (and mine- I’ve worked with vendors such as ECS and GCT Allwell in the past…) that using the stuff that doesn’t pass muster in the aforementioned ways tends to be lower quality and a source of problems with the product in general.
September 14th, 2007 4:06 pm
I’ve being using Linux Mint for about 6 months and it’s just great, it just works and has everything you need out of the box. I tried Suse, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, but Mint looks great and has all the support from Ubuntu.
September 14th, 2007 4:10 pm
Personaly, I use Mandriva and very pleased with it. However, I don’t want force anybody for any distribution. First of all, I want to have the posibility to buy a ThinkPad without any software. Later, to chose the distritution amongst SOME if I don’t feel enable to install it myself.
ISo, I don’t vote.
Riqui
(France)
September 14th, 2007 4:12 pm
There is a spectrum of support. At one end, selling hardware with a Linux distribution preinstalled with drivers for all of the hardware installed and configured, and providing warrantee support for that configuration is one extreme. At the other end is where some member(s) of the Linux community have tested the distro on the hardware, it works with some caveats, and drivers have to be downloaded for some of the hardware, with perhaps some devices being unsupported or not fully supported.
I don’t believe that any hardware vendor intends to be in a position of trying to support too many Linux distributions directly as preinstalled options. Just supporting a handful of distros with multiple package managers, some using Gnome and some using KDE provides a variety of configurations to deal with. In my opinion, direct support for one distro in the Redhat family and one in the Debian family is a major positive step.
However, if you want to provide support for your hardware for a number of distros, one way to do it is to be sure that you provide the drivers, in source. Perhaps test various distros on your hardware and provide configuration instructions for them.
For what it’s worth, I’m posting this from a T60 running Ubuntu 6.06. The version of X.org in Ubuntu 6.06 has an ATI X server that doesn’t support this config. Switching to the VESA server does the trick. The ipw3945 driver has to be downloaded, and there is a binary-only piece, but it does work. I don’t know whether the thumbprint scanner is supported. I don’t use it.
September 14th, 2007 4:13 pm
Any old folks who can see pictures of they grand children fast and easy using the net don’t care about the OS. On the other end they don’t like being taken for stupid idiots because they are tols by a coded error message they can’t click yes or no.
It is like asking for what kind of salt you’re using to boil nuddles.
September 14th, 2007 4:21 pm
Fedora and RedHat should really be listed on one line. Fedora serves as beta for what goes into RedHat and most of us who use RedHat for commercial purposes also use Fedora for non-commercial installations.
FYI: My T41 has both WinXP and Fedora Core 6 on it.
Like prior posters however I believe that what really ought to happen is that there be open source drivers for the Lenovo stuff so that users can pick their own distro even if it isn’t the one “officially supported” by Lenovo.
September 14th, 2007 4:22 pm
For some things popularity is a good way to choose. Most things, popularity is only a rough indicator that something is causing a response.
For a working machine for a household, where the OS is only background paper for the user, popularity amongst linux geeks is not the right way to evaluate linux operating systems.
September 14th, 2007 4:33 pm
east and with good debian foundament.
September 14th, 2007 5:04 pm
Perdón por hablar en español pero es que mi inglés apesta.
Creo que de los miles de distros que hay hoy día, sin duda la mas avanzada en soporte de hardware para pórtatiles es Open SuSE 10.3 y en cuanto a paquetes de software por cantidad i calidad está ubuntu.
Pero hay otras distros derivadas de las básicas (como debian,red hat,slackware) como es mi caso, que utilizo Ubuntu Ultimate 1.4 for Gamers y además del mejor software de juegos en 3D, y soporte de hardware para todo tipo de aparatos, y un sinfín de programas de diseño,fotografía,internet,etc…. ofrece muchos mas paquetes en repositorios inagotables donde puedes encontrar ese paquete que necesitas para todo,todo tu hardware.
Yo poseo una máquina Intel centrino 2000Mhz con 2GB de RAM y tarjeta Nvidia GeForce Go 6600 Pci Express 16X de 256MB y me va de pelotas el beryl,el compiz y el compiz fusion.
Aunque para mi es lo mejor, sin duda creo que para los nuevos Lenovo Mandriva es la mejor candidata puesto que es muy versátil,fácil de utilizar y de actualizar,y es ideal tanto para principiantes como para expertos.
Gracias por leerme de antemano y perdón de nuevo por mi español.
Sorry. bye
September 14th, 2007 5:23 pm
Hey there,
I’m the head of the Ubuntu laptop team, which leaves me working on various aspects of hardware and OS integration and trying to make sure that as much laptop specific hardware works out of the box as possible. The current stable release of Ubuntu (7.04) doesn’t work especially well on modern Lenovo hardware, but the latest development version has had a lot of improvements made in this area. Anyway, if you run into any problems, feel free to let me know and we’ll try to get them fixed for the final release.
September 14th, 2007 5:48 pm
When I bought my first sata disk, mandrake is the only linux that support it!
The Chinese interface for mandrake is much better than other platforms too, e.g., gbrvt.
Mandrake interface for partition harddrive is very intuitive and convenient.
The only pity is later mandriva does not privide as good freewares as a whole package.
For above reason, I vote for mandrake/mandriva.
September 14th, 2007 5:53 pm
I’ve seen alot of: “support my distro”, which is bullshit and not the question.
Focus on: hardware support on the linux kernel and drivers.
But the real question is not what is supported, but what distro will be used as prebuilt, and generally in windows they just use the last one.
a poll should never be used as a result on it, cause you need to consider several factors.
after prebuilt install, people need a nice and graphic way to set a background, configure stuff, fiddle with this and with that.
my thing is: mandriva has a great madriva control center and also has the kde control center, which are nice ways to enable disable AS a regular user without having to use a console.
this goes for configuration of everything (it may sometimes ask the root password), even wireless is clickeasy.
some points:
– redhat i don’t see it happening
– fedora/centos, would give company issues: (no need for redhat payable license anymore)
– debian: no bloody way, configurability is nowhere near good enough
– ubuntu/kubuntu (maybe i would prefer KDE to gnome in this thing, it’ll be better for the regular users)
– mandriva would be the top choice because of easy configurability, usability and package manager (also it has already X years experience in the desktop world)
– the rest i don’t see happening…
– An idea is to have like windows, a single screen giving you the choice what to install:
– first language
– then distro and it would just install whatever you chose (you could easily have room on second partition for 4 or 5 distros (if you tone them down) or 2 or 3 (if you have them fully) (just copying a base compressed system, followed by a chrooted adaption to language/selection choice)
I would get:
Mandriva
Kubuntu
Knoppix (no install)
Memtest
(possibly adding Ubuntu to the list)
September 14th, 2007 6:01 pm
I’ve been running Mandrake and now Mandriva on IBM thinkpads for several years.
I now run Mandriva on an A30 (hooked to my stereo) a T30 (take it to class to
run the projector) and a T43 (do all my work on it).
Direct support of Mandriva by Lenovo would be good as I plan to stay with
Lenovo and would choose Lenovo whenever I get a new machine
September 14th, 2007 6:02 pm
In considering what distribution of Linux might be appropriate, please consider virtualization. Laptops have become much more powerful, and with added memory can reasonably support multiple operating systems. With a base Linux system and virtualization to support MS Windows (of whatever flavor), Solaris, and other ‘nix’s it is possible to greatly expand the functionality of a laptop. Although I suspect this is mostly being done by sysadmins at corporations and other advanced individuals it opens up opportunities for both the corporate and individual user worlds.
September 14th, 2007 6:03 pm
I have always been very happy with Mandriva – even back in the days when it was called Mandrake. My second choice would be SUSE and thirdly, Red Hat/Fedora also has good features.
September 14th, 2007 6:09 pm
In 2006 I purchased a brand new IBM T-43 Thinkpad. I had been running Mandrake Linux on various laptops and desktops (usually dual installed with MS Windows) for the last 3 years. Mandrake was strongly supported
and I learned to us Linux and learned much more about computers via Mandrake.
I put a free edtition of Mandriva 2006 on my new T-43, and it ROCKED! The 2.6 kernel release makes Linux
more robust and user friendly than ever.
Mandriva also has more integrated support for periphreal devices than ever before- it synced with my Palm Zire PDA and my Canon Rebel XT digital camera with no extra system hacking at all.
I no longer even consider dual installs for my personal laptop anymore.
William Maderas
September 14th, 2007 6:11 pm
Also- I wound up purchasing the Mandriva 2006 Powere Pack DVD (which also comes with an install DVD for 64 bit processors) and now run it exclusively on my T-43 Thinkpad
September 14th, 2007 6:36 pm
Just don’t let Lenovo add any of their special products as services. They are fine if added as applications that the user starts, otherwise a fine piece of hardware becomes a slug.
They clog up memory and add no value to the product. As an IT support person the first thing that gets done around our place is all the Lenovo stuff is removed from the services just so the machines will work with reasonable response. As a corporation we don’t want or need the Lenovo/IBM stuff starting up.
September 14th, 2007 7:20 pm
Ubunto is also not bad, but I like more ALINEX. Very clean and fast.
September 14th, 2007 7:27 pm
I’m going to buck the trend here, and suggest a Distro that is not Debian based. I run Mandriva 2001 Spring on a Thinkpad Z61e. And I can say without bias that the installation could have been done by any novice without hassle. The only issues I have at a hardware level, is that the memory card reader doesn’t work – this is consistent with all distro’s that I have tried. And, changing between WLan and Ethernet can disable the ethernet port on occasion, actually requiring a reboot to re-enable.
However, it is not only hardware compatibility that is stifling the adoption of Linux on the desktop. At an application level, Linux is still geared heavily toward developers.
Apps such as Evolution and The Gimp are not yet ready for prime time. And only IBM/Lenovo has the power to change this. In considering your support for Linux, I would suggest that you change focus away from which distro to support, over to how to encourage the likes of Adobe, Corel, Autodesk, etc. to provide Linux versions of their software. And ensure that the Thinkvantage tools and Lotus are pre-installed on whichever distro is shipped on the notebook.
Just my two bob’s worth.
Regards, Garrick
September 14th, 2007 7:51 pm
I have been running Mandriva on both my Thinkpads. It had all the necessary (for me) hardware support and is stable.
September 14th, 2007 8:11 pm
I have been running Linux on thinkpads for several years, and Lenovo could help with the process.
I buy a new thinkpad and then spend the next few months making config files for X, sound, usb, pcmcia, modem, etc that work on most distributions (with minor tweaks). If you kept a reference set of config, that would help people a lot.
I also start testing driver support, and join all the groups working on the driver, filing bugs and following up with testing for the developers. I do that for 2 hours each night until the drivers work (like the recent T61 Intel HD Audio Controller). This work is independent of distribution, as they all need a working audio controller (and other devices).
Supporting Linux isn’t just shipping a disk with One Distribution of Linux, it’s offering help for the stuff that is common to the hardware concerns to all distributions of Linux. Spend your time on the common stuff, and you help more customers while still enabling choice of distribution. Some distributions put the configs in different places, but if you post the working settings per device, I’ll bet people will have a good idea where the proper location for that setting should go in their distribution.
September 14th, 2007 8:18 pm
J’aime beaucoup les distributions Linux mais je trouve qu’il n’y a pas assez de gens qui l’utilise.
J’aimerais beaucoup que Linux remplace Windows de facon gratuite.
September 14th, 2007 8:32 pm
I see FreeBSD and OpenBSD there even though they are not Linux distributions.
I have a laptop running Linux but I don’t believe such a thing is commercially viable at this time, so I think a user-friendly distribution such as Linspire, Freespire, Xandros, or even (K|X)?Ubuntu would be better.
September 14th, 2007 8:33 pm
oops I meant that I have a laptop running FreeBSD but I do not consider that commercially viable at this time, so Linux would be better.
September 14th, 2007 8:39 pm
I have installed Mandriva for many years. It is absolutely stable, and I have never had a problem. I have tried Ubuntu and also Xandros and in both cases I have returned to Mandriva. I have XP on a separate computer to run games.
September 14th, 2007 9:08 pm
The really important thing here which several posters have pointed out already is to make sure ALL (especially the wireless chip!!!) of the on board hardware is supported by open drivers. This is especially important with laptops since after market modifications are not possible like they are with desktop systems. Which Linux distro is chosen is really a secondary issue. With open hardware, changing the distro should be easy for any user familiar with Linux AND everything should work OK once the new distro is loaded. Also important, MARKING ALL laptops with 100% open hardware as such in your marketing materials, EVEN those laptops marketed with Windows. For many buyers, even some Windows buyers, open hardware is an important feature and you would do well to capitalize on that issue. The buyer should be able to tell from one look that they can run any version of Windows, Linux, BSD, Solaris, whatever on the box in question due to the fact that it has open hardware. And running these surveys is a great concept which should net you some great suggestions. I for one would always be happy to share my opinions and I really respect you for caring enough about your customers to ask for their input. I wish you and your company the very best of success!
September 14th, 2007 9:38 pm
I recommended Mandriva Spring
September 14th, 2007 10:04 pm
If Levono really wants to impress the buyers i think they should stick to a customised Gentoo à la Sabayon Linux, with Kde as default desktop.
Why? Because gentoo is the only distro that allows the binaries to be completely optimized for the hardware it’s running on & it’s also the most fexible distro with regards to what options a program supports.
For the customers the best would be uptodate gentoo binaries optmised for their hardware, so as to eliminate the hassle and time needed to maintain a gentoo system while enjoying the benefits of it.
September 14th, 2007 10:43 pm
I’m actually using Mandiriva 2007 spring. I didn’t see it as a selection, but it shows in the results. Sorry I couldn’t vote more educated. I love llinux…Slackware, Fedora, and so on..
September 15th, 2007 12:09 am
The only thing I know about Unbunto is that it wouldn’t work on my IMac.
I like Mandriva because it is the easiest to install
September 15th, 2007 1:18 am
Mandriva the best
September 15th, 2007 1:25 am
I use Fedora,
but I voted for Red Hat…..
because I think Red Hat is more suitable for commercial product.
September 15th, 2007 2:44 am
What I like most about Mandriva is the quality of service that I receive from Compunite, the guys who installed it for me (and consigned Me to the waste basket!).
September 15th, 2007 2:45 am
I’d like to have a choice apart from Dell.
What is important is not to take a Linux distribution out of the hat but to provide the system with all the HW/FW documentation that is needed.
I have not chosen Linux for glamourness or sheer functionality, otherwise I’d have taken the latest Windows. I choose Linux for the freedom it gives me.
I want to be in control of my computer and not the other way round (in theory at least).
September 15th, 2007 2:46 am
Unless you’ve tried out PCLinuxOS you will never know what you’re missing. I am using it on IBM X60 and HP TC4400 and nothing else even comes close.
September 15th, 2007 2:52 am
J’ai un portable Acer 9300 sur lequel j’ai installé Mandriva. Des problèmes de driver et
Acer n’assure pas la maintenance de produit non windows.
Si un produit est compatible Linux j’acherais celui-ci en priorité.
September 15th, 2007 2:55 am
Just an sticker , or reference, will do, advertise the ” Ready For linux ” machines,
on the box / and website. Thats really all that is needed.
Is it that hard to do? Get it out there lenovo! Make it so!
September 15th, 2007 3:20 am
I use for several years Mandriva/ex-Mandrake distributions, for its efficient partitionning/installation tools
I added recently Ubuntu for its large access to debian developments, and potentially more extended free drovers access.
September 15th, 2007 3:34 am
Whilst it’s one thing to say competitors are supporting Ubuntu (Dell) so we think we have to, the last thing the market needs is another OS monoculture. I know the argument for scale and common standards but this need not mean a single user-space monoculture. The unified Linux kernel is the important aspect there, not the overlay. Support amongst vendors for a variety in userspace (KDE, Gnome, Xfce, etc.; rpm,deb, etc.) keeps competition between programming communities hot and means better software all round.
The last thing the Linux community needs is a lazy Microsoft-style producer economy in which one vendor dominates the market.
September 15th, 2007 3:36 am
Mandriva is the best o/s ever
September 15th, 2007 3:48 am
Hey!
I have lot of difficulties to install Linux on my laptop. But, thaks to Mandriva, with it everything works : Beryl / ATI / WiFi !
POWER TO MANDRIVA !!!
September 15th, 2007 3:52 am
[...] http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=98 [...]
September 15th, 2007 3:59 am
Mandriva: an intelligent platform for intelligent users, excellent compromise between innovation and professionally managed stability.
Pre-installation / certification is essential, this initiative is an excellent thing! Whenever I bought a new laptop or desktop, I spent a tremendous time looking at peripheral interfaces / availability of drivers, checking mailing lists to get knowledge helping to avoid repeating negative experiences of others, and then being nervous: will the machine I just ordered really match my platform: will wireless be running? will sound be perfectly working? will my video card do what I expect ?… A machine with my preferred Linux platform installed would be the favourite for a purchase. If I look at the number of votes replying to this poll, that should be an interesting item for filling a manufacturers order book.
September 15th, 2007 4:13 am
je vote pour mandriva
September 15th, 2007 4:42 am
je pourrai vous répondre en français tel que linux le fait
September 15th, 2007 4:47 am
Would prefere OpenSuse but Mandriva is another good pic for Linux on Thinkpads and other laptops. Stability, compatibility with the rest of the work is excelent.
September 15th, 2007 4:48 am
I have been using Mandriva on my Lenovo THinkpad Z60m for some time, and it works very well. I think you could do a lot worse than bundling Mandriva with Lenovo machines.
September 15th, 2007 4:53 am
M. Shuttleworth sold Thawte to Verising, at a very lucrative price, and while I can completely understand that he didn’t turn the offer down, There is no reason he wouldn’t finally do the same thing with Ubuntu and sell the brand name for one billion to Microsoft (for whom it would be pocket money).
So I do not support a distribution that has not business model, Debian has an “alternative business model”, Mandriva a more “conventional one” some others like turbolinux, aurox, etc.. also.
But most of the “main” do not, Fedora, OpenSuse, *ubuntu are all based on the dogma: work, work, work we’ll see what we do with it, this is not a sustainable business model.
September 15th, 2007 5:05 am
I just replied on a distribution’s list which asked me to vote for their distribution:
“Hi!
Well, thanks a lot for suggesting.
But I did not vote for but for “anyone who refuses binary-only…”.
I’m glad to find out that so many others did as well, even if it’s not the
majority.
So this poll let’s one see that you ists are throwing your weight not behind the community but only behind your “own” little sectarian chapel. I mean, you could have said in your mail: ” is doing quite fine and thanks to everybody who voted for us, but it’s so much more important that everybody will benefit from open hardware specifications, that we will recommend our mailing listlings to vote for the community instead of ourselves only”. See what I mean?
I don’t want to dominate, like I don’t want any distribution to dominate. So what can I vote other than what I did? I really don’t understand why you recommend to vote just one distribution, even if it’s your own. It looks so egoistical and limited.
Thanks anyway. It’s an interesting vote to see which will hopefully be
.
somewhat of a stepping stone to a better future for all of us, and I’m glad I
participated, thanks to your hint. So things are complex anyway
Regards
Peer
September 15th, 2007 5:11 am
Mandriva is ideal IMO, easy, fast and reliable.
September 15th, 2007 5:21 am
Mandriva Spring 2007
September 15th, 2007 5:44 am
Allez voir le travail d’un ami et de son pote aurelien goll….
http://larueminante.hd.free.fr.....ation_2007
http://www.ohanserv.net/blog/
http://edutice.mandriva.com/
Et vous verrez pourquoi dans l’avenir mandriva sera la distribution la plus intéressante !
Sans trahir de secret jean-francois bellanger travail déjà sur la version 2008 et les innovation sont inimaginables ! Si mandriva le fait, vous arriverez même pas à croire que c’est du linux !!!
Courage les gas. L’education nationale est derrière vous !
September 15th, 2007 5:46 am
I’m Linux programmer and I have many installations of my programs working on many distributions.
I can’t understand, why Ubuntu was choosen as the best distribution fo Lenovo. No rulls, no norms, not user friendly, very dangerous by updating of the system. The firms, who are installing Linux with my programs were installing Ubuntu, at the end they made conclisionthat: “For normal users the best was always Mandriva and RedHat/Fedora”.
Greetins
Adam
September 15th, 2007 6:26 am
I love mandriva. First, I tried Ubuntu, Debian, Getntoo, Suze, Red Hat, Fedora, but they never worked as well as mandriva on my laptop. (ASUS, Geforce 6700 Go, Ipw3945, …)
I think Mandriva is user-friendly too.
September 15th, 2007 6:27 am
I voted for Mandriva Linux as I think it is the best Linux distribution for users new to Linux or computers. There are several reasons for this:
Their set of tools to configure your computer (Mandriva Control Center) are excellent, better than anything else. I like them much more than Yast in openSUSE for example.
Support for various multimedia formats, like MP3s for example is working out of the box.
Mandriva Linux a very simple configuration for enabling 3D desktop effects, just a few clicks away if your graphic card supports them.
Mandriva has a very good live CD, called One and they evn provide Mandriva on a botable USB key.
Another important thing is that Mandriva is not centered around only one desktop environment (like Ubuntu is for example). They give a choice to select KDE or GNOME or other, whichever user prefers.
I find that support for laptops (hibernation, suspend, …) is often better in Mandriva than in any other distribution.
September 15th, 2007 6:57 am
here I’m not to criticize any vendor but when i tried to get linux on my hp notebook then rather that all popular and great oldies THE MANDRIVA and ubuntu supported my system where others were simply failing at initial stage…well still I’m not finding complete system that supports all h/w driver support for my system , but among all according to me mandriva is flexible and useful. on the other hand i cant write on host file system that already present on my system though i edited necessary changes in config files.
Thank you….
September 15th, 2007 7:01 am
Like several others already said: give full open documentation on the hardware. I want to run NetBSD on it, and I dont want closed binary drivers. In fact, they are worse than useless. Just give us full docs and we’ll write drivers ourselves.
September 15th, 2007 7:12 am
I used to work IBM Tech Support. Thinkpad support to be exact. I have always loved Thinkpads. When I started there I could tear one complete apart in under 30 mins. I have always bought thinkpads, even before and after i worked there. Why? cause they are well thought out. a lovely light over the keypad. All sorts of things. but they also play nice with linux. I don’t have to worry will it work. I know I will get it working. I love Gentoo myself, but Fedora core, or Ubuntu I think is the way to go for users.
September 15th, 2007 7:15 am
I’m used to Mandriva Kde for anything (office and specif jobs and hobbies)
September 15th, 2007 8:18 am
Bonjour,
J’utilise Mandrake puis maintenant Mandriva depuis 10 ans environ et vraiment les dernières Mandriva valent vraiment le détour!
pas de différences avec winXP!!
Les seuls pb résident dans les jeux win non diponibles pour la plupart pour le libre!
Sinon toutes les productions sous Debian sont aussi à considérer!!
September 15th, 2007 8:18 am
Like Thomas : It isn’t necessary to focus on distributions…Provide high quality drivers, that’s all !
September 15th, 2007 8:19 am
OK, rien à rajouter!
September 15th, 2007 8:51 am
I like ubuntu and mandriva on board.
September 15th, 2007 9:06 am
CENTOS.
CentOS is a no brainer really.. Binary compatible with RHEL enterprise, without the attached strings.
What I’d really love to see is most of Mandrivas control panel ported to RHEL as it is one area where Mandriva shines. I prefer RHEL/CENTOS on the server, but I have to say that Mandriva makes a smoother desktop experience where everything just works.
September 15th, 2007 9:22 am
First of all, thanks for asking the question. Looking to actual users for answers is an unfortunately novel idea, I’m afraid.
I have a T60, which I love, and Mandriva 2007 installed without a hitch and in a very short time. Everything just works.
Whichever distro you decide on, I applaud your receptiveness to your user’s input.
thanks,
morris
September 15th, 2007 9:24 am
I’d like to see Mandriva supported.
September 15th, 2007 9:35 am
I’m currently writing these lines with a T60 running Mandriva Spring for which all the marvels provided by the machine (including the Biometric stuff) are supported . For the Biometric I had to search a bit on Internet but all other was supported out of the DVD.
What I most appreciate in this distribution is the plethora of tools that are provided and are of great help for the ’standard’ user.
Once upon a time IBM screwed my installation (on a T23 or a T600 I don’t remember) witha faulty BIOS update that has been cured in two weeks. From as long as I remember Linux has always been installable and usable on the Thinkpads and that has been for me another reason for buying these machines.
If I can find the needed drivers on the Thinkpad site, I’ll install a Mandriva solution whatever the officialy supported distro will be.
Thanks for asking, Thanks for considering providing native Linux installations on your machines.
Regards, Jean-Pierre
September 15th, 2007 9:37 am
I think you should take the comments here with a bag, not a grain of salt.
First, I think it’s correct that there are a number of different groups of users, many of which overlap with each other to some extent.
1. The experienced Linux enthusiast who has already settled on a favourite distro. For him or her, just make sure there are drivers available for all the hardware, because they’re fanboys (or girls) who will use only their favourite distro no matter what it comes preinstalled with.
2. The disgruntled Windows user who’s tired of DRM and Microsoft gouging. These folks are much less interested in which distro they’re running than that everything works out of the box, including any proprietary stuff needed to watch DVDs, etc. I suggest OpenSuse with KDE for these folks. It’s a much shorter learning curve to get around and actually use the computer, plus it has a lot more software available in repositories than SLED.
3. The ideological user who refuses to use any proprietary software whatever. For these folks, the only thing that’s important is that it’s not proprietary.
4. Those who are only looking for a less expensive alternative to Windows. These folks want to get their computer without a Microsoft “tax” but are very unwilling to pay for support or manufacturers costs of installing an OS.
As I said, all these camps are somewhat overlapping. I don’t care for proprietary software, but I want my laptop to be fully functional, whether or not it uses proprietary drivers. And unfortunately for manufacturers, you will need to provide your drivers, etc, in at least two versions – the debian style and rpms.
Thanks for looking at this, though. More choice is always better.
September 15th, 2007 9:40 am
My preferences are in this order:
1.) PCLinuxOS
2.) Mandriva
3.) openSuse
4.) Fedora
5.) PC-BSD
Whatever you do, please don’t jump on the Ubuntu bandwagon.
For those of you that voted for Mandriva, PCLinuxOS is Mandriva done right. It dumps URPMI and RPMDrake in favor or the much more widely used, and faster Apt and Synaptic for package management. It’s also noticeably more stable and faster executing than Mandriva because of their own custom compiled kernel.
September 15th, 2007 9:58 am
Sir,
Definitely include 4 of the best you find ,
maybe you have to dig deeper than voting only,
because the distro might be better but less people may have voted.
I personally like simply mepis and mandriva for the stableness, hardly crash, but recoverable and continue with whatever was being done
thankyou,
sharath kathare
September 15th, 2007 10:13 am
I’ve tried several Linux distributions on modern laptops. Out of all of them, including Ubuntu, Mandriva is the ONLY distribution that properly identifies and configures the hardware “out of the box”; specifically widescreen LCDs and WiFi components.
All other distributions needed a bit of hand-holding and direction from me in order to function properly. Some didn’t function at all.
I think Lenovo would be wise to use Mandriva as their pre-installed Linux OS, in my opinion. The Mandriva Control Center is head and shoulders above any other distribution’s user help tools and wizards.
September 15th, 2007 10:14 am
I vote ubuntu, because it have the best community and support, it’s easy to use and it’s popular distro. of course we linux users can install distro what we really want I prefer RPM distros like Red Hat and Mandriva…
September 15th, 2007 10:35 am
Though I voted for Mandriva, I do not think that the actual distro chosen (or perhaps 2 or 3) is THAT important so long as the hardware used in the Thinkpads is entirely supported by linux drivers. If going with any hardware that is not supported, producing/providing drivers would be key (preferably open source drivers so there is no political issues, or licensing/money issues for other distros). Install a solid, easy-to-use/configure distro and make sure your overall methods are generically linux-friendly.
Next, ANY linux distro will automatically help all other distros. Any driver that works on one will work on others. It also helps make linux “viable” for more people in general. For practical purposes, the distro should be easy to use and configure/customize, NOT requiring linux expertise at the start – and NOT having a poorly thought-out, FULL menu…I think back to earlier days of Redhat or SuSE where EVERYTHING was in one big slapdash menu with no (seeming) thought or attempt at organization (I assume that no distros commit this error any longer?). For this reason, some distros automatically drop off contention. There’s nothing wrong with these harder-to-use (for the linux neophyte) distros, it is just not suited for a mass produced general laptop line. We want to bring more people TO linux, not scare them away.
On another note, looking at the list of choices I see a huge load of distros. I haven’t heard of a number of them before. I guess I need to take some time to look into them.
September 15th, 2007 10:48 am
I just vote for Mandriva because it has very good tools for working on every hardware
September 15th, 2007 10:56 am
When I think of the sexy parts (or distros) of linux, I think of the latest Suse. However, I use Mandriva at home and found that Mandriva has caught up and improved.
Here’s what I would love see:
Mandriva 2008 – I’m also thinking the distro shoul d have a VM incorporated to easily open a window if you need Windows XP of Vista.
I’m happy with Mandriva 2007, have a copy of 2007 Spring in my hand about to install as I type this, and noted one beta 2008 review that got 9 out of 10. Also the very latest Suse noticed that distro has VM to open Windows if needed, with the distro targeting seamless integration (don’t recall if this was in Linux Forum or other).
My bias: At home, I use Mandriva Powerpack on Delll E521 and Mandriva Discovery on Dell Inspiron, these are set up as Dual-boots, with either Linux or Windows XP. I would love to convert completely to Linux and keep Windows XP or Vista within an VM. Laptops now days should be able to do fine with Powerpack, but I really believe in keeping laptops lighter, quicker boot, and running fast as possible.
September 15th, 2007 10:58 am
Oh, I forgot to add -
We should be sure to get the latest desktop, like asap KDE 4.0 release.
One of the other really cool things about Linux is the faster releases of newer desktops and distros, and I’m comparing to Windows which doesn’t seem to be able to keep up.
September 15th, 2007 11:15 am
Can you think in reverse direction for a moment?
You don’t need to support one distribution or another. All you need is to provide drivers for your hardware in the form of packages.
Examples:
With a bit of sponsorship you can bring tpb to perform correctly.
You can add new thinkpad keyboard into the list of keyboards in XORG that Xfree officially supported (currenly there are 500 series keyboards)
Security chip API for kwallet.
And of course, Hard Disk Protection.
I’m OK with binary-only drivers. I’m running kubuntu on R51.
September 15th, 2007 11:32 am
It is about the hardware not the distribution. We want three button touchpad, my old PII Micron had a three button touchpad, when I pressed the pad with one finger it was equivalent to the left mouse button, pressing with two fingers was equivalent to the center button, and pressing with three fingers was equivalent to the right button. If not that a three buttons for the touch pad. We want all those extra buttons specific to the Thinkpad to work in the open source environment just as they work in Windows. This could be as simple as providing a xorg.conf file that has the s-video and external VGA adapter preconfigured. Please do not ever include those worthless Windows button on your keyboard.
Back to the question, which distribution? I do believe there is a good Linux distribution for the desktop. I started using Linux before KDE 1.0 was released and do no have plans to go back to Windows. I feel that there a fundamental flaws (non-technical) in the Linux development that must be resolved before it goes mainstream. The “Desktop War” must be resolved we need one desktop that is capable of running multiple windows managers, KDE (Kwin), Gnome, and how about Apple’s Aqua. Of course the open source community will have to completely rethink the desktop. Let dream for a moment so and create the ultimate desktop environment for open source os; Linux, BSD, Solaris, and Apple OS X. Lets start by separating the components that distinguishes KDE, Gnome, and Aqua from each other, design those components to function as a windows manager and develop a desktop that will support these window managers. Then lets create a development environment that will be able to create applications that can run on all platforms. All open source os are suffering from a lack of applications if they can pool their resource by developing a single desktop and development environment software companies may take another look at the open source os.
So what this have to do with Levono? Levono should approach the open source community (Linux) as a customer and make its demands. The question should be what does Levono need from the open source comunity to sell a viable product with “Linux Installed”. Start pressuring the open source community to create viable product that can be sold out of the box to the mainstream consumer.
sidenote: It is the Linux kernel that supports the hardware not the distribution.
September 15th, 2007 11:39 am
As you migh have already noticed, many people here refer to “GNU/Linux” distros, not “Linux” distros. Please consider that the word “Linux” alone stands only for the kernel, The whole OS is called “GNU/Linux”. Next time you talk/write about it in public, please use the right name. (Not that I’m perfect. I too often forget to give the proper credit to GNU).
September 15th, 2007 11:45 am
Ubuntu has too much of a boost (hype?). To be fair, give some other Linux distro your best.
September 15th, 2007 11:46 am
Drivers
Games
Drivers
Games
Drivers
Games
Calypso Dancer Linux extreme desktop.
The real question here is not Linux geeks versus linux users(wanting out of the box) the real question here is a) get the thing off the ground with a couple of “base” distributions with great driver support that the Linux “poeple” can then install their flavor on, (they’ll do it anyway).
Provide TWO base linux distributions, of different flavors so that the NEW user to linux can try them both, then the “automatic rescue cd” mentioned above can format the distro which is liked less to use it for a storage drive….
for the NEW to linux user…. I have said, and will continue to say….what does the “common windows shopper buy at the box store”? they buy….GAMES….. either expensive or cheap…. how many OTHER boxes do you see on the shelves…. calendar makers, video makers, etc. yes but…
GAMES is where the money is at in the box store….
provide a GAME friendly site wherein the NEW from Windblows user can easily peruse the GAMES with GOOD descriptions instead of the present “terse ones”….
And….. the comment about Calypso Dancer…. it would go great on a think pad…. it is mouse clickable of course, but also would be great for people with vision or motion problems. as the site says….and the people are giving it away to whoever wants to use it.
it might be the “visual” that could “ignite” Linux in the NEW from windows user, and if it can go on a small screen it can also go on a cell phone
old linux guy
September 15th, 2007 11:47 am
Hi!
I think the best option is a distro “very easy” like mandriva for new users and carry the binary-drivers, so that all others will also benefit, as it will require documented hardware.
its important all yours models pc n’ laptop have the linux option and not only the less hardware system, (I’m not buy a verybasic system only for linux, evrything need complete and modern system whit linux)
thanks
September 15th, 2007 11:59 am
Encuentro el Mandriva muy manejable, estable, y consume muy pocos recursos.
Saludos
September 15th, 2007 12:36 pm
depuis un an le cyber espace que j’administre tourne sous Mandriva. et l’aisance de l’utilisation des outils proposes me font dire sans crainte de me tromper que Mandriva est un système statable.
September 15th, 2007 12:36 pm
And Long Lfre For Mandriva … French OS/Linux
September 15th, 2007 12:40 pm
I like Mandriva, the powerfull French distribution … very easy to install …
September 15th, 2007 1:24 pm
I would have to say that while Ubuntu is the most popular version at the moment(and the one I currently use) I feel that there is way to much infighting going on in the forums. These forums are going to be the main place alot of people go to get help and when they see people fighting about trivial things such as, 32 or 64 bit Ubuntu, they will question the choice they made by purchasing a Linux computer. I would still like to see either Ubuntu or Fedora be the pre-loaded choice. I feel that Fedora has a better leadership when it comes to decision making, but if Ubuntu can keep providing the leadership they have so far, I think either choice is a good choice.
September 15th, 2007 2:12 pm
I love MANDRIVA
September 15th, 2007 2:31 pm
I vote for Mandriva because it very good for working.