Lenovo's new Linux program is doomed to fail, again.

Message

hyperq · #1 Post by **hyperq** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:24 pm

I've heard that T61 now comes with SUSE Linux, and here is the link I found:

Preloaded Linux models

It is pre-configured and the price is $1250. Well, I can get a T61 with Vista for a lot less than $1250. This explains why Thinkpad's previous attempt of bundling with Linux failed. Who in his right mind would pay more for the same hardware that cannot be customized. We mainly want Linux to avoid paying Micro$oft tax. If this is how Lenovo going to sell Linux thinkpads, the program is going to fail again.

Lenovo can sell a lot more laptops with no OS and no software support. There are legions of people online helping each other putting Ubuntu on it.

Moderator edit: Shortened URL to prevent horizontal scrolling

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:33 pm

Most people, when they have problems, will go back to the vendor, so I expect the fee reflects the number of problems they expect. Despite the common rhetoric, ordinary folk have problems with Linux about two-to-one or even more when compared to Windows. I am NOT saying linux doesn't work, and I am NOT saying don't use it, merely that my read of many forums is that new Linux users appear to have more problems than new Windows users.
... JDH

hyperq · #3 Post by **hyperq** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:38 pm

I had problems too when I first installed Ubuntu on my Thinkpad two years ago. I was able to fix all of the problems within minutes just by googling. 2 years later, Ubuntu 7.10 is so much better, I have heard from tons of people simply saying "everything just works".

Lenovo can significantly reduce their human support cost by setting up a Wiki support website, managed by a few support staff.

#4 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:44 pm

Linux is not better, just different. If you want is, use it. It does not support anything I need, and does not support critical business systems. The worn out, tired old song that Linux is better is just that - worn out and tired. People should use operating systems that fit their purpose - it is really that simple. Linux fits you and not me. Next. .... JDH

icantux · #5 Post by **icantux** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:53 pm

jdhurst wrote:Linux is not better, just different. If you want is, use it. It does not support anything I need, and does not support critical business systems. The worn out, tired old song that Linux is better is just that - worn out and tired. People should use operating systems that fit their purpose - it is really that simple. Linux fits you and not me. Next. .... JDH

hehehe ... tee hee ... tell that to someone running vista with all its problems..

sorry, just couldn't resist.

Senior Admin EDIT
well, you should have resisted the urge..
or at least add about a dozen smilie faces..

vista is not all that bad..
i don't really like M$ and their ways but the sad reality is they did a LOT to make computers more universally useable..

linux is fine for those who want it..

this is the LAST comment that will lead to OS wars i will alllow.. ok..? ok..!!

hyperq · #6 Post by **hyperq** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:55 pm

Microsoft is going to stop their support for XP in June. Their Vista is buggy and bloated. Mac OS X is not allowed to run on PC hardware. On the other hand, Ubuntu is gaining popularity everyday.

Ubuntu does pretty much everything I throw at it. I admit that the Linux version of Skype still needs a bit of work, but it surely is catching up. If you have to use a program in Windows, you can run it in a virtual machine by using VMware or other vm software.

Besides, at least Ubuntu can boot into a GUI desktop within 20-25 seconds. Can Windows do that? I experience is that it will take a good several minutes every time.

icantux · #7 Post by **icantux** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:09 pm

Are you sure? I thought Microsoft extended support for XP to beyond 2009!? no?

I've booted XP on my T42 in 24 seconds! Took a better part of the week to configure and tweak it properly but it worked!

Bootvis.msi will help in determining what causes boot lag (drivers, services, etc) and then based on the test results shut down all unnecessary services.

Bah, it's an age-old question about which OS is "better". The only thing Microsoft has going for it is the amount of software produced for it - partly because the OS (Windows) is shoved down everybody's throat these days due to extremely aggressive marketing practices.

At times I really wonder what the computing world would be like these days if linux/unix and windows were left up to the programmers to decide as opposed to megacorp financial influence.

Interesting to note, however, that the majority of the worlds military, defense departments and other critical operations (including NASA, the Russian space agency, China's space agency) use some form of *nix as opposed to windows because of the OS's design customization possibilities... I would thus consider it (*nix) being better.

Having said all that, I miss OS/2

#8 Post by **JaneL** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:22 pm

Item #6 in the FAQ, guys. No OS wars. Take it outside.

steveg47 · #9 Post by **steveg47** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:45 am

icantux wrote:Are you sure? I thought Microsoft extended support for XP to beyond 2009!? no?(

Microsoft will continue to support Windows XP up till August 4, 2014.

icantux · #10 Post by **icantux** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:56 pm

Hooray!!! No need for v...... ah..

Oops! Rule 6! forgot!

Senior Admin EDIT
no you did NOT forget..

this thread is locked..
AND moved to the proper venue..

Lenovo's new Linux program is doomed to fail, again.

Lenovo's new Linux program is doomed to fail, again.

Who is online