It seems Lenovo is being selective in which markets get Linux on its new range of IdeaPad netbooks. "People in most markets Lenovo serves, including Singapore, China and the UK, will be offered the company's new IdeaPad S10 with either Microsoft Windows XP or a Linux OS, but Australian and US computer buyers will only be offered Windows XP according to Lenovo."
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Member since:2008-04-10
That sentiment is basically true, but you can't demand what you've never heard of. Linux needs more publicity and exposure before demand will increase. Unfortunately, due to the non-commercial nature (which is good), Linux in general doesn't have any kind of conventional advertising (at least not in Australia), just word of mouth.
Member since:2005-07-06
And unfortunally Lenovo followed the rule of not supplying what market doesn't demand (but only because it haven't heard about it!) with the overall desing of those laptops...
Specifically - like every netbook out there they have borderline usable/too small touchpad.
And they could be the best out there if only, instead touchpad, they intergrated trackpoint...
(yes, I know - touchpad vs. trackpoint is a "personal preference", however...there is a moment when touchpad becomes prustrating due to too small size)
Member since:2006-01-06
This probably would be fine *except* that Microsoft was convicted of anti-trust...abuse of their monopoly position in the US.
That makes things somewhat more complicated. Its unfortunate part of the anti trust settlement didn't include breaking MS's ability to make exclusive OEM agreements which is at the root of their illegal anti competitive behavior.
Member since:2006-01-06
What does that have to do with the decision by a given vendor (Lenovo) to decide what OS it wants to offer its customers? Anti- trust law is about promoting competition. It isn't about picking winners.
Um, no, wrong. I don't know where you got that idea, but MS is FORBIDDEN to have exclusive OEM contracts under the terms of the anti-trust settlement; in fact, the DOJ has a representative on-site at the Microsoft campus who reviews OEM contracts. So, in fact, there is no "illegal anti-competitive behavior" anymore. Microsoft can't get away with that. Of course, that won't stop people like you from spreading this FUD endlessly.
Member since:
2006-01-06
Simple. They listened to market research, which probably found that there is no customer demand for desktop Linux.