Lenovo's half-hearted Linux effort has failed again.

Lenovo could have sold many more laptops if they
1) Simply add Ubuntu as an option on the regular configuration page.
2) Repeat step one on every laptop's config page.

People don't want Vista, period. They wipe it out and install Linux, XP, or even Mac OS X on Thinkpads. Lenovo is forcing people to pay M$ tax and buy M$ crap, which people wipe out as soon as they get the laptop.

Lenovo's has tried to sell Linux laptops twice so far, and both times are half-hearted. Linux laptop weren't available with full options such as webcam and fast CPU. People want webcam and fast CPU. People buy Linux laptop just to avoid paying M$ tax. Unless Lenovo address this point head on, their future Linux plans will fail again and again.

Dell, Asus, Acer, and other consumer oriented companies will just keep selling more and more Linux laptops on behalf of Lenovo.

 

MS tax sucks. But which Dell laptops are available with Linux? The E6400 isn't. Or will they install it for you if you ask over the phone?

Anyways, they really should just have a "no OS" option. I don't know why it's too much of a hassle for them to sell laptops with Linux, but surely it isn't hard for them to simply not load any OS on the **** thing. But the real reason they're discontinuing Linux laptops is probably political. Something to do with MS' influence, most likely. So my point is moot.

 

I'd bet that politics with MS is exactly the reason. Their contract probably makes it difficult to just toss Linux up as an option for every laptop right away. It's easy enough for us to say they'd make more money by making Linux an option, but would it be worth it for them when they **** MS off? Nope.

 

This is not always the case. The truth is I prefer Vista to XP. I actually loathe XP.

This is only part of the reason. As TheSpoon said, if this was really the case, no OS would be a better option. Linux is still a “techie” OS and those who really want it know how to get it on their computers.

 

You make it sound as if you are speaking for everyone. I know plenty of people who love Vista and wouldn't even think of ditching it for XP or linux.

Most of the people who hate Vista have either installed it on some ancient machine, or never even tried it for a reasonable amount of time. Its just FUD created by crappy bloggers and the apple ads.

 

Well I want Vista, but I also wanted the Linux option because I already had a free copy from MS sitting here, so no need to buy it again. Just went with Basic since it was the cheapest.

 

I'm running Windows Vista (now Windows Server 2008 with Desktop Experience), Windows XP, OpenSUSE 11.0, Ubuntu 8.04 and Mac OS X... I generally use Windows Vista if I'm doing anything besides screwing around. It runs perfectly fine without slowdowns or compatibility issues, I don't see the need for Windows XP.

 

I just upgraded my desktop pc from XP x64 to Vista Ultimate x64 and loving it...wouldn't go back to XP.

Ordered my Lenovo T400 with Vista Business 64, by choice

 

I ran Vista for about six months on my R60. I don't hate it, but prefer XP because it's faster and Vista doesn't offer me anything that is a compelling reason to upgrade. I ran 2K for a long time after XP came out. I may be stubborn. Vista definitely looks better, but a lot of that can be mimiced with WindowBlinds, which I have.

 

As pointed out that's a sweeping generalization. I personally think Vista is the best OS out there right now (Vista, Ubuntu, OSX). I'd choose Vista over XP any day as long as the specs are right.

But I do agree. Lenovo as well as other large notebook sellers could do a lot more to give consumers better options:

- Offer a no OS option or include Ubuntu as an OS option

- Don't sell Linux machines on only lower configured machines

- Don't sell Linux machines at a higher price than Windows machines. I have no idea how that even happens.