I’ve seen Lenovo/IBM preload Linux on several models over the years just like any other vendor. They soon stop the practice as the systems do not sell. – Because the Linux inclined would rather load their distro of choice and not deal with the Linux preload that the vendor chose to adopt and support.

So stop yer B*tching. :)

Kubuntu Jaunty. Just stay away from the broadcom wifi chipsets(Just in case you might have to use ndiswrapper). Stick with the Intel stuff and if I recall, ATI is supporting the video now. Nvidia has been supporting the Linux community for some time now. 99 times out of 100, you’ll load and be running in no time.

I have to admit I’m not handy with computers, and that I just like to plug things in and see it work, but really people saying that linux is not easy to use are as dumb as people saying ‘computers are difficult and never work.’

A netbook to me is something to do simple stuff with. I want to have internet, a browser, an msn messenger (not specifically THE msn messenger), skype and some kind of office version. Currently under windows I use Lotus Symphony, because microsoft office is all pay and still suck.

I want my netbook to run as long as possible, and since most netbooks are preinstalled with windows XP or Vista (which take 2 to 4 times as much memory or something -I’m not even sure how to call it- as 2000, for which reason I had to buy a new computer ), I figured out that a netbook better not run on that kind of stuff if I want the battery life to last long.

Therefore I decided to give linux a look. Since I heard that it is simple and intuitive, cheaper and faster.

I ran linux from a pendrive, yes pendrive… that’s a USB-stick for most ignorant users such as myself. I tried several ‘distros’ because there are apparently a lot of differences in it.

Most distributions are totally not suitable for starting users, but the Eeebuntu 9.04 is really easy. It is rather heavy compared to light versions such as PuppEee or CruncEee, and it is better to install it on your harddrive.

But hell! It runs almost everything directly. No need to install drivers for USB sticks, and even my phone I can directly plug in and it works. The built-in webcam works, sound, brightness control, pretty much everything.

And the wireless, which was a problem factor with some of the other distributions, is just a click and it works. There are a bit odd IP-numbers in my network, which causes trouble for windows and makes me configure it manually, Eeebuntu has no problems with this.

The OpenOffice 3.0 also works flawlessly, so it’s easy to work on. Loads pretty fast, too. The interface is easy, and you can switch off options you don’t use with a single click, such as Bluetooth, USB, webcam etc. (Although I don’t quite get the webcam turning on and off, because it always says it is off, gives an error when I try to turn it on, and it still works well).

Through this positive experience, I will use linux on my netbook, while on my normal notebook, which I use for games and photoshop (because I really dont understand GIMP, even though it can do ‘a lot’).

So I hope that you understand the discussion between windows versus linux in general is stupid. It depends on the application, what do you want to do with it? And then it should not be windows versus linux, but every distribution of linux deserves as much attention as windows or Mac.

Now that will sound weird, why not every windows version, or mac version? Simply because they are a vertical line of newer systems that replaces the former one. Just as it would be silly to compare Ubuntu 9, 8, 7, 6 etc. But the different distributions are developed at the same time.

If you’re interested, check the descriptions a bit. Load UNetBootin and see which distro you want to try, put it on USB and restart. Press F9 during startup and choose USB device and voila! Le linux!

Don’t like it? Power down, remove USB and start again, you’re back in windows.

I would recommend anyone to at least try this before saying anything about ‘linux.’ I didn’t like most of the distributions either, but especially Ubuntu is a real good starter.

Take a look at Ubuntu Jaunty…

Stupid man xD

While the hardware itself was ok, my friend cried for help using the SLED 10 SP 2, famous for it’s BROKEN package manager (yes, zenworks, zypper or whatever is called).

I’m the linux guy in my company and expected to get the netbook fixed for issues like acpi not properly working (hangs and reboots), and the internet update of the operating system not working. After several hours of trial and error, search for help on Lenovo’s website and forums, the solution was to put a legitimate XP he already owned from another broken desktop.

My question is:

Is this guy the type of person that make the decissions on what to put on netbooks?

If so, I can see why Lenovo sucks.

If Lenovo believes that Linux is doomed…so be it…it will be their loss. There are other manufacturers more than willing to sell Linux computers in all forms. Lets support them and thank them for offering Linux computers whether we buy one from them or not.

Linux won’t overtake Windows anywhere in the near future…. However it won’t be Linux or Apple that will hurt Microsoft. It will be the growing number of open source mandates that is starting to take hold around the globe.

Simply put, governmental agencies have mandated that their departments use open source software or the department will have to pay for it themselves….Russia is a prime example. Schools in all regions in that country must use open source or…pay for it themselves…its a done deal.

Hungary is seeking to go 50% open source, Brazil, China and even Vietnam have varying levels of open source mandates. The City of Munich and the French Police are using open source software and open source operating systems.

This is a growing trend throughout the world and it does not bode well for Microsoft or any other proprietary software company.

The numerous consecutive “Years of Desktop Linux” should already have indicated that Linux isn’t grabbing desktop share anytime soon.

Yeah, right. In the wet dreams of Linux fanboys, maybe.