Lenovo releases Linux Thinkpads

LENOVO has said that it will release a SUSE Linux version of its ThinkPad range in the middle of January.

The PC vendor has been promising the Linux versions of the machines since before Dr Spinola was born, but for some reason they had not tipped up.

According to Desktop Linux a Linux version will appear on its Intel Centrino-powered ThinkPad T61 and R61 14-inch-wide notebooks.

Lenovo said it will place it on Penryn-based ThinkPads by February.

The spec of the T61 is interesting but the graphics card, an Intel GMA X3100 GM965 on the motherboard, limits it a bit. It will hit the streets for $949 which is only $20 less than the same laptop with Vista on board.

On the whole it is hard to see the point. Desktop Linux points out that it does mean that Lenovo will finally join Dell as one of the first top-tier PC vendors to offer pre-installed Linux desktops to its customers. But if these products are not significantly better or cheaper than Windows versions it is hard to see how in the long term it could be good for Linux.
Source :http://www.theinquirer.net