Lenovo to sell Linux laptops

By Reuters

Posted on 6 Aug 2007 at 15:15

Lenovo, the world's No. 3 PC maker, is to start selling laptop computers preloaded with Linux software from Novell.

The laptops are slated to go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year and will be sold to Lenovo's business customers as well as to consumers.

Lenovo announced its plans at the start of LinuxWorld, an annual conference for information-technology managers being held in San Francisco this week.

Last year, Microsoft entered into a business partnership with Novell that includes joint product development on server software. Microsoft also sells Novell products and both companies agreed to provide patent protections for each other's customers.

PC makers have been reluctant to embrace Linux, but that view is starting to change.

In May, Dell began selling three models to US consumers that come preloaded with Ubuntu. It introduced them after Chief Executive Michael Dell asked customers to post suggestions for new products on the company's website. Linux PCs were overwhelming the most-requested item.

Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth said in an interview last month that he expects Dell to expand its Linux PC program.

He also said that he is in negotiations with other large PC makers that want to introduce models preloaded with Ubuntu.