Lenovo Will Not Support Linux

Lenovo is forging a strategic partnership with Microsoft. Okay, enough with the PR buzzwords (where else do you see “strategic” and “partnership” stated in a single sentence?). It seems that Lenovo is not sticking to IBM’s seeming holy alliance with Linux (remember that Lenovo bought IBM’s computer manufacturing business a while back).

From CRN,

Computer maker Lenovo will not install or support the Linux operating system on any of its PCs, including ThinkPads and a series of new notebooks, the company said this week.

The Raleigh, N.C.-based company is clearly positioning itself as an exclusive partner of Microsoft, several weeks after the companies announced they were “reaffirming” global market development and cooperation agreements.

While IBM and Microsoft also had OEM agreements, IBM is known to be supportive of Linux, to the point of pre-loading it on some ThinkPad models (and even extensive support on servers).

It can also be noted that IBM competitors HP and Dell have been pre-loading Linux on some retail units (though not very publicly, as this might adversely affect agreements with Microsoft). I wonder why Lenovo chose to go the other way instead–I doubt Linux support would harm its agreements with Microsoft.

[Via Village Idiot Savant]