Lenovo Thinkpad

MOST OF THE NEWS is about Lenovo this time around, but we shall begin with the remainder.

Dell presents a thin client, which only supports Windows or SLE.

The flash modules target installation of operating systems that include both Windows XP Embedded and Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Thin Client 10, according to Dell. But, the company adds, the Optiplex FX160 need have no mass storage at all: Via the company's ODDS (on-demand desktop streaming) feature, the unit can also boot from a disk image housed in an enterprise's data center.

Sub-notebooks

Dana Blankenhorn posted a provocative piece asking about the diversity in the GNU/Linux market which targets sub-notebooks. He names Xandros and SUSE, among other distributions.

The Asus unit I last reviewed ran Xandros. Others run Debian. Apricot tried SUSE, and the new Dell Inspiron Mini runs Ubuntu. Last year Dell tried Red Hat.

But those problems adding software add up to one big headache. Each distro does this in its own way. Each application supporting Linux must have packages supporting multiple distros.

Lenovo Sub-notebooks

The important news in this section followed a press release. Coverage was in lots of different places, including:

IDG: Lenovo targets new netbook at students

Lenovo this week unveiled a netbook PC designed to be the first mobile PC for K-12 students and a "secondary device" for college students. Related links

Netbooks are smaller, lighter, and much less expensive than full-blown notebook PCs. The Lenovo IdeaPad S10e gives institutions the option of using the latest version of Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop instead of Windows XP or XP Pro2, and the opportunity to dress the slate-gray finish in the school's official colors.

IDG (another one): Lenovo Unveils Hardware Duo: Desktop and Netbook

Lenovo is also following the recent trend of PC makers churning out mini-laptops with the unveiling of its IdeaPad S10e netbook. The company noted that the ultra-portable is designed for students in K-12, as well as those in college. Weighing in at less than 3 pounds, the netbook runs Microsoft Windows XP Home or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell.

Another one from IDG (via the New York Times): Netbook market heats up as HP jumps into the fray

On Tuesday, Lenovo Group, Ltd. announced a low-cost netbook for the education market. The IdeaPad S10e netbook is designed for students in K-12, as well as those in college. Weighing in at less than 3 pounds, the netbook runs Microsoft Windows XP Home or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell Inc.

InformationWeek: Lenovo Unveils Netbook For Education Market

The system comes with an Intel Atom processor and is available with either Microsoft Windows XP Home edition or Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop. The PC is available with either a 4-GB solid-state drive or 160-GB hard disk drive, and can connect to the Internet through a wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connection. The system also supports Bluetooth wireless for connecting to peripheral devices.

The IdeaPad S10e is scheduled to be available at the end of November. Pricing was not disclosed.

InformationWeek (separate): Windows 7 A Good Fit For Netbooks

Lenovo on Tuesday introduced the IdeaPad S10e netbook for the education market. Windows Vista is not available on the system. Buyers can choose either Windows XP or Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop as the OS.

Var Guy: Novell Turns Linux Desktop Setback Into Victory

Well, those Lenovo IdeaPad Netbooks — with Novell SUSE Linux as an option — finally surfaced this week. Positioned for kids and the education market, the Lenovo Netbooks accelerate the trend toward smaller, low-cost sub-notebooks.

CNET: Lenovo announces Netbook with Splashtop instant-on technology

The IdeaPad S10e will feature an Intel Atom processor, a 80GB hard drive or 4GB SSD, and either Windows XP Home or Novell's Suse Linux , and either a 3- or a 6-cell battery. You won't find an SSD or 6-cell battery offered on the S10 right now.

Lenovo Servers

Earlier this week we wrote about the prebundling conundrum. There is a slightly different tune being sung at the moment and it gets passed forward by ZDNet Australia.

"Globally we are partnering with Novell as a pre-installed offering, but we certainly support and recognise Red Hat as a partner," Steele said.

Here is another article about it. This seems to reveal a mystifying affair between Lenovo and Novell, along with remarks from Microsoft.

The ThinkServer family is available with Microsoft Windows Server or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell, Lenovo's preferred Linux operating system provider. The new ThinkServer line consists of:

* The ThinkServer TS100 Tower and RS110 Rack servers are equipped with Intel Core 2 Duo or Xeon 3000 or 3200 processors and are targeted for small offices utilizing simple applications such as email, messaging and storing files and for use as a Web server.

* The ThinkServer TD100 Tower, TD100x Tower or RD120 Rack servers are equipped with Intel Xeon 3000 or 5000 processors and are ideal for medium-sized businesses that require additional capabilities such as database applications or virtualization.

"Microsoft is excited to work closely with Lenovo in the server business," said Chris Phillips, general manager of Windows Server and Solutions, Microsoft. "The combination of Windows Server 2008 and our upcoming releases of Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008 products align very well with Lenovo's ThinkServer solutions."

Xandros

Novell's GroupWise is mentioned in the following text, but it's mostly about Scalix, which is owned by Xandros, a patents partner of Microsoft.

Scalix, the award-winning Linux email, calendaring and messaging company, and GeM Solutions, provider of Anywhere to Anywhere E-mail Migration(TM), today announced an agreement to offer the GeM Shuttle Manager for simple and fast migration to Scalix, from "anywhere," including Lotus Notes/Domino, Novell GroupWise, Fischer TAO, and all IMAP44-compliant messaging platforms. Companies of all sizes can now easily migrate all email, attachments, calendars, contacts, folders, directories and mail lists from costly legacy systems to Scalix solutions based on open standards and open source. After the migration, they will be free to use their email clients and mobile devices of choice.

Xandros also had this press release.

Xandros, the leader in making Linux and Windows work together, today announced that key staff members will showcase management packs for the Microsoft System Center Operations Manager designed to help simplify managing mixed Windows, Linux, and UNIX environments. The demonstration of the BridgeWays Management Packs will be at the Xandros stand, no. 6, in the Microsoft Systems Center Partner Pavilion at the Microsoft Tech-Ed EMEA IT Professionals Conference in Barcelona, Spain, November 3-7.

Lots of Microsoft there, eh?

Although it's in Spanish, the following press release (same as above) is worth noting. The showcase is in Spain, so this translation was made and circulated. ⬆

"Problem solving under linux has never been the circus that it is under AIX."

--Pete Ehlke in comp.unix.aix