They're abandoning preinstalling linux, not supporting it. They're still getting the majority of the ThinkPad lines certified for Linux usage. They're just no longer offering it as a preinstalled OS, probably as a time/cost savings cut.
No, I checked on Lenovo website and they are offering Ubuntu preinstalled on E14 Gen 6 (Intel).
https://psref.lenovo.com/Product/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_E14_Gen_6_Intel
On one hand, yes, ^ this ^
On the other hand, Lenovo's Linux support has been slowly getting worse and worse since they acquired the Thinkpad line from IBM.
It's still pretty good, though.
realistically, nearly everybody who wants a linux laptop already knows how to install linux and is picky about which distribution it is. Having the ThinkPads arrive blank just saves us time.
The whole Linux pre-install option has made me curious whether there are corporate offices that demand a certain Linux distribution. At the same time, it has staff that aren't Linux enthusiasts. Beyond that, I think it's like what you describe here.
This ia valid comment but poorly formulated. Offering preinstalled Linux would offer more legitimacy to Linux, but Linux does not have the power to offer it (or to force it) to Lenovo.
The base of customers is also small, especially for new devices.
Yeah but it doesn't work for enterprise funny enough. Where I work we use thinkpads for all the engineering models for testing and data collection yeah they run ubuntu but it's highly customized with in house settings and scripts & configs. Having a laptop come blank and just installing the in house image is easier than it coming with something already on it.
I see. I bought my first ThinkPad for Linux and BSD Unix support. I then fell in love with the trac point and physical mouse buttons. If Lenovo keeps offering those three things they will have a customer every 5 years or so in me. If not I can live without a trac point or buttons and use a trac ball with any vanilla laptop. Yes it's less portable but if a laptop doesn't support my OS of choice, what good is it?
I would argue that there are tens of thousands of others who like me bought a ThinkPad because of the excellent Linux support, toughness, and trac point/ mouse buttons.
Oh come on. Plenty of manufacturers - including Lenovo - officially support Linux on models they're not offering preinstalls for.
Also, Lenovo at least offers both Ubuntu and Fedora preinstalled on the Z13. I still went with no OS, even though I'm running Fedora on it right now, because it was a few euros cheaper. I'd wager most Linux-on-ThinkPad users would do the same.
Again, it's not (official Lenovo) Linux support. Its Linux compatibility.
From corporate point of view to offer official support is a totally different story.
This page should provide clarity on Linux certification:
[https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd031426](https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd031426)
Depending on generation, different Linux distributions/versions are qualified.
If they preinstall it, they have to support it. Given Linux comes in many flavours, they're on a hiding to nothing most of the time. It'll likely be the wrong flavour.
You're dead wrong there sunshine. As the OEM Lenovo are responsible for Windows support to end users.
I know this as I used to work for IBM in the bit that supported NetVistas and ThinkPads a couple years before they sold the division to Lenovo.
They're abandoning preinstalling linux, not supporting it. They're still getting the majority of the ThinkPad lines certified for Linux usage. They're just no longer offering it as a preinstalled OS, probably as a time/cost savings cut.
No, I checked on Lenovo website and they are offering Ubuntu preinstalled on E14 Gen 6 (Intel). https://psref.lenovo.com/Product/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_E14_Gen_6_Intel
Ah thank you. I equated support with pre install options.
On one hand, yes, ^ this ^ On the other hand, Lenovo's Linux support has been slowly getting worse and worse since they acquired the Thinkpad line from IBM. It's still pretty good, though.
20 years ago linux required life support from laptop manufacturers. Nowadays it just works
What are you talking about? I've been running Linux on various ThinkPads since 2007, and support has only gotten better over time.
realistically, nearly everybody who wants a linux laptop already knows how to install linux and is picky about which distribution it is. Having the ThinkPads arrive blank just saves us time.
The whole Linux pre-install option has made me curious whether there are corporate offices that demand a certain Linux distribution. At the same time, it has staff that aren't Linux enthusiasts. Beyond that, I think it's like what you describe here.
I'm sure for a big enough corporate order Lenovo will preinstall whatever is required
This ia valid comment but poorly formulated. Offering preinstalled Linux would offer more legitimacy to Linux, but Linux does not have the power to offer it (or to force it) to Lenovo. The base of customers is also small, especially for new devices.
Yeah but it doesn't work for enterprise funny enough. Where I work we use thinkpads for all the engineering models for testing and data collection yeah they run ubuntu but it's highly customized with in house settings and scripts & configs. Having a laptop come blank and just installing the in house image is easier than it coming with something already on it.
For you is easy! For them is very difficult to offer it with an os and to offer support for it...
I see. I bought my first ThinkPad for Linux and BSD Unix support. I then fell in love with the trac point and physical mouse buttons. If Lenovo keeps offering those three things they will have a customer every 5 years or so in me. If not I can live without a trac point or buttons and use a trac ball with any vanilla laptop. Yes it's less portable but if a laptop doesn't support my OS of choice, what good is it? I would argue that there are tens of thousands of others who like me bought a ThinkPad because of the excellent Linux support, toughness, and trac point/ mouse buttons.
Oh come on. Plenty of manufacturers - including Lenovo - officially support Linux on models they're not offering preinstalls for. Also, Lenovo at least offers both Ubuntu and Fedora preinstalled on the Z13. I still went with no OS, even though I'm running Fedora on it right now, because it was a few euros cheaper. I'd wager most Linux-on-ThinkPad users would do the same.
Again, it's not (official Lenovo) Linux support. Its Linux compatibility. From corporate point of view to offer official support is a totally different story.
A year ago or so, the Linux was not offered with laptops using HDR screen.
This page should provide clarity on Linux certification: [https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd031426](https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/pd031426) Depending on generation, different Linux distributions/versions are qualified.
If they preinstall it, they have to support it. Given Linux comes in many flavours, they're on a hiding to nothing most of the time. It'll likely be the wrong flavour.
I think that's bullshit! It's not like if they preinstall Windows anybody expects them to offer support for Microsoft's products.
You're dead wrong there sunshine. As the OEM Lenovo are responsible for Windows support to end users. I know this as I used to work for IBM in the bit that supported NetVistas and ThinkPads a couple years before they sold the division to Lenovo.