IBM Launches Microsoft-Free Linux PCs

IBM (NYSE: IBM) has introduced a line of business computers that eschew Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)'s ubiquitous desktop environment in favor of an amalgam of open source software.

The system, which IBM calls the Open Collaboration Client, combines the Linux operating system with IBM's open source Lotus Symphony desktop package.

[Lord Anubis]

we love you IBM. Please save us.

[Genesis5]

Really. It would nice to have a choice on an OS for home PC's. Remember competition is a good thing. Monopoly is a bad thing. Unless you're talking about the board game. MS has stymied competitors for to long. They are going to have to start sharing the PC market. This can only be good for consumers.

[lokiroo420]

About freaking time, thank god.

[lordgodalming]

This would be an especially good idea for public schools. I tried year after year at the school where I taught to get them to use open source programs, specifically Linux and Open Office. An unbelievable amount of the school's computer budget went to obtaining licenses for Windows 98 (this was in the mid 2000's), and we didn't use even a tenth of what Windows could do for a network. Instead they used a combination of MS and Apple OS because they didn't want to have to train the teachers on a new system. Bullhonk, I say. They taught us a new grading software every year.

Anyway, good move by this company. I hope it works out for them.

[BattleAxe]

Hopefully Sony, Dell and Gateway start doing the same thing.

[jack who]

IBM makes pc?

[elorm9]

Uh... Duh?

I mean really... their names stands for International Business MACHINES

[jack who]

has in business servers...not home or office pc's

[Graphics Whore]

Jack, alot tells me you're really uninformed.

[jack who]

than sumone plz show me an ibm home pc that isnt from the 80s

[Lord Anubis]

IBM sold their PCs assets to Lenovo. THeir latest IBM PCS/laptops were the Thinkpad series. THey currently make hardware and pcs under contracts and for business. This is how microsoft started making software for business and going down to consumers. IBM could save us.

[jack who]

thank you Lord Anubis

as for the thinkpad still look lik sumthing from the 80s lol

[elorm9]

Quite funny seeing how I'm currently using a Lenovo Y510 :)

I might put linux on this thing though. Really hate Vista

[uie4rhig]

IBM specialises more in servers and all.. but also does home pc's :P

[tk]

The original PC that the whole market is build on is from IBM. Back then the IBM version of MS-DOS was PC-DOS. Of course they build PC's. They started the market. OK - so they sold to Lenovo... but they still defined this market segment.

[dadeisvenm]

Dell has been doing it for years and you can now get ubuntu or freedos on your ordered PC.

[AuToFiRE]

Kudos to IBM you are my new hero

[pslinux]

I hope more pc manufacture offering Linux pre-install pc. I have an Ause EEE laptop with Linux pre-installed and I like it.

[Shadow Man]

For Vengeance!!!

[ultimolu]

Revoluuuution!

Lol...just wanted to say that.

But that's cool.

[ProblemSolver]

IBM :X

[Bnet343]

As long as it's not the iDiots at Crapple with the Crapintosh and the iCrap.

[GIJeff]

lawl.

[incogneato]

lame. linux is garbage and a trend.

[LinuxGuru]

A trend? Linux has been around for at least 17 years along with unix (which has been around even longer)

You insult something that has probably been around longer than you have been alive, by calling it a "trend".

LoL...do you know anything at all?

[incogneato]

how does that change the fact that its trendy among nerds to use linux because they think it makes them look tech savvy? btw i used linux before you heard of it

[LinuxGuru]

Wrong, I believe you're thinking of Mac OSX.

And you have no clue when I first heard of or started using Linux.

Oh, and I guess you call an operating system that's used by major worldwide businesses, goverments, and a steadily increasing number of individuals since its inception a trend?

Linux is a rock-solid, ever-improving foundation upon which major world players place their trust (apparently it's good enough for them, so it's good enough for me), yet you feel that you can call it a trend that's adopted by wannabe tech-savvy nerds?

Boy are you sure the ignorant one!

[incogneato]

thats the whole point, linux isnt meant to be used as a desktop OS. it is pure garbage for that job and only nerds use it to feel tech savvy.

[LinuxGuru]

You are an arrogant and ignorant ass who honestly doesn't know jack about Linux desktop usage.

It works absolute wonders and it involves no more configuration to use for everyday desktop things than any normal Windows computer would need. In fact, it probably needs less configuration now. And the interfaces are increasing in ease of use and beauty.

Your condemnation of Linux as a desktop OS is purely an uneducated and empty stab at something you obviously know nothing about.

Nice try though, I'd suggest you do some learning before you claim any sort of intelligence in regards to what works as a desktop OS and what does not.

As far as I am concerned...it's nice to have tens of thousands of free programs to use, and a beautiful interface with easy controls from top to bottom.

I can type a couple words and any program I want will be downloaded and installed for me, without any clicking at all =)

That's the beauty of Linux!

[tuneraider]

I think you mean DOS.

[uie4rhig]

i bought my acer 5920g a month or two back.. came with vista, removed the crap to put XP on it as a back up OS besides linux as the main OS.. decided it would be cooler to have vista as well so installed vista, first of, it took me ages to find xp drivers, and then to install them one by one.. then in vista, the drivers were preloaded (OEM) but it took me ages to remove all the crapware from acer.. linux on the other hand.. 99% of the stuff worked fine, no crapware.. only thing that didn't work were the touch sensitive multimedia buttons, which i only had to add one command to the start up sessions to make it work.. and that was it.. it was ready to go for everything..

[rosebowl23]

All you're doing is making incogneato's argument that "idiots use linux to seem tech savvy" seem right. All those things you mentioned have nothing to do with Windows and everything to do with your ignorance of computers in general.

Why would they make XP drivers for a Vista computer? Installing a fresh copy of Windows retail would not have crapware just like the linux install. You chose to save money by buying an Acer, it brings crap so YOU can get your computer as cheap as you did.

I would also like to add that hating on Vista seems to be a trend among the ignorant as well. I'm lookin at you Superaktieboy.

[uie4rhig]

isn't that what companies are here for? isn't that what competition is here for? aside from that.. there was an old version of this laptop that used to ship with XP (still same name).. yet it took me a while to find it.. but yeah.. keep telling yourself w/e .. point is.. windows aint as good as linux or mac.. may be more user friendly.. but it aint as good as linux..

[cpuchess]

Well the idea of an operating to compete with Windows other than Macs is good. However based on what I have read about Linux it suffers from compatibility problems with windows software. When I can go to Best Buy and see rows of software for Linux like I see for Windows then I will be more intrigued. Doesn't make sense to me to use something like Wine to run Windows software either, I would rather run it on the system it was intended for.
This article also mentions Lotus, which brings back bad memories of Lotus Nots which was\is terrible.