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December 11, 2008

A little over four months ago, when Lenovo de-emphasized Novell SUSE Linux on their ThinkPad laptops, some industry skeptics perceived the move as an important setback for desktop Linux and Novell’s very own open source efforts. However, those skeptics could soon be proven to be wrong.

In fact, what Lenovo was really doing in essence is strenghtening its Novell relationship in two other distinct areas. But you really had to look closely since it wasn't so apparent at that time...

Here's the negative news - in September, Lenovo cancelled its point-and-click online shopping for SUSE Linux-based ThinkPad notebooks. It was certainly seen as a setback for Novell and desktop/mobile Linux. Understandably, open source advocates and the overall Linux community as a whole were disappointed with Lenovo's sudden decision.

Nevertheless, Lenovo was and still is fully committed to the Linux and open source community and on several areas.

As some industry pundits have been predicting since Aug. 2007, Lenovo did start selling Linux-based servers in September of this year. And more is expected from the Chinese computer and server manufacturer that acquired IBM's PC business in 2005.

Lenovo IdeaPad Netbooks (with Novell SUSE Linux as an option) have surfaced this week in some parts of the globe.

Conveniently positioned for the education sector, Lenovo Netbooks help speed up the trend toward smaller, low-cost sub-notebooks running Linux.

Lenovo certainly isn’t alone. Linux Netbooks are beginning to impact Microsoft’s Windows sales and overall profits. With time, consumer Linux momentum on low-end Netbooks will gather steam into the corporate notebook market.

But Lenovo's representatives say the company “still recommends Windows for everyday computing.”

Meanwhile, Microsoft and especially IBM are still embarking on other open source ventures. Is Novell profiting a lot from desktop and mobile Linux business?

We don't know yet, however, it's easy to conclude that such desktop deals have allowed Novell to strengthen the SUSE Linux server business as a whole. Some think Novell's server business should gain another one or two percent of its global market share in 2009.

It will be interesting to follow these developments rather closely in the next 2 to 3 quarters...

In the mean time, competition for the Linux desktop is expected to accelerate, not just in schools and universities, but in many other segments of the industry as well.

Source: Novell.

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