A "product expert" forum support guy reveals a SECRET AGREEMENT between Microsoft and Lenovo. Come on.
Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
171–180 of 494 posts
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#172The other HN thread suggests this not actually a dark conspiracy by Microsoft but simply a case of missing linux drivers for the storage devices. This sounds believable to me. But I'll put my tinfoil hat on just for fun and pretend it was an intentional move. Could this make sense as a new twist on the old strategy, making it "Embrace, Extinguish, Extend"? With the WSL, they made it theoretically possible to run Linu…
If you read the original reddit thread, you would understand that this is not just a drivers issue. Lenovo intentionally programmed their BIOS so that it reverts any changes to RAID mode making it impossible to install Linux.
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#173Do not attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. I see no conspiracy here, just an OEM that doesn't get it.
We're assuming Microsoft is behaving according to their extensively-documented (including original MS source documents in court cases) past malicious behaviour, not assuming malice in the absence of previous malice.
The kids these days don't realise just how much of what's fucked up about PCs these days is directly Microsoft fuckery.
Groklaw's pages on the Comes case are a good start: http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20070220083801...
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#174> Lenovo for example confirmed that they singed an agreement with Microsoft for this. If true, it's illegal product tying, and those who signed such "agreement" are violating antitrust law. Someone should sue them until they stop doing this. Lenovo are infamous for refusing to refund Windows tax until brought to court, but this is a new low for them.
And they will lose. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/09/sony-wins-pre-ins...
Preinstalled software you can (probably) quite easily uninstall is slightly different though. I personally don't care what the computer comes with, as long as I can reformat and reinstall a new OS.
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
Let your wallet do the speaking. It's an open market and you have the choice of just buying from Lenovo's competitors - 'they' will then realise there's value in not doing this.
No they won't. Lenovo doesn't care about losing you guys as customers, they care about the companies who buy thousands of the damn things so their employees can run Excel on Windows.
You are probably right but the PR backslash could make them think twice before doing the same thing again. So it's still worth complaining and, why not, buying from somebody else and be very vocal about it. For sure, after SuperFish and this I won't consider or recommend Lenovo anymore.
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#176Gross
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#177Just out of curiosity, what's the rationale for MS & Lenovo to do this, why to risk PR? The number of people wanting to install Linux is marginal and they are already "on the wrong side".
Money, lots of money. Microsoft gives away special deals for OEM versions of Windows that cost manufacturers of devices peanuts in comparison to the ordinary pricing. I've heard figures like $20 per Windows license. So people have suggested in the past that Microsoft might ask for favours in return, basically telling OEMs that if they do not comply they might loose cheap OEM versions or even all access to OEM version…
By "might", you mean of course "repeatedly demonstrated in court, and we have piles of source documents substantiating the claim submitted in discovery".
The Comes trial is a good start http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20070220083801...
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#178Just out of curiosity, what's the rationale for MS & Lenovo to do this, why to risk PR? The number of people wanting to install Linux is marginal and they are already "on the wrong side".
The year of Linux on the desktop was 2007. That's when netbooks first showed up, and manufacturers put them out with Linux on because an XP license cost so much relative to the cost of the gadget. This was the first time MS had to treat Linux as an actual direct competitor.
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#179Earlier quoted context omitted.
I bought a Lenovo X1 Carbon (most recent gen) and really regret it for a great many reasons. Wish I had gone for the XPS. Actually what swayed me was the very slightly larger screen.
Could you expand a little on what kind of issues you've had with it?
The screen itself mainly, is incredibly dull. it has a matt covering that i thought I wanted, but turns out i don't. When compared in indirect sunlight with the mRBP i can't read the text in a terminal. Practically unusable in certain situations. Often I like to work sitting outside on my balcony and couldn't.
Battery life is quite poor despite considerable tweaking. Rarely get more than 2-3 hours of reasonable (low % cpu) use. Disable WiFi and decrease screen brightness and i can get 9-10 on an aircraft on a long flight. I fell it is getting worse over time too.
I've also had WiFi driver issues with suspend and resume on linux AND windows. Assumed it was just Ubuntu and their horrendous lack of QA for hardware. My wife also has the same issue on the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 on win 10. I just rmmod and insmod the wifi kernel module to repair. PITA.
i had similar trackpad issues, these have been resolved.
Keyboard is way way too soft/shallow. Could be an issue on most laptops these days.
Speakers are on the base of the unit and are incredibly quiet. Quiet to the point where if you have a gentle breeze whip up you completely lose the sound.
Considering the cost I'm not impressed. The screen kills it for me. even glare reflecting off windows wipes it out at max brightness.
Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop
#180Well, i will never buy one of those. Thats for sure.