HP preloads Suse Linux

THE WORLD'S LARGEST PC vendor, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Novell today announced that HP will preload Novell's SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) on its small Compaq model dc5850 desktop PC designed for the small and medium-size business (SMB) market.

The HP dc5850 has been available with FreeDOS, various editions of Windows Vista, and Windows XP. In a departure from its previous policy and the practice of most PC vendors, HP won't charge extra for preloading SuSE Linux on the machines, which it sells for prices starting at $520. Add a keyboard, mouse and monitor to build out a system for under $750.

We think that the world's best selling PC brand starting to preload Linux for the same price as the same system preloaded with Windows Vista is a significant change. It's long overdue. µ

L'Inq
Desktop Linux