Lenovo has announced a global expansion of its Linux® portfolio, extending its certification program that was announced in June to include PCs preinstalled with Canonical’s Ubuntu® LTS operating system.
Previously only accessible to enterprises via a customized bid, a comprehensive range of nearly 30 Ubuntu-loaded devices will now be available for purchase via Lenovo.com.
These include 13 ThinkStation™ and ThinkPad™ P Series Workstations and an additional 14 ThinkPad T, X, X1 and L series laptops, all with the 20.04 LTS version of Ubuntu, with the exception of the L series which will have version 18.04.
“Lenovo’s vision of enabling smarter technology for all really does mean ‘for all’. Our announcement of device certification in June was a step in the right direction to enable customers to more easily install Linux on their own. Our goal is to remove the complexity and provide the Linux community with the premium experience that our customers know us for. This is why we have taken this next step to offer Linux-ready devices right out of the box,” said Igor Bergman, Vice President of PCSD Software & Cloud at Lenovo.
With this expansion comes increased accessibility to open source apps, libraries and tools to enhance developers’ productivity. Not only does this offer a seamless out-of-box experience for those who previously braved the often time-consuming process of loading Linux onto their Lenovo devices themselves, it also provides this community of programmers, software developers, AI professionals and other Linux users an increased range of devices to choose from.
“Lenovo’s expansion of Ubuntu certified devices shows great commitment to open source and the Linux community. With data scientists and developers increasingly needing Linux for emerging workloads, this collaboration enables enterprises to equip their employees with the assurance of long-term stability, added security and simplified IT management,” said Dean Henrichsmeyer, VP of Engineering at Canonical.
By providing these devices preloaded with the OEM version of Ubuntu, Lenovo is removing complexity for Linux users and introducing end-to-end web and phone support for platform-related Linux issues.
Availability
Included in this global expansion are the following Lenovo ThinkPad and ThinkStation devices[i] which will be available globally starting September 2020 and rolling out in phases through 2021.
