Micro-Star International will deliver low-cost, mini-notebooks pre-loaded with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop WALTHAM, Mass., June 18
WALTHAM, Mass., June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In order to meet
increasing global customer demand for Linux* on client systems, Novell(R)
today announced that Micro-Star International (MSI), a leading manufacturer of
computer hardware products and solutions based in Taiwan, is pre-installing
SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 on MSI's low-cost mini-notebooks. The
initial pre-loaded model, the Wind Notebook, is one of the first in the
rapidly growing segment of low-cost mini-notebooks, termed "netbooks" by Intel
Corporation. Powered by the new Intel(R) Atom(TM) processor, the Wind netbook
will be available worldwide and comes pre-loaded with SUSE Linux Enterprise
Desktop as well as the OpenOffice.org productivity suite and a host of
wireless, security and multimedia capabilities.
According to IDC's latest Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker from June 2008,
worldwide shipments of portable PCs are projected to reach 145.3 million units
in 2008, with the emergence of ultra low-cost notebook PCs cited as a
significant influence on the overall notebook market.**
With SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell, MSI customers get a user
friendly interface coupled with a rich set of applications, as well as
unmatched technical and driver support. Since 2006, MSI and Novell have
collaborated to provide SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop for MSI desktops and
notebooks, but this is the first pre-load agreement between the two companies.
"Novell is excited to partner with MSI to pre-install SUSE Linux
Enterprise Desktop on its low-cost notebooks powered by Intel's Atom
processor," said Roger Levy, senior vice president and general manager of Open
Platform Solutions at Novell. "The market is primed for desktop Linux, and by
combining MSI's highly-mobile, full-featured notebooks with Novell's
enterprise-ready desktop operating system, customers now have the best of both
worlds -- a comprehensive and easy-to-use solution at a very affordable
price."
Availability
The lightweight Wind netbook featuring Intel's energy-saving Atom
processor will be available worldwide later this summer. More information can
be found at http://www.msimobile.com.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop provides market-leading usability, seamless
interoperability and essential productivity applications. It is deployable as
a general-purpose desktop or easily tailored for use in thin- or thick-client
configurations. With SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, businesses can
dramatically reduce costs, improve security and increase workforce
productivity. For more information on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from
Novell, visit http://www.novell.com/linux/desktop.
About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers the best engineered, most
interoperable Linux* platform and a portfolio of integrated IT management
software that helps customers around the world reduce cost, complexity and
risk. With our infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell
harmoniously integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology
to work as one. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com.
Novell and SUSE are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United
States and other countries. *Linux is a registered trademark of Linus
Torvalds. All other third-party trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
**IDC, "Growth In Emerging Regions and Robust Portable PC Demand Drive
Strong Outlook for PC Market," Doc # prUS21279908, June 2008
SOURCE Novell, Inc.
