"IBM Japan Ltd... will launch notebook PCs equipped with
Linux through a Linux distributor in March. "There is a need for
Linux on notebook PCs among users in universities and research
institutes. I will make 2001 the first year of Linux for clients,"
said Kazufu Hotta, managing director of IBM Japan."
"Turbolinux Japan KK, a major distributor of Linux, will be in
charge of selling Linux notebook PCs from March. The sales will be
arranged on the Web site of Turbolinux Japan on the "ThinkPad i
Series 1620," which is a B5-sized notebook PC from IBM."
"The PC is also loaded with the office suite for Linux,
"Applixware Office for Linux5.0" and test versions of various Linux
applications provided by IBM. About 600 new employees will join IBM
Japan in April 2001 to handle the product."