IBM allows 500 patents to be freely used in open source software.

[swestrup]

IBM announced recently that they have been reconsidering their entire approach to intellectual property and how they manage it, and in the first of what they say will be a number of changes in their policies, they are allowing 500 of their patents to be used freely in open source products.

Lets all hope this is the start of a new trend.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/hub_/]

But you are correct, in the realm of laptops... not much support for Linux from IBM... but then... we don't even own our PC division anymore...

That is a real shame. I have yet to see laptop of the quality of IBM. I have a ThinkPad 600E at work, it would have been mine, I'd probably still be using it. The only that compares to the design and Apple PowerBooks, but the quality is not exactly the same as for example Titanium PowerBook had a case that broke easily... unlike IBM's. Everything else I tried, Dell, Toshiba, Compaq, HP, no-name, was crap.

Damn, next time I'll buy a laptop, I'll have a real problem choosing.

[lasher.livejournal.com]

yea, I do have to say that I like working on my IBM T41. I've dropped it (in the laptop carry bag though) and it came out just fine. I also love how light weight that it is.

I am afraid the quality will go down now that we have sold off the PC division. I hope that we dont let the new guys manaufacture and then stick our name on it. I'd rather just not sell PCs at all than do that. If you didnt know, we sold off our hard drive division a couple of years ago too. IBM just hasnt been able to make either remotely profitable... and hence, bye bye bye. *sigh*

Fortunately, I dont have a *need* for a laptop vs a PC except when I travel. I only travel for work about 2 times per year on average. So for my personal, non work system, I dont bother with a laptop. I had a nice tower built (mwave.com) rather than going and getting a "dell" or "compaq" etc. This way, I got to customize my PC guts. I've had no problems with that system and I got it almost 2 years ago.

[http://users.livejournal.com/hub_/]

When it comes to desktop, I assemble. This is the best way. Pick your component, etc. And best price value.

But I have needs for a laptop, just because I have it with me really often, etc.