Laptop Lindows set for April release

The first Lindows-based Centino-powered laptops will be ready within the next 45 days.

Lindows.com, which already makes a 'desktop version' of Linux, said this week that it is to release a version of its LindowsOS software for Intel Centrino-based laptops for the first time.

The company said that Centrino support is the most common request it receives from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Lindows.com is close to tying up "a few big deals" with OEMs to manufacture the computers, which will probably be announced next week, said a company spokeswoman.

The first machines will be preloaded with Lindows Laptop Edition and should appear in 30 to 45 days.

The Centrino processor contains built-in support for wireless communications and is designed specifically for laptops.

The announcement that Lindows is to support the Centrino comes a day after Intel agreed to release Linux versions of the drivers that control the chip's wireless functions.

Previously, laptop users wishing to use the wireless technology would have had to wrap a Linux interface around a Windows software base.