The third largest global PC maker, Lenovo, says it will start selling Linux pre-installed laptops to business and consumers. Linux is a free, open source operating system developed as an alternative to systems such as Microsoft''s Windows.

According to analysts approximately 6 per cent of computers are run on Linux, but it is fiding wider acceptance among users and businesses as more computer makers offer pre-loaded PCss.

Lenovo announced its plans at the start of LinuxWorld, an annual conference held in San Francisco. Novell will provide the Linux software on the laptops, which are expected ion the market by the end of the year.

In May Dell announced the launch of three Linux-powered computer systems including one notebook in response to customer feedback, at the invitation of its founder and CEO Michael Dell on the company''s website. (See: Dell to offer preloaded Linux computers; to sell through Wal-Mart)

Linus Torvalds, the developer of Linux, first introduced the operating system 16 years ago in a bid to create a non-commercial alternative to expensive operating systems for universities

Linux can be freely distributed, modified and used by anyone and is predominantly used to power web servers. while its growth on desktop computers has been limited to technology specialists, its adoption by Lenovo and Dell points to wider acceptance.