Is Linux What Dell Needs?

Arghyle ^ | March 13th | Sal Cangeloso

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Despite years of success Dell has fallen on hard times. The company who practically reinvented the way people buy computers has been under-performing and investors are worried. The company has been losing market share and no longer has the edge it once had over competitors like HP and Gateway.

There has been much talk about Dell taking steps to make up lost ground by selling computers that use Linux for their operating system. This is something many people are interested in but unfortunately not something that will turn around the company.

As a Linux user (on a few but not all of my systems) I know how great it would be for Dell to offer preinstalled Linux computers. Because many Linux distributions have no licensing fees associated with them the cost of the computer could potentially be cheaper and because Linux is extremely stable, generally has modest processing requirements, and has an incredible online support community, Dell users (even though new to Linux) stand to gain much. At least in theory…

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

This guy eludes to an excellent point. Something which other posters have brought up. With the reduced cost of linux OS's, the linux vendors themselves wouldn't have to provide monies for support, they could charge a similar amount of money for the linux based system and recoup the money in the actual sale.

Fourth paragraph: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^In practice things could be very different. Potential customers could be very confused (and angry) when they realize that their system is not compatible with Windows, the only operating system they have probably ever used. Also people might be taken aback when they see Dell is seemingly charging a premium for Windows machine. This is of course supposing that Dell could actually lower the price of a Linux system because of it lack of a Windows license. This is possible, over time, but there is a very good chance that the increased support staff and training associated with each additional Linux distribution offered will increase the cost of systems up to or past the price of their Windows counterparts.^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is unlikely. The first responder to this notes that Dell could mention that "this system not compatible with windows". That would take care of the vast majority of tech calls that Dell would be receiving.

Dell would end up getting around the same true technical calls as Apple gets. Which comparitively, isn't a whole lot. Linux, like macs, don't break that often.(used solely for comparison purposes)

[Publius6961]

Don't know if this is what Dell needs, but this I can state with absolute certainty:

I will never buy any computer from anyone with MS VISTA installed.

[free_for_now]

A Linux machine from a top name vendor would be very attractive to many people who have been intrigued by the idea of a LInux machine but are a little reluctant to install it on their main machine. A Dell Dimension WITH Vista OS is selling for $359. If most of the OS price were cut the pricing for a baseline system that is very capable of handling basic Internet tasks gets extremely cheap. When the old system my wife was using for email and web-browsing kicked the bucket, I bought an el cheapo used machine on ebay ($75) and was going to install Linux. I ran into some problems though and ended up loading XP using the license from the dead machine. I still may change it over. Anyhow, a brand new system with a Linux install would probably be faster than a similarly configured Windows machine and also more stable and virus-resistant. As people get increasingly computer-savvy, the fear of switching to something like Linux (especially since I am sure Dell would set things up with a user-friendly interface) will diminish. If Dell were to go this way I would take a close look at Dell stock, as I think it would be a winner in the long run.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

^^^^^^^^^^^Don't know if this is what Dell needs^^^^^^^^^^

Dell's financial problems go beyond anything that linux can fix.

However, there are *alot* of customers asking for desktop linux.

So while this won't dig them out of the hole, this can be a good first step. It usually is a good first step to listen to your customers.

And good for you for rejecting windows vista.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

I think it would definately get peoples' attention.

Especially considering what was said a while back regarding Dell and another OS.

It'd be shades of "one way or another, dell ended up with another OS".

[Golden Eagle]

Dude do you realize you've been creating threads publicly begging Michael Dell for over a year now on this site for Linux on Dell?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts

Do you realize you also just created at least one other thread about this just in the last few days?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1800469/posts

Wonder if you'll sleep tonight, LMAO.

[bigdcaldavis]

Me, neither. I tried Windows Vista RC1 on the laptop. After about 30 minutes, I was already re-installing Xandros Linux. If I need to use Windows, I'll just use Windows 2000 SP4...more stable and secure than XP without the unnecessary memory-hogging pizazz.

[bigdcaldavis]

Now that it's gonna be based on Ubuntu, Dell may want to look into the possibility of making an OEM deal with Linspire and offer a "free lifetime CNR Gold subscription" for those who buy Dell computers pre-installed with Linspire.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^do you realize you've been creating threads publicly begging Michael Dell for over a year now on this site for Linux on Dell?^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You can characterize it however you like, You've proven that you have your own version of reality and that you don't need the one that the rest of us are subject to.

However, I see no reason to not want dell to offer superior software.

^^^^^^^^^^^^Do you realize you also just created at least one other thread about this just in the last few days?^^^^^^^^^^^

I'll create 15 more if I feel like it. Stop me.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

There's alot of ways that Dell could go about this and come out smelling like a brand new car.

[N3WBI3]

I'll create 15 more if I feel like it. Stop me.

lol

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

:-)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BBC:

Dell gives the go ahead for Linux

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

I know.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/ideastorm/ideasinaction

You just beat me to it by about 5 minutes. :-P

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1808655/posts