Replies

in fact it appears it's damn near impossible to get desktop computers from them with it preinstalled at all!

LIAR!

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/precn_380n?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Dell Precision^TM 380n with Linux
Convertible Mini-Tower

Dell Precision^TM 380n with Linux
Desktop Chassis

$759

189.8

0.022

[After 20% Instant Savings.]
Limited time offer.

Monitor not included.

$759

189.8

0.022

[After 20% Instant Savings.]
Limited time offer.

Monitor not included.

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Processor

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630, 3.00GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz

Processor

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630, 3.00GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz

Operating System

Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS v4 for EM64T 64bit system w/ 1 YR RHN, w/ Media

Operating System

Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS v4 for EM64T 64bit system w/ 1 YR RHN, w/ Media

Memory

512MB, 533MHz, DDR2 SDRAM Memory, NECC (2 DIMMS)

Memory

512MB, 533MHz, DDR2 SDRAM Memory, NECC (2 DIMMS)

Boot Hard Drive

80GB¹ SATA 3.0GB/s with NCQ and 8MB DataBurst Cache™ w/out RAID

Boot Hard Drive

80GB¹ SATA 3.0GB/s with NCQ and 8MB DataBurst Cache™ w/out RAID

CD-ROM, DVD, and Read-Write Devices

48X CD-ROM

CD-ROM, DVD, and Read-Write Devices

48X CD-ROM

Hardware Support Services

3 Year On-site² Economy Plan

Hardware Support Services

3 Year On-site² Economy Plan

I have shown you thins on this very thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1585665/posts?page=38#38

I believe we're differentiating between desktops and workstations.

If Dell doesn't want to support Linux, who the hell cares? They are a company, they can do what they want. Let other OEMs service that market and make the money, Dell will come around if a Linux desktop market big enough to be worth it for them comes around.

For Dell it's not just about slapping a free Red Hat image on some drives and shipping them out. They need their whole support network behind it, basic troubleshooting guides and training for tier 1 help desk, etc. Right now they do it for the much smaller market of servers and workstations, but you pay a lot for it, and they pass a lot of support onto the Red Hat Enterprise License.