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Posted on 02/26/2007 8:29:53 AM PST by N3WBI3
Pre-Installed Linux Options
It’s exciting to see the IdeaStorm community’s interest in open source solutions like Linux and OpenOffice. Your feedback has been all about flexibility and we have seen a consistent request to provide platforms that allow people to install their operating system of choice. We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations. This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems.
As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux. In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another. We want users to have the opportunity to help define the market for Linux on desktop and notebook systems. In addition to working with Novell, we are also working with other distributors and evaluating the possibility of additional certifications across our product line. We are continuing to investigate your other Linux-related ideas, so please continue to check here for updates.
To read about the recent addition of Latitude notebooks to our n-series family, read Direct2Dell from one of Dell’s Linux solution architects, or visit www.dell.com/linux and www.dell.com/nseries.
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If Dell would buy PCLinuxOS and make it the official Dell Linux distribution - and expand the package download system and make it a little better, they would have a Windows killer on their hands. PCLinuxOS is the most Windows-like distribution out there and it is awesome. It comes bundled with everything that you would expect and more, is pretty to look at, works extremely well, and is so Windows-like that Windows users will pick it up in no time at all. I'm looking at replacing the OS on a few of my home systems to PCLinuxOS2007 when the final release is made. I'm hoping that the next version of PCLinuxOS incorporates some copycat interface features to make it more like Vista in appearance. That would be truly awesome and draw in more users.
I ain't buying from Dell ever again. I just had a gawd awful experience with them charging and not delivering.
This is good news. I hope it holds up this time around. :)
Get the countdown started!
Dell doesn't have a choice, some of the whitebook suppliers to Dell's retail competitors are now selling manufacturer branded notebooks at nearly the same pricepoint as Dell, with the Linux option, and generally slightly better hardware and tech support.
They're still not planning on actually shipping any systems with Linux pre-installed.
FedEx was to deliver my Dell last August. After a week and not seeing it, I saw a right-sized box outdoors at a house nearby that was for sale—and empty.
Sure enough, it was my Dell. Even after heavy rains, it all worked just fine.
Until there is a demand making it worth their time, they won't do so. Just simple business sense. It would also be foolish at present seeing as how they aren't certified for any particular Linux distribution. The article mentioned that they're expecting certification from Novell, and they expect others to follow, as they want to retain distribution neutrality (what a concept! Not being tied to an operating system or one particular software company...)
It's still nice to give the customer more flexibility.
My problem was that the FedEX driver flat out lied and said *I* had refused delivery and they returned shipment back to Dell. I told Dell the same day FedEX was lying and to order them to redeliver...no dice!!. After that point it was useless to contact Dell, sales said I had to contact collections, collections said they knew nothing except there was a "hold." Finally I had to apply for a chargeback on with the CC company. What a bunch of hopless crooks. No apology from FedEX either (those lying bunch of pigs).
I think that's one reason Dell has waited so long. There are too many distro zealots out there who would be bitching up a storm because [insert obscure distro here] wasn't chosen.
Linux could very well come pre-installed, as more and more companies are switching their distros to be based on Ubuntu. Linspire will now be based on Ubuntu, and there is talk of even Xandros being based on Kubuntu in the future.
They don't need a windows killer, they have one; its called Vista.
Ain't Fuddex grand?
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