This is great news. At this point, the biggest challenge in running Linux on a new computer is having all the proper drivers. If Dell will preload, that will be taken care of.
I have been setting up a Dimension E521 for my dad, and while it hasn't been horrible, there have been occasional issues to work around. I had to add all kinds of weird kernel arguments to keep the mouse from occasionally freezing, and the sound chip on it is awful (although that's not a Linux-specific complaint).
"This is great news. At this point, the biggest challenge in running Linux on a new computer is having all the proper drivers. If Dell will preload, that will be taken care of.
I have been setting up a Dimension E521 "
I have run it on my Dell Inspiron for the last year without a hitch. Ubuntu - everything works except the card reader which is proprietary. Wireless, sound, graphics, even got the front media buttons working to control volume, play, pause, etc.
I bought my father a new computer with Vista preinstalled. It took me over a half hour to locate, download (DSL) and install the drivers for his all=in-one. They didn't even have drivers for his standalone printer which was a couple of years old.
At that point, I realized the driver issues for Linux were just FUD, and that Windows was no better.