"Dell will pick Ubuntu", says DesktopLinux.com

[greggh]

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8661763902.html

Officially, Dell Inc. hasn't said a word yet about which Linux it will be preloading on its desktops and laptops. Several sources within Dell, however, have told DesktopLinux.com that Dell's desktop Linux pick is going to be Ubuntu.

While unable to confirm this through official Dell channels, we have heard the same story now from several internal Dell sources. They tell us that the Austin, Texas, computer giant will be preinstalling the newly released Ubuntu 7.04. These systems will be released in late May 2007.

According to our sources, Ubuntu will be released on a Dell e-series "Essential" Dimension desktop, an XPS desktop, and an e-series Inspiron laptop.

Interesting. I think I remember in the TLLTS interview with the Mepis guy, he said he figured it made the most sense for Dell to go with Linspire since they already had the licesnses for the codecs and other corporate stuff sorted out.

[snarkout]

Yeah, but linspire is already in stores, and frankly has almost no traction. Ubuntu at least has mindshare at this point. Even non-linux users seem to have heard of it at this point.

Speculative Crapartist Hat ON:
IMO, it screams of Dell clutching at straws - I'd seriously consider ditching my shares if I owned any. Usually when any company is trying to dig up this much publicity without anything new or interesting to say beyond "linux" and other industry buzzwords, it means they are in serious trouble. WTF is Dell 2.0 supposed to mean???

[jamathis]

Looks like it's no longer a rumor.

http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/newss/6383/1/

[greggh]

Cnet is confirming it too.

http://news.com.com/Dell+picks+Ubuntu+f ... 80419.html

[Patrick]

I'm really glad this has become a reality. Hopefully Dell doesn't drop the ball on this and basically bury it. When ordering a system there sould be an OS selection button. It's as simple as that. Canonical is wheeling and dealing more and more.

[greggh]

When buying the Dell systems, customers will have the option to purchase support from Ubuntu backer Canonical, said Jane Silber, the start-up's director of operations.

http://canonical.com/services/support

At $250/year I suppose some businesses will buy it.

[chuck]

Yeah, but linspire is already in stores, and frankly has almost no traction. Ubuntu at least has mindshare at this point. Even non-linux users seem to have heard of it at this point.

While I'm aware that Linspire is in the stores, I cannot name a company that is preinstalling it on their machines. Non-Linux users have heard/are hearing of Ubuntu at this point. Also the general consumer knows Dell and many have relationships with them already.

Now as long as it's a check box on the form, and not a hidden option, there will be some good choice. I know it's probably too much too hope that there is a third 'Dual Boot' option on that form, but it'd be a sweet spot.

Speculative Crapartist Hat ON:
IMO, it screams of Dell clutching at straws - I'd seriously consider ditching my shares if I owned any. Usually when any company is trying to dig up this much publicity without anything new or interesting to say beyond "linux" and other industry buzzwords, it means they are in serious trouble. WTF is Dell 2.0 supposed to mean???

I've seen this type of thing a couple times today. Why is it a bad thing that they are offering a (popular) choice. How is offering Ubuntu Linux not a new or interesting thing to add to their lineup of off the shelf machines? As this works, I'm thinking it'll make Linux less of a buzzword and more of an option. I don't see this as Dell being in trouble, but wanting to build market share. Done right, this move will get some new customers.

* As for Greg's comment about Mepis and Linspire, how hard do you think it will be for Ubuntu to partner with Fluendo on this type of deal? (That's my assumption on the codec pieces anyway)

[jsusanka]

If dell can execute and make it known there is another option and not hidden on three or four web pages deep on their site I think it will start a snowball effect among the vendors and we should see others start offering linux.

At least I hope I am not wrong. I was wrong about Dell coming through on this let's just hope they can execute.

[Wally Balljacker]

While I'm aware that Linspire is in the stores, I cannot name a company that is preinstalling it on their machines. Non-Linux users have heard/are hearing of Ubuntu at this point. Also the general consumer knows Dell and many have relationships with them already.

Koobox.

[schotty]

Although I would normally chime in with a Linspire it reply, I can't at this time. Linspire 5.1 is crap by todays standards, and with Ubuntu ready now, and LOS 6 a few months out, CNR being added to Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, and OpenSUSE, I must agree here with Ubuntu. Plus as aforementioned, people "heard" of Ubuntu, even non Linux users.

I have had more Win XP users that were frustrated ask me about migration to Ubuntu starting with 6.06 release. In the last year a rather suprising amount of peeps have become customers of mine for that reason, and have happily paid for some 1-1 time to train them on the new things involved.

7.04 is a GREAT release, and I hope other distros learn from Canonical. Whizbang features are cool, but the little wrinkles are what NEED to be done, and the amount of ironing that was done in Feisty makes me very very very pleased to be pushing or encouraging Ubuntu usage these days.

Plus, Kevin Carmony put it pretty well in his Linspire Letter. His take is its good for the enthusiasts, will be soon for the normal users. Cater to the proper markets. Since the normal users arent a viable market - wait. Well, read it for yourself :

May 1st, 2007

There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Dell offering Linux computers pre-installed with Linux. I have been a long-time defender of Dell in the past, anytime Linux enthusiasts would attack them for not offering Linux PCs. I have defended them because Linux wasn't ready. The technology wasn't quite there yet, and the demand certainly wasn't there yet. The last thing I wanted was Dell offering a Linux PC, only to have very little sales and a lot of hardware and customer support problems.

Recently, my recommendation to Dell is that they should now considering offering Linux PCs, BUT with an understanding of what to expect. I recommend that Dell does NOT use Linspire or Freespire for their first Linux PCs. That may surprise many of you reading this. Why would the CEO of Linspire recommend Dell go with other Linux distributions instead of Linspire and Freespire? Let me explain why Linspire is NOT the right choice for Dell at this time.

We have explained to Dell that we see Linux in two different markets. The first we call the "Linux Enthusiasts Market." This is where Linux is today. The second is the "Linux Mainstream Market." This market is likely one to three years away. Because Dell is going to put their toe into the desktop Linux PC waters now, they should offer a product that is geared towards where that market is today...the Linux Enthusiasts. For that market, there are three clear leaders: Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE, and these are the Linux distros I recommend to Dell today. It wouldn't make any sense today for Dell to offer Linspire, a product that is geared more towards the NEXT Linux market, a more mainstream market.

It is no coincidence that Linspire announced CNR support for these three distributions. Even though the desktop Linux market is still extremely small, we want to have our number one product, our CNR service, available to and being used by that market.

The Linspire operating system has always, from the very beginning, been designed not for the Linux enthusiasts market, but with a more long-term view of things, towards the mainstream market. We have cautioned Dell to only expect to sell between 50,000 to 100,000 PCs to the current Linux market. In Dell standards, this hardly moves the needle. We have told them they can expect a bump in sales from the enthusiast market, but that it will quickly drop, as demand from that small market is satisfied. For Dell to get to a market where they can see continued growth, they will need to get to the mainstream market. That market will need a very different kind of Linux.

This second market for Linux, will require a very different product from Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE. One that is 1) far easier to use (by the Linux enthusiasts market standards, Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE ARE easy to use, but by the mainstream market standards, these distributions are not nearly polished or easy enough.), 2) that can handle DRM, Multimedia files, DVD, Java, Flash, Windows Media, Quicktime, 3D graphic drivers, etc., and respects and interoperates with existing IP, 3) that has a revenue model for Dell beyond moving a few PCs, and 4) that has a long-standing OEM program for certification, support and revenue creation.

If Dell does the smart thing, and offers a tri-boot system with these three distributions, it will be a brilliant move on their part. They will be offering a quality product to TODAY's Linux market, and they will have started the early stages of their desktop Linux program, satisfying the current market, BUT with expectations and plans of preparing for the larger mainstream market.

-Kevin

[chuck]

Plus, Kevin Carmony put it pretty well in his Linspire Letter. His take is its good for the enthusiasts, will be soon for the normal users. Cater to the proper markets. Since the normal users arent a viable market - wait. Well, read it for yourself :

Well personally I think that Kevin is wrong on this matter. Now that we have a main stream vendor providing an off the shelf Ubuntu system*, this puts Linux 'at the ready' for the common person. When I read that post earlier today I didn't want to comment on it. Now that I've pondered it and read it a few times, I think it's sour grapes.

Kevin's goal with Linspire was to be the home user's choice of Linux distros. It didn't really go too far. Mark comes in and gets a groundswell of support from the community. Mark's distro not only gets the approval of the 'geek' contingent but also becomes the recommended version for the new/home user for it's simplicity. And while it's not without controversy, the Ubuntu community has thrived in a relatively short piece of time.

Now Kevin's distro will be based off of this up and comer, and his companies profits are tied to his CNR doing well in his and, more importantly, the other distro.

Just my opinion on it.

* Provided the deal is not booby trapped in some way.

[snarkout]

7.04 is a GREAT release, and I hope other distros learn from Canonical.

I assume you're speaking about Ubuntu here, not Kubuntu. While I haven't installed the Kubuntu final, I did install the RC, and was not at all pleased with it. I simply do not understand why they do the things they are doing to kde. It's a shame they can't offer a vanilla install along with their confugulated one.

[Wally Balljacker]

7.04 is a GREAT release, and I hope other distros learn from Canonical.

I assume you're speaking about Ubuntu here, not Kubuntu. While I haven't installed the Kubuntu final, I did install the RC, and was not at all pleased with it. I simply do not understand why they do the things they are doing to kde. It's a shame they can't offer a vanilla install along with their confugulated one.

If you "apt-get install kde" on Ubuntu, it should pull in a vanilla KDE desktop AFAIK.

[jaz]

Hopefully Dell won't make Linux look bad by cutting corners on the hardware. I get a new Dell every year at work and without fail they are junk (in my opinion).

[Patrick]

Hopefully Dell won't make Linux look bad by cutting corners on the hardware. I get a new Dell every year at work and without fail they are junk (in my opinion).

yup, PPOS hardware. They will probably run better with Linux on them though.