AfterDawn: News

Dell to add Linux to future PCs and Notebooks

Dell has announced that it will epxand its support for Linux operating systems from servers and workstations into both notebooks and desktops.

Back in February, Dell asked for customer input through its "IdeaStorm" web site. Out of the more than 100,000 repsonses that were recieved, over 70% asked for some sort of pre-installed home Linux product.



Linux users are now curious to know what versions of Linux will be distributed as well as when Dell will begin shipping these products out.

Dell has working relationships with Novell and Red Hat, which have created very popular Linux OSs. There are others though such as Ubuntu and Debian so it will be good to see which distributions Dell decides on.

Dell plans to ask for more user input regarding Linux and open source technologies in the future.

UPDATE (May 1st):
According to SearchEnterpriseLinux, Dell will be offering the new PCs and notebooks pre-installed with Ubuntu Linux 7.04. The computers will be sold through Dell's web site and "We have worked with Dell to get Ubuntu fully supported and fully certified on Dell hardware," said Jane Silber, director of operations for Canonical Ltd., the company behind Ubuntu. "Ubuntu has the full endorsement of Dell." she continued.

Read more here

Source:
Dailytech

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Mar 2007 11:20

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• 12 comments

• SoCalSRH

  ...

  29.3.2007 11:46 #1

• krj15489

  finally an option of linux over windows when buying a new computer

  29.3.2007 11:46 #2

• PeaInAPod

  This is a turn for the good. I know some notebook manufacturers would at the customers request include a linux install CD/DVD (which distro I dont know) for the customers to install on their systems if teh customer so desired. But this left many people confused/worried, hence this "business plan" never really got anywere.

  29.3.2007 11:54 #3

• spydah

  Best idea i heard in a while. Now if when this happens more people will be exposed to Linux and that means more people see that windows really is not the best choice in OS being installed on a PC. More diversity means greater things for the future.

  29.3.2007 12:33 #4

• hikaricor

  This would be great if they hadn't mentioned Red Hat.

  29.3.2007 13:52 #5

• Gradical

  Here in mexico Elektra, a cheap electronic store who gives credit to anyone who owns a piece of land, has been using linux for a couple of years now, so they can sell the cheapest computer they can

  29.3.2007 19:00 #6

• Blackjax

  I have suggestion for dell how about using several flavors of linux. Each has little differences. Guess I need to add input when they ask about it again.

  29.3.2007 22:12 #7

• qazwiz

  Originally posted by Blackjax:I have suggestion for dell how about using several flavors of Linux. Each has little differences. Guess I need to add input when they ask about it again.this is an excellent idea.
  
  you should choose a distro on what you will use it for. there are setups for musicians and video makers as well as people who prefer the look of M$ Windows (without the the $400-$600 price tag) Also some are better for dummies while others are for those who want to tweak our inner Geek
  
  but the best thing about Linux is you can have all the options in a free system that takes less room than a bloat ware system with a $500 OS

  31.3.2007 07:20 #8

• FXEF

  This is going to be a great push for Linux and Open Source, however it is yet to be seen if the "average Joe user" will buy a computer with Linux preinstalled over a Windows box. I switched to Linux awhile back and love it, but then and again I may not be what you would call a "average Joe user". I have tried several flavors of Linux and find Ubuntu to be the most user friendly. Going to interesting what Dell goes with!
  
  FXEF

  31.3.2007 13:33 #9

• brobrian

  This all sounds great. My only problem with Linux is that I never could figure out an easy way to download stuff onto my computer. This is surely due to my inexperience with Linux. I was using Madriva 2006 OS at the time. I still have it loaded onto an old Compaq computer.
  After quite a bit of floundering with the Mandriva OS, I was able to get it online, and even was able to put a "Linux-friendly" antivirus program onto it (even though I most likely didn't need it). It was a free version of AVG free. I was even able to load a few songs onto the computer. But there were certain things I just couldn't figure out, and I didn't know but one person who knew anything about the Linux OS, so I really had a hard time getting around on it.
  I think with time there will be Linux distributions that will just as user-friendly as an MS OS. Linux distributions are getting easier and easier. Soon they will be just as easy to operate as a Windows OS without all the crap that comes with the Windows OS. This is what I'm hoping for.
  My thoughts for what I know being a very green Linux user.
  Bro Brian

  1.4.2007 01:09 #10

• qazwiz

  I also had trouble "DL"ing
  
  but my main trouble was I didn't have a way to connect my Linux box to the internet at the time... I now have internet but am back in M$ for the time being
  
  the red hat and Debian are supposed to have auto find for dependent packages but you must have a connection at the time of install... it would be nice if I could run a check program on an unconnected box that created a "download these" program (for what ever OS I say I will run it on) then go to an internet connected box, DL the needed packages onto the transfer medium, a 2 gig thumb drive sounds do-able, then back at the Linux box run the install using the dependancies found on the thumb drive instead of requiring the internet
  
  as an alternative, run a check program on it Linux box that catalogs every package (and version number) then, when DLing the wanted program, also check the catalog for the dependencies needed. this would also alow to DL updates remotely to run on the unconnected box

  7.4.2007 21:01 #11

• DVDBack23

  UPDATED

  1.5.2007 14:13 #12