Dell to offer Linux

Danase · 02-26-07, 11:36

Dell Taps Linux for Desktops, Notebooks - Yahoo! News

paul34 · 02-26-07, 09:18

hmm, I'm glad to see a major manufacturer bringing Linux to the masses. With any luck, we might have some serious competition to Windows and Mac OS.

More competition can be good, but for the sake of everyone, I hope all three try to choose a common platform to develop software on. Well, there is Java, but... I'm sure it has its limitations.

BlackElantraGT · 02-27-07, 04:58

That's pretty cool for such a large company to offer Linux, but IMO, I would be surprised if Dell was still offering this in 2 year's time. I find it weird they're jumping to this idea after only 1800 responses? Seems like too small of a niche market to all of a sudden decide to offer Linux.

I don't think it's hard at all to get 1800 people to want Linux, but I bet a majority of those people wanting that are power users and very tech/computer savvy, so if they had the know-how to use Linux in the first place, why pay Dell to build it when they can cheaply build a Linux system on their own? The only way to entice those people is to sell their systems for WAY cheaper than what they could build, and how much cheaper can it get if most of them are using old parts and what not? How many people do you know build a brand new system JUST for Linux?

Another thing is, these systems are probably not going to be their top of the line systems. It'll probably be a budget system so even if they were marketing it to businesses, I don't think many would jump on the idea of a Linux-only bare bones system. Every place I've worked for has always had a PC running Windows and if there was a need for UNIX, it would have some kind of virtual terminal for that. With Vista recently out, I think within the next few years it's going to be about the more powerful systems. In previous years this might have worked since a budget $500 barebones system could do the job most people use their PCs for, but what's the point of getting Vista if you can't have the cool GUI it has to offer.

I think this is great for the Linux community, but I'm not going to hold my breath for the day Linux will be as mainstream as Windows. I don't think this idea will fly for very long either for Dell, but I wish them luck.

PrinzII · 02-27-07, 12:16

However, if you look at the server side, do you think it's going to help their bottom line all that much? The reason I am asking is that certain companies already offer Linux servers (IBM, HP) out the gate.

If they were to start selling desktops, they have something that Dell does not - experience. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to bash anyone but play "devil's advocate" for a bit.

rjstaaf · 02-28-07, 10:49

Dell hasn't really committed to offering Linux on the desktop just yet. So far they are just talking about getting more of their hardware certified for certain Linux distributions, initially Novell/SUSE (the Microsoft suckups). I think at this time the only desktop Linux is suitable for is the corporate desktop where there is an IT department to support it. Spend any time on a forum for any one of the many Linux distributions and you will see how much of a hard time even enthusiasts can have in installing, updating and maintaining it. Don't get me wrong, I love Linux and have been using it for more than 10 years but I also love to tinker with things including software...

Why Dell and other major hardware vendors won't do desktop Linux preinstallation
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070228-8941.html

ifoam · 02-28-07, 06:37

Dell is the devil.

http://buranen.info/?p=77

"Dell’s computer with no operating system is $53 more expensive than one loaded with Vista!"

rjstaaf · 02-28-07, 07:32

I think I would put more of the blame for that on Microsoft. They are the ones with the draconian licensing agreements that forbid manufaturer's from offering a truly NO-OS machine (notice Dell offers FreeDOS on their "NO-OS machines"). Dell still has to pay for Windows whether it is on the machine or not so in effect there is no way an OEM can offer a NO-OS machine at less than a Windows machine would cost. I am baffled as to why in the case the machine is $53 more but, I hardly think it warrants the devil label. That label I truly believe fits Microsoft better

ifoam · 02-28-07, 07:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjstaaf

I think I would put more of the blame for that on Microsoft. They are the ones with the draconian licensing agreements that forbid manufaturer's from offering a truly NO-OS machine (notice Dell offers FreeDOS on their "NO-OS machines"). Dell still has to pay for Windows whether it is on the machine or not so in effect there is no way an OEM can offer a NO-OS machine at less than a Windows machine would cost. I am baffled as to why in the case the machine is $53 more but, I hardly think it warrants the devil label. That label I truly believe fits Microsoft better

all those trail programs that come with dell computers pay them money. since they are not on those machines, they don't get paid for it, hence they have to sell for more.

it doesn't make sense at all as you can get the os version and just format the drive...beats me why they would even OFFER no OS if they are going to charge more for it.

paul34 · 02-28-07, 09:09

this is why I build all my computers and I'm the only one who services them

also, yea, I can't stand all the spyware/adware/bloatware they include on pre-built PCs/laptops/etc. It's ridiculous.

rjstaaf · 03-01-07, 04:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul34

this is why I build all my computers and I'm the only one who services them

also, yea, I can't stand all the spyware/adware/bloatware they include on pre-built PCs/laptops/etc. It's ridiculous.

I keep telling myself I am going to start building my own machines as well but, I just have had such good luck with Dell's I keep buying them. I am thinking about putting together my own machine to play around with Vista. I have been looking at using a Shuttle barebones system as the basis for the new machine.

This is my current setup. They all came from eBay. They are Dell Optiplex workstations. The tower and the small form factor next to it are both GX270 workstations with a 2.8Ghz P4, each has 1Gb of RAM. The tower has an 80Gb hard disk and the small form factor has a 40Gb hard disk. They are both running Windows XP. The other small form factor machine on the right Is a GX260 with a 1.8Ghz P4 and 512Mb of RAM and a 40Gb hard disk. This is our firewall and it runs a Linux distribution specifically designed for this purpose called IpCop. I have approximately $700 total invested in these machines. These machines are not the latest by any stretch of the imagination but, they are no slouches either.

I have had more than a dozen Dell machines including workstations and servers over the years and even with Dell's other problems (poor customer service) I am still impressed with the reliability I have seen...