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126 Comments
- maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -2/+45HerrEisenHeim: You're completely off point. Ubuntu is backed by Canonical, which will most likely work with Dell to configure the installations and get the hardware working. Ubuntu is a great distro, and Dell will get the handholding they need to get it working on their machines-- BEFORE they are in the consumer's hands.
- macarpen, on 10/12/2007, -2/+45@HerrEisenheim:
Canonical provides commercial support for Ubuntu, this is something most people either don't know or chose to ignore.
http://www.ubuntu.com/support/paid - pak314, on 10/12/2007, -1/+44My guess is it will not be any cheaper since these companies get money by installing crapware on the Windows systems. Most Linux users will not tolerate such software nor does such stuff exist for Linux.
- jancewic, on 10/12/2007, -6/+48Sweet, this is good news if this happens.
- GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -7/+48It would be extremely brave on Dells part in this age of patent pacts and litigation. Put simply if I was in Dell's position and wasn't an OSS fan I'd probably pick SLED for the support and yes for the indemnification. If Dell picks Ubuntu I predict we will see interesting times. Dell picking Ubuntu would be the absolute worse situation for the Redmond Imperium.
- jasnmb, on 10/12/2007, -3/+36I wonder how much cheaper the systems will be with Ubuntu instead of Windows. I'd love to get a budget laptop with Ubuntu pre-installed.
- maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28jackcall, the point is that not everyone wants Vista. I personally do not run windows at all anymore, and Vista has serious performance, sercurity, usability, and personal rights issues. Check out badvista.fsf.org
By purchasing computers without Windows, people can truly vote with their money, and stop paying Microsoft for software they do not want to use or financially support. - jasnmb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28yes, I read the first sentence in the article too.
- lengau, on 10/12/2007, -0/+18I think it would be REALLY cool if they had Ubuntu+(Compiz|Beryl) on their high-end machines.
- Phocion55, on 10/12/2007, -2/+20If true, I'm buying.
- mazza558, on 10/12/2007, -5/+21It's not confirmed in any way. Speculation, folks!
- Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15HerrEisenheim -
You are absolutely wrong. The main point of having Ubuntu pre-installed is that you don't have to install it, and you don't have to fiddle with installing drivers - it's all preinstalled and just works. The second point is that you know that all the hardware is supported - Dell won't put an ATI video card or a Broadcom wireless device in a computer they sell with Ubuntu on it.
This is great news, and it'll be even better news if Dell actually promotes these machines. HP and IBM each tried selling Linux pre-loaded for a couple months, but they didn't promote it at all and hid it in an inaccessible corner of their website so no-one would find it by mistake. Then, when a product they barely admitted to offering failed to sell they declared that there was no demand and stopped the experiment. I hope the same doesn't happen with Dell. - omarciddo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14Ubuntu now comes with Compiz already, and Beryl is in the repositories, so that's already a reality.
- 350Zed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14In 2007 that joke is old.
- GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14I for one welcome our Dell/Ubuntu overlords.
- generalloy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10HerrEisenheim:
Obviously, Dell has said they would like to go with hardware supported under Linux with open source drivers-- *every single hardware issue* people have is with proprietary drivers. So, they'll go with them: hat means Intel graphics chip, Intel/Ralink wireless, etc, 3d out of the box. If they don't want Intel, Dell has the power to pressure the cheaper hardware companies, or hopefully nVidia, to open specs and help Nouveau. That means compiz or beryl OOB (again, the only issue with people who install Linux on their current machine is proprietary drivers from nVidia and ATI). I'm sure they'll have a customized version of Ubuntu, too.
If you don't like it, you should have peace of mind that the hardware will work with whatever Linux you put on it. And, you get a free office suite and 20 000 free applications. Right there is the benefit of pre-installed Linux (plus, getting it to the "Grandmas" who are ignorant of viruses or spyware).
If they sold machines without Linux, how exactly are we supposed to know that the hardware actually works with Linux?
RE: support; I think Canonical and Dell are open to changing their support structure, or Dell wouldn't even be thinking of it. - maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Ubuntu is currently the most popular distro, requires basically no terminal use, and is commerically backed by Canonical. http://www.ubuntu.com/support/paid
- maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10GMorgan, indemnification is a non-issue. The SCO vs. IBM case is winding down, and Microsoft is spreading unproven statements (FUD - fear, uncertainty, doubt) about IP and the Linux kernel. Novell doesn't even agree with Microsoft about this, and they're partners.
I think Mr. Dell is intelligent enough to see through Microsoft's *****, and he is effectively calling Microsoft's bluff on this one. Dell is a major source of income for Microsoft, and you don't want your main supply of income to be pissed at you. Ubuntu is clearly a contender that can take on Windows, so Microsoft is no longer left with its previously unchallenged market control. (OS X doesn't count, it doesn't run on non-Apple hardware). - GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Compiz and Beryl would run on practically all their hardware in any case.
- Atomic1fire, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Dell= David
Balmer = Goliath - GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Don't think so. I think they got a lot of traffic for their research which shouted Ubuntu at them.
- Durrok, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Default is Gnome so I would imagine Gnome.
- arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11@HerrEisenheim
It's a matter of usablity.
I've never used Red Hat, but I've used Fedora, and I find it to be completely unusable. I know there are folk who can make it work well for them and their systems. I however cannot. And I figure that Red Hat can't be much different. They are much less straight forward and much more difficult to set up and configure. On the other hand, I have never had a problem using Ubuntu. It's easy to install, easy to configure, has fantastic support for peripherals, is fairly stable on most architectures, and there's a fantastic community out there that's able to help if you need it. Ubuntuforums.org, Linuxquestions.org, #ubuntu IRC, and on and on. I've never had a question that I couldn't find the answer to when dealing with Ubuntu.
For this preinstallation, going with a distro that is out-of-the-box easy to use is the best idea, because it will be more friendly for the average user and potential new users. Support is second to usablity. But like I said, with the community that surrounds Ubuntu, there's no way anyone will be lacking for support. Ubuntu is probably the best idea for this situation. - Kenzan, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11This is kick-ass news!
The Micro$oft strangle hold may have some hope of weakening just yet. :) - maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Linux itself will never cost money, thanks to the GPL (General Public License).
Are you saying that people won't need to be retrained for Vista?
Are you saying that every company is going to fork over the big bucks to replace all of their hardware with Vista capable hardware when there's a cheap, stable, secure alternative?
When was the last time you tried Ubuntu? 5.10? In the last year Ubuntu has gone leaps and bounds in terms of usability.
Danger of the command line? BS. In Ubuntu most users will not need to touch the command line, ESPECIALLY if Dell preinstalls it.
Linux supports more hardware than Windows. Although it may not have support for the latest stuff, it supports well over a dozen processor architectures, as well as most of the hardware from the last decade. The only reason the latest hardware doesn't have any/good drivers is because the vendor has not supplied them and the community has yet to reverse engineer them (/well).
Linux is suitable for most tasks on the personal computer. It truly is "Grandma ready" (not including installation). My 85 year old grandfather, who has never touched a computer before, is able to use Ubuntu for his needs.
As for your final point, no not all software will always be free, but most likely in the end the only non-free software will be media works of art and their related parts (games, music and movie codecs, etc). - tonyr1988, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6A big thing that you're forgetting is hardware support. It's much easier to see a Dell Linux system and immediately know that the hardware will work, as opposed to looking up every component of a Windows one and checking beforehand. This problem is magnified on laptops.
I'm sure some people will still wipe the HDD and install the Linux distro of their choice, but it's comforting to know that support exists for the hardware. - AirRaven, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Why not go the full usability haul? Ship the computers with Gentoo while you're at it. I'm sure that the delights of compiling your own kernel will not escape the end-user.
Ubuntu's just *easier*. - coredump0x01, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I agree. If they do this, Then my next laptop is definitely going to be a Dell. It's never been an issue for desktops since I usually just put them together, but it always concerned me when buying laptops that I might indirectly be supporting Microsoft. Perhaps this can help quell my concerns.
- schroeder, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@HerrEisenheim
"1. What makes you think that it will, "just work?""
Are you an idiot or just a troll? Dell is not going to sell a computer that doesn't work. They will have all the hardware working or they won't sell it. Plain and simple. And if Dell does decide to add bloatware, you know right off the bat that reinstalling Ubuntu WILL work with your hardware. I personally have been waiting years for a company to make a pre-installed linux box so I know it would work. With the release of Fiesty I can finally use linux on my laptop. If not for that I would 100% buy a Dell with Ubuntu installed, event though I hate Dells, just because I know all the hardware would work. These machines aren't meant to replace Windows for everyone, just the people who want linux and don't want to mess around getting things working. The added bonus here is that if more people start buying these machines and using linux hardware companies will be pressured to open drivers or else lose the emerging market ( if all goes well ;) ). At any rate I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and call you a troll. - motang, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Well if this is true, then that is huge push for Linux in general (won't matter what distro it is).
- xkidace, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6preinstalled?
what fun is that...? - curunculus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6If Dell does Ubuntu (which they should) chairs will fly in Redmond.
Ubuntu + Dell is perfect for PC illiterate family members. - DarkDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"But the ultimate OS is the one that allows users to do what they want, and in a fashion and at a price that they find affordable."
I Believe that is the definition of 'Linux'
"Oh, and Mac just like Linux users, get far FAR fewer choices for hardware and software (more software for Linux) then Windows users."
As more users continue to switch to Linux, more companies will support it.
"Oh but let us not forget how easy it is to wipe out the installation with some simple command line calls"
' deltree /y c:*.* ' (it deletes the backslash =[)
=P
"It is actually very easy in about 99% of the cases to repair a Windows installation, even if they have to have a local shop do it for them for a fee!"
And an Ubuntu user can pop in a CD and repair the OS, and if it was properly configured (as it should have been from the easy to install CD) he wont even lose data.
"Windows works for most users, and for business, it is the only solution that is even remotely cost effective."
Linux is very easy to adopt, because in the latest Ubuntu releases, the UI is very windows-like and easy to pick up.
"I have Linux on two VMware installations. I have used Linux since Mandrake 7.0 was released. I have used Ubuntu, Mandrake, Fedora, and a handful of others. They are NOT user friendly,"
Obviously you haven't picked up a new Ubuntu release...
"Is everyone supposed to think like a Linux geek? Please! "
Linux works just like Windows for most basic usages like Web Browsing and Email, but since every one is trained on Windows, please, go find that lady at the front desk, or equivalent example and ask her what services are being managed by svchost or hell, what is a kernel and what does it do? Before you retort, 'well Windows users don't need to know that' neither do Ubuntu users.
"You all ever stop to think how much Windows is used in the corporate world? Can you even remotely imagine the cost of transitioning into a new OS, one that so very few are trained on?"
See above...
"That is the other big gripe I have with Linux. All you Linux lovers want everything for free. Will you burn down some Starbucks and overturn cars in the streets when Linux starts to cost you money?"
Free exists in two fashions... Free as in Beer, which everyone seems to think Linux is all about (and yes, to a degree they are right, it is nice). But more importantly Free as in speech, which represents the Open Source nature, which allows them to change the source should they need it. They can learn and grow from it should they choose.
Linux is about choice, not corruption. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/biographies/en/msd_computers?c=us&l=en&s=corp
Michael Dell uses Ubuntu. I'm sure that's a big reason this is happening. - Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I have a great idea: Buy the Dell with Ubuntu on it and then do "apt-get install kubuntu-desktop xubuntu-desktop" Then you have all of them.
- ElectricKetchup, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5@SMeeD:
It's as easy as "aptitude install blender" - threemagic, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4SLED = SuSE's desktop and yes.. yes they have
- b3mus3d, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4http://www.ubuntu.com/news/dell-to-offer-ubuntu
from the proverbial horse's mouth. - maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Those problems have only been with specific hardware (such as the JMicron IDE Controller). Dell's hardware is not affected by this, and you can expect any hardware which Dell has designed will have drivers (or will have drivers written) by the time these desktops are released.
- maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6h0dg3s, workstations use different configurations such as multiple processors, rendering hardware such as the nVidia Quadro cards, ECC ram, etc. They are not like regular desktop or notebook computers.
- ryanknapper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Every tech website in tubespace has been discussing Dell using Ubuntu. Until Dell actually does it they're all rumours, all old and all interesting discussion fodder but not news.
- sabrebutt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is news because it's going to be released for consumer PCs. Not state and local governments, like the link you just posted
- sydseale, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7I hope they don't just offer linux on their lowest-cost PCs. If it isn't available across the entire line, the message Joe consumer gets is "Linux is for poor people...if I spend a little more I can get the nicer, sound, graphics, etc...and the nicer OS: *Windows*."
I hate to be cynical, but that's what I expect...the cheaper hardware isn't bleeding edge, so Dell can throw Ubuntu on these things without even dedicating an employee to thinking about device drivers (and think of how useful Dell could be if they were pressuring companies to help get linux running on their latest and greatest hardware...) - loconet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Good stuff.
It is time the general public sees an alternative. And I personally think Ubuntu is the right choice. I've used many Linux distros over the years as well as BSDs and other UNIXi's (sunos/solaris/aix/hp,etc) and I am very pleased with what they've done to Ubuntu, specifically the ease of use and overall stability of the system. Just the other day I had to replace my motherboard and cpu. My main Ubuntu partition booted without a problem while windows bitched about the upgrade. Linux on the desktop is here to stay. it may not be ready for the masses but it is definitely ready to be a very viable option. - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Ubuntu is the 'in' distro.
- DarkDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Wait, what?
" It appears that Dell will only be offering Ubuntu on one of the two systems in this family."
"Unlike the other systems, we were unable to narrow down which is the most likely to be sold with Ubuntu."
I want the Linux option for everything =P - Smeed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I didnt know telepathy worked for computers. How your grandfather uses ubuntu without touching the computer is groundbreaking.
Im going to have to agree with your other points though. Anything that does use the command line has an idiot proof "copy and paste this into command line" guide. You can take Ubuntu and install it into a computer thats a couple years old and 99% of the time it will be ready to go right after install. Ubuntu=easy stuff. - Smeed, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4PC illiterate families have bonzi buddy to help them. Where will they be without bonzi buddy for linux?
- atomicscissors, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I just burned a LiveDisk of Ubuntu last night and tried it out. I love it and was thinking about setting up my computer to dual boot it and XP, but I just might buy myself a Dell now!
- Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3schroeder -
There are other companies who already sell Linux laptops. http://System76.com is what comes immediately to mind. -
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