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LinuxWorld
mduell writes: "Saw these three on the Technology front page at MSNBC.com. First off, This story on how GNOME Foundation takes aim at Microsoft. Secondly, this story about what Michael Dell thinks of Linux. Lastly, this story about Linux on mobile devices." Some other links that have been submitted: a reader submits pictures from the Expo, a Linux PDA is announced, and Michael Dell tries to figure out why he's selling overpriced Linux systems.
Hi, I've been working for Transvirtual on the PocketLinux stuff.
PocketLinux is a PDA operating system that we've been developing, based around Kaffe and an XML-based application framework.
We're announcing it at LWCE, even though I already demoed a bit of it at OLS. Even at this early stage, it's probably the best PDA OS for Linux handhelds I've seen yet.
At the show, we've been running it on the VTech Helio, and the Compaq iPaq.
We're actually selling the Helio's for $149 at the show, but it's really for developers only at this stage.
We've got a really wicked demo built for the iPaq, with themes, handwriting recognition, a notepad, article viewer, MP3 player, and even video! We've got a few Java games running too.
Unfortunately, the demo really only came together at the last minute, so the web pages haven't been updated, and we haven't posted the sources and images yet.
I'm going to try to get on that...
USER INTERFACE
CONNECTIVITY
BUILT-IN SOFTWARE Linux VR operating system Contacts, To-Do, Schedule, Notes, Calculator, Quicksync for Linux and Windows PC, Mail, Network, Terminal, Games, Bootloader, Utilities Backlit display for clear viewing in low light conditions
...
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY The Agenda VR3 will be available in October 2000. Pricing for the Agenda VR3 is expected to begin as low as $149 MSRP. Product availability, pricing and product specifications are subject to change without notice.
People, Linux has got to stand on it's own. I think it's great to talk about taking over market share, and breaking the back of the oppressive monopoly that we've all been struggling under, but if we can't do anything more than mimmic the new features that Microsoft is coming out with, ours will be a short dynasty. We have to fight the temptation to think of ourselves as a "better Windows". People have to buy into Linux because it does what they need to do, quickly and reliably, with a user interface that makes sense to normal human beings.
Break out of the mold and do something truly creative.
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Your Servant, B. Baggins
including Michael Dell keynote and Linux Geek Bowl, hosted by Nick Petreley, with, among others, Jeremy Allison, Larry Augustin, Miguel de Icaza, Jon 'maddog' Hall, Bruce Perens, Eric Raymond and Bob Young, available here . Includes MP3 versions.
Saw this in the second article mentioned:
"But the chairman studiously avoided bad-mouthing Redmond, Wash., even when asked by an attendee why Dell systems preconfigured with Linux continued to be more expensive than similarly configured Windows machines."
and thought I was about to get the official answer at last!
No luck. I've been wondering for ages why the dell linux boxes are so much more expensive than the windows boxes. I thought they might be dealing with amortization of costs from the learning curve, but Dell also mentions in that article that they, themselves, are relying on linux boxes for several segments of their production process. My theory goes right out the window on that statement.
Does anyone have a better idea? Or does anyone know what Dell actually responded to the question of why the linux boxes cost more?
I'd guess that the linux systems cost more because of the R&D costs involved whenever Dell upgrades an internal component is are spread out over a smaller number of systems. PC Builders don't actually _do_ much except promise you that the pieces they assemble work well with eachother and the OS they're installing (which is why Packard Bell should be considered the king of empty promises). Whenever they switch from Brand X floppy drives to brand XX floppy drives they have to test that hardware with the other components for a long while. When they do that on an NT platform they spread that cost out over the N systems they sell. With Linux it's spread out over the N/1000 systems they sell. As Linux grows in size it'll cost less (unless they pull the same scam the music industries did with the Cassette -> CD switch (wherein they promised higher CD costs initally and lower CD costs in the future)).
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