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Is Dell Just Testing the Market?

Posted by Cliff on from the sneaking-thru-the-back-door dept.

sarig_magik asks: "It seems that Dell is testing the Linux desktop market worldwide, and their choice of desktop is Linspire 4.51. I wonder how Microsoft will view Dell, now? Could this be a real attempt to gain a foothold before any of the other distributors do? We know the hardware vendor, but can anyone comment on the choice of OS?" Although Dell is offering a system with a preloaded Linux Desktop, they aren't doing it here in the US, but through their Italian partner, Questar. While the choice of Linspire as a desktop may leave a few of you underwhelmed, this does seem to be a step in the right direction. Is Dell testing the market? Of course they are. How well do you think they will do?

3 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. Not Very Well by Gumph · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think Linspire is too unknown/controversial.
    If I was buying a new linux distro, I would go with Either Redhat (known and trusted) or Suse (rising star) not some recently name changed article
    IMHO of course

    --
    'By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes'
  2. the REAL question is... by Richthofen80 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Because it comes with the Linux distro pre-installed, is the computer $99 less because it hasn't paid the 'microsoft tax'?

    its a good marketing move to sell to people who don't want to buy / have Windows XP.

    --
    Reason, free market capitalism, and individualism
  3. Marketing opportunity? by travail_jgd · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think the first big vendor[1] to properly commit to shipping Linux-based systems has the opportunity to make a killing.

    Anyone can sell a cheap x86 box (Windows or Linux) to Joe Sixpack.

    The first big vendor that offers a complete Linux system can really rack up the profits. By system I mean modem, networking, scanner and printer. The vendor would be in a position to (somewhat) honestly claim "if you don't buy from us, good luck getting it to work." Reinvest the MS-tax in Crossover Office, so they can advertise compatibility with Office, Photoshop, etc[2].

    [1] Big == national, with an advertising budget to reach non-geeks.

    [2] Having Office compatibility makes switching to Linux easier to swallow for Joe Sixpack -- even if he never uses it.