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Dell's Open Source Desktop Systems
An anonymous reader writes "An article at XYZComputing goes over Dell's open source line of desktop computers and workstations. The N line is something which Dell began to sell recently, but the situation is much more complex that it would seem. There is often little or no discount given if consumers opt to go with FreeDOS as their operating system. There is also a great link in the article showing how Dell is selling AMD processors in their Accessories section!" From the article: "A major hurdle preventing the growth of Linux with non-professional users has been installation the operating system and dealing with the resultant compatibility issues. An ideal solution to this would be a major manufacturer which is willing to sell computers with Linux preinstalled. This would not only make it easy for users to buy a computer and have Linux running after simply plugging it in, but it would theoretically allow the manufacturer to lower the cost of a computer because software licensing costs could be minimized."
How can you tell? Well, for starters, you can buy the same system with a hard disk twice the size with a 17" LCD monitor and Windows Media Center Edition for the same price.
More importantly, the 510n comes with an ATI card that will be difficult to get to work properly with X.org (dunno if Xi Graphics is still in business), whereas the 510 uses an Intel chipset that, while not great, will probably work better.
And why not simply install a popular Linux distribution on it from the get go? They could "brand" it simply by adding a package with Dell-logo wallpapers, themes, and icon sets.
Dell's just grubbing for some positive press.
Dell could never pre-install linux on their systems - unless if it was a paid version. If they did, they'd have to support it which would level their margins - if not pull it into the negative.
We live in a capitalistic society (especially here in the "United" States). Since M$ can apply large amounts of financial pressure against vendors by saying, "if you pre-install Linux at any large scale, we'll pull our preferred customer discount for your OEM Windows prices", they effectively can coerce third party vendors to ignore Linux on a large scale.
What is *needed* is a start-up company to get capital venture funding and start a hardware store to compete with the likes of Dell... but to ONLY use Open-Source, and spend their captial funding on ADVERTISEMENT of the advantages of FOSS.
Something like a televised "Get the Factual Facts"...
I'd buy a computer from that kind of company on principle, and I'd CERTAINLY suggest that my less-than-technically-saavy friends would do the same.
G.B.Y.L.B.T.,
PastorEd
We did discuss this recently, and "obviously nothing changes :-)"
You might want to look at the work of the group to remove the "private microsoft tax " on PC.
(most of the content is in french but at least you have an english Intro)
https://www2.aful.org/sections/wikis/detaxe/GdTDet axeEnglish/cps_wiki_pageview
It is interesting to notice that the same IT vendors that are yelling against levy on harddisk and usb memory sticks to manage the rights of copyright owners, and prefer to push DRMS (with all the civic rights adverse impacts)
Do perfectly accept to pay a microsoft "levvy" for each and all of their PCs.
...its a problem of the huge kick back Microsoft gives the PC maker for preinstalling Windows. This Kickback translates into a discount on the hardware for the customer. Microsoft mentally writes it off as the "handle" so they can sell the customer more "blades" later.
Power Corrupts,Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely, leaving one person(group)in charge is absolutely corrupt.
I recently bought a computer from HP that I intended to put Linux on. It was a nice, cheap computer (it suited my needs). I asked if they could sell it to me without Windows on it (they would put FreeDOS on it). Turns out I would have had to pay about $200 more for it, because of the "discount structure". Go figure...
...its a matter of the huge kick back Microsoft gives the PC macker for preinstalling Windows.
This translates into a discount on the hardware for the customer.
Microsoft mentally writes it it off as the "Handle" so they can sell the Customer more "Blades" later.
Same concept as Razors, Game Consoles, Cell Phones....
With out that kickback the PC maker has to charge more for the hardware...
Anyone who denies the Microsoft Kick back doesn't happen is just deluding themselves. The Kickback is usually represented as "marketing" funds on the balance sheet.
Power Corrupts,Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely, leaving one person(group)in charge is absolutely corrupt.
They don't WANT to lower prices...
"Dell discounted low-end products too aggressively"
They'll be happy if /.ers buy N systems -- extra $$$ for Dell!
Unfortunately, you can't resell the license. That's forbidden. OEM Windows licenses are require to stay (and die) with the machine with which they were sold.
With some of the low end PC's ($350 w/ printer & monitor), you could probably argue that if not for the marked up cost of Windows that comes with it, they would be selling the hardware stand-alone at a loss.
If they pushed Linux, they would have to adopt a similar licensing model using Licensed Linux distros (read: for cost) at the prices that are about the same as buying copies of Windows. The problem with this is that someone has to support it. The first time some Linux user called tech support for a $300 linux machine, there goes their profit on that sale.
They could subcontract out the Linux support, but when you have 2 companies supporting one product you have blame shifting (I think the prob is HW, call Dell then I think it is SW, call Red Hat), so that won't work either.
So in short, if they can't mark up the OS, they will have to mark up the hardware.
Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
Hmm, I guess that kind of thing happens in journalism (recycled stories). As the first poster, you seemed awfully eager to point it out to the world. Why not just fast forward to some other story that you are interested in instead of dwelling on the dupedness of this one?
Regarding the topic of Linux-on-Dells, I would prefer to buy my desktops from a local supplier who makes them to order and has no problem leaving the OS to me. He runs a minimal WinXP OS to test the h/w and burn it in, then wipes it and hands them over. We take it from there. No fuss, no muss. Fedora installs in a few mouse clicks and we're up and running.
His prices are competitive with Dell's if not lower, and you don't need to go through config screens unclicking Norton Antivirus and MS Office to lower the price by hundreds of dollars, and you don't get a modem if you don't want one, and so forth.
I would think that corporations who still use Dell to stock hundreds or thousands of workstations probably are going to want to stick to Windows for the moment. Smaller operations who need on the order of 5-10 workstations, or fewer, probably can go with a local system integrator or PC builder who will do precisely what they need, and who is a quick drive down the road if something needs to be fixed or exchanged.
The bottom line is that Linux is still somewhat in the do-it-yourself category. It's sort of naive to expect Dell and Gateway and such companies to supply end user workstations running Linux. There is a market but it's rather small. Look in Linux Journal and similar places for ads for such computers. They're small potatoes right now, though of course we Linux enthusiasts all hope they'll grow.
it's = "it is"; its = possessive. E.g., it's flapping its wings.