Dell's Secret Linux Fling

Slagged writes "The Register has up an article on Linux-based Dell systems being sold in China. While Microsoft quashed an attempt by Dell to create a market for Linux PCs in the U.S., such restrictions are not the case in Asia. From the article: 'Fifteen months ago our own Ashlee Vance, who broke the news of the first break-up in 2001, proved how hard it is to buy a PC from Dell without Windows. Not pre-loaded with Linux mind you - but simply a bare bones box. But far away from the prying eyes of Steve Ballmer, romance is blossoming. An eagle-eyed reader found the fruits of the union, brazenly on display in a Beijing subway.' The article has pictures of the advertisements, which offer Dell PCs preloaded with 'Red Flag Linux'."

Comments

Let me be the first to say:

[Janek Kozicki]

yay!

Re:Let me be the first to say:

[Machtyn]

That is a really good thesis. I enjoyed reading it. I have one disagreement, but my disagreement does not have solid footing.

As of yet, there is no killer app for Linux, nor for 64-bit hardware.

The one thing that got me started on using Linux (though I had installed Linux a dozen times previously) is MythTV. Granted, that application has potential pits, but it could be the killer app that even non-geeks could learn to love. My brother, an attorney, was surprised when I got on his computer at his home and started recording a program using MythWeb running on my pc at my home.

Red Flag Linux...

[tehSpork]

Would it kill them to find an original name?

Re:Lawl

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course Linux has a hosts file. Linux is a Unix knock off so the lineage is obvious. Windows network layer used to be a BSD knock off so rather than re-invent the wheel M$ ripped off the design and mangled it to fit whatever the bizarre filename mangling was at the time (8.3 with long aliases and byzantine rules for capitalization and when it matters). I don't know for sure if the Vax/VMS with Wollongong networking had a hosts file or not -- it probably did and since all things Vax were default upper case maybe that's where the M$ folks got the idea that HOSTS must be shouted LOUDLY.

Re:A near guarantee

[burnin1965]

loaded or will be loaded with "pirated" or "illegal" copies of Microsoft's Windows software

Very true, but will it balance the years of Microsoft taxes levied on linux user's who purchased systems for linux use and were never provided the option of no-OS or linux pre installed? I've personally purchased two laptops on which I ran linux and never intended to run Windows but I had to pay the Microsoft tax if I wanted the hardware.

I think the pirating also helps Microsoft more than it hurts. The large pirated install base helps to maintain Microsoft's monopoly position. Given a choice of paying for Windows or using linux free I suspect the majority of those users would dump Windows in a heart beat.

Supreme irony

[CAIMLAS]

I am, in essence, an avowed capitalist, but let me say this:

It is the supreme irony that it is possible to more freely purchase what you want in China than it is in the United States - the country of the products' origin and central influence of capitalism throughout the world.