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Pre-Installed Linux Tops Dell Customer Requests

Posted by kdawson on from the please-sir-may-I-have-a-penguin dept.

dhart writes "Within only a few days of Dell opening a new customer feedback website, they discovered that the feature most requested (by an almost 2-to-1 margin!) is an option on all new Dell PCs: pre-installed Linux. (And the number 3 request is pre-installed Open Office.) I believe they'll have a harder time now with the tired old mantra 'There's no customer demand for Linux.'"

19 of 509 comments (clear)

  1. Demographics by Wordplay · · Score: 5, Funny

    Strangely, the #2 option was pre-installed pictures of Natalie Portman.

    1. Re:Demographics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      If they are running windows, that will happen soon enough.

    2. Re:Demographics by networkBoy · · Score: 4, Funny

      How 'bout a petrified statue of Natalie Portman shaving Brittney Spears in soviet russia while standing on a beowulf cluster of old koreans?

      (did I miss anything? ... oh yeah! not sure where the hot grits go...)
      -nB

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  2. Re:Their system configurator by taursir · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's probably just a money-making or liability ploy. Although, you'd assume that if you're selecting that configuration, you know what you're doing, and they don't have to deal with people going, "OMG, IT WONT START".

  3. Re:Their system configurator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    "no operating system, Linux configuration"

    is'nt that because the operating system is actually emacs?

  4. Which distro? by seebs · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's ridiculous. While "Linux" may be a large market, each individual Linux is going to appeal only to a subset, and furthermore, users may not know which one they want. How do you know whether you want Linux Home Basic, Linux Home Premium, or Linux Ultimate? Or, if you run a home business, maybe you need Linux Enterprise or Linux Business. If you're not sure, maybe you should try Linux Starter, but I'm not sure you can upgrade.

    No one would ever expect a commercial product to succeed with that kind of internal market fragmentation, I don't see why they think it'll work for Linux.

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  5. Re:Um... why? by LParks · · Score: 5, Funny

    What if I want a BSD?

    If you want a Blue Screen of Death, then just get one of their Windows options.

  6. Re:The Indian tech support is worse. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm in the UK. Maybe that's why I don't get the American-based tech support when I call. And yes, the systems are servers. The newer ones are PowerEdge 1900 systems.

    I really don't care where the people are who are offering me tech support. At the very least I expect them to speak understandable English.

  7. Re:Their system configurator by HAKdragon · · Score: 5, Funny

    emacs is and excellent OS, it just needs a good text editor.

    --
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  8. Re:The Indian tech support is worse. by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 5, Funny

    There's a dude in India who's probably really pissed because every time he calls Dell for support on his server, he gets someone from Texas!

  9. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  10. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  11. Re:Winds of Change. by drsmithy · · Score: 5, Funny

    2007 is the year of Linux. Vista sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!

    1996 is the year of Linux. 95 sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    1997 is the year of Linux. 95 sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    1998 is the year of Linux. 98 sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    1999 is the year of Linux. 2000 sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    2000 is the year of Linux. 2000 sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    2001 is the year of Linux. XP sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    2002 is the year of Linux. XP sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    2003 is the year of Linux. XP sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    2004 is the year of Linux. XP sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    2005 is the year of Linux. XP sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!
    2006 is the year of Linux. XP sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!

  12. Re:Winds of Change. by Stamen · · Score: 5, Funny

    2007 is the year of Linux. Vista sucks, is not selling and the revolt is on. It's about time!

    But seriously, Viska sucks so hard Hoover Inc. sued for patent infringement.

  13. Re:Consequences of Linux Demand by bckrispi · · Score: 4, Funny

    It should convince dial-up ISPs like AOL to release a Linux client.
    AOL subscriber who runs linux? +1500 Funny!
    --
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  14. Re:Winds of Change. by kernelfoobar · · Score: 5, Funny

    The day Microsoft makes a product that doesn't suck, is the day they start making vacuum cleaners...

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    Here we go again!
  15. Re:Great Story: by mwvdlee · · Score: 3, Funny

    I know a teenage Filipina girl.

    Are you sure about that?
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  16. Re:The Indian tech support is worse. by moranar · · Score: 4, Funny

    He should just post his gripes in broken English to Slashdot, like everyone else does. Sheesh.

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  17. Re:The Indian tech support is worse. by bhiestand · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm in the UK.

    Every time I've gotten an American English speaking rep from Texas.

    At the very least I expect them to speak understandable English. I think I see the confusion you two are having. You see, you're asking for someone to speak English that you can understand, and you're a Brit. The GP is an American, and has no problem understanding American Texan English.

    It is quite likely that you actually are being connected to their call center in Texas. Next time you call, ask to be transfered to somebody in India. It will be a lot easier for you to understand, especially if you ask the rep to drop his fake American accent.
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