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Dell To Linux Users — Not So Fast
PetManimal writes to tell us that after all the hubbub over Dell's note about manufacturing Linux-friendly Dells and choosing distros, the company is now telling users not to expect factory-installed Linux laptops and desktops anytime soon. According to the article, Dell says that lining up certification, support, and training will 'take a lot of work.' "The company said today that the note was just about certifying the hardware for being ready to work with Novell SUSE Linux, not an announcement that the computers would be loaded and sold with the operating system in the near future..."
As if I needed another reason to not buy a Dell.
Dell make more money by selling their PC to Windows users. You're in the less than 3% of the desktop OS marketshare. why do they care about you? when Dell can make more money with Windows and their support already build around supporting Windows while 3% of Linux users going to cost them a lot to support and who is to say that Dell will gain all the linux desktop users? that 3% is even less now compare to Windows for Dell to bother with. Not to mention the FACT that most Linux users build their own PC or buy from online/mom and pop shop vs using Dell's crap hardware.
Let's recap. For Dell to support Linux and get your money. Dell is about to spend million to train their employees, make sure the hardware work with whichever distro they chose and rework their supply chain to include Dell Linux line just to gain a less than 3% linux desktop market? LOL. Dell can probably make more money by resell Apple Mac.
The problem is proprietary drivers.
Has the CEO of nVidia got a daughter? Perhaps a lock of her hair in the post might convince him to open-source their drivers. Or one of her fingers, if that doesn't work.