Helping Dell To Help Open Source

Glyn Moody writes "Dell's IdeaStorm is turning into a fiasco — for Dell, and for open source as well. Instead of just shouting at the company to sell pre-installed GNU/Linux systems, how about helping them find a way to do it? Here's a suggestion that I've posted on the IdeaStorm site: that Dell set up an independent business unit for GNU/Linux systems, just like The Innovator's Dilemma tells us to do when faced with a disruptive technology."

Comments

Re:You lost me on the first sentence

[jedidiah]

Linux is already a significant part of Dell's server business. They even acknowledge Linux in that market. What's so d*amned hard about them doing the same in their desktop business? They don't have to do much really, just have an option that won't be actively Linux hostile. Dell consumer PC support isn't anything to write home about anyways.

Even just a "I will be installing linux on this myself" checkbox would be helpful.

Re:Why Again?

[jZnat]

They could include non-free (ew) software that can play DVDs and other patented audio/video formats, so no need to follow the GPL for that.

Better yet, they could include BSD-licensed software for that since it doesn't disallow patents.