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Dell Opens a Poll On Linux Options

Posted by kdawson on from the you-asked-for-it dept.

narramissic writes "In response to overwhelming user demand for Linux, Dell has posted a survey on a company blog that asks 'PC users to choose between Linux flavors such as Fedora and Ubuntu, and to pick more general choices such as notebooks versus desktops, high-end models versus value models and telephone-based support versus community-based support.' Votes will be collected through March 23, and Dell plans to use the feedback to begin selling Linux-based consumer PCs." The poll is pretty minimal. Wonder how much it will really guide Dell's choices.

2 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. A choice of all distributions. by khasim · · Score: 5, Interesting

    By offering NONE ... pre-installed ... but offering options on boxes so that they include only 100% Linux-friendly hardware. Which would be tested against the current kernel (and the kernel tested with would be documented).

    AND NOT COSTING MORE THAN AN EQUIVALENT WINDOWS BOX.

    Box A
    Windows config - $500

    Linux config -
    - remove modem (save $5)
    - replace modem w/Linux compatible (kernel 2.6.18) (add $15)

    - remove wireless card (save $10)
    - replace wireless card w/Linux compatible (kernel 2.6.20) (add $25)

    And so on. Support "Linux", not "Red Hat". Ship the hardware and let the buyer get support from the distribution s/he prefers.

  2. Re:Smells like a trap. by dhasenan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What's so half-assed? They would have to prioritize functionality to provide and product lines; they're doing that by asking the potential users. They have to pick a distribution; they're doing that by asking the potential users. Should they ask whether to use GNOME or KDE by default? Amarok or XMMS? Xine or gstreamer? LILO or GRUB Legacy or GRUB 2?

    I don't see much more they could have usefully asked. Besides, if you buy your laptop with KDE on it, it's a matter of a few minutes to install GNOME. (And since this is Dell, you can probably expect a set of CDs with at least the most common packages on them. When I purchased Debian CDs once, they came with pretty much the entire repository.)