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Dell Thinks Ubuntu Makes Hardware More Fragile?

Posted by Zonk on from the well-known-disruptory-rays dept.

WolfWings writes "Apparently Dell has decided that Ubuntu-based computers are ineligible for their famed CompleteCare service, or any form of hardware warranty what-so-ever. The news has only recently hit Dell's own IdeaStorm website, via a forum post describing an interaction with the company's customer service. Says the customer, 'I am looking for protection from bricks. The laws of physics do not differ from one OS to the other...do they?' After so recently decided to support Linux on their machines, including limited technical support, Dell seems to be squandering any possible good-will with this decision to leave purchasers of these machines high and dry for hardware warranty coverage." Update: 06/05 23:40 GMT by KD : many readers let us know that Dell has said that the omission of extended warranty and CompleteCare options from the configurator for Ubuntu systems was an "ordering system glitch." It should be fixed by now according to DesktopLinux.com.

4 of 380 comments (clear)

  1. Support by jshriverWVU · · Score: 5, Insightful
    They have a system to diagnose and test hardware defects based on software checks which aren't available under Linux. They need to create a similiar system where each component can be tested using native linux tools.

    Yes please check dmesg | grep ERROR. Try saying that to someone who doesnt know what a shell is.

    1. Re:Support by forrestt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The FOSS community (and I am one of them) have been waiting a LONG time for Dell to start selling Linux native systems. What Dell doesn't realize, is we are more than happy to help write any diagnostic software they need. They just need to learn how to utilize the FOSS community better. . .

      Dell, if you tell us the checks you want to have made, we will write the software for you. If you want our help though, then it needs to be a win-win situation, and you need to support the physical hardware you sell us.

  2. Give Dell *SOME* credit... by bdr529 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dell Thinks Ubuntu Makes Hardware More Fragile?


    No, but it makes for a nice headline, eh? I think it more likely they believe their users will mis-identify software issues as hardware issues and request replacement hardware. Further, it would also cost them extra to have personell on hand (familiar enough with the OS) to help RESOLVE hardware issues. Either way, it costs them more.

    It's not entirely unreasonable to charge more for a warranty coverage. It *IS* odd not to provide coverage at all, though.

    But not because Dell denies that "The laws of physics do not differ from one OS to the other". That's just frustrated customer venting...

  3. Re:I'm the brick guy by __aahlyu4518 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Thanx for clarifying an otherwise unfair (to Dell) article.

    Good thing this isn't a news site otherwise they should've contacted Dell first to get their side of the sto......... Hey ! It says 'news for nerds'!!! ;-)

    To all the people who are starting to shout at Dell in the rest of the thread : First people start bitchin' about Dell nog providing a Linux option.. Then Dell listens and acts in a relatively short time, and has not yet have everything 100% as it should be. And people start bitching here again. Cut 'm some slack will ya people? They are getting there. With a bad attitude, you'll have other companies think again before going the Linux way !