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Dell Refuses to Sell Ubuntu to Business

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the now-that's-just-weird dept.

An anonymous reader writes "I had a surreal experience with Dell today. My boss asked me to order a new computer for our small, non-profit business. Wanting to support Dell in their decision to sell computers with Ubuntu installed, I decided to order one. First, I talked to a small business representative, who informed me that I could not order one of the Ubuntu-based computers through the small business department. I had to go through the "home and home office" department. I called the Home office department. I asked the representative if I could buy one of the ubuntu computers for my company. She said (and I quote), "these Dell computers are designed for personal use only, as long as you use it for personal use, you can purchase one." So I lied and said I would.... Next, I tried to buy it on our business credit card. They would have none of that. She told me that I had to buy it through a personal card. Now, as a non-profit, our business does not pay sales tax (10% in Tennessee). Had I bought it with my own card, I would have had to pay tax (~$90), which my company would not have reimbursed me for. So.....no Dell today."

5 of 522 comments (clear)

  1. Buy the old school Open Source systems by thebdj · · Score: 5, Informative

    Dell has been selling systems through the business end with FreeDos for a while now. Purchase one of those and install Ubuntu yourself. It really isn't that hard and you can actually customize the install to what components you actually need. Or you could purchase one and install any free distro you want.

    I can list the millions of reasons why they only want to sell it as "personal use". Remember, Dell (and any other PC company) is still a business designed to make money and if they cannot please everyone all of the time, oh well.

    --
    "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."
  2. And you quit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Umm, and you didn't hang up and call them back and get another salesperson who doesn't give a crap?

    Thats the tactic I use. You always run into stubborn people in the service industry, but 9 times out of 10, the next person you reach won't care either way and will process your transaction just fine.

  3. Re:So... by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Informative

    LinuxCertified sells laptops with various Linux distros preloaded and fully supported.

    --
    My blog
  4. System76 by ciroknight · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://system76.com/ Great laptops, reasonable prices, Ubuntu ships on the beasts. What more could you ask for?

    --
    "Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." G.W.Bush
    1. Re:System76 by nomadic · · Score: 5, Informative

      http://system76.com/ Great laptops, reasonable prices, Ubuntu ships on the beasts. What more could you ask for?

      I tried configuring a computer on system76 and Dell, and when you put together comparable machines, the system76 one is several hundred dollars more expensive.