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Dell To Offer Open Source Bundles
ruphus13 writes "Dell has been offering Linux-based machines for a while, especially its Server-class machines. Now, Dell has decided that there are several open source applications that are ready for mainstream consumers. From the post, 'While we've all been speculating about whether Dell is working on Android netbooks, the computer hardware and software vendor was busy bundling open source applications to offer to small- and medium-sized business customers looking for low-cost alternatives to commercial software. The pre-configured "SMB-in-a-box" software is only available in the US for now, but Dell expects to launch a similar offering in Asia by the end of 2009... Although no specifics have been given about which apps are included in Dell's first bundle, it is aimed at the retail sector.' It is going to be interesting to see what Dell picks as the 'must-have' applications for the SMB market."
I read TFA and also TFA linked from TFA (original sources, anyone?). I'm left wondering whether this is a new Dell distro of Linux, a package bundle on top of Linux or Windows, a package list for something like Kickstart or another automated OS installer, or a consulting and integration lineup with a preferred set of software.
With Dell talking about wanting to be a services company as much as a box-pusher and specifically mentioning training and support in TOFA, it wouldn't surprise me if this was a consulting group within the company. It's worded as if it's just a selection of software pre-installed, though, like they already do with crap bloatware and trialware.
Stale old trolls aside, I would think Dell is more interested in putting OpenOffice and Firefox and GIMP on the Windows desktop than Linux.
The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
If this means that they're going to offer bundles to retailers, I'd really be interested in seeing what POS software they decide to bundle. I've been looking for open source POS software for several years now, and there's really nothing out there for small to medium retailers out there that's even remotely competitive with stuff for Windows. If they can find something decent, they'll take a huge share of the retail market.
Hmmm...I disagree in part:
For most distro's Linux is far from being ready for the desktop for a variety of reasons. Fedora 11 came out yesterday and it couldn't be more involved to get working (I still can't get the proper alsa drivers installed!...oh and dropping out to shell is for some reason impossible for me?) but the ever popular Ubuntu is just about ripe for the picking in business environments.
The learning curve to admin a Linux network may be fairly involved, but to just use it to process documents and surf the web (which is most desk jobs) there is no learning curve. Example: my wife couldn't be more computer illiterate. Her notebook has been on the fritz lately due to hardware issues so she's been back and forth between my netbook running Ubuntu and my desktop running Windows 7. For someone who's only really used XP for the past couple of years she found each OS equally user friendly. To be fair I'm using the Ubuntu Netbook Remix which has really big buttons that say exactly what a particular app is and does, but she still understands the basic Applications>Internet>Firefox.
That said I also understand there are more specialized applications that are better suited for Windows for certain professionals. By no means is Linux a viable option for every situation, however the Ubuntu desktop option is certainly valid enough to be offered. The learning curve for basic use is all but non-existent and over-stated. If a small business can save $100 per PC for their receptionists and account executives by using Ubuntu and OpenOffice.org what is wrong with giving them the option? I for one have respect for Dell for being this open minded :)
P.S. I've been playing with Edubuntu and Sugar (OLPC) on SD cards on my netbook for my 2-year-old and even SHE understands how to use it...to a certain extent....well she understands banging on the keyboard makes things happen. Also she understands 'sudo give me ice cream' gets her a nice bowl of vanilla.
Well, for the "medium" sized businesses in SMB.... with the advent of 802.11n, wireless to your desktop is about as effective (if you've got decent gear) and frequently cheaper than stringing Ethernet cables and hooking them up to fancy switches. Or so the marketing message goes:
But I work for these people; what do I know? *shrug*
The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
They only have two PCs sold Ubuntu and two PCs sold with no OS - none of which are even halfway modern systems. It's almost like they don't want to make money from Linux users. You'd almost think that some large monopoly was using them for a hand-puppet.
"I once preached peaceful coexistence with Windows. You may laugh at my expense - I deserve it." Be's Jean-Louis Gass
... that the multi-year OEM contract for Dell and MS is about to come up for renegotiation.
"Why thank you for coming Mr/Mrs Microsoft-Sales-Person. We've had this interesting proposal where we have this free operating system to give out. We only have to pay about half of our prior fees you recieved and we get to customize it so that our product stands out from your other customers... in a way you wouldn't allow before. Tech support will be further outsourced to the internet support as those linux folks do love showing how smart they are (and most decent techs hit google first anyhow). So... what do you have for us today? Besides an unbalanced negotiation not in your favor?".
It'll be interesting to see if Dell sees this through or drops it once MS meets their pricing demands.
"Common sense will be the death of us all"