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Dell Drops Ubuntu PCs From Its Website
Barence writes "Dell has stopped selling consumer PCs preloaded with Ubuntu from its website, and doesn't know when they're coming back. A search for Ubuntu on the Dell UK website returns only one laptop — the Dell Latitude 2100 from the company's business range. Dell insists that it's continuing to sell Ubuntu systems, but only over the phone, and has no idea when — or even if — the Ubuntu PCs will return online. 'We've recently made an effort to simplify our offerings online, by focusing on our most popular bundles and configuration options, based on customer feedback for reduced complexity and a simple, easy purchase experience,' Dell told PC Pro. 'We're also making some changes to our Ubuntu pages, and as a result, they are currently available through our phone-based sales only.' The move comes after Dell put a page on its website advising customers only to go for Ubuntu if they were interested in open-source programming."
I have been on a recent job hunt. Granted, as a LAMP developer. At each interview I asked, is it possible to use a non-windows desktop. Answer: Yes. Mac or Ubuntu didn't matter as long as you could do your job.
These weren't small companies either although they weren't the type to run IE6 either.
There is a slow but steady march towards opensource and for the really old, it is the same march that made Microsoft a household name.
There was a time when if you asked for a DOS machine at work, you would have had to be working in the technological vanguard to get it. Because HERE we use mainframes kid, not this new fangled dos/windows 1.0 stuff. that is kid stuff, for hobbyists.
Dell? Missing the boat. But then, they are being surpassed on every front. I can understand why Dell doesn't want to do Ubuntu, they aren't about giving away free customizations. Sure your dell laptop can be pink, that will be 50 euro's thank you very much. All for a different colored piece of plastic. But when you are at the absolute bottom price wise your are just asking to be picked off by the next guy who can go even cheaper.
I predict that before to long, there will be a chinese company, currently supplying the big names in the west, who starts selling direct. And then Dell will be left with overpriced hardware that doesn't offer anything different.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
At a major Taiwanese PC tradeshow, the CEO of ASUS abruptly canceled his presentation about new Asus products. Asus immediately began towing the line regarding Microsoft products and co-promotion following that. Dell's recent promoting cohabitation with Ubuntu sounds like exactly the same thing.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/microsoft_strikes_back_at_linux_netbook_push
You can't be ahead of the curve, if you're stuck in a loop.
I think the only reason Dell ...
Don't forget that computer retailers like Dell get paid a lot of money to pre-install bloatware, e.g. all those trials, links to subscription services, etc. Even if the customer never buys any of these, Dell doesn't get that money for Ubuntu PCs.
Wouldn't be surprised if MS made an offer to "more prominently" position Windows or grant Dell some "MS premium platinum reseller" PR-badge either.
...that Microsoft had told them that if they continued to market Linux PCs, they would, quote, "rip them a new one", unquote.
http://www.dell.com/ubuntu is still functional in the US.
"I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
That is what I really want. I can buy a Dell without a monitor, so why not without an operating system?
I have my own monitor already, and my own OS. It doesn't make sense to force me to by either of them.
Think about what you just wrote. So you think it is just about time installing Linux? No.
* For one thing, some of us don't want to pay a Microsoft Tax. If I don't plan on using MS-Windows on a computer, I should not be forced to pay for it.
* If a computer is available with Linux, it implies at least SOME amount of Linux support- even if it is just a compatibility guide.
* I wouldn't want to use Ubuntu, anyway, since there are (for me) much better Linuxes. So if they offered a computer with NO OS installed, I would be just has happy.
You can bet that Microsoft is behind the scenes again, pulling strings at Dell to squash any notion of freedom or choice.
Dell could simply adjust the Ubuntu PC prices to compensate for the missing bloatware revenue. Of course, they probably would sell even fewer that way. But with Dell's just-in-time supply chain, it really shouldn't matter whether any particular models sell well because there's no inventory buildup or waste to worry about.
As for Dell's claim of reducing complexity... it's a single link on the side of the page! At the risk of sounding cliche, I think it's more reasonable to assume that there is some supplier exclusivity contract in play from Microsoft.
Always someone has power over you. The thing to consider is this: Is the power good, or bad?
Windows works for people who know Windows and have no need to invest time in anything different. The faults we find in Windows don't concern them enough to switch to something not Windows.
"This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
buy from someone else
http://system76.com/
http://zareason.com/
I don't know why Dell thinks I am a second-class citizen because I use open-source programs. Boo and hiss.
I blogged about it here: http://www.theopensourcerer.com/2010/07/23/why-windows-still-has-good-sales-figures/
:-(
16:27:12 Alan Initial Question/Comment: I can't find your laptops with Ubuntu installed
16:27:23 System You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
16:27:23 System Connected with Makrand_Karante
16:27:23 Makrand_Karante Thank you for contacting Dell sales chat. This is Makrand Karante,your Sales Advisor. In order to Help you better can you provide me with your email address and Telephone number incase we get Disconnected I can either come back to you by phone or email.
16:27:39 Alan hello
16:27:50 Alan I am looking for laptops running Ubuntu
16:27:53 Makrand_Karante Hi Alan
16:28:03 Makrand_Karante we do not have that option available yet
16:28:15 Alan oh
16:28:32 Alan when will they be available, I don't want Windows at all
16:28:53 Makrand_Karante we do not have the related information here
16:29:36 Alan that is a bit of a shame, I will have to go somewhere else to get a laptop then
16:29:53 Makrand_Karante is there any thing else that I may assist you with today?
16:30:07 Alan well not really. I just wanted a laptop running Ubuntu.
16:30:19 Alan Do you have any without an operating system at all?
16:30:28 Makrand_Karante I am afraid no
16:30:36 Alan oh
16:31:23 Alan so if I want a laptop from Dell I have to buy windows
16:31:58 Makrand_Karante Yes
16:32:12 Alan ok, thanks for your help
16:32:29 Makrand_Karante Thank you for contacting Dell Sales Chat and allowing me the opportunity to assist you. Have a wonderful Day ahead.
16:33:25 System The session has ended!
Couple of updates. I am in the UK, so that was through the dell.co.uk site, I don't want one from the US because it would have the wrong keyboard and I would be stung with customs charges and it would take a long time to get here and I like instant overnight consumer gratification.
If you are tempted to go ask similar questions of the Dell online chat thing then go right ahead with the following conditions:
1) You must take a credit card out of your purse/wallet, rest it on your keyboard and be totally prepared to use it, if they find you a suitable laptop.
2) Do it once, don't repeatedly bother them.
3) Be polite and respectful, the Code of Conduct applies.
Microsoft Windows is really so much harder to use than Ubuntu.
I don't know how this got modded insightful but, as someone who has computers with Mac OSX, Windows XP, _and_ Ubuntu, I'm going to have to say that's so utterly wrong that it's actually funny. I like Ubuntu and I look forward to the day that it truly hits the mainstream but it is not, in any way, easier to use than Windows. It may be the easiest of the Linux distros to use (I have no clue if it is since it's the only one I've ever played with to any degree); it may be easy enough for the average person to use; it may be incredibly easy for a hardcore computer user to use, but it is not easier to use than Windows.
I don't like Windows, at all, but let's be serious...