Dell answers to its customers - gives Linux pre-installed options

[Bastieeeh]

After a months long survey Dell finally came up with a great solution. As this survey revealed more than 70% of the participants would use Linux as their OS of choice. Now Dell expands its Linux factory installed options to selected desktop and notebook systems. What systems exactly this will include is unclear, Dell will provide an update with detailed information in the coming weeks.
If you look for more information regarding Dell and Linux I suggest you look at Dell's Direct2Dell Linux Website.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Jimmy 2004]

70% of users???

People do realise that Windows is much better for the average consumer than Linux don't they? Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that Dell is giving the users a wider choice, and Linux isn't bad. But the fact remains that Windows is easier for most users, and more compatible. If 70% of participants would use Linux as their OS of choice, I think there are a lot of people in that survey who are either advanced PC users or don't have full experience of Linux and it's difficulties.

Nice to see Linux being offered, but surprising survey results.

 

[Thermopylae_480]

70% of people probably don't even know what Linux is. I bet this survey was biased. Those who chose to participate probably had a greater understanding of than the average user. It probably wasn't a random sample.

 

[Atech]

Slashdot posters encouraged their readers to vote on the poll. Personally, I didn't. Nevertheless, it's a good thing that people are telling Dell "We want our freedom", and Dell is taking notice, only for profit's sake, but it's still a good thing.

But the fact remains that Windows is easier for most users, and more compatible

I beg to differ. It takes me days of manual labour to get a Windows installation working properly, especially when setting up a local network.

Using Gentoo though:
- Simple installation (menu based installer). Everything works out of the box. All drivers are included within the kernel.
- Slim the kernel down once system is up and running (10 minutes, max)
- #emerge -uDav gentoolkit system world && revdep-rebuild && etc-update
- Go away, make a cup of tea, watch some television
- #reboot
- Perfect system.

It's easier for you because you've grown up using Windows (unless I'm making a hasty generalisation and you are, in fact, die hard Unix indoctrinated).

 

[jocksteeluk]

no doubt if you are a dell customer you would already have a copy or two of windows so if you were to buy a new pc if having linux installed in place of windows would save them £50-100 they most likely would take it with linux and use the windows disk they already own.

 

[kakazza]

/signed

I *want* linux too, just to save on an OS I don't want.

 

[WarEagleAU]

Thats a sign of a good company there. Customer service is highly important. The field I work in, its all about the health and safety of the employees and the customers. We try our best to deliver what they want (Manufacturing wise) at the lowest cost. Its nice to see Dell start respecting customers again.

 

[kwchang007]

Slashdot posters encouraged their readers to vote on the poll. Personally, I didn't. Nevertheless, it's a good thing that people are telling Dell "We want our freedom", and Dell is taking notice, only for profit's sake, but it's still a good thing.


I beg to differ. It takes me days of manual labour to get a Windows installation working properly, especially when setting up a local network.

Using Gentoo though:
- Simple installation (menu based installer). Everything works out of the box. All drivers are included within the kernel.
- Slim the kernel down once system is up and running (10 minutes, max)
- #emerge -uDav gentoolkit system world && revdep-rebuild && etc-update
- Go away, make a cup of tea, watch some television
- #reboot
- Perfect system.

It's easier for you because you've grown up using Windows (unless I'm making a hasty generalisation and you are, in fact, die hard Unix indoctrinated).

how long does it take for you to set up a home network on windows? i did in half a day, for basically the whole half day my problem was forgetting to let the network through the firewall. imo window's network is easy to set up, only thing i can't get it to do right now is to turn off password protect for printer sharing (my laptop is the printer server). it's easier for most people to use a GUI based system, imagine trying to train a 10 year old to use command prompt. i can't even use comand prompt. and rebuilding a windows os doesn't take days. give a day at max, and it'll be done. unless you have loads and loads of programs to install.