Dell, Ubuntu, IdeaStorm, a conversation
Published by James March 22nd, 2007 in DellA very open conversation is going on over at IdeaStrom, a program created by Dell to help them listen to the feedback of their community. The conversation is centered around this,Pre-Installed Linux | Ubuntu | Fedora running on Dell’s hardware in the place of Microsoft Windows. I am not really one to speak on Ubuntu, so instead I will quote a blog that is dedicated to Ubuntu,
So Dell emulated digg and put the idea to (good) use in letting people submit and vote for ideas to be implemented at Dell. The result was Dell Idea Storm.
Now maybe Dell regrets it, just a wee bit. You see, the popular requests page right now is dominated by Linux-oriented requests. The most popular idea is for machines with Linux (Ubuntu/OpenSUSE/Fedora) pre-installed. Followed closely by an idea to distribute PCs with OpenOffice preinstalled. There are popular ideas that suggest PCs without Windows installed, PCs with open-source Linux drivers etc.
The writer goes on to tell how Dell should follow up and give the users what they want and there are some great comments as well.
I am not sure what Dell will do here or even the practical business implications of running a free OS instead of Windows, but Dell has come along way from their dire days of not listening at all, and that should be applauded.
I say, go buy a Mac, but that has more to do with Windows than Dell’s actual hardware.
That’s wrong,
OSX may be a good OS and Apple may use good hardware, but Linux on PC provides freedoms Mac user don’t have:
* related to the use of PC: freedom for the hardware you can choose
* Related to the use of GNU/Linux: respect of your personnal due to unlimited acces to source codes and freedom to modify the software sa that it feets to your needs.
you may consider it’s fair to use the softwares people told you to use, they way they want you to use them, everybody doesn’t think that way.
Mac user may think they are free, but they just moved to a nice jail with clean washed walls and doors made of polished aluminium.
Go for GNU/Linux , give it a try, you’ll understand once you’ll realise the possibilities you have
Considering that Ubuntu is also available for powerpc, Mac hardware doesn’t have to mean OSX. (I’m writing this on an older 12″ iBook running Debian). Just a shame that Apple changed the hardware instead of changing the OS. Apple could still offer Ubuntu pre-installed - if Dell can do it, so can Apple.
Producing PCs with Linux potentialy gives Dell and Ubuntu the same position as Apple.
Dell can in cooperation with the Ubuntu project control the hardware and the software for their PC’s.
Given the resources of Dell and Mr Shuttelworth & Co this may spawn new drivers for new hardware to gain Apple standards of quality control.
New drivers etc. will gain the whole Linux community.
Example: Say that the new app; EyeCandyOS only works stable on videocard X
Now when rolling out the new Dell DG 750 model (Damn Good 750) they can restrict the hardware and get a stable new model with the latest shiny innovation.
This is the playground of Apple but now possible for Dell.
Freedom?
Yes, you still have the freedom of changing your hardware but Dell doesn’t have to support it.