Ordering a Linux PC

Question

This may start to sound like a rant, but bear with me here. I already have an Inspiron with Ubuntu pre-installed, but it was a while ago, so I just wanted to see if the ordering process had improved since then. At the time, I just did a search for Ubuntu, found the 1525n in the search results and went from there. This time, I wanted to see what would happen if I just went through the 'storefront' of the website. Ok, so this is what happened. I go to Home & Small Office, select Browse Laptops, and look at the list. I see there's a new Mini. I happen to know many of the mini laptops are running Linux, so I take a look at them. It says Ubuntu Linux right on there, good start. I'm happy, but this isn't what I was looking for - I'm looking for the same one I have now. There's the Inspiron 15. Click. Now, looking at these options, I don't see Ubuntu anywhere on here. A lot of genuine Vista, but I happen to know the 1525 can have Ubuntu. I try Customise, and look at the operating system option. Only different types of Vista. Something wrong here? What about XPS, I know that has Ubuntu... nope. It is the 1330, right? I see Vista under Operating System(s), but no Ubuntu. It needs an Ubuntu option under there, maybe under product details or something if it can't go in Customise. Let's take a look at the support page, just to make sure they're still available. I see an XP logo. I see a Vista logo. Networking, hardware, virus.... linux is this tiny little link in the corner of Additional. Why not an Ubuntu logo with the other two? There are plenty of links that can go under it, the official site, the official forums, the Wikipedia page, the Dell Linux wiki, even a free online quickstart guide that I'm sure would appreciate the attention. So I go back to the storefront and do another search for Linux, this time just the browser search to see if it is mentioned on the page. No Linux, no Ubuntu. Let's take another look at those menus. A-scanning we will go.... PC Operating Systems? Windows XP is there..... and I find Open-Source Laptop Computers hiding under Dell Computer Deals. Outside of laptops, and sure enough, there's Open-Source PCs, and at least that one is under Operating Systems. So it's there. If you know what to look for, it's there. But if you don't know what to look for, there's no sense of curiosity, no-one is going to look at the operating system options and think 'Ooh, what is this, it's not Vista, [but] (or [and] if you're so inclined) it makes it $300 cheaper' which could be just the tipping point for someone having second thoughts. Put a link there, let them take a look at it. Now, I know there may be hardware considerations here. A 1525n is not the same as the 1525 original (one would assume), so it may be a bit of work to have those options change when you select Ubuntu over Vista in the Customise page. Or is it? Why isn't Ubuntu more visible? If I were to recommend to a friend to get a Dell laptop with Ubuntu, and see them again in a few weeks with a Dell laptop running Vista saying 'well, I couldn't find it'... fortunately when this did happen, the only result was 'I couldn't find it, so I just didn't get one.' ...But back to our hypothetical situation, then A: they've just paid microsoft a bunch of money for somethign that is going to be deleted immediately (and a nice shiny coaster), and B: they won't have a 'restore to factory state' partition should anything go wrong. Granted they have me to fix it for them, but the Vista install had this quick restore, right? Well, the Linux one would have, too, if it came with it. Looking in the Open Source section I found, I like the gentle reminder that it isn't Windows that doesn't actually say 'Hey, you've made a wrong turn, you need to go over there'. But then in the Customise seciton, when I select Operating System (which is a Windows logo???) the images that appear to the side are all screaming Microsoft Windows XP! Attention grabbing, yes, but not the right kind of attention IMHO. This is definately sounding like a rant, but the point is, what can't be seen, can't be bought. I think something really should be done about some of these wrinkles by now, it's been two years already.   Ok, people, Discuss.

pbdude_123 · Answer

I agree. It's getting more and more difficult to find Ubuntu Linux systems on the Dell website. Why? Is it a Microsoft conspiracy? Sure, Microsoft wants to force everybody into using Vista wether they like it or not. But I thought Dell had more backbone than that.

Prof_Ebral · Answer

I agree. It's getting more and more difficult to find Ubuntu Linux systems on the Dell website. Why? Is it a Microsoft conspiracy? Sure, Microsoft wants to force everybody into using Vista wether they like it or not. But I thought Dell had more backbone than that.

pbdude_123 has a point. MSFT is at it again trying to monoplize the computer industry with Windows 7. When Vista came out they had all sorts of hardware updates and some hardware was incompatible. This left a lot of people really, really upset. Now we have Windows 7 and that is going to focus on touch technology. So, to monoplize, MSFT will enforce a hardwarechange again, this time obviously targeting the monitor.

MSFT is going to get a good 'Kick in the Zipper' if Apple wants to drop the 'Patented Multi Touch Tech' on the MSFT Surface and Windows 7 monitors. But MSFT won't care they will just try again.

I do think pbdude_123's statement of DELL's lack of backbone maybe a bit harsh, albeit possibley accurate. My theory is DELL is aiming to do with Linux what Apple did with their BSD version of a Unix Like OS. I think it is a smooth move and I hope the two compete together well. At least the hardware can talk well with the OS's if the two OS's are very similar (Note: Both Linux and OS X are Unix Like), and it takes the wind from MSFT's sails if their is no hardware to work with. Apple commercials do take Jabs at the Green button, FYI.

So my line of thinking is that DELL is going to take Linux, remake it into a platform that will work with their computers, and then Blam - O we have DELLinux. Or DUbuntu. But all this takes time and money, and I think it is money not backbone.

I don't know what the DELL Market research is pulling on their Mini 9 but I think the Mini 9 is a shining Linux platform. And I still use the OS they made for it and kinda like it.

continue discussing. P.S. You might get some more feedback on the Ubuntu Forums at http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=342

michaelwigle · Answer

I don't mind so much the lack of front page visibility for Ubuntu although I'm certainly glad it has improved and would like to see it improved more. My beef is that there is a much wider availability of hardware options for Novell and Red Hat systems than for Ubuntu. It would be nice, especially for the desktop, to have some video and sound oomph. Heck, it doesn't look like it is even supporting the 9-1 media reader as an option. Still just a floppy drive. That's just silly. I'm trying to convince folks that they can do almost all the same things in Ubuntu but they are having to look at lower power hardware options of missing functionality that is standard with any other system. Hopefully we can get a better hardware variety soon. It's sad that I have more flexibility and power ability in the laptop than the desktop. :P

P Zahra · Answer

I have more flexibility and power ability in the laptop than the desktop. :P That in itself just seems backwards. You'd think the dekstop would be the SUV to the laptop's motorcycle.

bill hudacek · Answer

I bought a linux desktop (Inspiron 530N) for my MIL as a present in late 2007. It came with Ubuntu 7.10, and though it required alot of work before it was fit to use, I was (relatively) happy.

Now, I'm looking for something similar for my wife........I find at http://www.dell.com/ubuntu that there are only 3 laptops left. No desktops. This is HUGELY disappointing.

Microsoft is winning - perhaps $$ has changed hands to quash/kill linux. I won't be buying Dell again....ever. But, if someone knows how to find those desktops, then we're "only' facing the situation described by P Zahra, and not the (eventual) total cessation of Linux sales at Dell..

/Bill

Linux General

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