Get This Damned Ubuntu Out Of Dell’s Internets!
It’s as if a million penguins cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. Dell has dropped Ubuntu-loaded machines from their online store – a head-scratching play, considering their original declaration that Ubuntu is safer than Windows. The move comes after Dell posted a totally compelling argument for each operating system on its website, advising that only open source programmers should consider Ubuntu. That’s not completely unwise advice, but it’s not like Ubuntu is an unsolvable puzzlebox, or something.
The other bullet point in Dell’s two-bullet-point case for Ubuntu is “choose Ubuntu if you do not plan to use Microsoft Windows”. Gee whiz.
You’re starving. I have two pieces of fruit, a mango and a papaya. You must eat one, or you will die. Choose papaya if you do not plan to eat mango.
No shit, Dell.
Dell insists they haven’t dropped Ubuntu entirely, and that you can still order Ubuntu-loaded machines over the phone. “The reason why they’re not on our main pages is because Ubuntu systems are primarily targeted towards advanced users and enthusiasts, and the vast majority of consumers purchase PCs with Microsoft Windows pre-installed,” a Dell customer service rep told. Fair enough, Dell. But then again, if I’m an advanced computer user, what are the odds I’ll order a computer by phone before using the internet?
That link is on the botom left from dell’s laptops/desktop pages, it’s called “Open-Source PCs”
I am one of those people who bought an Ubuntu Dell over the phone, a Dell Latitude 2100 with Ubuntu 9.04. I have now installed Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook edition on it and everything works out of the bought box and it works perfectly.
The so-called ‘year of the linux desktop’ is not going to arrive unless the major OEM’s allow Linux to be sold along side Windows, it needs visual prominance. There is little point of burying the Ubuntu machines in the company’s web site so that it takes prior knowledge to know that it’s there. And even on the Ubuntu web page, it still has ‘Dell recommends Microsoft Windows’.
Erm… what’s this then?
Ubuntu machines are still on sale from the Dell website…
You know, I used to work for the returns department at Dell, and holy crap, you wouldn’t believe the amount of money they lost due to people returning their systems, because “they thought” Ubuntu was a newer version of Windows… After several years, they finally decided to have a filter (which is why you need to phone them).
I don’t know why people would buy a system from Dell with Ubuntu loaded… When you look at the options, it’s usually about the exact same price with Windows, and then you can just get Ubuntu for free.