“Dell Inc. is considering offering the Linux operating system as an alternative to Microsoft Corp.’s Windows on its personal computers, a Dell spokesman said on Tuesday,” Reuters reports.
“The PC maker said it received more than 100,000 customer requests for Linux in a ‘suggestion box’ posted on Dell’s Web site less than three weeks ago,” Reuters reports.
Reuters reports, “The only operating system that Dell currently offers on its PCs is Windows, with one exception, Dell spokesman David Lord said. It sells high-end Linux desktops designed specifically for use in oil and gas exploration, he said.”
“The second most popular request was that Dell offer another popular free software title, OpenOffice, which competes with Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and PowerPoint,” Reuters reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If Dell’s goal is to astronomically increase support costs (unless they plan to sell Linux boxes without support), then this is the perfect plan. This reeks of ballot stuffing by the Linux crowd, but would the typical Linux user be satisfied having Dell dictate which Linux distro they will get? Okay, suppose Dell offers choices of Linux distros: for every one they add, they increase support costs that much more. Linux users we know would want Dell to sell “naked” boxes sans OS for them to do with what they please (that is the 5th most-popular idea on Dell’s site, with about half the votes, 46,980 vs. 102,646 for pre-installed Linux).
Realistically, does anyone really think that Joe “The Blue ‘e’ is the Internet” Sixpack wants Linux or a naked box? Of course not. Apple has a hard enough time selling non-Windows, but fully-Windows-and Linux-capable hardware with Mac OS X — an OS that actually has drivers, runs major applications that Linux doesn’t, and is much better-suited than Windows or Linux for the vast majority of personal computer users. Choice is good, but Mac OS X, not Linux and certainly not Windows, is the best choice for the vast majority of people. Remember last month’s 6.38% share (Net Applications) for Apple Mac? Linux had 0.42% in that same report. 0.42%. Linux on the desktop for the masses is a pipe dream.
To us, it looks like Dell is:
• Grasping at straws (because Steve isn’t licensing Mac OS X to Dell – or anybody)
• Trying to get a better deal from Microsoft
• Providing a distraction for Wall Street
• Just trying to placate a handful of users who’ve stormed their IdeaStorm website and caused it to backfire.
• One, some, or all of the above
Add in the fact that Dells’ Windows boxes will probably cost LESS than any Linux machine they might offer (all of that pre-installed Windows crapware subsidizes the cost of the hardware to the end user) and you can see that this idea will fly like a lead balloon.
We have an “IdeaStorm” for Dell: instead of wasting a lot of time, effort, and capital, shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.
Related articles:
Fortune: Michael Dell reiterates he’d love to sell Apple’s Mac OS X if only Jobs would license – January 22, 2007
PC box assemblers like Dell and others wish Apple would license Mac OS X – August 31, 2006
Michael Dell say’s he’d be happy to sell Apple’s Mac OS X if Steve Jobs decides to license – June 16, 2005
Fortune: PC makers realize Mac OS X is superior to Windows, they’re wooing Steve Jobs for licenses – May 26, 2005
Beleaguered Dell: Shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders – March 02, 2007
Beleaguered Dell’s earnings drop 33% – March 01, 2007
Beleaguered one-trick pony Dell faces unclear future – February 14, 2007
Biting words on Apple come back to haunt Dell – February 10, 2007
Dell faces investor lawsuit over ‘illegal Intel kickbacks’ – February 02, 2007
Michael Dell is no Steve Jobs – February 02, 2007
BusinessWeek: Welcome back, Michael Dell – don’t get too comfortable – February 01, 2007
Rollins out as beleaguered Dell’s CEO, replaced by Michael Dell immediately – January 31, 2007
Total eclipse of Michael Dell goes off as predicted – January 10, 2007
SEC starts formal probe of beleaguered Dell – November 16, 2006
Apple does it again: New Macbook Pros much cheaper than Dell – October 25, 2006
Dell feels the heat from Apple – October 04, 2006
The Motley Fool: ‘Intel to Dell: you guys stink’ – September 28, 2006
Beleaguered Dell’s OS-limited PC sales ‘declining rapidly below expectations’ – analyst – September 21, 2006
Fortune compares Mac vs. Dell: ‘you’ll get more for your money with Apple’ – September 11, 2006
AP: Time to think different, Apple Mac beats Dell on price, software compatibility, and more – August 23, 2006
Dell profit falls almost in half; announces informal SEC probe – August 18, 2006
Dell cannot compete with Apple’s new Mac Pro price or feature set – August 15, 2006
Bear Stearns: Apple’s new Mac Pro, Xserve pricing well below comparable Dell systems – August 09, 2006
Dell warns of earnings miss; shares plunge 15% – July 21, 2006
Survey shows big jump in consumer interest in buying Apple Mac; Dell takes steep slide – July 06, 2006
Dell warns 1Q earnings will miss mark; shares tumble – May 08, 2006
Apple passes Dell in market value – May 02, 2006
InformationWeek: Apple Mac run Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux; Dell and HP should be concerned – May 01, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Apple Mac is #1 in European education market, pushes Dell down into second place – February 03, 2006
Steve Jobs emails Apple team: Michael Dell not the best prognosticator, Apple worth more than Dell – January 16, 2006
Dell CEO: Apple can’t just have one product and then say they’re the innovative leader of the world – February 22, 2005
Dismissive Dell CEO not impressed with Apple Mac mini, calls iPod a ‘one-product wonder’ and a ‘fad’ – January 17, 2005
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Why buy a Dell when Apple’s Intel-based computers will run both Mac OS X and Windows? – June 08, 2005
It smells like a stunt to me, but hey, it’s their money. If Dell is going to commit hari-kari, I have no concern in how they do it. So go Dell, go!
Hey guys, why all the heat about Dell considering Linux? It still is no threat to OSX but it is a threat to the Windows monopoly. As for all the lame claims about Linux not being suitable for desktops etc., get a life. Linux has a number of very stable builds, less than 100 viruses depending on who you believe, establshed GUI’s, and more importantly it is the Linux open source community who by their efforts have resulted in a huge increase in the number of commercially viable alternatives to Windows applications that now run on Intel OSX where previously they excluded OSX.
I am pro OSX all the way, but Linux is viable as a commercial OS. Why else would is have about 40% of the Internet ISP Hosting market world wide? Gnome, KDE and others offer reasonable desktop GUI’s for Linux. They work and are reasonably consistent and useful. No they are neither OSX or Windows, but they are viable.
If you must knock anything other than OSX then you are being as blind as the Windows crowd. Surely the enemy of my enemy is my friend should work here. There is more interoperability between OSX apps and Linux apps than between OSX and Windows. If Dell adopts Linux as a serious alternative to Windows, good. It takes business away from Redmond, not Cupertino.
Cheers
Best MDN Take yet! Keep it up.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Dell is shipping machines with Linux…great! That takes care of the crappy OS.
Now how are they work around the crappy hardware?
Just my $0.02
Software diversification is a good thing. As other OSes grow, WIndows marketshare will go down, which will make it easier for ALL other OSes to survive. With more options comes more choice for everyone. Currently, Linux is not a choice for many people, but if they actually could buy a prepackaged Linux box, some people might actually choose it. This is a good thing for everyone except M$.
Hmmmm, I think I agree with Fenman. I think that since Dell is a custom box build company and that there are lots of PC geeks and semi geeks out there, there may be a business model that will work. I am not saying that Mr. Dell will be able to figure it out, just that it may be out there. : -)
Besides, we all know that in the PC world, its the aftermarket add ons that make the profit. So, give free Linux and charge for support. Sounds like a plan.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
N.
Seriously, how many times does Dell announce that they are looking into providing Linux as an alternative to Windows? This is nothing more than a negotiation tactic on Dell’s part to get Microsoft to lower their price of OEM Vista.
I’m sure Dell would love to sell PC’s without an OS so that you could install your favorite distro of Linux, but Microsoft pretty much prevents that in the negotiations of Windows. Dell can’t afford to lose their preferred status with Microsoft. They lose money on every PC they sell now. They’d go out of business if they had to sell Windows at double the current price they are paying Microsoft for it now.
re: Hey guys, why all the heat about Dell considering Linux? It still is no threat to OSX but it is a threat to the Windows monopoly. As for all the lame claims about Linux not being suitable for desktops etc., get a life. Linux has a number of very stable builds, less than 100 viruses depending on who you believe, establshed GUI’s, and more importantly it is the Linux open source community who by their efforts have resulted in a huge increase in the number of commercially viable alternatives to Windows applications that now run on Intel OSX where previously they excluded OSX.
I am pro OSX all the way, but Linux is viable as a commercial OS. Why else would is have about 40% of the Internet ISP Hosting market world wide? Gnome, KDE and others offer reasonable desktop GUI’s for Linux. They work and are reasonably consistent and useful. No they are neither OSX or Windows, but they are viable.
If you must knock anything other than OSX then you are being as blind as the Windows crowd. Surely the enemy of my enemy is my friend should work here. There is more interoperability between OSX apps and Linux apps than between OSX and Windows. If Dell adopts Linux as a serious alternative to Windows, good. It takes business away from Redmond, not Cupertino.
Cheers
—–
So ‘mr and mrs average with 2 young kids’ goes into a computer shop, and have bought a linux pc previously, and asks the guy in the shop if this game is available or this piece of learning software that their kids need works with their new linux pc.
You can guess the answer…
NO!
The fact IS that Linux is not ready for mass consumer use. There isn’t the vast range of software available needed for mass consumer take-up of the Linux OS.
Nice try – but it aint gonna work.
There is ONE alternative that does – Mac OS X.
I would never stuff any ballots for the Mac
Well Petey it seems that when you go rabbiting on about Linux not having enough software you do not know what you are talking about. It actually has more software than OSX and almost as much as Windows. Still more software does not mean better software. I still prefer OSX to Linux but Linux is still much better than Windows.
As for games, the history of Linux games goes back as far as the first Unix game. Lots of choice. The stores will just have to get smarter, like they used to be 20 years ago. Software manufacturers will also need to get smarter with their labeling, something that is long overdue. And this is a bad thing how?
I also think you misjudge the savvy of Mr and Mrs Average and their kids.
Can’t see this happening because Dell wouldn’t be able to load on all their crapware that they normally install on your new PC.
Dell already offers Linux. Yawn. It’s selling about as well as Mac OS X PCs do i.e. slowly.
@Yawn
Yawn to you too Yawn / Machopeless / Unreality or whatever name you use today… However slowly Mac OS/X PC’s were selling a year ago, they are now selling 30.8% faster, and however slowly Mac OS/X notebooks were selling a year ago, they are now selling 108% faster.
Anyone who finds their way on to a Mac site with the express purpose of annoying Mac fans needs to get a life… We’re enjoying the way things are going. If that bothers you, that’s your issue…