Dell chooses Ubuntu as preloaded distro

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2007-05-01 12:49pm

BBC wrote:Computer maker Dell has chosen Ubuntu as the operating system for its range of Linux computers for consumers.

Fans of Linux hope that the move will persuade more mainstream PC users to abandon Microsoft Windows and opt for the open-source operating system.

London-based firm Canonical, the lead sponsor of the Ubuntu project, will ensure the software works on Dell PCs.

Ubuntu includes software like office programs, e-mail, a browser, instant messaging software and a media player.

Michael Dell, the founder, chairman and chief executive of Dell, is himself an Ubuntu user. He has the operating system installed on a high-end Dell Precision M90 laptop he uses at home.

'Strong endorsement'

For a long time Linux had been considered to be too difficult to use for normal computer users.

However, more recent versions of Linux distributions, like Ubuntu 7.04, have become much more user-friendly.

"Dell are going to work with us to make sure Ubuntu works fully on its hardware," said Chris Kenyon, Ubuntu's director of business development.

"For us it is a strong endorsement of Ubuntu and the unique support model we provide," he told the BBC.

Open-source software is developed by thousands of developers, and is usually free to use and download.

Firms like Canonical make money by providing software support for users of the operating system.

Dell has not yet confirmed which computers it will sell with Ubuntu pre-installed, only to say that it would offer Ubuntu 7.04 as an option on select consumer models in the United States in the coming weeks

Reports on internet bulletin boards suggest that Dell will offer Ubuntu on an e-series Dimension desktop, a high-performance XPS desktop, and an e-series Inspiron laptop.

Prices and availability in countries other than the US have not yet been released.

Benefits and drawbacks

Running Linux makes desktop computing cheaper, as it strips out the cost of buying a proprietary operating system from Microsoft or Apple.

This has made Ubuntu - and other Linux distributions - popular not just in developing countries.

In France, the National Assembly has just started using Ubuntu on more than 1,100 desktop computers.

But using Linux also has drawbacks.

Most makers of software and hardware focus on Microsoft's Windows operating system, as it holds about 90% of the desktop PC market.

As a result Linux users often find that software - especially for computer games and accounting - does not work on their computers, and that plenty of hardware is not compatible either.

However, Mr Kenyon insists that Ubuntu is "an excellent option" for most users, especially if they want web, e-mail and standard office functionality.

He also points to the fact that Ubuntu is supported in more than 40 languages, with more to come.

And the more popular an operating system becomes, the more companies will start developing software for it, he predicts.

The man driving the Ubuntu project, Mark Shuttleworth, shot to global prominence as one of the world's first space tourists, when he flew to the International Space Station on board a Soyuz rocket.

The self-made millionaire from South Africa founded Canonical in 2004 to promote and support open source software projects.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2007-05-01 12:59pm

Now only if they made better consumer laptops- the inspirons are totally fugly (and fragile). Latitudes are better, but they don't seem to be putting Linux on those.

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2007-05-01 02:01pm

Man, I'd totally consider getting a Linux desktop for browsing and futzing around from Dell, especially because it meant I could get some nice hardware support on it. And I already have a techno-man-crush on Ubuntu, so that's a total bonus. Hell, I might get one for my wife, as her computer has been on the fritz for months.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2007-05-01 05:07pm

Even though it's Dell, this is indeed good news and worth looking into.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2007-05-01 09:21pm

I dunno, I still feel Linux isn't ready for the family desktop. Not that the operating system isn't good, but the difficulty in getting things done. The average user'll have no problems with bundled OpenOffice, GAIM, etc...but installing software in Linux is a complete pain. Last time I used Linux a very large amount of software still had to be installed from the Terminal.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2007-05-01 10:00pm

When it comes to installing software, the biggest problem is going to be figuring out which packages they actually want. If it's an open source package it'll probably be in synaptic. Training the end user on repositories might be interesting.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2007-05-01 10:13pm

Linux isn't really all that difficult to use- configure yes- however, for the group of people who do nothing more than browse the net, check email, etc,
it should be fine (esp if preinstalled/configured by Dell). Competent power users know what they are doing. Linux's weak point is the people in between, who know just enough to break things or encounter corner cases where things fail, not enough to fix/configure them right.

Now if only Dell would do something about those ugly two-tone inspirons. Silvered plastic sucks donkey balls. Quality sucks too, monitor hinges don't feel like they would even support the screen w/o breaking (though the same could be said about just about any other consumer laptop).

Phantasee · Post by **Phantasee** » 2007-05-01 10:28pm

Man, Kubuntu is proving to be such a headache for me. I don't know if I would bother buying a new pc loaded with it. I'd probably stick with XP.

The repositories are proving difficult to work, what with the rig I'm testing it on being offline.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2007-05-01 10:45pm

Well, most people have their ubuntu rigs online....

- there's also the DVD images w/ a bunch of packages on them (not sure how comprehensive they are). In addition, kubuntu probably isn't as well tested as regular ubuntu (and KDE sucks anyway

).

Phantasee · Post by **Phantasee** » 2007-05-01 11:07pm

Pu-239 wrote:Well, most people have their ubuntu rigs online.... - there's also the DVD images w/ a bunch of packages on them (not sure how comprehensive they are). In addition, kubuntu probably isn't as well tested as regular ubuntu (and KDE sucks anyway ).

Interesting. I'm getting a DVD burner later this summer, so I might jsut get the image for Fiesty and roll with that.

I didn't know that it wasn't as well tested. Cause for concern, perhaps?

And yeah, I know KDE sucks. I'm switching to Ubuntu in a couple weeks, once I've completely given up.

But it has all those nice games...

Luckily, they sent me 5 CDs of both Ubuntu and Kubuntu. So I don't have to worry about switching. I even have some new coasters! (I'm thinking of turning them into a mobile for my baby cousin. Shiny!)