London (UK) – Just one week after bringing back Windows XP to some of its desktop and notebook computers, Dell today announced that it will begin offering “select” consumer desktop and notebook computers in a preinstalled Ubuntu Linux configuration.

The announcement is one of the first results of Dell’s IdeaStorm survey, which asks web site visitors to contribute ideas to the Dell product lineup. On March 13, about one month after the launch of IdeaStorm, Dell said that it noticed the requests for an improved Linux lineup and now the company apparently is ready to offer such products.

The firm today said that it has formed a partnership with Ubuntu Linux developer Canonical to be able to offer Ubuntu 7.04 on “on select consumer desktop and notebook products.” The announcement extends on Dell’s Linux strategy, which showed dramatic shifts over the past years. While the company has been offering its PowerEdge servers with Red Hat Linux since 1999 and with Suse Linux since 2005, Precision workstations with Red Hat and Optiplex desktops with Novell SLED 10, consumer desktops and notebooks usually disappeared from the firm’s product offering as quickly as they surfaced.  

Dell did not provide any details on which products it will be offering Ubuntu Linux. However, we expect a very limited and tailored offering that answers the requests of the IdeaStorm community in terms of whether these should be high-end or entry-level models and what kind of support should be provided.
No Dell systems with Ubuntu Linux were available at the time of this writing.

CPO

May 01, 2007 13:47     

I'm running Ubuntu Linux (6.06 LTS) on my Dell Latitude X300 and have nothing but praise for the solution. It's in a dual boot config with WinXP, but I use Ubuntu 95% of the time.
Niels Hansen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Finally...

May 01, 2007 14:12     

Glad they picked Ubuntu. Lots of fun to mess around with.
Joe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

yay

May 01, 2007 14:19     

Lets hope that Ubuntu can do what the customers want in the way they want it. "Where's the internet? I don't see the blue e anywhere!!"
elpresidente report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

naysayer

May 01, 2007 14:35     

but will we still have to pay for Windows?
TM report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

backlash?

May 01, 2007 15:38     

so when someone who doesnt know better buys a new rig to play, oh i dont know, some pc games and cant install them... is there going to be a backlash against linux? how ironic would that be.
james brewer report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Free like Beer not like Air

May 01, 2007 17:53     

That linux wont be free, lol.. dont kid yourselves... so there will still be a small feeee
rippleyaliens report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

???

May 01, 2007 18:53     

Read Somewhere of a service for Linux that constantly updates to support direct x games for a small monthly fee. Just about ready to convert. Gonna go break some windows.....
Taco Taco report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

cedega is the service your talking about. as you sa...

May 01, 2007 23:30     

cedega is the service your talking about. as you say, it has a small monthly fee. using wine is free and works on lots of games.
austintx report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

for non-gamers

May 03, 2007 01:44     

this would be great for those that just need a computer (or OS) that will do anything they want from browsing the internet without worrying about spyware & viruses to just listening to music or watching videos & like the comments above, you can still be able to play games with wine or cedega I really hope that this gets to more homes so people can enjoy how great Ubuntu is
Jaimz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Another try!!! LINUX deserves this and I hope it wi...

May 03, 2007 10:34     

Another try!!! LINUX deserves this and I hope it will become a success.
Ramon report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Linux not all that great!!!

May 03, 2007 14:07     

All this hype over Linux. I use Fedora Linux, but find most of the time I spend more time figuring out how to fix things and get drivers to work. I haven't tried ubuntu though... More secure or not (which is debatable), spending time figuring out the OS is not my cup of tea and I'm a professional application programmer. Also, note that Linux computers might get more expensive due to the inability to install cr*pware that is being subsidized by large companies like Google. I don't mind re-installing my computer to save a few $$$. Why is it such an important thing to get Linux pre-installed. People interrested in Linux most likely will be able to get and install it themselves. I would probably never introduce my mom to Linux, as the rest of the world runs Windows. She needs to work with something that has consistent UI from computer to computer. aight, Linux fanboys flame away!!!

kickass report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Preloaded Linux Notebooks

May 03, 2007 14:43     

Linux should be available preloaded on the entire range of notebooks from the subcompact to the 17 inch screen. Offering it on only some lame mid-range notebooks is hardly a token effort. The entire notebook product line should be supported.
Pythonian report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

recommended hardware

May 04, 2007 00:07     

Aside from saving some cash on the OS, I'd think Ubuntu would not need 2GB of RAM for 'optimal' performance like Vista. Being a Linux ignoramus, what kind of hardware would I want w/ a Linux system vs. Vista? Will I essentially want the same hardware?
Nathan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

oh wow

May 04, 2007 18:07     

a professional application programmer having problems with linux? wow, never thought I'd read that (not flaming, just saying) but I guess it could happen, I never tried fedora core but I have tried openSUSE & Ubuntu and I've so far enjoyed [k][x]ubuntu the most I find it weird how my computer illiterate friend managed to use ubuntu with no problems while he always used to have problems with windows (I put ubuntu on his computer) also you don't need the type of hardware specs as vista 512mb of ram and a decent gpu and 15gb is enough to run ubuntu well the only problem I would see with people getting a dell with ubuntu is if they don't get internet it would be pointless since mostly everything you can get for ubuntu is online

Jaimz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

re: recommended hardware

May 04, 2007 20:02     

Well that depends on how much you want to customize your Ubuntu installation. :) Linux can scale from miniscule reqs to those of Beryl/compiz. I know people who run Ubuntu on 256mb of ram just fine. I've never seen it in person as I have several gigs. Even the visually impressive Beryl requires only 256mb according to their website. Whether accurate or not I don't know but in any case you're well below 2GB. I mean, really if all you want to do is surf the web, email, chat, and write a few papers there's absolutely no reason you should have to spend the money for 2GB of RAM!

TheWeet report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

what linux developers have to do

May 05, 2007 15:06     

Linux distros has to be unified to compete with windows. Until then, linux can't be a common os. No distro can be perfect in every sense. Some distros will be better than others in some ways. A unified distro can take the best properies of various distros.
programmer report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

re: what linux developers have to do

May 07, 2007 20:42     

/* the reason linux has progressed so much is the competition between distros (bettering installation, wireless support etc.). what you're suggesting is exactly why M$ is a monopoly and is exactly the OPPOSITE of what drives open source and linux. no offence but your suggestion implies an ignorance of linux, it's community and the whole notion of competition being good for the consumer. nothing "has to be unified to compete with windows", it only has to work well and be accepted by the public for daily use and that's it. microsoft's fatal problem is they try to be everything to everyone, linux does that by letting YOU choose how it looks and works. that's called "freedom of choice", so don't sit here and try to say we all need our choices made for us because you can't do it for yourself, "programmer". */

arrhythmia report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0