Direct2Dell

I am most concerned about was not having support for the idiot broadcom WIFI card not working for me without several days of testing kernel prerelease versions or patching almost daily snapshots of the project that has been working on a linux native driver for these cards before I finally got them to work to a sub-par  standard, not to mention the hours spent recovering work after ndiswrapper kept hard locking the machines.

flodby mp3 indir johnny depp cileknet

I am the current owner of not 1 but 3(THREE) Dell inspiron 1501 notebook computers.

I'm also a long time linux user and as such could not care less about what distro they decide to install on thier systems. The very first thing I do with a machine when I buy it whether notebook or desktop is stick my livecd in it and format and install my OS. There are a great many linux users out there that are just like me in this.

What I am most concerned about was not having support for the idiot broadcom WIFI card not working for me without several days of testing kernel prerelease versions or patching almost daily snapshots of the project that has been working on a linux native driver for these cards before I finally got them to work to a sub-par  standard, not to mention the hours spent recovering work after ndiswrapper kept hard locking the machines.

I could even deal with all of that since at least linux devs are trying to do something about the support (light is at the end of the tunnel), What really sent me off the deep end is when DELL decided that I cant really do what I want with a machine I spent very hard earned money for such as refusing to  allow me to even install another off the shelf miniPCI card that would work just fine with any OS I could throw at it.

Are there no laws against this type of hijacking of my rights?

In any case Dell and frankly all PC manufacturers need to get their act together  and give me FULL and complete access to do as I like with my machine.

</RANT> 

I recently bought a budget Inspiron expecting to be able to use it with Ubuntu and although it installs fine, a key feature has been problematic. The Broadcom driver doesn't work with Ubuntu and despite the excellent support from Ubuntu forums, no amount of patching, and replacing the thing can get the wireless to work.  Loads of others have faced similar problems.

The combination of a cheap well-spec'd laptop with Ubuntu on it and working would be a fanstastic option for loads of customers.  Like me, a lot of customers are fed up with paying the MS tax for software that bloats and slows the machine, locking us into the update mechanism.  Many of us have things to do on the machines and the OS should be there to help us do it.

After years of using MS OSs, including years of developing software for them, customers deserve something a lot better and if Dell, with its excellent hardware offering, supported Ubuntu comprehensively, it could clean up in the hardware arena.

 

As a french Linux user, I can't wait for a Linux Dell option.

I really hope Dell will expand this offer to european countries very soon.

There is a lot of users and companies which are waiting for true Linux based PCs in europe too ! 

Almost Awesome! Now, as soon as I can scroll down the PROCESSORS list and choose  AMD for the laptop, I've got 1200 burning a hole to buy one.

I will not buy Intel.

I do not eat at McDonalds.

I do not talk to AT&T

I do not buy from Microsoft.

Evil still = Evil.

I'd rather buy a third-rate Chinese CPU or a GPU than an Intel anything, at any speed.

I buy about 20 computers a year for business. None of them contain Intel or M$. They never will.

 Let me know when I can spend my money on an AMD Dell with Ubuntu.

Actually currently looking around for a notebook that'll run properly with Linux. As most people commented already, the main reason for choosing a particular notebook is one with hardware that's supported by Linux.

This means hardware for which there are opensource drivers (preferably GPL-ed). Think that most Linux users want freedom of choice, the choice to choose their own hardware and to choose what software they run with it. Adding specific information like chipset info might also be a welcome addition.

Basically, as long as the source for the drivers is available, choosing which distro to pre-install is actually not that important.
Just go for the one that's easiest to use by new users of desktop Linux, which is Ubuntu in my opinion, the rest will do what do want anyway.

Also don't worry too much about having to invest in software support, if the hardware manufacturer's drivers are open source, it'll be supported by the Linux community.

If you were already shipping linux-ready notebooks, you'd definitely have me as a customer already!

Hope you'll be shipping notebooks with Linux compatible hardware soon!


 

I will NOT buy anything with Vista!

 I will, however, buy a Dell if its hardware is Linux friendly.  Linux is, after all, the OS of choice of NASA, Dept of Homeland Security, NJ State Police, German Govt, etc - get the picture!!
 

Ban windows on DELL make it a LINUX only system with easier tho install software and the company s will move OPEN-source

,luke 

It would be great to have an option of having Ubuntu as the OS pre-installed with an OEM.  It would save people like me who can use Linux and don't need the over-rated, over-priced Windows quite some money.  I also think it would be good if they could do a dual boot (with grub) for some people who want to transit to Linux but need Windows for some apps.

Hi Mr. Dell and dear fellow readers of this log.

 It's now about 12 years that I exclusively use Linux, in various flavours; I began with Slackware.... nightmare installation, then CorelLinux came on the scene; what a big difference it was. But then, as we all know, M$ intervened, "helped" Corel to get out of the financial hole it was, changed the C.E.O.  and the first thing he did was scrap the Linux Unit. Which later continued as Xandros. Frankly speaking, I still use Xandros, and I have found it to be the easiest Linux use. I know, it is not free; at least the full and latest version. But it remarkably painless to use; many friend of mine asked ... "What windows is this ...?"  ... :-)

The most remarkable feature of Xandros? The control Panel. Seeing is believing. 

Anyway, I am firmly convinced that the move towards LInux is a very good move, which represents the real beginning of some real competition, open market style, and competition is GOOD for us end users.

I sincerely hope that some other big players, like IBM/Lenoxo and HP, will follow your very wise initiative; TO LISTEN to their customers. 

 Stefano Mollo.

It's great that Dell has decided to sell systems with Linux pre-installed. I myself own 3 systems which run Ubuntu(well, my older PC runs Xubuntu, but I use Ubuntu on my laptop and main PC). I currently own an Acer Aspire 3680, but I'll almost definitely be getting my next one from Dell.

~Stash 

Ubuntu's not a bad choice for a distribution to use.  I worry a bit about their plans with regards to not support non-GPL stuff (nvidia's closed-source graphics drivers are, for example, better than the current open source ones, and are free as well).  Beyond that, some people mentioned business models.  I think Linux in the enterprise is a whole other issue, and one that requires a lot more than just putting the machines out there for sale to make happen.  It's part of a larger sales strategy. 

The real benefit with just making linux-based systems available will be in the end-user market, not corporate IT, where M$ lock-in exists en masse.  

Ubuntu is simple and easy to use. Gnome is simple and easily modified, even as a novice. Hardware support is a must. Work with the choice distribution's community to properly decide appropriate requirements. This will be a great day for the open-source world.

I just want a computer that works -- out of the box -- with as much of the hardware I already own as possible and all of the hardware it comes equipped with!

The preinstalled distro doesn't matter. It would be nice to save some money and have more choices as a consumer.

Having more choices would likely persuade me to buy a Dell rather than an Apple. 

I'm both a fan of Dell and Linux, so this is wonderful!  I would recommend Ubuntu 6.06 as the baseline as it will be supported for a few years without requiring an upgrade.  If someone wanted to upgrade it's simple enough for the average user.  Just install the default Gnome desktop.  Those that want KDE, Fluxbox, or XFCE can add it from a repository very easily.  Just stick with the default Ubuntu. 

I would recommend desktops for business, but if you can do laptops as well that would be great for the home user.  Laptops should have a video card, not integrated video.  For the most part that doesn't do anyone any favors.  As long as hardware is all Linux compatible, there shouldn't be any issues except WinModems.  Let's go without those, please.

Thanks Dell!

Dude,

I´m gettin' a Dell!

A laptop with Ubuntu pre-installed, to be exact.

This is SO COOL!

My company runs on Ubuntu and Pilão (brazilian coffee).

 All of our desktops are custom built at home, but, now,

we will be using Dell laptops (we´ve been researching laptop

purchases for a while).  We are ecstatic to have the option to purchase with our favorite OS, and w/o the M$ virus pre-installed. 

Anthony Baldwin

CEO, Baldwin Linguas

Translations & Interpreting 

So cool that you´re now offering Linux machines.

I, too, recommend Ubuntu for laptops and home computers.

I would recommend the Kubuntu flavor (Ubuntu with KDE desktop) as default, however, for various reasons.  

For schools, you could offer the Edubuntu (Ubuntu with edutainment and educational software added by default.  Does use Gnome desktop).

Another phenomenal idea would be to offer K12LTSP machines to schools (see the k12ltsp.org or k12linux.org site, a fedora based terminal server project).

tony 

I applaud Dell for the decision.  I have purchased a Dell Desktop in the past will certainly do so again.  I currently use Ubuntu on a Dell Desktop at home and it works great.  I have tried many linux distros and on several computers (desktops and laptops) and found Ubuntu to be the best choice.  I would imagine a if you could select a couple of laptops and desktops (maybe four total), I higher-end and one more entry level, so that people can have some choice in price and computing power.  Of course without the Microsoft tax either should be more affordable with Ubuntu.  I will not buy a VIsta machine and my next computer purchase will be a Dell with Ubuntu!

Bravo Dell for promoting free choice and letting the little people fight the Microsoft monopoly!
 

   I have 2 dells at home and usually recommend Dells for the family members that ask my advice. I want Linux on Laptops and desktops and I dont want to pay for a License for Windows when I buy a Linux box from Dell.

Thanks

I look forward to seeing how this actually turns out...you have a huge opportunity here, especially to even further drive down the price of your computers and sell even more.

Ubuntu wasn't a horrible choice. It isn't that many of these distributions are more difficult to use than Windows (driver problems aside), only that they are different which sometimes make it difficult for people who have 'grown up' on it harder to grasp. You have the resources to change all of this, and even make money off of it... I wish you luck!

If this really does work out, I look forward to buying a laptop this fall for school :)

That's great....!!!

 Even if I prefer Debian, I think Ubuntu is the perfect choice!!!

 
good Job !!!

Glad to see it.

I had been planning on slowly mutating this hp box i'm working on into something that resembled current hardware, but if you're pushing Ubuntu on your prebuilts... with warranties... and support. i'll bite.

oh. quick request? can you bundle cedega subscriptions? :)

--

Ike 

I want to establish 4 computer networks based on ubuntu 7.04 and Ubuntu Server 6.10. Those companies always buy Dell's hardware. They don't want Vista because hardware for Vista is so expensive, so proposal Ubuntu and they are agree.

I', Windows MCSE administrator, but sopose I will must learn linux. 

I would appreciate a laptop with Feisty Fawn.

It seems to be a very good opportunity to offer a laptop at a cheap price and with technical components of good quality. 

YEEEEEEEES,

Thanks DELL

The most important is HARDWARE support to linux. After that, let the user choose his/her distro. One of the most beautiful things about linux is that you don't have to say: "this is THE distro"... from slackware to kurumin, using gnome, fluxbox, kde, icewm, xfce... we have the choice!

So the most important is giving the hardware specifications, and having open drivers for your hardware: that's just heaven!

 Greetings,

daniel
 

Its all about the laptops!!!

 all of us linux users are geeks, we BUILD OUR OWN computers.  the one problem comes when one of us wants a laptop. we cannot build a laptop, so we are forced to buy one.  every laptop out there comes with windows preinstalled, and preincluded in the cost :o

 so here is our one and only option for a cheep linux laptop

 DELL!!!

 i will need to get a laptop soon, and i hope i can get it from dell with linux for cheaper and not be forced to buy micro$oft
 

May I suggest SimplyMepis linux, the current version is based on Ubuntu but has a KDE desktop,realplayer,flash,Nvidia drivers etc.so things like youtube,Google Earth, and BBC news etc. work without problems.
Networks with Windows with no effort too.
Incidenally  my daughter was complaining that her computer a one year old Dell with XP would not work on a particular site, I tried it and it worked on my old  700mhz  machine running Mepis.

Please ignore anyone that says "No binary drivers".  Why use free reverse-engineered drivers for your hardware when the manufacturer is providing correct, working drivers?  Just because you can't see the source code (And not many people would bother to) doesn't mean you shouldn't use it.

Best of luck, I think it's an excellent idea.  Maybe offer a pre-installed dual-boot option for a fee? 

Please don't base the decision of the Linux distro for Dell systems just based on popularity.....if popularity was a decision maker for PCs, then Windows would be recommended  (god forbid) ...........popular does not make it the best..................

case in point PCLinuxOS  installed on my desktop and laptop much easier and picked up more hardware than Ubuntu or Kubuntu, and think a minute, Ubuntu has all kinds of commercial $$$'s behind it and PCLOS doesnt' ........... hmmm, kinda funny isn't it?

I hope your offer will be extended in europe too...

I use gentoo but i don't really care of pre-installed distros. I would like to have choice or linux or no os preinstalled.

But overall I think complete hardware support is most important

My vote for CentOS; why:

RedHat is the most stable, reliable, documented and supported linux flavor, but the reason why everybody wants Linux is because they (or we) don't want to pay more and more. So with CentOS we will have RedHat free... Centos is the way forward!!!

I generally like Dell hardware.  My first was a P2-266 for college and it was a great machine.  Use a Precision 390 at work that is also pretty nice.  Thought about getting it myself but it is way overpriced once you go below the bare minimum configuration.  I have always liked the idea of getting a machine that is built to exactly what I want and is burn in tested before it arrives.  However, the last machine I bought was put together from parts due to Dell NOT giving me what I want. 

I'm sorry I missed the survey, but this is what I would like: 

1.  To buy a machine from dell and see a 'XXX Linux' or 'Other/Non Windows' option in the configurator and know that none of my money will be given to Microsoft. 

2. Know that everything on the machine works with linux and will in the future because the specs are open.  If I select the 'Linux' option I want to be assured that I am not getting a winmodem or chipset that does not work with linux.

3. I have a highly favorable opinion of Ubuntu for home users (My wife and I use it at home).  I also want a value but not crap 3d graphics card that can power a desktop and TV-out that has open specs. 
 

use suse.

I hope this comment actually makes it onto the page, because my last one, which had valid arguments why ubuntu should NOT be the distro Dell chooses never showed up, yet all the ubuntu comments from the fanboys do.

PLease: use Ubuntu 7.04 (ubuntu.com)

have ALL drivers installed and working

have ALL codecs installed 

abd all essential apps installed (and please, install NO useless ones ) do what apple does.

more info go to www.ubuntu.com

INSTALL UBUNTU LINUX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Having a Linux pre-installed  on  Dell notebook would be very helpful to students like me. I have been using  Linux  on my Dell Inspiron  for more than a couple of years. I haven't had any problem so far that I couldn't find solution online.

   I would like to see more hardware support for Dell for linux like wireless cards and graphic cards
 

Dear Dell,

it seems that you're listening, so i take the time to talk... let me say that i really think that you're doing a great job indeed. I will not suggest you a distribution, because is a fact of taste, nothing more, but i want to suggest a modus operandi instead... hardware that works... that's all... easy to use/set with every linux flavor, and take care of new peripherals: bluetooth, ir remote, graphics card (for 3d desktop), smart keys (activate/deactivate, cpu freq, etc...) and so on..

Think also at mediacenter editions to battle against apple frontrow or windows mediacenter edition: take a look at elisa by fluendo 

Hi,

 I am using openSuSE 10.2 on my HP DV5292EA laptop and it supports all the hardwares out of box barring a few tweaks required for 6-in-1 card reader and HD Audio Device.

 
But I have not succeeded in some of the DELL laptops installing Ubuntu/openSuSE linux with complete hardware working. I've had couple of problems which finally made me re-install windows xp for them (the people i advocated for linux usage).

 
If not linux pre-installed laptop/desktops I expect at least GNU/Linux ready hardwares.

Thanks.
 

I'm ready to buy -- what do you have for me today?

My previous laptop, an OEM variant of (I believe) the Inspiron 3000 line [power notebooks III:16, to be exact] is suffering from memory lapses -BUT- it is running SuSE 10.1 right now, and in fact has been running some form of SuSE since about 8.x.  Initially, it was dual-booting w/windows 98, but one day I got a "green screen of death" -- totally locked up right after the puke-green default background of windows-at-the-time came up, and that was it for windows on that machine -- reformatted and loaded SuSE 9.something or so, and it has been upgraded since to 10.1 as I said.  (the cool part about 10.1 is that suspend now works [again], among other things)

My point is that your systems already work with Linux, but the point MANY people have made is that any "new" hardware you include MUST have some form of supported driver available.  Unlike most of the folks chanting the linux line, I'm perfectly happy with a binary driver *if* I can be reasonably assured of the fact that there is support now and into the foreseeable future.  (which, if you think about it, is really a sneaky way of saying that you really will be better off with open hardware)

I also prefer SuSE as that is what I've used for the last several releases.  Not entirely sure about the "microsoft deal", but I'll point out that FUD works both ways ;)  I'm also in a bit of a minority in that I tolerate windows -- I may not like it, but I don't react to it like Dracula and a cross...

In writing this, though, I did come up with a thought that may make a lot of sense: instead of "windows" or "linux" as the "OS", sell the computer(s) with VMWARE ESX or similar "hosting environment".  Users would then be free to choose which actual OS they will install under that -- even both at once!

Like I said, I am searching for a new laptop replacement today -- what have you got for me?

I can't find the 745N Mini Tower system in my company Premier
Site. Should I go with my order to Dell's competition?

I'd definitely love to see Dell offer Linux PCs and notebooks, but they have to be easily accessible to people.  No hiding Linux computers through 7458945 links...they have to be right on the front page right next to that big ol Vista logo.

 My distro of choice?  Debian of course.
 

Recommendations (a little late, I know).

Ubuntu, like it or not, has the largest populus of new converts and thus has the largest buzz today.  I realize that Dell doesn't want to buy into a fad and so you're really wondering if Ubuntu is the right thing or something that, while less snazzy, is likely to be around for a long time (like Novell SuSE or RedHat RHEL).

I would actually recommend that you focus on compatibility with a Debian core.  My reasoning is that there are a lot of distributions that base themselves on Debian (Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Edubuntu, Xandros, Linspire, etc.).  If you build in compatibility with Debian (which has proven to be able to survive for a very long time) then you will almost certainly gain compatibility with all of its derivatives.

Personally, I don't like Novell... primarily because of their deal with Microsoft.  I suspect that I am in the majority when I say that I, as a linux user, am really holding Novell suspect for the actions and will not support their efforts without seeing what is behing their virtual curtain.

RedHat is great, RHEL is a solid, reliable system... the problem is that it isn't free.  So you think, well, why not Fedora then.  Fedora doesn't have support for their OS for long enough.  1 year of updates and then you have to find legacy sites to get updates.  Too much trouble and Dell could be seen as fueling vulnerable systems if they don't make some effort to keep their customer's systems up-to-date.

So that brings me back to Debian and really back to Ubuntu.  Ubuntu is backed by Canonical (which I'm sure you already know).  Ubuntu has a release of under a year but holds support for older versions up to 3 years.  I especially like Ubuntu LTS.

Perhaps, since you are the largest company interested in providing these options you should contact Canonical and see if they'll add additional support durations to releases that you include on your computers. 

I like openSuSE Linux because the KDE, but it requires preinstalled Smart + a large set of repositories in order to make it work properly.

Ubuntu/Kubuntu is also great, but the desktop is not as polished as SuSE.

So I guess the options would be between SuSE and Ubuntu/Kubuntu.

Debian has one of the best package systems, but it is more for servers, same with Red Hat.

About Linspire and Xandros, I think people will only choose Linux in order to save some bucks, so, probably not good options.
 

Please use Intel 3D chipset.  Intel shows respect to our community by releasing free drivers. We want to be able to use 3D features without giving up on our freedom to nvidia or ati.

And while we're at it, why not setup Beryl or the likes by default?  :-)

Btw, I really appreciate this initiative.  I've never bought a Dell product, but I'll consider doing that in the future, specialy when I want to avoid the "microsoft tax".

hi and thank for the opportunity to buy a pc directly with linux. it isn't important which distro do you choose, but i would like a sign of compatibility or not with the major distros. i see mandriva spring as one of the most aesy to use and good distro fo ever.

bye

Marcello 

What's key for a computer to run Linux well is the hardware.  EVERYTHING must work correctly, and a couple of things come to mind:

*New ATI video (x1300, x1400) drivers not giving full 3D support.  This means no eye candy from Beryl/Compiz.  Use NVIDIA cards or Intel integrated video instead.

*The wireless needs to just work.  No NDISwrapper, no terminal, just always work with network-manager.  Don't use any more Broadcom based wireless cards, stick to hardware that is fully supported by Linux drivers.  I believe Atheros chipsets are well supported in Linux, but that's the only brand that comes to mind right now.

 Also, if the proper hardware is in the system, the end user should be able to install whatever distribution of Linux he/she would like.  Personally, I like Ubuntu and Opensuse, and have had too much trouble with Fedora.  Regardless of the distro, everyone has their taste and distros, so keep the focus on the hardware, and the software will work flawlessly (the magic of Linux).

BTW I'm not upgrading to Vista, I'm done with Windows operating systems.
 

Linux is not a alternative for Windows. I think Dell should focus on a way of selling computers without operating system.

Linux and Open-source software was a nice idea, but it can never work. Who would do good work for free? I wouldn't. Microsoft wouldn't

I have a E1505 with XP and soon to be Vista, i tried Linux and i didn't like it. None of the hardware worked, and overall it was't user freindly. I gave up.

Mr Dell, i think you shouldn't waste time with Linux, just look at Vista Home Premium and Ubuntu 6.10??? Let me think which one is better.... Areo interface...12,000 drivers...Microsoft Office...More secure than ever... Microsoft Windows...

Thank you.

Nick.

P.S

I tried Opensuse and Suse Enterprise 10, nothing worked.

Ubuntu ubuntu ubuntu.

The are not stuck with Linux is for nerds. I use their distro, and I am impressed, so are my children.

Pushing Ubuntu will only support the innovation need and urgency to deliver inside Ubuntu circles.
 

I said it before and I will say it again.

Open drivers. Currently that means:

a)Intel graphics card

b)A wireless card with open drivers ( AND firmware ) to go with it.

 

I would be satisfied with two options, first offering notebooks with openSUSE as an option of OS or offering notebooks with the option of no OS.

If you were to go with any distro other than SUSE please also offer the option for a K interface. 

grab the linux kernel, create your own linux distro "Dell Linux" for example !

base the linux operating system off of opensuse............

this way the operating system was built by dell and that fixes any support trouble :)

or simply deal with novell to handle os support issues, if support is paid it will not be any skin off there backs.

The biggest drive for Linux must be widen to include all major Linux distros on both business and consumer Dell computers. Most Linux users do not need a Dell solutions provider with specific expertise in any one distro. We want choices, not specialization. That is the driving force of Linux in both commercial and consumer applications.

Linux users, for the most part, are more than capable of troubleshooting their own Linux issues, provided Dell supports a wide range of distributions with hardware drivers. In that effort, I'd also encourage Dell to move away from their proprietary BTX path for Core 2 Duo PCs, and embrace whatever is relevant in the clone market. Linux is essentially an opposite of proprietary hardware and software.

If Dell is truly dedicated in offering Linux as a choice to its customers, you have to drop the entire monopolistic, proprietary approach in all areas of designing, marketing, and selling computers and computing devices.

In a open-minded world as the FLOSS world is, the idea to have a standard distro is incoherent.

I use CAELINUX and Quantian on my finite elements calculation unit but I never expect to see any of them on a standard offer by a large retailer.

I understand a company like Dell needs to have a ready out of the box product and I think you can innove with a specific (debian-based ??)  original distribution.

Why?

Because the FLOSS is so dynamic the standard distro's will change too quickly to follow it and to offer a up-to-date product on a large scale.

For you, just give a compatible hardware with a coherent and working application base. No matter if it's a bit obsolete. The "lambda" user will enjoy it, the geek will see the compatibility of the hardware (in the store) and rebuild the system as he wants (at home/company).

So, can Dell propose an original product with the quality of the FLOSS (stability, efficiency, pricing, ...) and the functionalities Dell wants to give.

The linux users can save the M$ tax and the FLOSS world can find a big hardware manufacturer to help newcomers to discover it. It seems to be a win-win challenge.

It doesn't matter to me what distro will be preinstalled. Anyway, if the default distro / options (partitionning, ...) and the like don't suit me when receiving my machine don't suit me, I'll reinstall the OS right away. Same at work where I already have a set of ready-to-run kickstart / PXE installs for everydays business needs.

So  to save time and budget I think Dell should give options to have a few distros preinstalled (ubuntu, fedora, ?) for home use, a few others for business use (ubuntu, red hat, suse), and even a "no os - leave my PC alone, but include a linux drivers CD" option for those who want to play with other distros and still get their hardware supported (yes, I have a few clients that want nothing but Linux From Scratch for some very particular needs...).

Very good initiative indeed, thanks Dell ! :-)

(BTW : I need a new home computer to run my Fedora... when can I expect to be able to order my new "Microsoft-tax"-free Dell PC ? Could you set a "release date" and advertise it on your site's home page ? Thanks !)

Good morning...

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop, I feel really good and happy  with it .  Honestly I was installed Gentoo 2006.1 and believe me my laptop rocks. In another hand I think SuSE if you don't have problems with Novell or Ubuntu if don't have problem with the diamonds explotation and slave of black people ( I have problems with that ) but the distribution is other thing... Debian is other GREAT distribution purely manteined by the comunity. Another important thing is the window manager, GNOME is good, XFCE is good, forget it about KDE. A better idea yet would be create your own linux distribution manteined by a comunnity with your support, Dell would be a kind of mentor for the people who develop that distribution.. only ideas...

Viva Linux, I hope to find my preferite Distro, Suse or PcLinux OS in your notebook or Desktop.

See you soon.

The latest Kubuntu (7.04) also holds great promise.

the way it install is genial and everyone can use it.

if there was but one distro : ubuntu or kubuntu would

be my preferred and id certainly but it preloaded.

Kubuntu is mu current OS at work.

I would appreciate very much the option to by a Dell Notebook with Kubuntu/Ubuntu or any relevant Linux distribution ( Fedora
Core, Debian, ... ).

Main gain here is having all the hardware supported under the Linux OS - Wireless Card, Grafics Card, etc.

 
If Dell does not come with this option in a decent time probably when it is time to go for a new laptop it will be MacBook ( becase of the hardware support they offer and the underlying OS - BSD Unix ). 

Same reasoning would go for Desktop systems.

Those are my two thumbs up for this idea becoming a reality.

Another option that would be beneficial IMHO . A Windows XP or Vista deployment with a Linux virtual environment. The huge benefit here is the opportunity to allow users who are unfamiliar with Linux the ability to discover, learn, and play with the environment while still maintaining a stable system for all their other activities. This will help to increase your market substantially as well as opens the door for more people to familiarize themselves with Linux.
I would restrict build to Fedora and/or openSUSE. If you implement this right, as the user becomes more experienced in the Linux environment, he/she can then experiment with the other flavors out there and once he/she finds a flavor to his/her liking, may look to purchase a pure Linux system meaning more dollars for you ;-)... I understand there are logistics to consider but you and I both know they are minimal  :-).

just my 2 cents.

I see a lot of comments on here regarding distros of choice, etc. However, let's just get right down to the nitty gritty, shall we?

Pick either openSuSE or Ubuntu. Maybe both.  As others have said, make absolutely sure that the hardware is supported in the kernel, natively. If it's supported well in one distro, you can pretty much bet its in the other.

 Here's the kicker. Ship the system with a few other distros on DVD's. Let people CHOOSE to A.) Buy 1 year of simple support for openSuSE or Ubuntu, or B.) Choose not to buy ANY support.  Note that option A should include codecs, and/or links to where to get them. Otherwise you get a buttload of unnecessary support calls.

 
End result for the bean counters? You get a lot of users who love you for offering the 2 most popular distros, supported. You get the kudos and support of the tech geeks who re-install a different distro every week just for the fun of it. Cost? minimal, with any luck. Outsource distro support to companies that specialize in it; ensure option A covers the cost.

Biggest line item cost for Dell? The time/labor required to verify hardware compliance with the kernels. Hire a couple of Linux geeks for that ;-)

You are making the right choice. Now be smart and offer multiple choices centered around a least-cost (to both you and your customers) option.
 

I think your best bet is to offer the 3 most common distros for install

-Fedora

-Ubuntu/Kubuntu (the most user friendly)

-Debian (the most stable)

and be sure to offer there choice of KDE or GNOME(if they want something else they can always change it) 

Also I think you should put a sticker on all linux-compatible boxes. This will hopefully get some people curious and lets them know that the option is there. There are some good pre-made stickers on the kde-look website (do a search for "ready") that you can stick right along side of the windows xp sticker as well as open source sticker for software such as OpenOffice.

I think PC-BSD is the readiest operating system for bundling in your PCs. Simply because it is the only OS besides MS Windows that can run Photoshop, Dreamweaver and other major user software without a great deal of work (you just have to install a PBI) and it sports the best software and package management system for the end-user available. It is based on FreeBSD, which is probably more stable than Linux thanks to its developers commitment to code quality, and is backed by iXsystems.

Hardware compatibility isn't a problem, since you are providing the hardware yourselves in the bundle and you can handpick the best hardware for PC-BSD. In addition, PC-BSD is very user-friendly and comes with a perfect selection of software - it isn't bloated but isn't featureless. Of course you should provide more software in response to user's needs (e.g. OpenOffice.org), but most users don't need more than software to accomplish the same task. And after all it's as free software as Linux (in fact it's even more free, since it's BSD licensed), so you would fulfill the community's demand for free alternatives and at the same time provide a great choice for your typical unaware customers (i.e. Windows users), and any experienced user unhappy with PC-BSD could easily switch to their favorite Linux distribution, since practically all the hardware supported by FreeBSD is supported by Linux as well.

Thanks for the great attention you've been giving to your consumer's demands with your IdeaStorm project!

ROLL BACK FEATURE NEEDED.

For the few times I have hosed my linux distro when updating.  This would have helped with that nasty X interface bug last year.  There has also been a few other package updates that I needed to do a re-install for.

Choice of distribution - immaterial. Pick anything out of top 10 on distrowatch. My suggestion - avoid SuSe Linux Desktop and OpenSuSe. When GPL version 3 comes out at the end of April, Novell's Linux presence or anything tainted by it is going to take a nosedive. You do not want to attach yourself to a deadweight.

So, pick Ubuntu / Fedora / Debian / Mepis / DSL / Slackware, whatever. The Linux savvy among us would wipe it clean and tweak it to our liking anyways.

Hardware compatibility - critical - All the advertised hardware must work with whatever you sell.

Product choice - Please offer it across your entire product line.

Pricing - critical - Make sure that your linux offerings are not a gimmick. Lenovo offers/offered a T60p laptop with Linux but it was way overpriced. The only difference between a linux preinstalled laptop (unless it carries something proprietary like Xandros) and a windows laptop is the Microsoft Tax. So, if your linux preinstalled laptops cost more than the same laptops (and I do want you to offer Linux as the choice on all your hardware) with windows, we will know that you tried to pull a fast one on us.

Linux users, as you probably already know, are just like your other customers. So, the same caveats apply - don't take us for a ride, and we might come back for more hardware when we need it.
 

I would really like to see Dell offer better selection of hardware when it comes to putting together a laptop.

It is no secret that NVidia hardware is more desireable in a linux environment and while ATI "driver support" would get away in print, it leaves much to be desired...

Sadly, putting together a notebook with anywhere decent nvidia video requires you to bend and contort your expectations and requirements around forced upgrades, CPU restrictions and other oddball limitations that really don't seem legitimate.

In my case, I can put linux on the laptop myself, I just can't find one that has the sweet-spot of hardware loadout.  I'm not even trying to get the highest end stuff.

 

For Linux users what I think we have to gain is hardware support.
I think you should open source the hardware support wherever possible.

1. It will be easier for us because it will be included in the distributions so no messing around.

2. It will be cheaper for you to support the end user because it will included in the distributions already.

3. It will be cheaper for you to support the hardware because the comunity will help support it. 

WRT the distribution choice sure advanced users can put on whatever they like so it's not an issue for them.  So the distribution *you* preinstall should be suitable for new users.  If you want to decide which one it's quite simple take a look at the linux hardware vendor market.  I think there's one clear choice I won't say which one! 

1. Hardware compatibility with Linux kernel.
2. Open-source drivers and BIOS for hardware (Community will do it for you, lowering your development costs.)
   
3. Choice of distros for users. Customer orders with one pre-installed. Ship in the box with the computer the install CDs for (K)Ubuntu, Red Hat, Debian, and Gentoo. (Perhaps a DVD with a menu giving the user the choice and installing.)
   
4. Consider forming an open source community project for Dell products. Your users will do the work for you!
5. Sell Linux distro CDs/DVDs on your website, like you do other software. Folks with limited bandwidth or other special needs could buy.
   
6. Try making a deal with Canonical to jointly market a Dell/Kubuntu distribution. You'd both make money.
   

As said by many others, distro choice is currently unimportant. At the moment, those who would buy a linux Dell know enough to get their favourite installed.

The real issue is hardware; it needs to be as open as possible. Support from a stock kernel is an absolute must. Ideally the components should fit the OpenBSD approach so that linux and *BSD devs are free to implement their own driver. This eliminates dependence on Dell and/or XYZ hardware provider for drivers, makes for a better working computer out-of-the-box and one that keeps working as it ages (better customer experience = more likely to repeat purchase).

Clearly state how open the various components are (e.g. this nvidia/ati card requires closed source 3rd party drivers for 3D). This allows the customer to make an informed decision and know what to expect in terms of hardware compatibility.

A real commitment to open-source would see Dell use its position in the industry to bully influence manufacturers to opening their hardware (specs, docs, etc). Then there's no need to pick a distro to hardware support as it will just work.

Unfortunately I would recommend against RedHat, Fedora, and Ubuntu/Kubuntu, for the following reasons:

Fedora is bleeding edge, and things often break.... DRI broke on my Intel i915 (not uncommon hardware) gfx card about a month ago when updates were released and has yet to be corrected, so no 3D.

I've had a much better experience with Ubuntu than Kubuntu.  That being said I think KDE is the better desktop, but I don't believe quality control in Ubuntu is nearly as high as it is in its older brother Debian.

RedHat doesn't release often enough.  Keep in mind that RH5 just shipped.  Would you want a user basing their opinion of linux on the desktop on RH4? I wouldn't.  Also, you'd need to enable dag/rpmforge to make RedHat desktop-friendly for most people, and there's no official support for those packages.

OpenSUSE is a good distro, 10.2 with KDE really shines once you remove all traces of ZenWorks/ZMD.  Unfortunately I had a significantly poorer experience with versions prior to 10.1, so your mileage may vary.

All that being said, OpenSUSE 10.2 picked up (out of the box) on: Fn keys, cpu scaling, proper resolution (w/o me having to set up 915resolution manually to achieve 1280x800), suspend to disk and ram, etc etc.  I can't name a single thing on my laptop that didn't work out of the box with OpenSUSE.  I haven't tested pcmcia or the modem, however.  I believe I have a crummy winmodem-style gadget that probably wouldn't work by default with any distro.

Bottom line is if Dell is to offer Linux as a widespread option then Dell had better be ready to work with whichever Linux vendor it chooses to make sure that things do NOT break.  Many desktop users would find X hard-locking anytime anything 3D-related runs completely unacceptable, with no idea how to fix it.

In fact Dell is inevitably going to be introducing GNU/Linux to people with zero experience in this department, and a problem like that mentioned above is likely to be reported in a fashion similar to "My computer freezes when my screensaver comes on." 

For the record this is all running on a 7-month old Inspiron B130.  Any if anyone feels obligated to send me a refund for XP Home.....

Cheers ;)
 

I want a cheap computer, that I can customize a lot, choose if I want Intel or AMD, Nvidia or ATI, 1 or 2 gb RAM, 300 or 400 gb disk space, etc.

 I don't really care about support, you don't have to provide me with any. I don't need any, there is a huge community with thousand of forums, how-tos, guides, wikis, documentation, faq, chat channels, mailing-lists, newsgroups, etc.

I don't care about which Linux distro you ship, because I can buy whatever computer pre-loaded with Linux, then format it and install my distribution of choice and don't have to pay Microsoft for the "Windows tax".

 I would appreciate if Dell put some pressure on hardware manufacturers to release documentation and specification for their hardware and/or open source device drivers.

Linux preloaded on DELL PCs. What an excellent idea!

I would immediately buy a desktop and a laptop for home and switch my department purchases at work from HP to DELL, even Windows PCs, just to reward your company for listening to customer needs. I would also immediately start recommending Dell Linux PCs to all my friends and offer them any support and assistance they would need.

Right now I have at home two older Dell PCs. On the first, Dimension (PIII 600MHz), I have been running Linspire for over two years now. On the newer Dimension 4400 (PIV 1.6 GHz) I have Ubuntu 6.10. The latter setup is a dream to run and use. I am not a techie, yet I could not believe how easy it was to install Ubuntu and all the needed programs myself. Both of these Dell machines are used extensively by my whole family and never needed any maintenance.

I have tried other distributions too, namely latest Fedora and SUSE. My experiences with these were less than satisfactory.

I would never recommend big name distributions to Dell. I think we have had enough issues with one specific "big name" already. Also watch out as the latest publicity surrounding big names like Novell and Red Hat do not seem all that positive. In addition, someone told me that SUSE, Red Hat and the likes have problems with "package dependency resolution" (do not know what it means). This hacker said that , once he had to spend several hours to resolve problems with one important program and its "RPM package dependencies". He had enough. After having been a long time Red Hat user he finally gave in. He's now switched to Debian.

I have really enjoyed reading other comments. Lloyd, you are absolutely right by saying " The new generation of computer users are savvy. They are not afraid of using a new OS and and its software". I would like to add that the software openness that GNU/Linux brings with itself is awakening genuine interest in young generation again in computer software internals and computer science in general. I can say this as I am watching my 11 year old son building his own small Linux from scratch by doing something like "compiling components from source", whatever that means. May The Source Be With Him, anyway.

I am disappointed that Dell "recommends Windows" so extensively, the same Windows with which I used to have so many problems. No more at home but at work still do, even with the latest product. Yes, you can keep your Windows working for a while but the amount of effort, cost of add-ons and other basic software are baffling.

Dell, thank you for this survey and please do not pass up this unique opportunity to innovate again. Be the first to the party, not the last one, "me too" kind of follower. Go to your roots and just be the kind of customer-oriented company you used to be in your origins. Do not yield to pressures of the mighty Microsoft. That company's disappointing product quality and dubious business practices are already bearing the fruits of rejection it deserved.

English is a foreign language to me so my apologies to all for possible spelling, grammatical or styling errors.

Edited with OpenOffice. Submitted from Firefox.

Best Regards,
Wojtek Gorski

I believe that the Novell SUSE option would be our best marketable choice. You get the benefits of offering Linux as we can see is hotly desired by our consumers, along with a well respected name in the industry. I fell that having the Novell name behind the Linux Dell chooses to use will add to consumer confidence, especially with the non-technical customer. Lets face the truth, as soon as we offer a Linux compatible system, most of the people demanding one distro or another will buy it and immediately put their own favorite flavor on it. We need to be focused on the non-technical market and what will make them most likely to choose a Dell Linux system as compared to the competitors Vista machine.

Many consumers have been exposed to Novell over the years either through their network OS at work, or from WordPerfect. This gives us an opportunity to use that familiarity to help promote consumer confidence in the Linux OS we are putting on our systems.  Also, as Novell is working closely with the OpenSUSE project, our new Dell Linux machines would be compatible with any precompiled OpenSUSE or Novell SUSE application.

As I already use OpenSUSE on an old Dimension desktop machine at home,  I am ready and willing to support it in our call centers (and I'm sure I'm not the only one working here that is in the same boat).

I am in the market for a laptop. I use Mandriva 99.9% of the time, windows only when I am forced to. I have installed Linux on several systems for friends and have had problems with Dell systems hardware in Linux. With a desktop, if the video adaptor or sound card etc. isn't compatable, you can change it. Not so easy on a laptop. I would be very happy with a vendor that took the time to make sure their hardware is compatible, and tell us that up front so we don't have to just buy something and hope for the best. Due to the total lack of systems with Linux pre installed, I can safely say that we all would be capable of, and probably prefer to install our own flavor of Linux and customize it to our liking. We just want confidence that the hardware will work! If we know you have coordinated efforts with the kernel developers, then it doesn't matter much which Linux we use.

Also might be a good idea to offer systems with Windows on first 1/3rd of drive. Leave rest open for Linux, common partition, etc. 

For a head start, debian based distro's ( ubuntu) should be up. Most of the users are not hard core linux characters but normal daily users with low budget.

Its best to provide a preloaded ubuntu with default killer tools like gnome-deskbar-applet, nm-applet, beagle, beryl and gaim. I think this would be a great head start for newbies to put them in aw.

Offering Linux seems to be a natural thing in our ever changing world.  The new generation of computer users are savy.  They are not afraid of using a new OS and its software.  They use multiple interfaces every day.  Most don't feel loyal to any company.  They buy what works for them.  Many of the young people that I know are familiar with Linux and even have tried a distribution or two.  It seems that the support needs for this future generation may change either in quality (more difficult problems) or in quantity (perhaps less overall call because they know how to get answers from friends and the internet.)  It seems wise to include Linux on the menu because people will be looking for it. Many are tired of the MS monopoly.

It is more important that the hardware works with whatever distribution you use than it is to offer a specific distro.  If you make the specs available, the community can assist with making it work, which may allow you to offer multiple distributions.

Unlike some of the responders, I know very little about the workings of a computer.  A computer is a tool for me.  I want it to do what it is supposed to do - let me e-mail, surf the web, write and manipulate data or documents, play games, listen to music, etc.  Any computer that does this well will work for me. 

I assume that many computer users are like me.  Most people don't know (or care) what a binary driver is, or what the latest stable linux kernel is.  Most people don't care whether they have MS windows or another OS running.  They want something that does the job, and of course the consumer in each of us enjoys when it does its job in a flashy way.  People I have talked to like Vista because it has "cool" screen effects - something that linux can also do. 

I loaded openSUSE on an older PIII 450 mHz Dell machine at a time when windows XP was giving me problems.  I did it more in spite than for need.  I could have easily re-loaded XP.  There were a couple of problems initially, but I stuck with it and have really come to appreciate the many offerings available in the linux world.  There are still moments of intense frustration where I want make an application run and find it incompatible with my hardware or my linux distribution.  Or, worse yet, when I try to find help on the internet, only to spend hours searching through a poorly organized help system that is too technical for me.  (I am getting smarter though.)  There are also gaps in some of the software choices, although they are getting better.  (My son needs Windows for some of his games and engineering software, but he can't play them on his Apple either, and that didn't stop him from buying it.)

Overall, I still have a laptop that runs Windows XP and a desktop that now runs openSUSE.  I find myself using openSUSE more and more, and I really have come to love using OpenOffice.  I love the fun ways to configure my KDE desktop.  I finally got Amarok to play my MP3's, MP4's and everything else, and really like how it works.  I still haven't dared to replace my laptop with linux though. 

 My point is that most people who buy Dell computers are like me.  (My mom and brother, who own Dell computers, wouldn't know the first thing about how to download and make/install a program on linux.)  Most people want a computer that does what they need it to do.  Technical people will always be able to tinker and make things work.  Most of the others of us just get frustrated if something doesn't do what it is supposed to do. 

Linux in all of it's varied distributions, is a great OS, and there are ever growing useful software choices.  The biggest problem is that simple folk, (myself included) don't always have the know how to make it work on their hardware, or they can't understand the lingo of the help manuals.  If someone like Dell were to begin supporting linux by making compatible machines and working with the existing linux community to make solving problems easier, I believe it would be a great boon to both sides.

Frankly, many people are tired of the monopoly that exists in operating systems and the tactics used by that monopoly to maintain its power.  Some would buy just to give the world another choice.

Dell is a smart company.  It has become what it is by serving a variety of people from geeks to frightened end-users.  Offering another choice is only likely to help Dell maintain its ability to help people meet their computing needs.  I realize that Dell has to make money in this deal to survive.  That is not evil, we all have to put food on the table.  But, what Dell needs to realize is that they are sitting on a huge untapped resource - the linux community, which is more than willing to assist in making linux work.  Somehow there is a way for all sides to benefit in this deal.

When Dell offered Red Hat on some of it's machines a few years ago, things didn't work because the timing was wrong.  I believe the timing is now right to make linux become another option for people.  With the release of a new MS OS and the requirement to purchase and learn a new system, people are a little more likely to consider other choices.

Linux has huge potential in the hands of a big corporation like Dell.  If Dell makes linux compatible machines and markets them, it is very likely that it will continue to evolve into a friendly, widely supported OS.  If Dell chooses not to do this is likely that linux will still continue to evolve into a friendly, widely supported OS, although it may be in with another corporations support or through the continued slow grassroots support of the linux community.  I believe that this is a big crossroads for Dell.
 

Use UBUNTU.

It's free, it has a commercial server variant for corporate.

It is the MOST popular linux flavour.

It JUST WORKS.

LINUX FOR HUMAN BEINGS.

MICROSOFT IS OVER.  VISTA IS STUPID. 

There is only one choice: DEBIAN.

It's not my favourite one but Dell has no choice. The right Linux must:

- have a long term release cycle

- be free (no cost)

- be .org

- have the maximum number of bin appls

Only Debian meets those requirements. (...or BSD)

up to now I haven´t bought a notebook because nearly all notebooks were delivered with Windows. I haven´t needed it and I won´t need it. And - at last - I don´t want to buy Windows. If a company sells notebooks without forcing the customer to buy this OS, I will buy a notebook from them. If there will be a Linux distribution preinstalled, great. But it´s not necessary as long as the hardware will be supported by non proprietary drivers. The user can install any Linux he wants. I´d prefer Linuxmint (Ubuntu), Mandriva or PCLinuxOS. But that´s my personal decision. Important for me is that the price of a notebook without Windows is considerably lower than the price including this stuff and that not only low-end notebooks will be sold without Windows. No Windows-tax!!!!

Thanks  for reading

Dieter (from Germany)
 

Well, the list of distro isn't in fact the most important. Hardware with GPL'ed drivers is the most important, everyone being able to change the distro to  suit its own choices.

Anyway, I think Debian & Mandriva should be added to the list of avalaible distro: Debian for it's politics, stability, reliability and community.

Mandriva for it's ease of use, very good hardware support, and internationalization (as you can see, I'm not so good in english...)
 

You must make sure that the hardware is supported by open source drivers. I don't think that can be emphasized enough. A computer running Linux that needs proprietary drivers is no Linux at all. Frankly, most Linux users couldn't care less what distro you choose--it's not hard to swap distributions--so long as the hardware "just works". Hardware will "just work" only with free / open source drivers! That is the main point of all this. No more 'software modems', no more generic sound cards that lack drivers, et cetera.

Do you realize what a big boon to you this would be? Hardware with FOSS drivers works out of the box on all distributions because they have the power to redistribute it. Moreover, they have the power to change it, to update it, and to fix it. You literally have people willing to do work for you, for free! All you have to do is make sure the drivers for everything are FOSS.

I have 3 Dell laptops, one Compaq laptop (never again) and many desktops.  I also support many others.  I have noticed some real changes at Dell reciently, and I like what I see.  What I want is easy.  Make it easy to buy what I want, and you have my business.  Some examples;

Nvidia graphics under linux is better and easier than ATI.  Why do so many of your systems only come with ATI?  Why do I have to go several pages deep to find this? 

Drivers for hardware...  Much of your hardware has none.  Consider the cost of hardware that adds no value at all to me?  Spec different modems, or leave them out. (Note that there are lists of supported Winmodems at linmodems.org)

OS choice should be easier as well.  It is several steps just to get XP as opposed to Vista.  I too will never buy or support Vista.  I simply can not agree to the EULA. Linux or no-os is an act of god.  Why?

However, kudos on the major improvements in small business support!  What a difference a few months make! 

Good idea is on computer with Windows also instal Linux Ubuntu (dual boot) with default boot Windows and optional Ubuntu

Precision workstations are missing... I'd give priorities:

1. Precision M90 Laptop

2. Precision M65 Laptop

3. Desktop Precision 

Like most Linux proficient Dell customers I have a favourite distribution that I ALWAYS use. In my case Debian Sid, with a custom kernel.

No matter what Linux distro Dell will chose to preload ,I'll reformat the drive and install my own stuff.

MUCH MUCH IMPORTANT, than pre-loading Linux (apart from the clear political statement it is), would be to "lean heavily" on component, peripheral and software suppliers to alway provide UPDATED DRIVERs / SOFTWARE FOR ALL THEIR PRODUCTS.  Ofcourse Dell should also make the effort to make sure that all their own products are supplied with Linux drivers, From PDA's to printers and scanners.   

This is my second post to this blog.  One disturbing thing that I've seen posted by many is that they insist that the Linux Dell PC be less expensive than a Windows eqipped PC.  I really doubt that Dell can afford to do all the work to necessary to certify their hardware, install a different OS and provide even a very limited amount of OS support for free.  Just because many Linux distros are "free as in beer" as well as "free as in speech" doesn't mean that there is no cost to Dell to provide a Linux computer.

I'd be perfectly happy to pay the same price for a Linux computer as for a Windows computer as long as I knew that the cost above that of the bare hardware was not going to Microsoft.  Currently, those few retailers selling Linux computers attach a pretty significant price tag to their machines, largely because in most cases they have to purchase their hardware from other manufacturers and don't see the sales volumes that Dell would see.  I want Dell to succeed with this initiative and make money doing it.  If done correctly, I'm confident that they will.

The other thing that I'm seeing is many open source purists demanding that no "binary blobs" or other non-totally free software be included.  While I personally avoid most of these since I don't care about playing .mp3 files, using Windows or other proprietary codecs, or watching DVD's on my computer (I have a TV for that), I doubt that Dell would have much luck getting new users, new converts from Windows, to believe that their  computer was operating correctly if they couldn't do those things.  Dell should probably license those codecs so that they can provide this functionality, at least with a simple "point and click" install for those users who will invariably decide that they want or need this.  perhaps this could be done as a "firstboot" option when the user sets up root passwords, localization, and user accounts, and etc.  And even I use the nVidia 3D drivers to get the most use out of my expensive video card and to be able to play with the  new 3D desktops. 

Licensing these codecs and making them available and assuring that all their hardware will function properly with Linux; installing Linux and providing some limited level of OS support for the new Linux users likely to purchase these computers will cost money.  Dell has every justification, and indeed need, to generate the funds necessary to do this and to do it well.  By doing so, they will make Linux computers available to purists and new users alike at a fair price and still be able to earn the money they need to justify this initiative to their management, employees and stockholders. 

I would ask Dell to choose any one "free" and one "enterprise" distro as install options.  Partner with the OS supplier(s) for support and customization options.  Allow customers who want an enterprise version to choose from a single year or a multi-year subscription plan.  Purists or experienced Linux users with strong distro-preferences have the ability to install and customize their preferred distros with the confidence that the hardware is Linux compatible, and they will.  New users will have the option of doing everything they want to with their new Dell hardware, and Dell stands to open a significant new market for themselves.

Thanks for listening.

 Jim
 

I am new to linux and am not technical. for me ubuntu works easily out of the box and i think is really good for people who just wants to open their new linux pc and start working.

it will be good if it is pre-configured to get playing music and watching videos out of the box too but that too is not hard to install with ubuntu's one click software manager - synaptic.

i'm looking at www.system76.com website for my next ubuntu laptop but will hold on for a bit to see what happens to this survey. thanks.

This has been said a few times, yet I repeat it, as I think it is important to stress.

It is nice that you are asking the customers which Linux distribution they want, but in the end it doesn't matter much. In my opinion the more someone points out to you that you have to preinstall distribution XYZ the less important it really is for her/him, as anybody who cares so much about her/his preferred distribution is very well capable of installing it her-/himself.

When it comes to matching Linux with your hardware the only really important issue is, that all hardware is actually supported by the kernel and drivers and in this respect all Linux distributions are ultimately equal.

As long as you produce hardware where every component is supported by the Linux distribution you choose, it is fine.

And choosing your hardware components you should make sure that for most of them the drivers are available not just as closed binary but in source form too. This would not only show your respect for the community, but also broaden the customer choice as the writers of other OS - e.g. FreeBSD and similar and even those people who think it is better to hack Mac OS X to run on a Dell instead of buying a beautiful Apple Macbook  - the chance to support your hardware easily.
 

Dell may also send PCs without Linux installed.
This way, we decide to buy the best hardware for the bucks and tell the world about how happy we are of this combo.

The distro a person uses is a matter of personal choice, and that's healthy.  I prefer to use Fedora Core for personal machines, and use RHEL on workstations and servers that I consider critical.  We use both distros throughout the enterprise.  I have used openSuSE, on and off. I cannot stand YaST or a few other things. The fact that Novell won't support other distros with a NetWare Client poses them poorly within the community. Yet their efforts with Mono seem grand.

What really matters, and where I feel you should place considerable thought and energy, is with your chipset and integrated hardware choices.  We've had some unnecessary struggles getting  RHEL to run on our Optiplex 745s. Intel graphics adapters are not simple to work with, and although improving, ATI isn't great. Dell doesn't *have* to make any distro choices.  Dell does *have* to build their products with linux-friendly chipsets and components. And provide links to repositories that maintain the drivers. Put the right stuff inside and the community will provide drivers and support of those drivers.  Dell's current support site list's no links or drivers for Linux.

Two thirds of our desktops and laptops run linux. On each of those Linux machines we had to buy a Windows license because you won't sell a machine without an OS, or provide a choice of OS. (we are aware that high-end workstations are available with RHEL -- Which makes it an expensive option) No wonder MS believes that they're doing so well, even people and companies that have no intentions of using Windows are "buying" windows with their Dell (and others).

 I am looking forward to ordering Dells, pre-installed (default package list) with Fedora Core. And please do not add proprietary branding or packages - that kind of stuff belongs on the case bezel.
 

The basic requirement is to have the hardware supported.

I've inherited my fathers old Dimension 4550 - upgraded the hardware to where it's acceptable and I'm running my business on it. I've ditched XP Pro because it's just too vulnerable and there's no way on this planet I want to trust Vista - so I'm running OpenSuSE 10.2 which is rock-solid, I've got good equivalents for almost everything that I needed on Windows - the remaining windows apps I have to use like Photoshop or InDesign and a small brace of others, they run fine under wine - or I run them inside a VM hosted by VMware Server and communicating with the linux file system via Samba.

 Ok - I'm not a programmer  - but I used to work in Infrastructure back in the dark ages - and it's taken a little while to get there - but it works fine.

Just give us some better hardware that can run the more 'state-of-the-art' desktops and make sure that there's proper drivers for the hardware - and it'll be almost perfect! The drivers themselves can be made opensource or they can be shipped as binaries - it doesn't really matter to anyone except a purist - the rest of us want a nice solid system that work reliably
 - we've not got any interest in a political fight - as long as the base distribution is a true linux, there's no problme whatsoever with a manufacturer shipping binary drivers for their specific hardware - it's been done that way for years!

 If it happens, I might even buy another Dell or two!
 

Since you can't please everyone, I would recommend installing some distribution that will satisfy the less technical audience.

The technical among us are quite capable of installing whichever distro we want and wouldn't need or expect explicit support from Dell.  The #1 priority is hardware support, contribute drivers so ALL distributions benefit and Dell computers can be bought without concern over what will or won't work under Linux,

 

hi,

 Nice idea to use Linux, i prefer SuSE Linux Desktop to be your choice, since this disrto is imazing, Easy of use, fully customized to match user needs, etc..

thanks
 

Dell should sell a option of either giving the laptops with no OS install for advanced linux users to customize their choice

or

Sell a pimp it uped version of Dell linux .. this configuration could be aimed for ordinary users who will compare their choice with vista.

should be pre-configured  with desktop 3d effects such as XGl == Aero

advanced media center version: which includes recording TV playing DVD's for example mythTV==windows media center ,PHoto editing and definely openoffice ===> windows office.

this version should be engineered by dell linux team to find ideal configurations for home naive users with extensive support.. instead  of paying  to MR. Bell users will pay it to dell

Hey all!

The distribution Dell chooses will have supported hardware. So don't choos distribution on how easy it is to install.  How easy is it to manage, would be the main issue.  How easy is it to make security and software upgrades?  How easy is it to install new software (and remove)?

My selection would be Debian/Etch or Ubuntu. The package system and infrastructure is realy good there. Easy to install with synaptic and realy good with package_manager that sits and check upgrades in background.

And if Dell support those one of those two with open source drivers, it will be a trivially easy task installing ANY distribution you like on a Dell computer.

And such computer will be firs on my list when looking for a new computer. 

No binary drivers for hardware.  This is a MUST. It has to have only Linux certified hardware.  From Linux kernel directly. No hardware manufacturer that doesn't support Linux kernel team with hardware specs.

About graphical 3D acceleration cards: ATI video drivers have support from open source project Xorg to rather new cards for 3D acceleration.  nVidia doesn't have any support for 3D-accelleration, so they should not be an option.

Any hardware that is not supported by Debian/testing should not go into your computers. Neither should you use Microsoft APCI compiler, use Intels so that hibernate and sleep works with Linux.

Distribution isn't that important.  There is two Desktop environments that you would like to consider.  Gnome and KDE.  So Debian or Ubuntu/Kubuntu would be a good choise.  Might be one installation DVD that the user installs when new computer.  They do easy upgrade of software, even for non technical users like ordinary MS Windows users.  Please do have a separate partition for users data (separate /home partition). That would realy help.

Support should probobly be preloaded link in webb reader to a Dell comunity and then a phone number. 

Ubuntu (or Kubuntu) with all 'restricted' and libs that are not present in the default installation will be the best choice.
 

Having Linux preinstalled with all hardware working would be more than enough. Dont need support after that (other than basic reinstalling etc..).

 My problems with Dell hardware have been to get linux to work on it since driver/kernel modules didnt exist for several reasons.

Both windows o linux could be installed.

Please work with kernel developpers and Linux distributions like Ubuntu. I want to read on laptops Tech specs something like «Canonical certified that this laptop works with Ubuntu 6.06».

I voted for Ubuntu, but all I really need is good open-source driver support, and I can do everything else. :) Basically computers could come empty with with cdrom with all needed linux drivers in it. User can choose a dist. they want and install drivers.

Although some pre-installed options would be nice for less-skilled people.

>> NOW WHAT ? <<

 Reminder: The survey doesn't close until the 23rd.

After that, knowing how things work, I suspect that it will take some time before you will see a decision from Dell in terms of a plan/strategy. This would be a pretty dramatic change for Dell. Developing a comprehensive, global strategy to support what is being asked for by way of the survey and these blog comments won't happen overnight.

- Mark
 

The best thing Dell can do is offer systems that are fully supported by open source drivers. 

This may mean that the systems come with a number of Intel components (video, NIC, etc.) since Intel has been really good about open sourcing their drivers. 

Purchasers would be free to substitute their own alternatives but would then be responsible for any "tainting".  The systems would work "out of the box" with any Linux distro which would mean Dell's support would be significantly easier.

Hello,

Dell could start in safe-mode. Begin with hardware certifications in one or some of the pure community distros  (Debian, Fedora) for all (or most) machines (for those who are not afraid of a self install at home or SMB).

It is a matter of choosing right hadware suppliers specs for less effort.

By certifying in pure community distros, it is almost sure for working on any other commercial distro too.

Begin with pre-installations for enterprise customers, as these usually have more disciplined environments.

HP has already such offers:

http://www.hp.com/go/linux > Support matrices

IBM has already such offers: 

http://www.ibm.com/linux

After tapping in the Linux field, Dell could tune its support services in preparation for broad home user support.

Also, Dell is an absent in Brasil's " PC Conectado" that is selling thousands and thousands of Linux machines.

http://www.computadorparatodos.gov.br/

Regards

Andre Felipe Machado

I totally agree with the comments that focus on 100% hardware support with 100% free software drivers. I do prefer the Ubuntu flavor, but with the free and compatible drivers the community take care of the rest....

If it's not perfect, at least this survey is a step forward. 

I'm using Linux since 6 years.

I like totally free distribution like Ubuntu. 

What we need is more support for hardware drivers and the possibility to have Linux preinstalled.

When a parent or a friend need to buy a Laptop (or Desktop) buy a Dell computer would be a good advice if it supports linux... a lot of time not wasted reinstalling Windows every two weeks cause of worms, viruses etc...

I hope dell will do this step soon! 

Using Redhat _and_ Centos on all servers here...
BUT for a Desktop Linux please support Kubuntu/Ubuntu !

IF Dell will deliver Ubuntu factory shipped on a broad scale I for one do see a serious increase in business for us and DELL.

We see VERY little interest in VISTA... close to zero in Vista upgrades.

MOF most customers here with Standard Office needs are asking for "alternatives" for the 1st time - the small outfits are quite pleased when given a OpenOffice Demo on KDE ...

Go for it!

There are several issues to the decision that Dell will have to take now. My ideas on this are the following:

• For manageability reasons on this offer, it would be good to standardize as much as possible, meaning that only a limited number of distro's can be offered.
• In order to be successful,  the chosen distro('s) should be appealing to as well new linux users as experienced users. This means that at one side they need to contain good and easy graphical tools (e.g. control center) but also allow all CLI goodies, full configurability and respect to the linux philisophy (e.g. not working as root) for experienced linux users. In my opinion a distro like Ubuntu today still lacks the required graphical tools to appeal to new linux users, but there are a couple of established linux distro's that do offer what is needed: Mandriva and SUSE.
• For business users that require support, a commercial version including support (from the distro builder) should be available, while for most home users a community version without support might be OK. Maybe Dell could install by default a community version with the possibility to acquire support (upon which with a one click procedure the user can upgrade to the supported version that might include commercial software). This keeps everything very manageable for Dell, while living up to the needs of all potential users. Up to Dell and the distro builder to find a correct revenue sharing model.
• Dell is a hardware vendor, not a software developer. That means that Dell should leave the software development work where it belongs: the distro builder. That means that if specific drivers need to be created, the distro builder should do this, not Dell.
• To maximize the appeal in the linux models, Dell should make sure that it's hardware is supported by linux by default. That means that drivers should work not only with the distro came with, but with as much as possible other distro's as well. This can also attract users of other distro's then the one that is pre-installed (knowing that you investment in HW will be compatible with your distro of choice is a strong factor in the decision what HW to acquire). That means that for all components Open Source drivers should be available, not just binary blobs, or at least that any distro builder can repackage the binary blobs, not only the one that delivers the pre-installed distro.
• Offer this worldwide, not only in the US! There is a huge market outside the US as well. Seen the fact that most distro's allow very easy to localization (even after installation), this should not be an issue.
• Do not in any way block your customers to use your HW in a fashion that you did not intend it to. Some products get an extra user base (which means extra revenues) because through their openness, the Open Source community was able to create software that allows to use the HW for complete other purposes than the producer initially intended. Look for example to http://www.mvpmc.org/. All the users of this project would never have acquired a MediaMVP if Hauppauge would have prevented such development. It is a win-win situation.
  

I grew up discovering Red Hat linux distro.

So logically, I prefer Redhat / CentOS / Fedora distro.

I've been using Linux only on my Desktop for more than 10 years and in Business environment for 5 years. I'm Linux expert providing Linux solution to my customers.

 For any hardware the main issue is not which distribution will be used but how good my harsware is supported by the latest kernel. As soon as everything can work without googling, once the system is installed, users will be happy with the distro they prefer.

Thus the point is how great is the communication of hardware devices makers in terms of specification to help the community build drivers for their hardware. We can resume this as : Give your specs and APIs and let them do.

Obviously, Ubutnu is the best way to go for your customers. Free, stable, good hardware support. choosing Suse or RHEL would actually transfer the existing windows tax system to Linux producers, not remove it. The operating system proposed should be free of charge and hopefully, a good distro that is free exists, and will of course win the survey, as Ubutnu always does.

 anyway, once again, produce Linux2.6.xx compatible boxes is the way to go, then anybody can buy it and don't have to worro about suspend not working, sound card not recognized and so on.I would say that shipping a linux distro is not even necessary, as long as you produce linux compatible bare boxes, but it would help Liunx expansion
 

Even though most of my business is on Debian and Ubuntu, to me it doesn't completely matter which distribution you deliver laptops with. As a Linux user I'm very happy to install Linux myself.

 What _does_ matter, however, is some assurance that I'll be able to use your laptops with Linux on it. Will the sound card behave? What about the wireless card? Will I be afflicted with a winmodem that's unusable outside Windows?

Meaning: drivers, drivers, drivers.

If you were to put some work in ensuring that there are drivers to run your machines with Linux, I think many Linux users wouldn't care so much whether you are delivering a distribution rather than another, or even no distribution at all.

Nobody wants to be forced to buy any type of O/S. It's annoying and inconvenient to HAVE to have any O/S loaded on a box that I order. Our company has over 400 Dells on our floors, every one was shipped with your crapware packed on top of Winwhatever. Every single one had to be reimaged with a clean load and our own settings. Enormous waste of company resources.

For your more savvy users, it would be nice to have a clean computer onto which we can load any O/S we want. If your peripherals and components come with drivers for "alternative" O/Ss, then you should always include them with your driver CD. And there should NEVER be a question about whether a customer receives a driver CD.

While we're on the subject, it would be nice if you'd bring your phone support and customer service back in-house and in-country. All things being equal, your quality of customer service USED to be why we bought Dell products. Now the only reason we buy Dell is because it's too expensive to convert. That will be true for only so long, though. As our PCs age and it's time to replace them, we might start looking at alternatives.

Get it together, Dell. You're teetering.
 

Firstly, thank you for considering GNU/Linux as an alternative, finally! 

The only real problems I have encountered running GNU/Linux (Debian) on my Latitude D600 (work) and D610 (home) have related to drivers for audio and external USB disks.  So, while it's been said before by respondents I'm sure it can't hurt to say it again; the thing that really matters above all else is hardware support in the Linux kernel, and in the spirit of GNU/Linux it must be open source and free.

I must also add that I strongly object to paying the "Microsoft tax".  Hopefully offering GNU/Linux preinstalled will be the key to eliminating this odious practice.

I'd personally go for either Debian, SLED or RHEL for servers, and PCLinuxOs, Mepis or Mint for desktop use.  Basicly pick what's best for each job.  SLED and RHEL are perfect for corporate environments, being designed for such things.  Whereas PCLinuxOs, Mint and Mepis are easy windows replacement distributions that are perfect for the limited knowledge user.

 Picking your hardware for maximised compatibility with Linux, and working with your chosen distributions to enhance the reliable drivers for the hardware you offer is vital.  I'd suggest getting involved with your chosen distribution for at least 3 months before offering it, to ensure you can offer 100% out of the box functionality.

 Binary drivers aren't a problem, nor binaries of any other kind.  Any Linux user who is knowledgeable enough about such things is also skilled enough to change that.  Working with hardware suppliers to ensure their products integration into your chosen version is also important.  For example, NVidia's Linux compatibility is second to none, and ATi's lags behind.  Having a Dell repository for updates and software fixes and a simple Dell branded update tool will also make things seem more integrated.


 

OK. From all posting here and all over the internet it is 99% clear what the community needs.

NOW WHAT ?

People are continuing to post here, but no answer from Dell ?

Can we expect some decision soon ? or at least some summary of the poll and the thoughts of the Dell management up to now ?

SO ?!?

Many people have said this, and I just want to join in:

Few people will buy a GNU/Linux notebook for its 3D graphics capabilities, for playing back Windows media formats, or to be able to install proprietary software from a so-called "open-source" vendor.

To me, it's important to have hardware that is supported by 100% free drivers (e.g., Intel graphics card), and that the preloaded distro is also as free ("free speech", not "free beer") as it gets.

If someone wants to buy and install a GNU/Linux distro with proprietary add-ons later on, that's their choice. If the hardware works with a free distro, it works with a not-so-free distro as well--but not the other way round.
 

I suggested Fedora, not RedHat Enterprise, purely because I would not wish to pay for the O/S. But I think Dell should certify hardware for non-bleeding-edge Enterprise Linux (and/or provide drivers for audio, ethernet etc.), so that customers can install RedHat  Enterprise or a recompiled version such as Centos or Scientific Linux knowing that it will work. Faster-moving distros like Fedora and Ubuntu would, I presume, work with no trouble.

 (thanks for this initiative BTW!)

 Andrew



 

I hope you offer a no-OS option (of course, with all hardware having open drivers).

 Charge extra for installation of Linux or Windows. Fedora $99, Suse $99, Ubuntu $99, Vista $99. That way you have an extra margin for additional support of newbies but also nobody will get confused and whine that the PC doesn't come with Windows. And yes, please charge the same or more for Linux because it is better.
 

I think the most important thing is for the hardware to be Linux compatible across the lines.

On software though, I'd like to suggest Ubuntu be the installed and supported option. It would be really nice though if you had a few other pre-installed options without offering ongoing support for them.  I would like to see this because I'm a Gentoo user.  Yes, I know how to do my own install but having it done for me on a new machine would be a nice convenience.  Thanks! 

I agree with many of the comments:

The issue is not which distribution to install - most current Linux users will change it anyways and most new users will be happy with any distribution as long as everything works out of the box.  It is therefore very important to make sure you select a distribution (or customize one) that supports DVD, mp3, wmv, wma, flash, java, 3D graphics, etc. the first time you boot, with no extra work or installations required.  This is very important if you wish to attract new users.

Another important factor is making sure the hardware is compatible with Linux (preferably with open-source drivers) and that the no-OS option is available.  I agree that a "Linux certified" sticker or something along those lines would be a great idea.

Thank you very much for your interest in the matter - i'm sure most current Linux users, including myself, appreciate it very much.

If you listen to those with a linux religious slant they are saying use this distro or that but for the enterprise the only offering with a stable support backing is SLED. (And don't bore me with “Oh the community will support us because they love this distro...”, because the mighty dollar is how the game is played; even for the community). The only people who are complaining about SLED are those who do not see the advantage of opening the markets and moving away from (or mixing with) proprietary MS OSes, and this will only happen by working with them! From the Enterprise – Thanks Novell! Dell talk to them.

i think that the buseness oriantated models shoudl use SLED 10 (suse linux entaprise desktop )

 for the home oreantated models it seems taht ubunu/kbuntu is the most populiar though i prefer open suse...

but as others have said the important thing is that the hardware is either natavly supported, or the required drivers come pre installed, 

ie, Nvidia drivers for Nvidia cards,

The wifi card should "just work"
 

If Dell starts supplying laptops that are certified to run any type of Linux, my next laptop will be Dell. As for what version, I currently run SuSE on an old Viao and I'm pretty comfortable with it so if I had to chose something it would be SuSE.

The one thing that continues to frustrate me with linux distros is the effort it takes to get multimedia to work. I use Suse on my PC at home and have been largely happy with it (recently upgraded to 10.1), but the media player that comes with it (Xine/Kaffiene) is crippled. It wont play anything; Windows Media formats (.avi, .wmv) forget it, Real Player formats can be viewed with the RealPlayer that comes with the distro but the stock Xine can't handle it, even unencrypted DVDs wont play. Sure, you can go to the mplayer web site and find RPMs for Suse on the related sites, download and install them and the codecs and then it works, but why must users go through this? A lot of people are going to be stymied by this and just assume that it can't be made to work. Whatever you ship should be able to play the popular multimedia formats on the machine out of the box. The other thing of course that others have brought up is peripheral hardware support. Selecting and getting peripheral hardware to work with linux continues to be a dicey proposition. There is always this lag between when new hardware comes out and the linux distros come around to supporting it. I am not talking anything exotic here, simply things like printers can still be a challenge to get to work. If you can use your muscle to get the peripheral vendors on the same page and deliver the same level of device driver support for their stuff for linux as they do for Windows, then you will have done the community a big favor and added true value.

     The Dell survey does not seem to be asking the correct questions. With that in mind, I wrote the following article to define the final customer experience. What questions would you like Dell to ask on their survey? (example: are you comfortable administrating a computer from a command line prompt or would you only purchase a Linux machine that can be administrated and run from graphical interfaces? Are you comfortable obtaining and installing Linux software on your own or would you prefer that Dell provide an intermediary where the majority of software is provided via a graphical menu and then downloaded from the Dell servers? etc.

     There are a large number of Microsoft Windows customers that want to transfer their computing to another operating system. The reasons for this are varied but can generally be described as 'frequent dissatisfaction with Microsoft products'. These customers are actively looking for computing alternatives and are moving to these alternatives when a satisfactory solution has been found. Dell cannot gain these customers without an alternative and stands to actually lose current customers that decide to 'take the plunge' away from Microsoft. Apple computer's increasing market share is being fueled by these customers; some of which are most likely previous Dell customers. Dell Enterprise customers are seeing increasingly attractive Linux and Solaris options available to meet their needs. It is essential that Dell provide an attractive and competitive Microsoft alternative. 

     To qualify as an alternative, an operating system must meet two basic  needs. First the system must be able to do what the customer has been using their Windows based computer to do. This will certainly include web browsing, office productivity, email, calendaring, picture sharing, video editing, digital music management and playback, gaming, etc... The second requirement is for the OS to be easy to administrate. Apple's success to woo customers is linked to their replacements of basic computing task by equal or better solutions in a easy to administrate OS. Linux's slow adoption by household customers is due to the lack of replacement application solutions and the difficulty in administrating a Linux system. To be successful at distributing a new OS, Dell must configure and extend the OS so that household customers can replace windows and then be continually satisfied by their 'Dell OS'. 

     To create a 'Dell OS', various types of customers must be observed moving their current Windows solutions to Dell's alternative. They must be successful at the move, be favorable about the new solution and have continuous success into the future. Unfortunately, merely questioning customers what they want will likely provide incomplete or inaccurate information about they're needs;  based on past history with technology development. This process must continue until the software solutions are deemed acceptable by the prospective customers At the same time, all administration of the alternative OS must be handled graphically and intuitively. Apple has stated that they have achieved simplicity by not satisfying outside cases, but instead focuses on what the 'majority' of their customers need. Dell may need to follow a similar philosophy. 'Dell OS' must earn a reputation for being 'less' complicated than Windows. 

     To aid the adoption of 'Dell OS', it will be advantageous to leverage either Linux's or Solaris' strengths against Window's weaknesses. First, this will revolve around multi-user computing. Even though Windows (and OSX)  support multiple users, they treat them as separate users of one machine – Linux and Solaris are already designed to function as a network computer. Something as simple as running a system address book through an embedded server provides a family with a shared address book. This server embedding can be spread across any software with which different user might have a reason to share the data files. A second strength is to be able to cause separate machines to run as one network. Many customers own more than one computer and have to administrate as such. However, if a family or small business can run a separate machine as a client, then any user can sit at either machine and have their login applications and file available. A laptop can be an extended client to a home or office server so that all updates and synchronizing occurs automatically. Any user can synchronize the the laptop to their account and then later resynchronize it. The result is a mobile computer that is an extension of the network, rather than an entirely separate machine dedicated to a single user. Finally, enterprise class administration must be automated and enforced. The system must make data backups and enforce security with logins and networking. Both Linux and Solaris already have these solutions working. 

     As a final thought, an opportunity exists to create a new computing paradigm. There is a trend toward multi-user computing for home users and for customer's systems to be live pay-for-use extensions of a primary system. Dell has the ability to lead the way in this direction ahead of both Microsoft and Apple. Both Solaris and Linux are open source and provide an excellent base for Dell to adopt an operating system for the future. 

Walter Bunton 

Industry Advisor

Why buy a PC from Dell  for Linux? What's important. 

For a candidate Linux PC, the most important thing has to be drivers (especially with laptops) preferably open source rather than binary. If there are drivers then support will filter in to most of the possible distro's If it isn't there already.

Where Dell can really make a difference software wise and valuewise is to sort out a liciencing deal so multimedia is working and legal for that particular PC.

Because of Dell's size and buying power as an OEM It should be possible to create a Dell Value Pack to allow legal use of MP3 and DVD codecs for Dell PC's (in fact why limit yourself to Dell PC's a reasonabled CD ready to install on to several distro's could be a winner whoever makes the hardware).

Support for Hardware issue's will remain Dells responsibility, for software I would suggest Dell act as agent's for the Distro vendors, the buyer can decide if they want to buy support or not for software from them.

hopefully these are realistic idea's 

Well, what distro it doesn't really matters. Throw a coin, but make it cumunity supported. Sounds better. ;) I would prefere either .buntu or opensuse.

What Hardware? Well if i need a Desktop I'll build it myself. If you wan't sell a Desktop with a specific 'Addad Value' then build a Workstation with 2x Intel Core2Duo and 2 Nvidia Cards in SLIP mode and Planty fo RAM. All in a pizza case. ;) Do you remember the NEXT Workstation? And sell it with a 24" wide or even 2 of them. MAke it fully functionall with Linux.

Ok I think we need Laptops. Just make two of them. One very portable just for presentation with a very good battery. The second shall be state-of-the-art, to replace the desktop. Something like XPS M1710.

Concerning software. Just make it easy for newbies!! Office, Gaming, Pictures etc. You know the drill. However folks who know linux won't concider it as added value.

Concernig  support, I think mailing lists would be the perfect choice.

 
Good luck.

Peter

Good idea, Like it, like it like it very much, indeed!

Until now, I have hat to spend good money to buy a Win, that I didn't want, then spend good time to remove it and replace it with L.

Looking forward to se the option on the Dell-site; Suse linux redraw $xxx.

Why not let the end user select the version of Linux they desire.  For example hash out the details of several distros and remaster them specifically for the hardware of that system.

Then allow these remasters be downloadable iso's for future upgrades or features. 

All hardware I bought have to run with linux very nice.

I will buy a notebook in 2 months. Important: Runs perfect with linux ;)

I hope, Dell will make its linux way in future!

Pre-Installed is not important. I want to setup my hardware with gentoo all the way. So I would delete the pre-installed version.

But my favorite "easy to use" linux is Ubuntu..

Dell! Go go :)
 

Ubuntu or Kubuntu Linux with Nvidia graphics card and community drivers for driver upgrades and a soundcard that supports OSS and Alsa with spdif in/output also the preinstalled desktop should have the 5.1+ soundchannels enabled by default, cause some users seems to have troubles enabling them even when the mixer is in systray area and only you need to do is show additional soundchannels and add some volume to them...

As for gaming Tuxracer, Frozen-bubble etc. nice looking and working games could be preinstalled too.

For cd+dvd burning application, Gnomebaker for Gnome and K3b for KDE desktops.

And atleast there should be some starters guide on desktop (with root only remove permission and read for others) to show the distribution homepage and forum link as well as quick help to add additional reposities for multimedia software and recommented applications for usual needs.

Well, hardware devices support is important, specially with printers and internet connections (for example USB internet ADSL modems)

SABAYONLINUX

Everything you ever wanted to do with a PC you can do it with SABAYON.

I would have suggested Ubuntu as preferred Linux distribution, but if that is the case pre install Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper it works nicely which newer Ubuntus don't do...

So my opinion pre-install Debian-Etch or Ubuntu 6.06 and don't touch newer Ubuntus since all they cause is headache.

I've had no worries with Debian Etch (still in testing), but it will be released soon and in it all just works.

Ubuntu is said to be most user friendly and easiest to use, but if you try Etch it's just as easy as Ubuntu.

It's release is coming soon (when few relese critical bugs are fixed)...

Debians philosophy is to release software when all release critical bugs are fixed. 

Ubuntu is based on Debian, but uses newest software versions and has about half year release cycle of new version, because of that it is buggy.

First of all Dell must make a serious commitment to itself to indeed support the GNU/Linux community, otherwise it is merely a lip service that Dell and HP have been doing for long.

(0) Hardware support requirement cannot be over emphasized. And it must be supported for very diverse hardware types, otherwise large number of people with diverse or highly specific needs will not choose the platform.

 (1) For laptops,  sleep, hybernate, audio, video, Wifi, Bluetooth,  and diverse USB devices need to work robustly.

(2) I use Mandriva for its gigantic distribution that meets my extremely diverse needs plus ease of configurability. But this is besides the point as long as Dell supports the community support systems. Dell simply cannot handle the diverse problems of linux users who hate to think that support means telling them -- check power, cable connections, click here and there without giving sustantive analysis and soultion.

(3) Dell may choose to provide high level scripts that provide good GUI for general users to carry out basic tasks with special hardwares such as bluetooth, wireless, USB devices etc.

(4) I have bought 5 desktop+laptops in last 3 years, 4 from Dell, and one from lenovo. I have paid for 5 copies of MS-windows without indeed using them at all; what a waste! I have not been able to figure out why given a robust system  with truly diverse and comprehensive application base that  people can use fearlessly (from viruses and MS licensing threats), Dell pronounses, "Dell recommnds ... MS.."?  It places a big question mark on their intentions to support the GNU/Linux community. When the Dell support system learns that the user is running Linux, they feel very happy to close any further discussion even though the problem being reported is about the hardware. Such tendencies must stop before even proclaiming supporting GNU/Linux.

(5) The community feed back always guides the businesses to take the right directions and grow, but at the end the individuals from the same community merely become a point in the large statistics, and get forced to take statistically strong line losing their personal choices in the end. GNU/Linux users are driven by choice that respects their individuality and maintains it as such. This must be understood well and taken into account by futuristic corporations. A progressive business may build a centralised system that at least directs, if not provide the solutions, to right places within community where such solutions are likely to be available or evolve.

Linux lags furthest behind other operating systems on Laptops, especially in the areas of power management and hardware support.

If Dell can provide laptops where all the hardware actually works and it always wakes up correctly from suspend, that would be great.

one thing to consider:

While many users switch distributions from time to time, hardly anyone switches their favorite window manager. Discussions about Gnome vs KDE can become much more heated then about Red Hat vs Ubuntu. Dell should make sure that they preinstall a distribution that supports both major window managers equally well. KDE is not a first class citizen neither on Red Hat nor on Ubuntu/Kubuntu. However, the latter supports it slightly better than the former. The only distribution that supports both equally well is openSuse.

other than that the most important thing is:

tested OSS drivers, tested OSS drivers, tested OSS drivers, tested OSS drivers,

force your hardware partners do submit OSS drivers to the vanilla kernel. That might be the best Dell can do.

>> Why not do with BSD Unix/Linux what Apple did? Why not create a "Dell" distro of Unix or Linux. <<

 Not to say that it couldn't be done again (I'm not in a position to say), but "been there, done that" to the "create a Dell distro of Unix or Linux" idea. Back in the 80's & 90's, we had a Dell SVR4 that, though it had a very loyal following, just didn't sell. With all of the excellent Linux distros out there now ( both free and otherwise), and with as fast as the Linux landscape changes every quarter, making a business case for a Dell Linux distribution might be a tough sell.

 Still, it's an interesting idea, and thanks for contributing it.

- Mark 

Keep these things simple.

 1- Consult with the Linux community for hardware compatibility. We have a wealth of information to communicate. We prefer open specs to write open-source drivers, but we'll reluctantly work with binaries if need be. We HATE stuff like Winmodems (when the specs are not available). Get your suppliers to open up these specs.

2- Get the distros on-board and they'll do all the work. They would kill to get inside your boxes in CD/DVD format with their logos (I'm sure most of the biggest distros would get on-board). Some of the folks in the distros would make sure hardware support is there for all of them in no time.  You burn cd's twice a year with the updated distributions within a package like dell-dimension-drivers.rpm (or .deb or whatever). You could operate repos for different distros, that would be really nice.

3- The investment for Dell would be minimal in term or support, if you contract the work to the community. We'll find the way to help you out with support channels..

4- If you need to, create a new line wihich would pretty closely follow the hardware known to work in Linux (Optiplexes and Latitude are better in that regard).

5- If you build it (the hardware), they will come (the software). But for that, you need to build the field of dreams (the computer). Can you?

Ubuntu 6.06 LTS is what we are running on our servers and it's very impressive. I would definately like to see this or Red Hat Enterprise Linux be loaded on a Dell notebook.   

I am a long time Dell shareholder. I have also purchased several Dell computers and I personally use Debian at home on a Dell machine.

Debian is a good target for "certification" because it is the basis for the most commonly used distributions on the desktop. Distributions like Ubuntu are just rebranded Debian. Freespire, MEPIS, KNOPPIX, Xandros are all Debian derivatives. Debian and its derivatives are stable and easy for the end user to maintain as well.

Also, many distributions have an uneven mix of non-free support. Debian is generally a pure blend so a desktop that is certified with Debian is guaranteed to cover all of the spinoff distributions as well.

Although Debian is not a "popular" distribution (i.e. Ubuntu), many of the activist / evangelists take  for granted that Debian sits under the hood of the most popular desktop distributions.

 As a side note, I think a RPM based distribution is far too much trouble for the end user. Even though fine distributions like Mandriva have gained a steady desktop following, RPM is best left to system administrators that get paid to find and maintain package dependencies. Getting everything from a version controlled repository with all of the dependencies resolved for you is necessary. One command that quickly and reliably updates every application on your system? It is actually eye opening compared to what Windows users have to deal with every day.

Dell Laptops, from low to medium price with ubuntu, would be great for costumers from countries with low income profile !!

Although a UK user, I've completed the survey.  I look forward to seeing the option of pre-installed Linux on Dell boxes.  I hope I might have the opportunity to upgrade one of my own machines and I would certainly recommend them.

I work as a consultant, and so I use whatever systems my clients require but if asked to advise I might well suggest the use of Linux together with the usual desktop or server software, especially for a client that requires low expenditure.  I dual-boot my own X300, so that I have an X-windows system to use when working on clients' Solaris or other *ix systems.

I've used SuSE Linux as my main preference for seven years, and contributed to the development by actually buying every "Professional" release since 6.4.  I have opinions (which I won't mention) on recent events, but I will say that I have some serious business concerns over Novell's direction at the moment, and so in the survey I opted for OpenSuSE.

I personally hope that Novell does well marketing SuSE and is still in the market in a few years time.  However I have had a long association with Netware and I have been bitterly disappointed over the way Novell seemed to lose its marketing push with that excellent product.  I wish them well with SuSE.

Peter Davey

I'd go for Ubuntu as it has the best community support, Why don't you guys make you own distribution based on Ubuntu? Dellbuntu.

It dosn't really matter though what distro you use just make sure your hardware is 100% Linux compatable and there should be no issues.

PC's speced for Linux gaming would be great, if only to get software makers to jump on board the Linux bandwagon, but I would say most buyers would only want low end PC's for email, internet & office apps. 

The survey is missing an important critria for what the computer is used for. There are generally 3 primary categories I can think of. Business, home and academic. In each case, the user's aren't going to want the same set of options in their standard installation. A school will likely choose the free distribution, where the businessman is going to want an enterprise solution with the paid service (SLE or RedHat).

The primary focus should be linux on laptops, because that is where there is no current market. Desktops can be custom built and any OS installed on them, and is often the scenario for the fussy-linux users.
 
The comments on the topic of "I wan't this particular distro\any distro" or "I wan't open source drivers", are generally not suited to a preinstalled system. These users are tech savvy and can install/configure their choice of OS themselves if they want to use free drivers or certain desktop managers.
 
There's some naivity in thinking the option of any distibution is feasable. The support needed for each one would be impossible to manage. The preinstalled system needs to assume the PC user knows nothing about free software and linux in general, it just needs to work well. A single distribtion needs to be chosen so that the support can be available from dell. The ability to install other distros and have the drivers should be available, but without the same help service.

Again, the software and support that is included in the standard installation needs to reflect that the user may not be linux savvy. All software is available in the end, experienced users can choose what and what not to have. Some things might be familiar to a Windows user (file formats etc), as many should be supported (or used as default) where legally possible, so that the inexperienced users are comfortable. I shouldn't need to go into the hardware topic, since it's been done to the death already.

I would opt for SUSE as the choice of distro. There's the support for SLE from novell, and the option for free openSUSE for the people who don't want to pay so much. Novell clearly aims to have compatability with Windows, where other communities seem to shun the idea. Compatability is an obvious advantage for businesses who use Windows built solutions but wish to use linux. They also have the comfort of knowing they can't be sued by Microsoft. SUSE is generally a simple distro to use, gives the user choice of desktop (No rediculous seperate distro *cough*). YaST is really simple and will be comfortable to people experienced with Windows etc. Related to that, I think KDE is probably more confortable to windows/mac users, and is more customisable, although the default DTM doesn't matter too much because it can be changed.

On a side note, why can't I use this reply form in Opera? Browser support please.

Personally I like Microsoft Windows XP Professional (not Vista, it is pretty but annoying) in terms of playing games, and some of my work-related software, for example, ChemDraw, GraphPad Prism, JMP, SciFinder Scholar Search Database, MestRe-C, and others. For some of them, you can find substitutes in Linux, but not all of them, especially ChemDraw is much nicer and smoother than its Linux counterparts. For games, Microsoft is still the prevailing platform for gamemakers to write software. There is no other competitors can avoid that. It is nice to play the same games like others do. My favorite one is still Age of Empires. Now I am trying Medieval Total War.

I also like Linux because it is much more straight forward in installing software and figuring out problems. In Windows some of the programs simply do not want to run or install no matter what, whereas in Linux, as long as you have right library, you can install and run everything. I spent much time with UNIX/Linux system because I use it more for work - name it, modeling studies for chemical reactions. On the other hand, I also have a home theater system built with Fedora 4. Fedora works nicer and faster than Windows counterpart as a home theater system; in terms of robust media sharing, stable internet connections, faster file transfering, and smoother remote control, plus it is faster in terms of graphical interface (I am using Gnome with onboard ATI Radion 9000 graphic card).

Frankly, I cannot dispose any one of them. So what I like is a high-end notebook computer that supports both so that I can dual boot and enjoy both at the same time.

For me (and I think for a lot of "Linux-people")  the most important thing is hardware support. It doesn't really matter which distribution is preinstalled (take whatever you  can support  best,  people can install their distro of choice if they don't like it), what really matters is 100% hardware support with free drivers. We do not need more binary blobs, we need natively supported hardware! I chose my current laptop so that everything I need is supported with 100% Free Software and I will do so again.

Thanks for considering a better Linux support, if this works out, my next laptop will be a Dell! 

Just installed the latest version of PCLinuxOS on an old xps T600 from the year 2000 and it made a new computer out of it.

In my opinion, as a newbie, one of the easiest to install and work with for a newbie. 

I'm writing from Dell Latitude 110L laptop running Ubuntu. I bought it because it was already known to work with Linux (Some French student version were issued). See the consequences.

It's nearly fully supported by Linux except modem. You may start with such already proven non-expensive solutions, making them even more competitive.

 I use it for home, primarily web browsing (Firefox), instant messaging (GAIM), photo arranging. Office suite (OpenOffice.org) is also in use infrequently.

 Unfortunately I had to pay for WinXP bundled with the model. Never used it...
 

Now that I am using Linux and almost done with Windows, I want hardware that is Linux compatible. I'm not hung up on the issue of binary or not, as long as there is a solid working driver that can be reconfigured to work with newer versions of Linux (see NVidia graphics).

As for distributions, I would say that Debian stable be the "lowest common denominator" since it refreshes slower than the other distros (it is what I prefer as well). Redhat is, of course the other historic distro, so I would suggest support for the current RHEL commercial version.

As for desktops, both KDE and Gnome should be usable. I prefer KDE, but it doesn't matter.

What matters is that the hardware can be "Linux supported". 

Linux BIOS is an absolute requirement for our purposes!!!

If you ever encountered a complete boot process in 3 seconds flat on a notebook or a desktop you will never want to go back.

For all our servers we use Linux BIOS, because there is nothing more flexible, convenient and efficient in managing large server farms.

All hardware or components of a system must be supported by drivers in the official linux kernel of kernel.org or it will not be purchased!

Yes, our rules are that simple!

But it guarantees us complete freedom in choosing our distribution, even running our own, if we should ever decide to do it.

Basically we don't need linux or distribution support! What we really need is hardware support and GPL drivers. Nothing more nothing less!
 

I have two questions:

1) Will Dell certify it's desktop and laptop hardware as running compatibly with Linux (or a  specific Linux distribution)?

2) Will Dell favor and support open-source driver development for their hardware? 

If Dell was allowed to think long-term, they'd muscle their suppliers into supplying GPL'd or BSD'd driver source-code for the motherboards, components and peripherals supplied.  Dell would then place all the source code into some kind of web-based infrastructure to track and update the drivers so that they would always be available.  Having some in-house driver-development and maintenance staff would be another smart move.

Another helpful thing would be to support LinuxBios, but that's too long a discussion. 

However, I suspect the real world is more complicated than this.  For instance, how does Dell pull this off without angering Microsoft and jeopardizing those sweet license discounts and co-marketing funds?

 I hope you folks at Dell do come through on this but, candidly, I'll believe it when I see it.

I would go for Ubuntu. Well, if I was Micheal Dell, I might consider buying Ubuntu, running it as a subsidiary, so not locking it to Dell hardware, then feeding Ubuntu development back in to the whole Linux community. The point would initially be about saving Dell money, rather than making money directly (in the short-term). At the moment it's the most complete and well designed set-up I have seen for Linux desktop (actually I use Gentoo on desktop, and Debian on servers).

 Wizards for...

1.  "finish off your own install" like there is with Windows (select Language, timezone, Gnome/KDE, main user account).
2. "Join my corporate networking environment" (Windows / AD, LDAP)
3. "Set up my wifi" (currently a pain, even on Ubuntu, esp. lack of WPA support, network hopping, native linux drivers vs. ndiwrappers (ugh)).
4. Be able to use binary drivers, pre-install flash player, real player.
   

Support options: help your self options, and then normal Dell support options (e.g. those that come with your warranty). I don't think paying extra for linux support will get you good press coverage. It might take a while to make such support work well, so you'd need a serious commitment to making it work.

Did the survey - not terribly well designed...

 -Richard 

I use Ubuntu 6.06 LTS and it works fine.

I think it is not important to choose between kde or gnome. I can instal both whith apt-get or synaptic easily.

But, please, ATI no. Nvidia Yes. Ati drivers for linux are real trash.

And, please, win-hardware no.

Thanks
 

Hardware support, drivers so that it all just works.  Preferrably driver support pushed back to the linux kernel and community.  I know this offends GNU purists, but I am willing to have a binary driver IF IT WILL BE MAINTAINED, (such as NVidia seems to be doing).   I have an HP laptop with an ESS modem which was supported with a binary driver for the 2.2 kernel...  There has never been an update, so there is no support for that built in modem for kernal 2.4 or 2.6 which is what is on the laptop now.  Accelerated 3D video, ACPI, sound, notebook wi-fi, and notebook suspend all have to JUST WORK.  Modem is less important, but it is still extremely annoying to not have the hardware usable.

 Do not relagate the linux offering to the low end systems, it will be as popular as previous sales attempts.  Most of the most entheusiastic Linux users run Linux on high-end equipment.  (and all of the old stuff still laying around).

64-bit drivers are every bit as important as 32-bit if not more important.  A 32-bit windows driver cannot be wrapped with the ndiswrapper or used by a 64 bit kernel.

A licensed codec package including a legit DVD player and MP3 player would be a NICE package option even if it was an extra cost option.

SLES or RHEL on enterprise products, OpenSuSE, Freespire, or Ubuntu, if you choose a preinstalled option (which I believe that there should be a preinstalled Linux offering).

I have 8 computers at home including 4 laptops.  Only one has Windows Me (an ancient laptop with no network connection),  and 1 64-bit laptop with 32-bit XP home which dual boots Linux to 64-bit OpenSuSE 10.2 (XP is almost NEVER booted).  EVERYTHING ELSE EXCLUSIVELY runs some flavor of UNIX,  Linux, Mac OSX and OpenBSD.

Two words:  Hardware Compatibility.

That's all you have to do.  After that, I think you will find that the community will be very supportive for any other heavy lifting required in providing support and enhancements.

Everyone has a favorite distro and choice is good. That's not the hard part.  We can't do hardware, you can.  We can do the software so you don't have to.

Finally, really be part of the community. Give a little, take a lot.  It really does work.

Thank you for at least asking the question. :-)  Good luck!

Ubuntu, enough said.

Good job, surely you already know you're getting a lot of buzz just pointing the idea and I, as many others, think this is maybe the right time.

As almost everybody has stated previously, the main problem is hardware compatibility, specially on laptops, which are usually more 'bleeding edge'. I think I'm a Linux power user and I've gone through some headaches getting some laptops (almost) fully working. In my experience the hardest devices are multimedia card readers, sound boards and wireless cards. Any distro should be great, they are all very similar, but I think Ubuntu (in my case, Kubuntu, I love KDE) is one of the most hardware friendly distros around.

In my opinion, everything should be open source (though I like the idea of allowing the user decide whether install propietary drivers or not). Maybe a downloadable distro suited for every model would be a good idea, or setting up a software repository in order to upgrade it with the latest drivers.

Regarding software, I think the basic pack should be OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Gaim, Mplayer, XMMS, some photo viewer/organizer, and a few more things.

If this is not finally vaporware, my next Dell laptop will be a Dell. Go ahead, guys, and make the move!!

Hello Dell folks,

I would like to echo the statement by several others here regarding truly open-specification hardware in your computers.  That is a big problem now, especially with video drivers and wireless connectivity.  "Binary blobs", like what ATI/nVidia provide, are not good enough.

Ralink and Realtek have published the programming API documentation for their wireless chips, without NDA, for all to read.  They're actually pretty good wireless chipsets, too.  That's why they're supported by *everything*, even OpenBSD.  Please, ditch Broadcom.  Go with Ralink or Realtek.

Intel has open-sourced their graphics drivers.  That means Intel graphics is supported--with Free drivers--for all F/OSS platforms.  For that reason, stick with Intel graphics by default.  Doesn't stop you from offering ATI/nVidia graphics to the Windows users as an up-sell.

Sun Microsystems use the LSI Logic SCSI RAID card (vs. say, 3Ware or Adaptec) in their popular v20z and v40z servers for a good reason.  Not only are the LSI Logic RAID cards good performers, but LSI, too, publish their programming API specs without NDA requirements.  Thus, Sun is not beholden to *anybody* for drivers, and neither are their customers.  Everybody wins.

You, Dell Inc., have massive buying power.  You *can* influence what hardware makers do through your own purchasing behaviour.  Simply choose only hardware/chipsets whose programming API specifications are available without NDA's.  I've already listed some good choices.
 

Many have commented that "users will install their own distribution".

I am perfectly capable of installing my own distribution (at the moment, I mainly run Ubuntu 6.06, but have used Debian, Gentoo and RedHat [pre-Fedora]) over the years).

However, I would LOVE to see the option of "Which Operating System .... XP, Vista, Ubuntu" available, and know that when my next machine arrives, it will be up and running within the length of time it takes me to enable a couple of packages.

I suspect that Dell would be far wiser to listen to the voting of all of us who participate in the poll, rather than just those of us who are touting our favourite distribution in the comments...

... that having been said, Ubuntu rules!

Mark 

I would highly recommend Ubuntu as first choice here since Pclinuxos did not make the pick list.

The reasoning is simple. It is the best balance b/w all the linux distros. Moreover, should a user wish to install a different linux OS or distro on the same machine, they would be able to provided one of the other linux distros like Ubuntu can work there.

I personally use and favor Zenwalk{Slackware-based}, pclinuxos{rpm-based}, Sabayon {Gentoo-based} and then Ubuntu {Debian-based}

These distros and many others not mentioned are very capable, but Ubuntu edges them all in a few aspects. Ubuntu, like Debian has one of the largest repositories of softwares available at your finger tip with one of the easiest and unmatched package managers "synaptic." More importantly, Ubuntu has the best community support bar none when it comes to speedy help to users via their forums and wiki guides.

Even when plaqued with questions on some more complex tasks to very simple questions on other OSes or distros, I go to the Ubuntu forum as they give the speediest help ever.

The closest distros to the simplicity, maybe even simpler than Ubuntu while being feature rich are Pclinuxos and Mepis.

Ubuntu / Pclinuxos / Mepis works for all skill levels -beginner to experts to power users.

A power user and tweaker would more than likely change their OS to something else.

Another solution would be to give an option of dual-boot or triple-boot systems for users of the XPS systems such that they could boot to Ubuntu / Windows {gaming or rare proprietary apps.} and even BSD.

Distro doesn't matter except for newbies that may want to get their feet wet with linux.

For the newbies, I would suggest (K)ubuntu preinstalled with

a) simple method for installing dvd/multimedia support

b) OppenOffice preinstalled

c) Not having to pay for Windows - offer a cheap machine that has identical hardware with more software than a windows OS and I think more people will buy.  Myself included!!!

d) For customer support, work out something with canonical as an option.

e) Just make the hardware work!  (I would suggest atheros as they are doing well in the linux community already)  If it works well.

f) last but perhaps not least - with the preinstalled distro, make the fonts and sizes look and feel Windows.  It is a small thing will make the transition easier for newbies.

Some have questioned your motives and I hope that you are serious. I would start recommending DELL again to friends and family if a linux option were available.  I think you've taken the first steps in the right direction. Keep it up!