Direct2Dell

@Jeff Schroeder: The only bit of trolling I did was the Kinkaid reference, and that was only unitentional. The intent there was humorous irony, although I appear to have failed.

I really thought my questions were valid. Simply put, it is pretty hard to get Ubuntu on a Dell unless you very specifically want Ubuntu on a Dell, and know that. Which I guess is the target audience.

Okay, thanks, Dell, really, for at least carrying Linux on computers for the last ten years or so. It is a good thing, I admit. I've even bought Dell Linux boxen, so there. Three Red Hat 7 boxes in 2000 and 2001.

Oh, and I hate slashdot, thanks anyway.

Thanks for your good work Mario, we all benefit. Please continue to make Ubuntu better and easier so that Ubuntu can share a billing brightly on Dells home page.

Ubuntu has been amazing on my Dell PC, a self install on my second hard drive, for the last two years. Have been very happy with it and after having to use Windows for a very few things coming back to Ubuntu is a relief, like a comfortable pair of shoes.

I want to buy a Ubuntu Dell in Australia but I can't. Please release them in Australia.

I happen to like Thomas Kinkaid!

Nice work guys, fyi I just bought one of the desktops running ubuntu as a gift. Vote with your wallets I say! Thankyou for supporting and furthering the open source desktop. Also send a thankyou to the DKMS guys. They make out of tree open source modules easy to update to the latest kernels.

@JDS leave the trolling for /. dude. Seriously, they are doing a LOT more than most other big hardware vendor is so quit complaining.

Thank you, Lionel. I hope you realize that that method, while it works, is not really an "easy" way to get to the Ubuntu-on-Dell products.

1) You have to type it in

2) You have to know it already

Even a search on Dell's site for "ubuntu" does not turn up that URL. Well it does, but not if you are on the site in a "business purchase" context.

Anyway, why doesn't Ubuntu show up as an Operating System choice on the FreeDOS or Red Hat computers?

Also, why are the cheapest mini-tower PCs - Vostro systems -- not offered on the "Shop for Ubuntu" page?

I know there are probably valid business case reasons but Dell really does not make it easy to buy an Ubuntu PC. It really feels like a case of margeting gloss -- "we offer Ubuntu. See? We really do" -- just so Dell can say they offer Ubuntu and are not monopolistic in their practices and don't just offer Windows yadda yadda. Which, like I said before, is fine (only offering Window, I mean, is fine), but this disingenuous offering of Ubuntu may as well just be pulled altogether.

Once again, let me state it clearly: I really have no problem with Dell offering Windows OSes first and foremost. I know that 99+% of Dell's customers not only will get Windows, but actually *want* Windows (strange to me, but then again, some people actually buy Thomas Kinkaid paintings). But saying Dell offers Ubuntu too, and then forcing customers to bend over backwards and recant mystical charms to get it strikes me as, well, disingenuous.

Seeya!

JDS: The easiest way to get to the Ubuntu systems is to go to www.dell.com/ubuntu.

Big congratulations. I run Ubuntu happily on my XPS1330M and I wonder if not Dell Ubuntu users could benefit by sharing more testing.

I put up this suggestion to brainstorm in that direction http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/9624/

Best,

Anders

There's a reason he's called "Super Mario"!

I don't get it. Why does is sound like Dell offers Ubuntu on desktops and laptops and yet it is nearly impossible to find those computers on Dell's conumer product website???

Click "Open Source Desktops"? Nope -- you get FreeDOS desktop, or REdHat workstations.

Click " Select n Series systems are also available with Linux." link? Nope -- you get the Red Hat workstations a nd servers. (Not that Red Hat is bad or anything, but I'm focusing on Ubuntu here)

It REALLY does not seem like Dell wants to actually SELL desktops or laptops with Ubuntu on, which is fine. But Dell, stop trying to pretend you do, please?

Way to go Mario!!!!! You rock!