Dell Caught in Storm of Its Own Making? February 21, 2007
Posted by Carthik in commentary, ubuntu.trackback
So Dell emulated digg and put the idea to (good) use in letting people submit and vote for ideas to be implemented at Dell. The result was Dell Idea Storm.
Now maybe Dell regrets it, just a wee bit. You see, the popular requests page right now is dominated by Linux-oriented requests. The most popular idea is for machines with Linux (Ubuntu/OpenSUSE/Fedora) pre-installed. Followed closely by an idea to distribute PCs with OpenOffice preinstalled. There are popular ideas that suggest PCs without Windows installed, PCs with open-source Linux drivers etc.
Now, for Dell, it would be a small publicity setback if they do not act on at least a few of these ideas – them being the most popular ideas. It will be interesting to see how it develops. I hope Dell does not just seem to be attentive to customers, and actually gives them what they demand.
I, being the eternal optimist, voted with my mouse for systems with Ubuntu pre-installed.
Ubuntu Blog 
It is most convincing if you wade through some of the ideas and votes everything that promotes open source software. Surely now Dell can’t ignore us?
PS. Are you going to update the “Ubuntu Blogs” page anytime soon?
Heh, Dell executives are going to have an interesting decision to make.
If they start rolling out linux machine they are likely to violate some of their dirty OEM contracts and back room deals with Microsoft.
If they don’t they will look like asses in the media for ignoring a large segment of their customer base.
I suspect they will choose bad PR over a drastic price increase on their windows licenses. 😦
thanks for posting this piece. i doubt dell will be able to do anything about this. i’m sure their back is against the wall. my guess is if they do offer linux-based desktops or laptops, their windows license will be revoked.
i currently run ubuntu on an hp laptop. but i know i’m getting my next laptop from http://shoprcubed.com/
so there’s no need to hold our breath or to wait for dell to make up its mind.
Vincent, I just updated the list.
Luke, precisely what I was thinking.
ubuntufan, there seems to be more than one option these days for ready-to-go Ubuntu laptops, which is a great thing 🙂
Some more info here:
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8382062536.html
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at Dell:
Did Microsoft want to ‘whack’ Dell over its Linux dealings?
http://news.com.com/Did+Microsoft+want+to+whack+Dell+over+its+Linux+dealings/2100-1014_3-6153904.html
Dell’s secret Linux fling
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/09/dell_linux_china/
Microsoft ‘killed Dell Linux’ – States
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/03/19/microsoft_killed_dell_linux_states/
Investors sue Dell on payments from Intel: WSJ
,—-[ Quote ]
| An investor lawsuit seeking class-action status accuses Dell Inc. of
| improper accounting in its relationship with chip giant Intel,
| according to a media report published Thursday evening.
|
| […]
|
| The suit alleges that Dell received at times as much as $1 billion
| a year in “secret and likely illegal” kickbacks in the form of
| “e-Cap” or “exception to corporate average pricing” payments”
| from Intel to ensure that Dell used no other chip supplier,
| according to The Journal.
`—-
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/investors-sue-dell-payments-intel/story.aspx?guid=%7B400315B0%2DE375%2D4920%2DB300%2D784220BEFE35%7D&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo
Wow Roy,
That is a whole blog post in itself – thanks for sharing. 🙂
Great ubuntonista 😀
And Roy – I wouldn’t trust The Register much…
The Register has guts. It also hadscredibility. It’s real. There’s evidence. It’s all in Microsoft E-mails which were revealed in US courts as exhibits. Microsoft paid ‘bail money’ to settle in all cases, in order to escape prosection (most latterly in Iowa).
Remember that the mainstream press has funding sources it must be nice to. And the world is not as ethical as we would like to think it is.
Bill Gates lends cash to buy newspapers – $350 million to MediaNews
,—-[ Quote ]
| Gates involvement has been very behind the scenes. In fact many of
| those involved in the deal didn’teven know he was one of the investors.
| It was carried out through the Gates Foundation, the world’s largest
| philanthropy outfit.
`—-
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33849
Just one among many example where the foundation buys media.
I would take all this Dell-and-linux business with a grain of salt. Maybe they’re interested in selling Linux, but it would cost them very much. Support for hardware and support for end-users, Microsoft would probably be upset and give them a lesser discount on OEM Windows XPista, etc.
And just like you linked it on your blog, I think most geeks linked to this page, and that is why Linux is so overwhelmingly popular. Does the average user care about new ideas by Dell, if they are satisfied with whatever OS they get already? I think not.
But one could always hope. 🙂
I think Dell will reach with Novell, and will offer SLED on Optiplex and Latitude. With OpenSuse on Dimension and Inspiron’s
Micro$oft will be very angry if this happens.
[…] So Dell emulated digg and put the idea to (good) use in letting people submit and vote for ideas to be implemented at Dell. The result was Dell Idea Storm. Now maybe Dell regrets it, just a wee bit. You see, the popular requests page right now is dominated by Linux-oriented requests. The most popular idea is for machines with Linux (Ubuntu/OpenSUSE/Fedora) pre-installed. Followed closely by an idea to distribute PCs with OpenOffice preinstalled. There are popular ideas that suggest PCs without Windows installed, PCs with open-source Linux drivers etc. Now, for Dell, it would be a small publicity setback if they do not act on at least a few of these ideas – them being the most popular ideas. It will be interesting to see how it develops. I hope Dell does not just seem to be attentive to customers, and actually gives them what they demand. Could this finally be the end of half working Notebooks under Linux? That would be great news, especially after all the trouble I had (and still have) to get my Graphiccard running under OpenSuse 10.2. [via the Ubuntu Blog] […]
From Dell site:
We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations. This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems.
.
It looks like Dell is going to go with the Microsoft-friendly Novell. They say they are not, but they are only working with Novell, and it may have to do with it being Microsoft’s brand of corrupt GLinix.
[…] in the place of Microsoft Windows. I am not really one to speak on Ubuntu, so instead I will quote a blog that is dedicated to Ubuntu, So Dell emulated digg and put the idea to (good) use in letting […]
[…] by carthik in interviews, commentary, ubuntu, news. trackback So Dell did not get caught in the storm of it’s making – it swept the storm off it’s feet! This is the day the scales started […]
[…] Dell did not get caught in the storm of it’s making – it swept the storm off its feet! This is the day the scales started […]
[…] Dell did not get caught in the storm of it’s making – it swept the storm off its feet! This is the day the scales started […]
very interesting…thank you
If they start rolling out linux machine they are likely to violate some of their dirty OEM contracts and back room deals with Microsoft.
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes at Dell:
The Register has guts. It also hadscredibility. It’s real. There’s evidence. It’s all in Microsoft E-mails which were revealed in US courts as exhibits. Microsoft paid ‘bail money’ to settle in all cases, in order to escape prosection (most latterly in Iowa).
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