LXer: A year later, sales of Linux on Dell computers continue to grow
 

Published at LXer:

As Dell Inc. approaches its one-year anniversary of selling laptop and desktop computers preloaded with Ubuntu Linux, the company is continuing to expand the fledgling program to new computer models and markets. In interviews at Dell's Parmer campus north of Austin last week, four Dell representatives said sales of the Linux-loaded machines are encouraging.

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To be honest, I'm absolutely flabbergasted that this is working for Dell. Not because Dell selling Linux is a bad idea, on the contrary, it is a fantastic idea. No, what flabbergasts me is the fact that Linux on Dells is succeeding despite the fact that Dell makes is a PHENOMINAL pain in the posterior to find these machines. You have to specifically hunt them down on Dell's website.

So if sales are doing well now, imagine how good they would be if Dell's marketing department pulled their head out of their dark, deep hole, and put Linux alongside all the Windows offerings!

You have to know that Dell doesn't advertise directly because of some deal or threat combination with M$. They do advertise through special blog & forum surfers directly to Linux users. So they want to advertise to Linux users without letting the general public in on the information. Hence its so hard to find any mention of Linux on their web site. If you already know about Linux then you'll be able to find it on their web site. So they explained to M$ (IMHO) "Hey, we're not sleeping around on you sweetheart. We're just getting the business that you wouldn't be getting anyway. Your regulars will never know."

Dell is still under M$'s control.

Yeah, there probably were a few office chairs left "anonymously" on Michael Dell's front lawn.

Who here has gotten a Dell Ubuntu laptop? How did you like it?

I didn't get one of their Ubuntu laptops, but I did get one (Precision M6300) that had Red Hat in a different config than the one I bought. Works great with Linux.

I also have heard that Microsoft's OEM licensing terms prohibit advertising any other OS.

I bought the XPS M1330 with Ubuntu. It's been a pretty good experience. The multimedia buttons even worked right out of the box.