Dell still doesn't get Linux - recent experience
 

I was looking for a small format laptop for my daughter this weekend and decided to take a Ubuntu CD to test a couple of systems at local stores. I wanted to verify the chipsets used (particularly graphics and wireless) to make sure I had a good chance of getting Linux working on the new system.

I visited my local Office Depot and CompUSA store and had no issues booting up a couple of systems using the Ubuntu CD and checking out the equipment. My last stop was to visit the local Dell Direct kiosk at the mall and see what they had.

The XPS M1210 looked like it would fit what I was looking for, but the reps working at the store refused to let me boot up the Ubuntu CD. They did not seem to understand that I was not going to install anything on their systems, and that I just wanted to verify that it would work before I ordered a system. They kept talking about not letting me access their data and secure network, etc...

I was amazed at the total cluelessness of the guys at the Dell store. I guess the Windows Vista shirts should have told me something...

Even though I am a Dell certified tech at work, I decided I don't want anything to do with them. I really would have considered the Dell carefully if they had allowed me to briefly try Ubuntu on the system. I also considered the Lenovo X60 but we have been having horrible support issues with Lenovo at work, and I hate dealing with them.

I found a good deal on a Toshiba U205 small system with great specs and also found a great link documenting the Ubuntu Linux install on this machine. My daughter currently runs an OLD Toshiba with Slackware Linux and Dropline Gnome and it has worked well. We are looking forward to getting the new system up and running in the next couple of days.

Sounds like you just ran into a couple of clueless morons.

Yeah tell me about it. Neither Staples nor Maplins know what Linux means. I ask them if the wireless card they sell supports Livux and they go like yeah it will support your program, just make sure you install the windows drivers first...

I know what you mean. When I go to any computer store in Manhattan, all you see is WINDOW$ VI$Ta. Macintosh has a small section in a corner or is isolated in another room. It's a damn shame linux is not getting the exposure it needs to
win new audiences. Also, Ubuntu or its variants are user friendly. Why don't they advertise on TV to show how linux is?

IBM advertises linux on TV, but only as a business solution.

Anyway, thats my :twocents:

-later

Who? Dell? Dell gets a part of the sales price for all Microsoft products they bundle into their computers. For Linux, they get bupkis. There is no financial incentive for Dell to advertise Linux. I would imagine that the money they get from Microsoft to help pay for advertising probably excludes any mention of Linux, though I have no proof of that.

Linux is not a commercial product. IOW, it doesn't cost you anything. As such, it has no advertising budget. You're not going to see it on a commercial anytime soon, unless it's perceived as advantageous to the hardware vendor hawking their goods. Maybe one day we'll see a little tag that says "Linux Compatible" on products, but that's the best we can hope for. The closest I've seen to any sort of Linux push is the inclusion of TurboLinux and perhaps other distros in NIC boxes. Maybe we should try to get Debian disks included in boxes of Captain Crunch?! :)

Yes, I know. In common business sense, a business would rather get a piece of the pie than none at all.

Anyway, I will continue using linux whether
it strives or not.

-later

Just to clarify, you took a CD into a shop which for all they knew could have been a virus, spy ware, a security exploit, or anything else that could possibly damage or invade their system, and you were "amazed" that they didn't let you run it on their machine. Is that correct?

Personally I wouldn't find that "amazing" at all. I also wouldn't restrict myself to buying from suppliers who are foolish enough to allow anyone free reign to do as they please with their equipment.

Yeah, it's not like Dell would see an increase in sales from people interesting in buying machines preloaded with Linux or anything.

Oh please.

We're talking about demo machines set up in a for sale environment, not the Pentagon mainframe.

People test run software and especially Linux LiveCDs on demo machines all the time. I've done it a few times myself. Anyone that paranoid about their DEMO machines isn't computer savvy enough to do business with in the first place.

I think I agree with 'hand of fate' as far as the vendor not wanting you to run any external software. These guys are trained to sell specific hardware, and to push Vista. They probably don't know any better, as their only experience with computers includes Windows.

Probably the best you could do is say "Look, I want to check out my Linux OS to see if it works on your computer." When they say no, gently show them to a seat and bring up the Ubuntu site, and explain to them exactly what Linux is; that it's free, that it's very well supported, etc.

Doing this in a respectful manner, you'd probably open up at least one person's eyes to a new world (like the Truth/non smoking commercials).

Well, maybe Linux is a windows virus. I somehow suspect that the guys at MS would agree on that.

Or we could turn that around and say that Linux is the Windows Virus Cleaner? ;)

Perhaps, but I've always thought of Windows as a boot virus :D

Actually, I tried to explain what I wanted to do before I gave up. They were not interested at all. I tried to explain that I needed to try this before I ordered a system. Most sales reps at stores I have visited don't care what kind of shape their systems are in, many won't boot or have major problems from customers messing around with the systems.

I agree about explaining what I wanted to do respectfully, which I tried to do. The point is the Dell guys at the Dell Direct store in Greensboro didn't care, As a result, they lost a sale.

Any machine, weather a "DEMO" machine or otherwise, is capable of being damaged my malicious software!

What is "computer savvy" about leaving themselves wide open to any kinds of malicious software threat? As I said before, I certainly wouldn't restrict myself to trading with foolish suppliers.