Dell is now ready to make a Linux desktop move.

[133724]

In an attempt to boost its sagging fortunes, Dell, one of the leading PC makers in America, recently launched the Dell Idea Storm website to solicit ideas on how to get Dell back to the top. The most popular idea so far? Desktops with pre-installed Linux.

<snip>

Specifically, users wanted the top-three free Linuxes -- Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE -- offered as selections for the Dell desktop. The Linux option was almost twice as popular as the next option. That next option was, by the way, to have OpenOffice pre-installed instead of Microsoft Works or a trial version of Microsoft Office.

http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS8382062536.html

[Atman]

1. Just kill them now.

Great. Dell will thrill a handful of geeks who were motivated enough to respond to their survey, while ignoring what CONSUMERS want -- a machine that just works without having to be constantly fiddling with it. Let the Geek Squad build their own boxes and drive Dell even further into the ground. Meanwhile, real consumers are moving to Macs and OSX...because they just work.

.

[tridim]

2. As much as I like Linux, it's not going to save Dell's ass

Mostly because of the lack of POPULAR third party software.

I know, I know, Linux has The Gimp and OpenOffice, but it doesn't matter. Most average users just want to run Windows software.

Honestly this sounds like a story from 1995.

[wilt the stilt]

3. may Michael Dell

die a slow and inhumane business death. I feel sorry for the workers but Michael dell really blows

[China_cat]

4. He was pushing free Dell computers to union locals

at the same time he was sending 80% of his jobs offshore.

Linux isn't going to do diddly to save a company in China.