Dell Website Shows Ubuntu More Respect
For roughly two years, readers have told WorksWithU they have a difficult time finding Ubuntu desktop and laptop options on Dell’s U.S. Website. Apparently, Dell heard the constructive criticism. Only a few weeks after Windows 7’s launch, Dell is giving Ubuntu more real estate on the Dell U.S. website. Here’s the scoop.
To Dell U.S.’s credit, the company has long offered visitors a specific URL (www.dell.com/ubuntu) for Ubuntu shoppers. Now, in a subtle but important step, Dell also is finally exposing Ubuntu to consumers who may not be familiar with Linux.
Check Dell’s page for home laptop buyers and there’s a menu (see image, left) offering Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP and … drum roll, please … Ubuntu options. Thank you to a number of readers who pointed out Dell’s decision to highlight the Ubuntu option.
Still, there’s more room for Ubuntu progress at Dell. The PC giant’s business laptop page doesn’t mention Ubuntu-specific options — though there are FreeDos and Linux check boxes. Also, Dell’s consumer desktop and business desktop pages don’t mention Ubuntu — though Dell U.S. does sell one Ubuntu desktop as of Dec. 10, 2009. And I admit: Dell’s track record selling Ubuntu systems varies greatly from one country to the next.
In mid-2009, I concede, I was worried about Dell U.S.’s commitment to Ubuntu because the PC giant briefly stopped offering Ubuntu desktop preloads. But by October 2010 2009 Dell U.S. had made good on a promise to re-introduce Ubuntu desktops.
Fast forward to the present and Dell — only a few weeks after Windows 7’s launch — has added Ubuntu to its home laptop menu page. That’s a small but very significant move.
Follow WorksWithU via Identi.ca, Twitter and RSS (available now) and our newsletter (coming soon).
WorksWithU on Identi.ca
WorksWithU on Twitter
WorksWithU's RSS Feed
finally a linux distro giving competition to windows…keep up ubuntu
madhu: Canonical and Ubuntu can’t compete with Windows on their own. True customer choice will require open minded hardware companies that are willing to experiment with Windows alternatives. To Dell’s credit the company has been shipping Ubuntu on selected U.S. machines since mid-2007. Dell makes mistakes but I wonder if the Ubuntu community focuses too much on the negatives and not enough on the Dell positives…
-jp
Glad to see this, but on a personal note I am a little frustrated waiting for Ubuntu Desktops on the UK site. I wanted to support them but I can’t hold off any longer I’ll build a system myself to avoid the tax.
@Joe: I agree this is very relevant. Also, there are some interesting Laptops with Ubuntu for Business and Education, and I am not sure these are linked from a main page. Please see the reader comments here:
http://www.workswithu.com/2009/12/09/the-quest-for-an-ubuntu-netbook
OMG, I just tried, they list 9 Notebooks without Windows, and 3 of them have Ubuntu
http://www.dell.com/business/laptops?~ck=mn#subcats=&navla=80770~0~1791343&navidc=LT:%20Operating%20System&navValc=FreeDOS%20and%20Linux&a=80770~0~1791343
I think the Business sections is worth a look! They may also list desktops and workstations. Although, granted, they don’t seem to make a distinction for Ubuntu, but rather lump Linux and FreeDos (i.e., non-MS Tax) together.
Seems like the only laptops they are offering with Ubuntu are the Mini 10 and 10v. Guess I’m on my last Dell.
Haven’t tested it myself, but I read somewhere else that the only way to get an Ubuntu system on Dell’s site is to go through the Ubuntu section. Call me a cynic, but I don’t see this as Dell showing Ubuntu some respect. Seems more like they’re just protecting themselves from less savvy customers who don’t realize what they’re ordering.
@Steve: I don’t believe this is true. As long as the system builder shows you Ubuntu as an option you are fine. On the other hand, if you try to call a sells rep on the phone and get them to help, well, that’s not gonna fly!
After my experiences with Dell and the pathetic support for Linux in my country I wouldn’t even give them the time of day now. Their Ubuntu offering was sparse and more expensive that the same machine with Windows. It’s great they are taking it more seriously now but it’ll take a long time to convince me they are worth spending any money on.
@Steve Love: I think you have to put yourself in Dell’s shoes. Their bread and butter is Windows, and its better for them to avoid have disgruntled customers, and they are protecting less savvy customers but those are the largest part of the market share for dell I am almost sure. I think we should give Dell some credit for what they are doing, if you want Ubuntu only offerings go to ZaReason or System76 they do an excellent job of Ubuntu only machines, but until the market share of Ubuntu users grows I think what Dell is doing takes some guts.
This has actually been there for a while now in the laptop section. But it’s still not what Ubuntu users want.
Ubuntu users want to be able to go to the Dell website and choose any PC and have the option of Ubuntu being pre-installed.
Hey “7. Steve Love” – open your eyes, the whole point of this article is that Ubuntu is now listed WITHOUT having to go to the specific ubuntu url.
@aikiwolfie: yes, but it’s not for free. Dell needs to spend money in R&D for each model they sell, and let’s be honest, they will probably not have enough customers to make it profitable to sell Ubuntu optional in ALL computers.
What I would like Dell and others to do, is to give me the option to buy ANY computer with NO operating system. Is that too much to ask? No, but there is a catch: they are afraid (for a reason) that people will have hardware compatibility problems and return the computer or parts of it. This could be worked out though, they have a special boot option to run diagnostics, they should set it up in a way you can test all the hardware with that utility, and if it passes the test you can’t return it. Something along this lines.
Dell now needs to price the Ubuntu systems appropriately. Typically in the past,the systems with Windoze are priced cheaper, even though Linux is free and Dell is paying for each copy of Windows and passing this cost along to the customer. This has forced buyers to buy systems with Windoze, then try and go back to Dell and get a Windows refund. This has worked for new systems, but refurbished systems are a little more difficult to get the refund for. If Dell were to price the machines appropriately, Ubuntu systems should always be cheaper. If this happens, I expect to see the number of systems with Ubuntu to greatly increase.
@SA: this has been said over and over. The software is free to use and distribute, but you need to either spend your in-house resources or pay for a customization contract for someone to make it run nicely in every device you sell with Linux preinstalled. The customer expects every little thing to work. Same goes for Windows, but the sales volumes is still (unfortunately) ridiculously higher for Windows. The only thing they are saving is the (rather low, OEM) license they pay.
Hello ! Hello guys!! Dell is dropping the ball. The Vostro v13 with Ubuntu is **ONLY AVAILABLE WITH A CELERON CPU** The Windows7 versions are available with a Core2 Duo and Core solo CPU. There is NO OPTION to upgrade from a Celeron CPU on this business class laptop. We needed to order 15 of them with proper CPUs not Celeron. And they tried to sell us Latitudes. So we are off to System76 to look at their options.
Wesley@10: I agree with you 110%. Your statement reflects WorksWithU’s perspective. I hope Dell (and other PC makers) continue to make progress with Ubuntu. In the meantime, I think Dell deserves some credit for its progress — especially amid Windows 7’s launch.
-jp
Geez, you guys, calm down! Dell continues to expand their Ubuntu, Suse and Red Hat offerings and all you want to do is bitch about how they’re not going fast enough for you. Give me a break! Compared to HP, Toshiba, Lenovo, or any other big OEM they’re doing fantastically.
Want to complain about the lack of Linux offerings from manufacturers? Why not go pick on someone who really deserves it? Like Asus for pulling even their crappy Xandros offering off the eee?
Just do us all a favor and keep the conversation with those other OEMs civil, OK? As my great- great- ever so great-grandmother wisely used to say, “You’ll catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.”
I wonder how much of this discussion will matter if a seamless hypervisor comes to fruition
@andydread: this is just terrible, and must have to do with MS once again, ONCE AGAIN doing his dirty tricks, possibly threatening Dell (which is what they always do, and the reason everyone wants to get rid of MS’s grip)
Unless I slept longer than I thought, October 2010 hasn’t happened yet. Third paragraph to last.
@andydread: Dell’s approach is not terrible – it’s spot on. The Ubuntu version of the Vostro V13 costs a full 25% ($150) less than the cheapest Windows 7 model. They accomplish this by using a less expensive processor and somewhat smaller disk.
But that’s the RIGHT approach, because Ubuntu is significantly less taxing on processors and requires less disk space than Windows 7. So you get equivalent performance for 25% less cash.
(My production workstation, for example, uses an old Athlon 3800+ single-core CPU with 2 GB RAM and a 60 GB disk. It runs Ubuntu 9.10 with hopped up Compiz in all its glory with no hesitation at all.)
I applaud Dell for making the right decision, and helping buyers select the appropriate level of hardware to run the more efficient Ubuntu system.
The pricing thing is totally lame and Dell can go to hell for it. I will not pay the same price as the Windows-taxed Microsoft computers just because it’s “a different choice”. The Linux options HAVE to be cheaper if they give you the same hardware, otherwise you are just getting screwed. Sorry Dell, but you’re not getting my business with a scam like that.
Well those who want to use Ubutu, they can buy anything. It works on assembled PC/LAPTOP also. They did a great work. Within 5 years, a better OS which is better than Windows. Very simple to install. Days are not far, when We will be using OS of our choice and not H/W vendors choice.
@ricefg: While I agree in that they do great by offering the option you mention (Ubuntu on a lower spec’ed machine where it can still shine), there is no reason they’d not offer it on the same machine, just with a better processor: they already went through the process of validating and customizing Ubuntu for the device. There would be no additional overhead, just more sales, if they would also offer it in the higher spec’ed flavors of the same notebook.
The only reason they would not do it, is if MS forces them to make that decision. It is not a secret that MS dismisses Linux as an “inferior, basic OS for very basic tasks”. This only helps spread the FUD.
@Leo
> What I would like Dell and others to do, is to give me the option to buy ANY computer with NO operating system. Is that too much to ask? No, but there is a catch: they are afraid (for a reason) that people will have hardware compatibility problems and return the computer or parts of it.
WRONG. I am in Japan. Sony is offering this service (at least, or at last). Of course, they only provide support for windoze, but you don’t have to purchase an OS.
Dell notebooks are shitty. the build quality is a shame as for the LCD rendering. There is no system76 in Asia.
I agree with a poster above, I would like to have the choice to choose my OS, no matter the make or model.
I am really sad Linux-Ubuntu desktop is always on the cheap side of the sidewalk, it’s way better than windoze, sexier, faster, more reliable and performs better. I would like to see it on high end notebooks – Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.
Cheers.
Sometimes you’ve got to give people their props where they are due. Its great that they are giving alternative operating systems a helping hand with respect to making Ubuntu available to customers.
When it comes to the barebones approach, some products lend well to not having a fully functional system at the point of purchase. Many people have the expectation of a fully functional product to buy while others do not. It all depends on how each individual customer defines a product and this may varies by situation. For instance we don’t all have to milk our own cows but we love the products (cheese, butter, ice cream) that come from milk at different times.
@Leo: No OS was also an option we pushed for on Dells’ IdeaStorm forum. Dell didn’t like it. Apparently it would have cost too much in customer support or some such.
@aikiwolfie:
That brings up an interesting point. How much traffic do Ubuntu Dell purchases drive into the Ubuntu community support forums versus through Dell’s own technical support or Canonical’s support center? Is the free Ubuntu community support undercutting Canonical’s ability to get Dell and Dell customers to pay out of pocket for Canonical support services?
-jef
I think this is a big step for Linux.
“The future will be open.”
Now all you can get from Dell with Ubuntu on it is a netbook. What happened to the laptops?
Carlos:
The US Dell Ubuntu store page lists 2 laptops at the bottom:
Vostro V13 and Latitude 2100
They don’t have a full spread on the page like the netbook..but the button links are there.
reference:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
But the desktop offerings introduced in October have gone missing again…..when did that happen?
reference:
http://www.workswithu.com/2009/10/07/dell-ubuntu-desktop-is-back/
-jef