No OS Preloaded - Dell IdeaStorm

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86070

No OS Preloaded

86070 points posted to Linux, Operating Systems, Sales Strategies by agreer 02/17/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

I have a XP Pro retail copy, will soon buy retail vista, I also like Linux: Make WINDOWS-FREE, and OS-Free an option for more than just expensive business lines.

Dell has systems available that do not have an OS pre-loaded called N-Series line. You can check them out at www.dell.com/nseries.

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ntaylor0909 02/17/07	Check out the n-series here: http://linux.dell.com/desktops.shtml FYI
eldergeek 02/18/07	Amen. I can install my own favorite flavor of Linux if you'll sell me one with no OS in it.
agreer 02/18/07	I seem to not have explained myself well enough in the podt: The N-seriese costs the same as the same model with windows, that defeats the purpose...I do not want to PAY for windows...I also want an option, when I do order one with Windows, not to get Works...
exzen 02/18/07	hear hear
uklathemock 02/18/07	I totally agree. The problem is: how many morons are going to click "no operating system" to save $100, and then call Dell customer service because their computer won't boot up?
nirmal 02/18/07	Same here. Give option for user to choose the OS or NO OS.
ss095 02/19/07	For professionals dell offers already this option and the saving (in France) is 81 Eu for XP Pro SP2 and 89,10 Eu for Vista Premium Business (without taxes). It would be great to have the same for privat persons.
cgay 02/19/07	To put this idea into practice would not require yet another (costly ?) construction option, it would just require that no activation code be given to the customer that does not want to acquire the ($100 or more) Windows (and other software) licence. In other words, it's just optionality for the softwares and for the OS.
will_of_france 02/19/07	Absolutely agree. It's just my own idea of freedom : freedeom to chose OS or no OS, freedom to chose which OS.
kruz 02/19/07	I agree that you shouldn't have to pay for windows, although you may want to change the NO OS Preloaded, because the systems can come OS Free, but they do charge you the same as if you had windows.
dellguy2007 02/19/07	Have you guys checked out Dell's website lately. There is a section called Open-source PCs (http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/e510_nseries?c=us&cs=19&l=en...~ If you want it bad enough, do it. However, you are paying the same price, but your getting it your way.
ryan 02/19/07	I might be completely wrong, but didn't Dell try to offer PC's without windows or with Red Hat in the past? I recall Microsoft threatened Dell's status as an OEM provider? Maybe someone recalls this? Maybe it was part of the antitrust case and all big OEM manufactures? I am talking workstations, not servers. What ever forces "Dell recommends XP profressional" on every web page (except this one) is a result of pressure? How long before Microsoft desides this page is not in Dell's best interest? Regarding N-series Dells...it would be nice to know the RH machines can be purchased naked...other wise what linux distro are they fully compatible with? Purchasing a Dell designed for XP without XP is not of much use unless the hardware will work with linux or free/open unix. Notice the available software tab is geared to XP as the OS.
agreer 02/19/07	Go to the N-series web site and spec out a PC, do the same spec in the Small Business store (same models, just Windows loaded)...price is the same...I commend dell for making windows free an option, but the point is if Windows soesnt ship on the Unit, it should cost a good chunk less than the same thing with Vista Bus. or XP Pro.
griffin3 02/19/07	I have bought at least 6 business machines for my wife's office over the past two years. I have also purchased 2 laptop computers as Christmas gifts for family members. I need to buy two more machines for the office: but I will not put Windows Vista machines on that network. It's bad enough having WinXP machines on there, which I cannot tear out and the-install the network stack when some bit of malware corrupts it; I refuse to have Vista machines up at the office that I cannot repair short of a full re-install. And don't even bother trying to tell me that Vista is more secure: the only thing keeping me from spending 20% of my time up there as unpaid tech support, is ripping out IE6/Outlook from all the machines, and putting in Firefox/Thunderbird. And threatening the users' lives. I have 27 years' computer experience, and I have debugged machines with a soldering iron: if you tell me the only way I can get a computer is with Vista installed, you aren't going to sell me any computers. Wise up, guys, give real OS options ... and a $100 less for no OS.
shadowman 02/19/07	Of course I want to be able to buy hardware. And by "hardware" I mean hardware, not hardware and some garbage attched to it, which I would even have to pay for. It would make more sense to pay less for the hardware if you have to work to remove the garbage from it. It is just simply unbelievable that it is almost impossible to get just hardware. Imagine buying plates and being forced to buy some pork at the same time. Or, if you buy coffee, you have to buy some cigarettes. Completely idiotic. That, actually, makes more sense to me as a former smoker. These two things go together well. The same way it is idiotic that one cannot buy hardware without software. There is so much software in the world. I know what software I want and I know where to get it. The problem is that Microsoft forces hardware retailers to sell Windows with every PC or else they would charge them a higher price, which would be a disadvantage with respect to competition which obeys Microsoft. Therefore, everybody obeys. But, that's not such a huge problem. If they would act together, they could end their slavery to Microsoft. If HP and Dell (and maybe some others) would get together and say to Microsoft "No, we will not be your slaves anymore. You can't scare Dell with HP and vice versa." There would be nothing Microsoft could do. Some try to fool their customers. They tell them that they are getting an OS-free machine, but the price of Windows is included in the price. You just don't get Windows. That seems to be the case here, as some others noticed above. From what I can tell, HP does the same. Whatever you do, you pay the Microsoft tax. There is no better way to describe it. It works just like sales tax. It is charged with every purchase. You don't have a choice.
shadowman 02/19/07	To illustrate my point I went ahead and configured two machines, one with Windows and one without. They are both laptops. They are otherwise completely identical hardware. Here they are: E1505 Dual Core Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 15.4 inch WXGA+ LCD 2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHZ, 2 DIMM 100GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive 8X DVD+/-RW Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal Windows Vista™ Home Premium $1582 Latitude D820N Duo Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 15.4 inch WXGA+ LCD 2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHZ, 2 DIMM 100GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive 8X DVD+/-RW Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth Internal $1788 The difference in price is $206. This implies that Windows costs -206 dollars. You add Windows to hardware and the price automatically goes down by $206. How do you explain this? So, those stories about Dell offering OS-free hardware are bullshit. It costs more if you remove the OS.
andilek 02/19/07	This option is something like "must have". 1) Windows Vista OEM license is valid for one hardware change (upgrade) so dell would loose customer if he must buy Vista with all products again. 2) The community of OS software is growing and I personally have more than 50 friends with no windows on PC. They skip Dell for they do not want to buy windows.
sesse 02/20/07	This already exists, just not on the website. Just call them, and you can get almost any machine without an OS.
surjector 02/20/07	Why pay for a windows license that I won't use ? I still do not understand. Leave me the possibility to save the price of an OS that I'll not use anyway.
wisher 02/20/07	I think that OS should be a choice, as an hardware element. I remember that sold a no OS pc will make you buy a RETAIL copy of the OS (if you chose Windows) instead of the OEM
daenris 02/20/07	I agree with this. I also tried pricing N systems and found little price difference over identical windows systems. I definitely would like an option to have no OS installed, or alternatively (as in the most popular suggestion here) some version of linux preinstalled on it.
jas_john128 02/20/07	griffen3 wrote: "if you tell me the only way I can get a computer is with Vista installed, you aren't going to sell me any computers." I second that opinion and am adamantly opposed to burdening any of my at-home customers with Vista, particularly those for whom i've set up wireless nets. And let's be realistic: which of the dozen or so available versions of Vista is/are actually the "Vista" that's being hyped so heavily? And sure, Vista will boot at 1G but who will argue that it doesn't need 2G to run properly? Just how much time and money does Dell and Microsoft expect normal citizens to spend (or waste, and my time as well) trying to get it right the first time? How many perfectly adequate home systems running XP Pro/SP2 will be unable to run any adequate flavor of Vista without serious tech time (mine) and money (customers/neighbors/friends) expended on what at this point in the life-cycle is just, frankly, more computer junk. I've set up plenty of dell-based systems, wired and wireless, and like everyone else who's paid attention to XP/SP2 since we began "standardizing" on it for Windows users, have got them all running well enough, and securely, and with (for Windows) as few extraordinary troubles and woes as can be expected. It's a pain in the neck but we've learned to live with it and keep people up and running. So when i browsed Dell last week to buy a desktop for a neighbor, to fit it into her wireless net, and didn't see an XP option, i opened up chat and spoke to a Dell rep. When he explained that only Vista was being offered due to Dell's commitment to only offer the "latest and greatest", i asked him if he was being ironic. Then i terminated chat and began looking at other options, because like griffen3 i refues to infect any network or annoy any friends and neighbors by sticking them with the cost and the trouble of Microsoft Vista.
indianrediff 02/20/07	I had explicitly asked Dell to not install Vista - and they said that it could be only done if I was a 'large corporation with thousands of PCs in my order'. The explanation was that the OS is pre-installed and that I could uninstall it as soon as I received. The price would not be any different if I chose to have the system without an OS. I think that is a load of ****. I can get PCs with no OS installed from other no-name brand sellers. Why not from DELL? For the record, I had asked them for a laptop and they said that the only OS that it comes with is VIsta. I said that I was replacing an existing laptop with an XP license - and the response was the above.
kenoscope 02/20/07	Supposably if you do not agree to the license, Microsoft will refund you the value of the OS. I know of no one who has attempted to take this path that has ever seen a penny. Myself, I still use 2000. I have a work computer running DOS 6.22 Why? Equipment and software I own either is no longer avaliable, too farging expensive to buy (try finding a legal sized stand alone scanner for example) or will not function with anything above 2000. I own a full install version of 2000 Pro. Everytime I load it on a new machine I remove it from the old machine. Why is it impossible for me to buy an OS free machine (which should be severial hundred dollars cheaper anyway.)
sotiros 02/20/07	This is an interesting thread. I've worked at dell as a temp worker in the past. My job was to acutally push a cart of pc's from the line (after leaving the builders workarea) and place the pc's in a rack. Another temp worker would come in behind me and plug the systems up (power, terminator, and network cable). The builders would put in a floppy that had the instructions to load whatever software the customer wanted. When the temp worker would plug the power in, the pc would boot to the floppy, read the instructions and download what ever software was needed from an internal storage server. After about an hour, the terminator would blink a yellow light for a successful load and test and a red light if something went wrong with the load or test. Another temp worker would push around an identical cart to the one I had and unload the rack of pc's finished loading software and dump them off to the packing department. A simple flag on the work order that already rides along with each pc in the build process can trigger the guy that has my old job to just simply drop the pc off at packing (an extra 5 ft of walking) and save the hour or two the pc would actually sit in the software load racks. For dell to do this would be extremly easy to work into the existing process. I only worked on the desktop systesm (Superman at the time), so I can't comment on laptop build process. side note: Dell used to call the different models different superhero's, internally. ie Superman.
coopersecurity 02/20/07	That really is a good idea, since I dont like Vista, I just wipe the computer clean and install XP. I'll be doing that for quite a long time. Back in the pre Vista era, it was cheaper to order any computer with XP Home, and install XP Pro when I receive it, as I had a corporate licence. Dell could also continue to offer ALL their computers with XP, since Vista is still not widely accepted as an OS in the I.T. field, since classic login doesnt exist in current Vista installs.
s3indiana 02/20/07	Choice is the key and access to a Dell Hardware Compatibility list (http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/62702) would assist in determine what hardware meets the customers needs...
d23 02/20/07	I posted about this in the "preload linux" thread. There are a lot of reasons we should have the option. The place I work with isn't going to migrate totally to linux any time soon, but I can also find no reason at all to move to Vista. The pros of using Vista right now is that "it's pretty." The cons include stuff like horrible DRM, driver problems, need for massive amount of memory and processor, and the list goes on and on. On top of it, we have a windows site license, so there is no need to buy another OS license! Please, Dell, you're letting Microsoft fleece us through these agreements you make with Microsoft. If you don't be the pioneer for this then some other comany will and I people like me will probably be forced to switch.
thx84 02/20/07	i've been dreaming for this option for so long
dicka 02/20/07	My solution was to buy a loaded iMac and to install XP, via Parallels. Tonight I will create another VM and load Linux. I've cloned XP, again using Parallels, and burned it to disk. Should I ever opt to go with a version of Vista I will simply create another VM. With three OS I have the best of all worlds. While I have been quite satisfied with the 4 Dell PC's I've owned I just wanted something different!
somesysadmin 02/20/07	I couldn't agree more. If I were to buy a Dell Laptop today - I'd not accept the Windows license agreement, repartition the drive and load my favorite version of Linux. The world's a big place, and not everyone wants windows loaded on their system. It would be nice if the option for no operating system to be available when you purchase a new system.
amarbhegde 02/21/07	I would buy a new PC immideately from dell if dell provides me with the option of" no OS " pc. i do now want to pay extra for a resource hungry vista.instead i would use my favorite version of linux
jss167 02/21/07	It is good to have no OS, but the hardware should be Linux compatible.
grnich 02/21/07	Works for me. No one should have to put up with advertising-laden software 'bundles.'
kenoscope 02/21/07	I use 2000, I have no desire to have Big Brother XP sniffing around my system hunting for 'illegal software' (I don't have any illegal software) then claiming something is illegal that isn't. If I have too I'll go back to DOS 6.22, it worked fine for what I needed. I don't need the internet that badly anyway, I'll just fire up ther old FIDONET system again and link to what still exists. Keep your XP and grabage your Vista. Both remove too much freedom I am used to and strongly desire to have on MY computer that I bought with MY money.
shadowman 02/21/07	"It is good to have no OS, but the hardware should be Linux compatible." Thar's not really a problem since almost all hardware is Linux compatible anyway.
aussiebear 02/21/07	"That's not really a problem since almost all hardware is Linux compatible anyway." That is a bad assumption to make. I rather have Dell set up a Linux certification or qualification team to produce a list of Dell hardware that has been tested and working with Linux. (Keep the tests to the three most wanted distros...OpenSUSE, Ubuntu and Fedora). This way, its easier for Dell to keep track of. Why? This makes it easier for non-technical folks and business customers to understand what will work and what does not. And yes, I do agree with others, there should be a "No Operating System" option for ALL Dell systems. (With a condition such that Dell is only responsible for the hardware issues. Any software issues are the user's responsibility). I don't mind this, as I build and install my own systems anyway!
shadowman 02/21/07	@aussiebear If they don't sell you the software, why would they be responsible? The point is that software and hardware are separate products. Just like the guy who sells you coffee is not responsible for the tires on your car. That's what I was saying in my posts higher above. If they are going to do certification or whatever, I don't mind, but I also don't care. I would be perfectly happy just being able to buy hardware. Many others would too. Certification is such an insignificant issue compared to paying Microsoft tax. Having no certification does not take any money out of my pocket while Microsoft does.
aussiebear 02/21/07	@shadowman Its for those folks who assume Dell is responsible for Linux on their brand of PCs. You wouldn't believe how ignorant the world is of computers, and its important to account for that. Most people out there think PCs and Windows are one thing. (Even those humourous Apple advertisments do it). And we know its not. If you want Linux to gain acceptance, you have to do these things that sometimes don't make sense to the enthusiasts. Its how the real world works. Bare that in mind. You have to see it from Dell's view as well. Dell doesn't worry about just you. They have to worry about selling to the millions of other folks out there. You can't say something doesn't matter because its not a prime concern to you. You have to factor those things in. Its how business works.
s3indiana 02/21/07	shadowman posted: If they don't sell you the software, why would they be responsible? If there's no Hardware Compatibility List (http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/62702) then how would you know what hardware would work with your distribution of choice? An HCL is critical to adoption...
jantman 02/22/07	I understand the implications of such a product both in terms of bottom-line, and in terms of support. I would not expect the system to have the full cost of software subtracted from the price, as this would surely impact your profitability. However I would, for example, be willing to pay $50 or so above what the hardware sells for to purchase a system without software, which is guaranteed to work with Linux, or at least has parts chosen for optimal Linux compatibility. Granted, full, 100% guaranteed compatibility really depends on each specific distribution of Linux, or another OS, but I think that a web page for each model listing predicted compatibility (on, say, a red-yellow-green scale) for different OS's (Linux, OpenBSD, etc.) would be worth $50 or so. Furthermore, most users of Linux rely on community support, and this seems to work. Dell could recoup some of the lost software revenue in additional costs like "Linux certification". Furthermore, while choosing one distribution (like SuSE, RedHat, etc.) would alienate some Linux users, it would be a big step in the right direction, would speak well for hardware support under other distributions, and would provide Dell with the opportunity of selling support contracts through the distribution vendor. While Dell may not see this as a large issue, and granted, Linux on the desktop is not - yet - at some point one of the tier-one vendors, be it Dell, HP, or someone else, is going to jump into Linux, and will be known from then on as the pioneer. As a Linux user, I understand that Dell, HP, and others don't care about me. That's why when I buy a system, I buy used or white-box (custom). I'm a college student, and I don't buy often, but I understand which vendors care about my needs and which ones don't. I work as a programmer for a large University, and when I spec out machines to purchase, I spec custom, white-box brands, or try and make used hardware fit the bill. Because Dell doesn't care about me.
zerodeux 02/22/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/22/07 No OS preloaded The title says it all, and I really would like to know how to vote, anybody ?
l4m3r1 02/22/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/19/07 No Operating System Please offer all dell systems available with no OS installed, so that those of use who will never be installing a non-free operating system do not have to pay for one.
limerat 02/22/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 Agreed. My latest machine was a bare bones and I bought it so I would not have to cough up money to Microsoft and i could put Freespire Linux on it. This option would be great for people installing BSD and more obscure flavors of Linux.
cwlh 02/22/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/19/07 OS-free Systems It must be possible to buy a computer without unwanted Operating Systems and other software. Bundling an operating system with a computer is crazy.
guardianxps 02/22/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/19/07 There was already a suggestion for that. Sorry
jmxz 02/22/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 The problem with OS-free systems is that there's a big business pre-installing crippleware that probably more than makes up for the cost of the OS. I imagine an OS-free system would cost quite a bit more than the OS-included ones because these third party software providers basically subsidize the PC.
me22 02/22/07	Make it an option. For marketing purposes, make sure the consumer knows it will cost them $200 or whatever if they want to get windows later because they will have to get a retail copy, or get a dell oem copy, but it will cost more if it is not bundled. This will keep the average consumer buying windows.
handydan918 02/22/07	A no-O/S option certainly makes sense, but only if the buyer is actually relieved from paying the M/S tax. If Dell, doesn't do this, I have no doubt that, with these poll numbers "out in the wild", some first-tier OEM will. Oh, and as far as Linux HCL and Brand-X distro pre-installed, who cares about the HCL if the box comes w/ Linux pre-loaded? If it is pre-loaded w/ any flavor of Linux, it will work with any other flavor. Just a matter of copying over drivers, maybe some config files.... Better than the current situation by far.
illini7833 02/22/07	shadowman wrote: "The difference in price is $206. This implies that Windows costs -206 dollars. You add Windows to hardware and the price automatically goes down by $206. How do you explain this? So, those stories about Dell offering OS-free hardware are bullshit. It costs more if you remove the OS." Upon looking at this scenario, there is an answer. Every Latitude comes with a 3-year warranty bundled in, versus the Inspiron which comes with a 1-year. The extra 2 years of warranty support costs approximately $250 - $300 extra.
wwt777 02/22/07	DELL what took you so long to do this blog?
magnus 02/23/07	No OS preloaded is a great idea. But why isn't this an offer in all countries where Dell is selling PC's? I am looking for a new laptop and I am not bying one unless I can have it without an OS or with a Linux distro preloaded.
dante123 02/23/07	I'm an elementary school teacher and I have been letting my students know about the Linux operating system I run on my laptop as an alternative to Windows. In my previous experiences with Linux, I must confess that getting all of my hardware to work under Linux was sometimes a challenge. But this is changing for the better with the distros available now. We had a scanner that we tried to hook up to a Windows computer in the classroom and we had difficulty getting the driver to load properly. I plugged the same scanner into my Ubuntu laptop and was scanning right away. Linux is ready for the desktop....and users deserve a choice. In social studies, we have been talking about different forms of government and it is obvious that giving consumers a choice is akin to democracy while cowtowing to a monopolistic behemoth like Microsoft is slavery under a dictatorship. To use the analogy of Marc Prensky (an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, and designer in the critical areas of education and learning), the "digital natives" are not intimidated by the FUD of Microsoft. They are not as easily fooled into thinking Microsoft is the only way to go as many of their "digital immigrant" parents, teachers, and bureaucrats in business and government. The denial of choice in terms of which operating system a user can get on the machine they purchase- is a political issue. Dell can become known as the champion of user freedom of choice in the OS wars. If Dell could provide consumers with the hardware that has been tested and configured to work out of the box with the most popular distros of Linux- even if Dell doesn't actually install Linux, I believe it will be a win-win situation for Dell and consumers. I know I would buy a Windows free laptop from Dell. Let the people have a choice, Dell, and I believe history and eventually sales will show you made a wise decision.
texstar 02/23/07	Although a small (but growing) market, no OS is a necessary option for non profit organizations, who often receive both OS and productivity software through donations. The cost to maintain purchased software in addition to, for example, site licensed software, ends up costing the organization more in the long run.
d-vito 02/23/07	I agree. My school offers me a free licence of Windows Vista. So why should I pay for something I have already?
mik-p 02/23/07	As a long time Unix user and now Linux user, I would agree with all Servers, PC's and Laptops across the entire DELL range being available without any installed software so that there is then a choice by the end user for network specific OS or Software options. This is especially important for Industrial applications where the installed software is completely removed so as to install specialist programs.
pyite 02/23/07	agreer: the problem, from what I understand, is that those companies PAY Dell to install their trial-ware. Without these subsidies, the N series will certainly cost a bit more. It is worth it, thought, to guarantee that Microsoft doesn't receive any licensing fees. Dell could also come up with some Linux trialware from web sites, Cedega, etc.
arvelius 02/24/07	Indeed, this was the single reason my last laptop was not a Dell. It would be a great advantage on the market as the number of computers that can be delivered without OS is hard to find, especially laptops.
thefirstone 02/24/07	I haven't bought a new laptop or computer because it forces me to pay for Windows. I see it as a monopoly. I have more than enough Windows licenses laying around to keep buying more. I'm also integrating into Linux and Vista is one OS I expect to never use. I just can't stand the idea of being forced to pay for an operating system which I don't want.
thefirstone 02/24/07	I've been building my own computers for several years now, so I can't be forced to pay the MS tax. Now with a laptop it's different, I can't build my own laptop. I've put of buying a new laptop because I don't want to pay for a new Windows license. I've looked into used laptops but it's more risky plus it would be nicer to have a brand new laptop.
shadowman 02/24/07	OK, even if we take that trialware into consideration, it will not change anything unless I can see before I buy that, if I remove Windows, I get a lower price. If you touch something several times and every time you get burned, you will not touch it anymore. The same way we have been burned by Microsoft and hardware vendors pushing Microsoft software. We will not be convinced until we can see it. If I go to configure a machine and I can include Windows or exclude it, and if excluding Windows results in a lower price, I am convinced. I will buy. That is what it comes down to. If they still want to include trialware (on a disk or however) I don't care. It is easily removable. Everything is fine as long as I can get the price I should get (price of the same machine with Windows included minus the price of Windows) . Why do I not care? Because whatever they put on the machine, I will just erase the hard drive (which practically takes no time) and install what I want. So, I don't care. They can put on the hard disk whatever they want as long as I don't have to pay for it. They will not put Windows on the hard drive for free. On the other hand, even if they would give me a machine for free and just charge me for Windows, I will not buy it. It is a principle. I think that it is wrong to be forced to pay for Windows and I will not go against my principles. Hardware and software have to be separated. Not just that. I think that Microsoft is evil. Why? Well, for example they paid SCO a lot of money to sue Linux vendors in order to eliminate Linux. That is evil. I cannot give a cent to Microsoft even if that would save me money. @arvelius OS-free desktops are not hard to find. There's plenty of them on the internet. I've been buying them for years. The problem is only in laptops.
valeryan_24 02/25/07	Yes, it would be excellent, since the time that thousands of customers ask it, if a vendor could propose the CHOICE : OEM Windows, or Linux, or NO Operating System, with the cost reduction : please do not continue to pretend that Windows is free and that there is not any fee for it, and give ALL your clients the possibility to decide what OS / program they want or not !
fraenky 02/26/07	Yeah! Here the same! I want to choose if i want a OS or not especially on Notebooks! Want to save the money for it, i can install my own OS (Linux or Windows) i want.. And that not only in USA! Please in Germany too!!
leganza 02/26/07	PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - just bare plastic (used to be iron, but plastic now) - I have my own suite of linux distros and XP retail - this has been why I would NOT buy a laptop from you before....
buster 02/26/07	Yes please... i've been saying this for years... PLEASE NO OS!!
admin1 02/26/07	Being a corporate purchaser it is annoying to me to have to purchase a Dell computer with the preinstalled os and bloatware. I have a site licensed versions of the os's that we run and do not need the extra expense or hassle of burning down the machine to install the same os with the site license. A separate disk with machine drivers and no os would be appreciated.
n0lqu 02/26/07	I dislike the idea of paying Microsoft for a computer that I purchased without the intent to run Windows. Dell, please make "No OS" an option for ALL your computers, with an appropriate discount in price.
overcaffein8d 02/26/07	IMHO the No-OS option should at least be less than one with windows. (however much Dell would otherwise pay for it) the problem is that Microsoft and Dell are under contract. oh. so if i uninstall windows from an existing computer.. .aka format the disk, does it void my warranty? it takes longer, but it is still cheaper b/c of the trialware that i turn into zeros.
matcheu 02/26/07	I'm a french student and my university have subscribed to the MSDN Academic Alliance. MSDN AA is designed to provide the easiest and most inexpensive way for universities to make the latest Microsoft software available in labs, classrooms, and on student PCs (src http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/academic/default.aspx) It means that when I buy a dell PC you sell me a license that I don't need ! It's illogical.. Also, in France we have the "MICRO-PORTABLE ETUDIANT" (src http://delegation.internet.gouv.fr/mipe/) where some distributor propose offers on their laptops for the students. You could easily reduce the price... Student just need OpenOffice and firefox to work...
exzen 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/18/07 NO WINDOWS OPTION I've always had good experiences with Dell notebooks, I only wish I could order one without having to buy Windows with it. While I understand that the majority of users buying Dell notebooks are probably buying it with a Windows experiences in mind, there are many of us who would prefer to not have the OS installed at all (especially if costs can be reduced.) Ideally, there should be some kind of Linux option for those of us who support Opensource initiatives. I know when I eventually order my M1210 for traveling the first thing I will do is install Slackware or another Linux distro over top of the Windows installation. Please Dell, for those of us who have had enough, let us opt out of the M$ option. Even a "no OS" option is better than having to pay even $20 extra for Vista.
obyone89 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 People should really check the top popular ideas before submitting their own or else there will be way too many duplicate ideas, none of which will get the votes to be implemented. As of now, this same idea is #6 on the popular list, called NO OS PRELOADED. This same concept will get done faster if people vote for similar ideas that already have a ton of votes, instead of starting a new idea thread.
albert_1 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 i dont think peapole like the idea. I'm user of ubuntu linux but the most of the peapole is no ready to live whitout windows. The idea of no OS or linux OS installed its a great idea, but only if its an option. P.D Srry for my english I live in Mexico.
valeryan_24 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/25/07 I'm using Linux Ubuntu on my Desktop PC, and will also install it on the next laptop I will buy. So I do absolutely NOT want to pay anything to Microsoft for an OS I will never install or use, I prefer to keep this money to buy more RAM or a better material, or give it to authors of opensource softwares ! It is not only for the Linux users, it is also true for people who already bought a box version of Windows XP or Vista and use it only on 1 PC at time : why should they pay again for the same OS ?
patr38850 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 I think it is a great opportunity for DELL to get on the Linux train a few month before his competitors : the efficient online anti-piracy protection of Vista will (and has already began to) brake the installed "Windows Culture" by strongly boosting Linux in the youth, (the future corporate buyers, deciders and consummers, a fact that MS strangely seems to ignore). The strength of this movement since late 2006 (in France) is really amazing. BUT ! ! ! if I'm ready to get a no-Windows DELL laptop, it won't be at any price : IT MUST BE REASONABLY CHEAPER than the Windows-installed version !... This is not the case for now...
jonathanorlev 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 I support it :-)
sputnik 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 No Windows! Get Linux [Russia]
fyxr 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 no os ... every time i set up one of dells pc's the first thing i do is format. it would save alot of my time and customers money to have this option ...
conejoi 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 definately, no OS
eldergeek 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/18/07 No Windows I'd appreciate the opportunity to buy a computer with my choice of Linux flavors loaded into it already.
limerat 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 I agree. I got a bare bones system so i could avoid the Microsoft tax and put what i wanted on it (Freespire Linux.) If Dell had had that option, you would have had my money.
groffliers 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 ok
earlra 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 I agree. I am so fed up with Microsoft's continual upgrades (and the associated cost), the cost of security software to cover their gaps, their use of the public to find their bugs, and their big brother tactics, that I am going Linux. I have already tested some live CDs, and have decided to go with OpenSUSE. I hope someone from Dell reads this, because I will NOT pay Microsoft anymore. I called Dell and asked if I could order a non-Windows system, and the sales rep said 'no', so I said 'fine', i know of other vendors who will sell me a non-OS or Linux system. So, to be clear DELL - I WILL NOT BUY ANY MORE SYSTEMS FROM DELL UNLESS I CAN GET LINUX ONLY, NO MICROSOFT!
verbos 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 I feel that this would cause too many support issues. I do however support a Dell flavor of Linux that works as an option.
syqel 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 If a notebook supplier had their own flavor of Linux they supported, I would have bought that instead of this Gateway I'm on. As a web developer I would love to be able to develope on the same platform I'm serving from. Instead I'm stuck with Windows making due with putty,ftp,etc. because I don't know if switching to Linux will break anything.
coolest 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 There should be one pre-installed flavor per machine, so that there's at least some chance of good tech support. If you are picky about linux flavors, you would want to install the system yourself (customized just the way you want it).
tara 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 Since Windows Vista I see a lot of people getting interested in Linux. Me too, recently a friend of mine convinced me of installing Linux. Since Dell is my favorite brand of computers, delivering perfect systems(except for the windows on them :D), I tried to install a linux on my Dell Dimension 9150, I'm having a lot of trouble trying to install it. SO SUMMARY: Dell with a Linux-distro pre-installed on it = A TOTAL UBER-SYSTEM!!!
woodsbury 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 agree. the only thing that would make me consider buying from Dell, or any other company for that matter, is if I could get a computer preinstalled with Ubuntu or a computer fully compatible with GNU/Linux with no preinstalled OS on Dell Australia. otherwise I'll just make the computers myself. most of the people I've suggested using Linux instead of windows to have been interested, but are too scared to install it themselves, and I don't have enough time to put it on each of their computers personally. I'm sure many of my less-techie friends would buy a computer preinstalled with Linux over one with Windows simply because it would be cheaper.
barry5280 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 I agree, most linux distributions can be challenging to say the least but with all the Live CD options on distributions now maybe Dell should offer $1.99 Live CD Distributions and use that as a measure of the Linux interest. My guess is a lot of people may start ordering those. Better yet customized Dell versions of the Live CD. I'm sure some smart Tech could figure a way to set up a live CD of (Freespire, Ubuntu, Fedora, PCLinuxOS, etc) that comes with some specific Dell drivers and works well on "Dell PC's". Just a thought but maybe Baby steps are a good option. How about an option that states "Don't toss that old Dell PC" revive it with Linux. Xubuntu for older systems, Ubuntu for newer.
eric 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/17/07 Make OS optional on desktops Linux/Unix/BSD users would love to not have to pay the extra $200 for an OS we will not use.
groffliers 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 ok
pookito 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/25/07 I would love that. I wish I could save those $200 dollars on a desktop/laptop.
eric 02/27/07	Linux/Unix/BSD users would love to not have to pay the extra $200 for an OS we will not use.
gforce145 02/27/07	100% agree with this one
ragerber 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/19/07 Linux or no OS options How about a system with either Linux pre-installed. Or better yet, no OS so we don't have to pay for something we don't want.
yesmathew 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 Crap. I do not trust Dell providing pre-installed Linux. http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/63835
genemaster 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/17/07 Get rid of Windows Wanna get a new customer? Let me purchase a Dell with Linux or OS X and stop supporting F... M$
t20racerman 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 Why oh why do i have to pay Micro$oft money for an OS I'll never use every time I buy a computer! PLEASE Dell - let me buy one of your computers without all of the M$ shit pre-installed
sebastianlewis 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/25/07 You won't get OS X, but if you click "Ideas in Action" you'll see that Dell is looking at GNU/Linux. Sebastian
yesmathew 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 Crap. I do not trust Dell providing pre-installed Linux. http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/63835
mmm 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 Keep Windows - everyone knows how to use it. But provide a choice to pacify the Linux geeks.

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