SMALL BIZ ADVICE
What would you ask Michael?
The Dell Community has contributed: 9789 ideas | promoted 668005 times | 76211 comments

How IdeaStorm Works:

Post Promote Discuss See
Linux Comments | Linux Ideas | Desktops and Laptops Comments | Desktops and Laptops Ideas
500

Please install Ubuntu 7.04 on select consumer machines!

500 points posted to Linux, Desktops and Laptops by benjesuit 05/01/07

Yes, please install Ubuntu 7.04 Linux on select consumer desktops and notebooks in the coming weeks.

Oh wait, that's already going to happen.

LOL.

Ubuntu is the best of the bunch. Glad they choose that than the others.

taltum
05/01/07		 I'd rather they pre-load SUSE, but -> any<- Linux is a welcome move.
benjesuit
05/01/07		 Not a problem. You can buy the Ubuntu installed system, wipe the HD, and install Suse.

Easy as pie.
gmat
05/01/07
phubert
05/01/07		 hey, gmat... we DID want them to do it RIGHT! :-)

I'm shocked and amazed that they actually implemented FROM one of MY suggestions!!!!

It'll take awhile for me to get over THAT one!
phubert
05/01/07		 ...BUT, I'd STILL like to see an LINSPIRE offer (after all, that IS Ubuntu... but *I* want to see a CrossOver Office bundle!)
benjesuit
05/01/07		 Or at least the option to have Crossover Linux preinstalled with a detailed explanation concerning what it does along with a link to its current compatibility list.
phubert
05/01/07		 The Linspire part is a -service- ... and Linspire has an agreement -with- Ubuntu... well, it will be interesting to see how this plays out... and, hopefully, PROGRESSES
gmat
05/01/07
mrlinux11
05/01/07		 Well lets just wait and see if they follow through, or is this just another dog and pony show.

Like
1) Hide the Linux choices on the website so only Sherlock and his trusted friend Dr Watson can find them.
2) Charge > $100 for the computer than it's Windows counter part
gmat
05/01/07
gmat
05/01/07

kyliemanders
05/01/07		 thank god, we've had enough linux posts!
phubert
05/01/07		 Sorry kyliemanders... you've not seen the end of the linux 'fanboys' (and women) ... we simply don't go away!
gmat
05/01/07
mrlinux11
05/01/07		 @gmat I hope I am wrong to more than you know, How ever seeing Dell try this before (Very poor attempt) and it not succeeding and the claiming no one wanted it.

The only thing that was marketed worse than Dells last attempt was IBM's OS/2 OS. Which was a very good OS and ahead of it's time, Well maybe Microsoft's BOB project.
jmxz
05/01/07		 mrlinux11: "Well lets just wait and see if they follow through, or is this just another dog and pony show."

+1 there. Note that their current plan is still short of what Dell announced they were doing in LinuxWorld 2000.
http://ideastorm.com/article/show/66001
Last time they talked of working with device manufacturers to ensure driver support.
Last time they talked about (and delivered) Linux "across [their] full product line" - this time it's selected models.
Last time the press reported that Microsoft killed it after it started.

I'm hopeful. but as you say, it's not over yet.

And "The only thing that was marketed worse than Dells last attempt"

Actually, I think that attempt was marketed rather well initially - including the LinuxWorld Keynote from Michael Dell himself. Something happened in 2001/2002 that made them change course 180 degrees, though. (The timeline for those who hadn't seen it http://ideastorm.com/article/show/66081 )
mrlinux11
05/01/07		 jmxz @ the LinuxWorld keynote (No disrespect to them) they are not main stream avg Joe users, which to me marketing to the masses (avg Joe) is what is needed.
phubert
05/01/07		 If this DOES turn out to be a failure, I wouldn't be buying any Dell -shares-
benjesuit
05/01/07		 @ Phubert.

Why? By the way they are going abou it, it's not going to affect Dell's bottom line materially either way. You could say that by offering Linux, Dell is mostly creating political capital amongst the entire computing public. What will make an ecomonic difference for Dell is if while squeezing margins, they are able to outsell their competitors. The Linux offering in all probability won't be the tipping point. Dell's ability to expand beyond their direct marketing model, lead in introducing and applying new hardware integration before their main competitor HP does, offer more appealing and customizable systems than their competitors, all the while being price competitive will be. Just to name the major things.

Customers, new and returning, are not going to be busting down Dell's doors for a Linux system. Even with the venerable and user friendly Ubuntu preinstalled. But I predict there will be a flurry of sales in the first 2 quarters after the Linux systems release followed by a steady if not precipitous decline in sales of them going forward.

Dell needs to compliment the release with an ad campaign extoling the virtues of Ubuntu Linux. Then in subsequent quarters, look to further constrain margins of the Linux systems in order to prevent the inevitable copycat move by their main competitor from taking hold. That may involve not just lowering prices, but developing proprietary code in conjunction with the Ubuntu and Linux Crossover team to make Linux more accessable to the masses as a true MS OS replacement/alternative. But this will need ot be supplemented with a heavy dose of advertising to bring awareness.

IMO, without this advertising blitz, it'll all amount to a "nice try."
gmat
05/01/07
benjesuit
05/01/07		 That was my thinking behind "political capital."

As far as free advertising goes; yeah. But the less web and/or Linux savvy...
1. Don't even know this site exists.
2. Don't even know what Linux is or why they should care.
3. Most likely don't even read the sections of e-news or print news that talks about these new Dell moves.

So you could say that Dell is literally selling to the Linux crowd and not much beyond it using this free advertising and publicity.

That's why once the excitement dies down and most the Linux crowd has bought their system, sales will die down. But here's the rub, like the Axim and DJ mp3 player which had low sales and paid advertising, Dell will most likely decide to scale back the Linux offering or discontinue it altogether after the first few quarters of inevitable declining sales.

That is, without proper advertising.
gmat
05/01/07
benjesuit
05/01/07		 Okie dokie mate. Time will tell. And also Dell's Q2 '08 report. *wink*
jmxz
05/02/07		 gmat: "I don't think Dell can "fail" in this. No matter how it plays out in the end. Advertising is very expensive."

Uh, gmat: remember that Microsoft has enormous co-marketing funds that they've used to buy the loyalty of OEMs. This might "succeed" for Dell if Microsoft realizes that Vista needs Dell more than Dell needs Vista and offeres Dell billions more in advertising funds or other miscellaneous funds like those they used to pay Sun billions of dollars to join their anti-Linux-FUD campaigns[1]. On the other hand it might fail if Microsoft decides to teach Dell a lesson with the goal of intimidating HP & Lenovo.

I think it's an interesting gamble Dell's taking - but certainly could fail in a pretty big way.
. [1] http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/65029
gmat
05/02/07
okroger104
05/02/07		 And Dell should preinstall Impi Linux 7.05 which is Ubuntu for Africa! ;)
 
Atom feed track comments for this idea
Please log in to post a comment
recently promoted by: