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1130

Show the Ubuntu Line of Desktop and Notebooks on the regualr dell ordering site

1130 points posted to Dell Web Site, Linux, Desktops and Laptops by timberwolf753 05/24/07

Show the Ubuntu Line of Desktop and Notebooks on the regular dell site. Do not hide it to the general public. Do not make them go to www.dell.com/open. Do not hide the fact that you sell Linux to the average person.

timberwolf753
05/24/07		 *
phubert
05/24/07		 Agreed, timberwolf753...
benjesuit
05/24/07		 Yes, but prominently mark that it's Ubuntu and not Microsoft. And I mean prominently. People have a nasty habit of not reading. They may simply go by price.

Imagine the surprise of receiving a computer with Ubuntu installed.
jmxz
05/24/07		 benjesuit: "Imagine the surprise of receiving a computer with Ubuntu installed."

I see that reaction all the time when I go on sales calls with a Debian laptop. I can't count how often I've heard:
"Oh, so that[Beryl] 's what Vista looks like. And is that [firefox] IE7 with the new tab feature?"
phubert
05/24/07		 "ignorance ... is no excuse" (sigh... or at least that's the way it SHOULD be...)

How about a little AI on the site... "By the way you are accessing this site it is apparent you are a long-addicted user of MICROSOFT SOFTWARE. BEWARE! You are attempting to order a system with a NON-Microsoft Operating System! Go back and VERIFY your choice or provide your credentials or a proxy authorizing you to purchase NON-Microsoft software!"

Would that help?
benjesuit
05/24/07		 Yeah, sure. Just as long as it's clearly marked.

You make light of it, but in retail, it's one of the biggest complaints which amounts to nothing more than a lack of personal responsibility. But people simply don't read. That's why I seriously doubt Dell will list the Linux computers along with the mainstream MS OS computers.

And let's face it. If they're only planning to sell 20,000 units per annum with Linux installed, it doesn't warrant top billing of any kind. Nor co-listing with what sells at >500,000 per quarter.

Baby steps.
jmxz
05/24/07		 benjesuit:
"If they're only planning to sell 20,000 units per annum with Linux installed, it doesn't warrant top billing of any kind. Nor co-listing"

IMHO the lack of co-listing is probably the reason they'll only sell 20000 units.

For many people where "web and email and as few viruses as possible" (thinking my parents), Ubuntu would be a perfectly fine choice.

My guess is that their Microsoft-co-marketing contract has some clause saying "Microsoft pays X if Y% of people buy Vista", and that's where the 20000 figure comes from and that's why it's hidden on the web page.
 
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