Why not give Ubuntu CD's with every new PC?

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Why not give Ubuntu CD's with every new PC?

100 points posted to Advertising and Marketing, Linux, Desktops and Laptops by twright Jan 7

Every new Home Dell computer (as far as i know) comes with a box of CD's and leaflets for broadband, McAfee and a load of other useless things.

i just think it would be nice if among them came a Ubuntu CD, so even if you didn't choose to get it preinstalled the CD would be there giving you the choice and saving those new to Linux the hassle of burning an .iso or ordering a shipit disc (which can often be a daunting task).

winoffice Jan 7	Why "give Ubuntu CD's with every new PC" - Ubuntu CDs that I will not be using? Why not just make it optional?
cjbarth Jan 7	That would be great because that means in that live CD would be all the drivers necessary for Ununtu to run.
okroger104 Jan 7	Yeah, while I'd like to see Linux exapnd, there has to be a greener way to do it. CD's aren't exactly bio-degradeable. And most people won't even use it. They'll just end up throwing it out. AOL was a huge offender with their unsolicited CDs they used to send in the mail to everyone. Maybe adding a web link in the browser to Ubuntu's homepage or something like that. Or maybe also adding an Icon which opens the browser and links to Ubuntu's webpage. I think this would be the most enviromentally responsible way to do it.
manydimensions Jan 8	Although giving away a copy of Ubuntu to new Dell PC customers may be a nice gesture, that kind gesture may also cause a number of serious issues. The primary issue that comes to mind is support for the Ubuntu product. Dell may become inundated with questions, problems, and complaints from new customers that accidentally overwrote their primary O/S while installing Ubuntu. I don't think that giving away any O/S is a good marketing idea for Dell. Promoting the fact that their computer(s) are Ubuntu ready is a better idea.
bbr Jan 8	Every single pc, while only 5% might use them, means its an extra hit to the environment. only those who want them should get them.
bweed6 Jan 8	manydimensions nailed it. dell will only offer limited support for the operating system the system was imaged with when it left the factory. if they change the operating system, dell will ask them to reload windows before they will even troubleshoot hardware issues.
twright Jan 8	ok, fair point what about putting linux stickers on Laptops then? also there should be linux drivers on the driver CD
jmxz Jan 8	Can't believe I'm agreeing with winoffice on another Ubuntu idea :-) - but no, this makes little sense to me. Dell already ships a large storage device (the hard drive) on most computers - so it seems it'd be much more environmentally friendly to just pre-install various .iso images (of driver disks; windows restore disks; ubuntu; etc) on the hard drive - and maybe include a blank CD-RW or DVDR+-W so people who want such disks can burn them themselves.
winoffice Jan 8	jmxz: "Dell already ships a large storage device (the hard drive) on most computers - so it seems it'd be much more environmentally friendly to just pre-install various .iso images (of driver disks; windows restore disks; ubuntu; etc) on the hard drive - and maybe include a blank CD-RW or DVDR+-W so people who want such disks can burn them themselves." I am afraid that that is not a really good idea. The reason: If I will not be using Ubuntu anyway, then why include it in the first place? As for the drivers and Windows, they will have to be copied onto discs anyway, so why not just include them on discs in the first place?
jmxz Jan 8	In contrast to a CD (which are surprisingly bad for the environment and have a real cost - an extra file on the disk image does no harm to the environment and has no cost (except on No OS systems - since the disk image gets burned anyway). Perhaps the best alternative is to make the Ubuntu disk (which I might use and you wouldn't) and the Windows-driver disk (which you might use and I wouldn't) both optional when the order's placed.
okroger104 Jan 8	@jmxz Well yeah, that's sensible. And that is pretty much what dell does now. But I think the OP wants to get the Linux word out. Sucking up harddrive space with things you don't or may not want sucks and Dell has been moving away from that. I think the best bet is to add a browser link and maybe a desktop link to Ubuntu's webpage. Curiousity will kill the cat and many people would click one of the two just to see what it's all about. At least that way they can be exposed. They can even order or d/l a live CD if they really are that interested. This way, next time around they can order or at least show interest in Ubuntu preinstalled. Or if they are technically inclined, they can install Ubuntu from a Live CD that they ordered or D/L'd. Environment saved. Word spread.
howlingmadhowie Jan 8	winoffice: and i will not be using windows, so why include it anyway on every model you can easily find on dell's website? why are your desires so much more special and more important than mine?
okroger104 Jan 8	Please don't turn this into an OS war. Let's stick to finding creative ways to spread the word about Linux. At the same time not going down the route of destroying the environment for the sake of spreading that word. TIA.
winoffice Jan 8	howlingmadhowie: I am not saying that my desires are "more special and more important" than yours. If you read okroger104's comment (the one that is posted immediately after yours), you will understand my point (which happens to be the same as his). As for you not using Windows, that is not my point. My point here is the environment. Why include an Ubuntu CD when it is free and can easily be downloaded (but note that I did not ask to eliminate the option completely, just make it optional)? Windows cannot be as easily downloaded (nor can the drivers - they do disappear from the Dell site after some time), but you do have a good point on making Windows optional. But please do not post it - there are already tens if not hundreds of posts asking for Ubuntu as well as a "No operating system installed" configuration option.
winoffice Jan 8	jmxz: "Perhaps the best alternative is to make the Ubuntu disk (which I might use and you wouldn't) and the Windows-driver disk (which you might use and I wouldn't) both optional when the order's placed." What about the Windows disc (the OS, not the drivers for it)? Why not add that as an option as well? "In contrast to a CD (which are surprisingly bad for the environment and have a real cost - an extra file on the disk image does no harm to the environment and has no cost (except on No OS systems - since the disk image gets burned anyway)." The problem is that the OS and driver files will be copied onto discs in any case (what if the hard drive crashes - in this case you will need to copy to discs in any case), so the environment is not saved by any amount this way. So Dell could at least save time for users by offering the OPTION to get the discs (again, I said option, so you can always opt out). My idea concerning reinstallation discs mentions "allowing us to get the option to" - which means that getting the software and driver discs is entirely OPTIONAL.
jmxz Jan 9	"What about the Windows disc (the OS, not the drivers for it)? Why not add that as an option as well?" If windows OEM licensing permits it, sure.
winoffice Jan 9	"If windows OEM licensing permits it, sure." Surely the licensing permits it. I have recieved the Windows OS disc most of the time when purchasing computers.
howlingmadhowie Jan 9	winoffice: sometimes you just get a recovery disk or a recovery image in a partition. schlimmer isses natürlich, wenn das bios auch in einer partition ist, aber das habe ich seit langem nicht mehr erlebt.
jorge Jan 31	Dupe of my idea...
zanlok Feb 1	hm.. they should be able to burn a disc for you.. if not put it on the system.. they probably just can't charge for it..
zanlok Feb 1	Discs cost $0.18 to burn (or possibly less, somewhat depending of course on volume) - so maybe charge $1 if someone selects that option. sort of like those recycle kits that I never use?

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