Make Linux as easy to find as Windows

February 19, 2009

Posted By:  earlra

182 Votes

Status: Archived

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Dell just lost a laptop sale.  I have six Dell tags in my account that I maintain for the family, proving I am a Dell fan.  So, when I recently wanted to replace my D610 that finally died, I went to the Dell website, selected Home, then Laptops, then used the selectors at left to choose Ubuntu as my OS.  I was presented only with the mini series as options with Ubuntu installed.  I wanted a full-sized laptop, so I bought elsewhere.  Only later did I find out that Dell HIDES Ubuntu-configured Studio 15s, buried somewhere in the website.  Why are they not accessible by the regulr menu path.  I can't stress it enough - DELL LOST A SALE - because of their bone-headed marketing strategy.  I wanted to support Dell's Ubuntu, but apparently Dell didn't want to support me, so I spent my money elsewhere.

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  • May 27, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: pzach

    As it stands, google does a better job at finding Linux computers than Dell's own search engine, On their own Website!

    High end Precision Laptops like the M6400n are available with linux. But you have to Google them to find them.

    On one side, I'm glad Dell is getting more Linux friendly. On the other hand, I wonder why a simple things like "search: M6400n" doesn't bring up the n-series workstation. This is your own workstation after all. And all those who want to specifically buy a Dell Linux system know what they want and are willing to spend the money to get it.

    If the N-series is already available, then why not make it easier for us to get it?

    Many of us do not agree to buy a system with a MS OS on it. We disagree with their business practices, (just look at which governments have sued/fined them. US, EU etc.) and MS founders personal stance against open source. Many of us feel uncomfortable getting software which represents the opposite of what we work in, and live by. Let those who want Windows, buy their windows. But We like Dell. And everyday we can buy more stuff without software from a company that hates what we do, we like Dell more and more.
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  • Apr 2, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: mafiltenborg

    Yes - what marketing strategy? Ah - the one dictated by microsoft, of course. Marketing@Dell.com, DecisionMakers@Dell.com and Financials@Dell.com are all subject to a possible pressure from beforementioned software supplier, most likely linked to whether or not they promote this company's products. Aka "Dell recommends Windows".

    earlra did just the right thing here! As just stated, the one thing Dell understands best is "money". These guys don't do business for your sake, right! So to make 'em change their evil ways of doing business, speak a language they understand.

    Buy elsewhere - and for gods sake remember to tell 'em that you did.

    Write to decisionmakers, marketing people and accounting people within Dell and wave a wad of virtual money in front of their virtual noses. Then tell them "This stack of cash goes elsewhere because you do it wrong".

    IMHO, that'll get 'em going :)
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  • Mar 25, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: zak89

    I understand andragon's comments here, and I admit that FOSS looks like a magnet for socialists ("why would we need jobs if everything was free?"). However, the fact is, you are overlooking the changes that would occur in the industry if a free OS like linux gained the upper hand. Already companies like Novell, Red Hat, Canonical, etc are providing paid, professional support for linux. That market would explode. In fact, it would become more robust, because companies supporting linux would be able to working hand in glove with developers to fix issues as they come up. A support worker could just tell they're client to wait a day or two, then have them download a patch that fixes their problem. If it works well for people, it's pushed to the mainstream and the problem is no more.

    In fact, linux could very well create more jobs because it's an OS that can be developed and invested in by anyone, rather than a private in-house team. Hardware and software comapnies would probably jump at the chance to have hands on influence over their targeted platform; they could make sure their products were utilizing the full potential of the OS.

    Also, much of the usablility issues with linux are simply a result of linux's position in the current market. It's small, so hardware manifacturers don't develop drivers for it, so their hardware doesn't work on linux, so linux remains small. It's a vicious circle that the linux devs are trying hard to break, but in general they remain somewhat behind the latest and greatest. And some manufacturers are just hostile towards linux and refuse to provide the specs necessary for an effective driver to be created.
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  • Mar 10, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: mudd1

    Andragon, the driver issue you mention looks like a hen and egg thing to me. Perhaps promotion by a major manufacturer like Dell might help here?

    The usability of Linux is rather weak indeed compared to say Mac OS and in some regards even to Windows although it's more a question of a different philosophy nowadays and Linux is still evolving fast (although in a weird "don't tell the users what's happening it might confuse them" Windows sort of direction in many cases). It's often just a question of a good configuration and hardware or software vendors might be the right people to pay for the usability studies that would allow the optimization to their target group. Support of course already is the software vendors' job and they do it and that's also what they earn most of their money with so I don't understand your remark there.

    Your early 20th century view on jobs being more important than how people live is really not something I want to say much about. Perhaps only this: If everything was free, why would anyone care about paid work? It's how productive a society is and how good people can live with the money they got what is important. Free software helps in both regards.
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  • Mar 2, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: andragon

     I'm neither promoting or demoting this idea.  It's a fair enough comment, but it's my personal opinion that the whole Ubuntu and Linux on home desktops in general idea is a bit of a fad.  I have tried 7.10 in the past, however I wasn't all impressed with the user interface or some of the methods, such as installing applications.

    Linux has always been a server-side and development operating system.  It's only in recent years that it's become more of a contender in the home user arena.  As such, my feelings for it are that it belongs on servers and developer computers, not so much home desktop and laptops.  It's a fair enough OS, but it's not really very robust when it comes to application and driver support.  This may be more of an issue with hardware vendors being lazy with drivers, however it doesn't demerit the point.  When Windows Vista came out it was heavily criticised for it's lack of driver support, however I feel that when it comes to Ubuntu and Linux somehow that's no longer a problem...when it clearly is!

    I work for an electronics store for now, and the amount of negetive customer feedback we get over the Linux Netbooks we sell is almost crippling.  Comments like "I can't use my chosen Mobile Broadband option with this OS" and "Why can't i connect my printer, it just doesn't work even using the driver CD!" and "I simply don't like the arrangement of this OS, it all seems a bit mangled" are very common.

    As such is my point, Linux as an OS is not really very good for Users.  I also don't agree with it becoming a majority contender in the OS market.  It's a free OS, the problem with this is ethical:  It generates no jobs.  Having OS's made by foundations and hobbyists is fine but it will never have the level of support both with hardware and software that a propietory OS has, nor will it contribute to our already floundering economies.  The OS market is worth billions, having it undercut by "free" operatings systems seems a rather dangerous idea.  Without the kind of funded support OS's like Windows and OSX provide, people will be very lost indeed with their OS that nobody has to officially take responsibility for.

    To sum up, it's great that Dell are supporting the choice of Linux (Ubuntu) as an option with some of their systems.  However a push to offer it alongside Windows across the board seems rather unneccesary.  Whatever your feelings for Windows, you certainly can't claim it's not user friendly.  Seeing as 80% of the market for computers don't know very much about them at all, it would seem stupid to make Ubuntu seem like a comparible OS to Windows, it's just not.  It's a worthy and useful tool, a free one too, however it's not and never will be equal to Windows in regards to support and user accessibility.
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  • Feb 27, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: paperpilot

    It seems to require a major change to : http://www.dell.com/ to make Ubuntu an OS option on the SELECT MY OPERATING SYSTEM    page when you build a computer.   

    DELL representatives have said, commenting on other ideas, that there are plans to change this.  They seem to be taking a long time to implement this change.
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  • Feb 27, 2009     Comment Link

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    Posted By: underdog1108

    What marketing strategy?!  There doesn't seem to be one!