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Dell needs to offer improved Linux support on its Precision line of laptops in the USA.  Unfortunately, Dell does not currently offer Linux on the Precision line in the USA and also does offer the Precision line without Windows preinstalled.  However, Dell's PDF on the M6600 states support for:

• Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® version 6 (select regions)
• Ubuntu Linux (select regions)

See: Dell Precision M6600 PDF Brochure

Also, Dell currently offers Red Hat Entreprise Linux 6 on the Precision M6600 in the UK. See: Dell UK's Precision M6600 webpage

My small business currently owns the following Dell Precision laptops:
- Two (2) M90s greater than 5 years old.
- One (1) M6300 4 years old.
- One (1)  M6400 3 years old.
- One (1) M6500 1 year old.
Of these 5 systems, 2 are running Linux: Ubuntu on an M90 and OpenSUSE on the M6400.  However, in both instances, Linux was not supported by Dell.  The Linux community eventually achieved full support for these two hardware configurations after they were on the market for between 1 and 2 years, however, many features did not work during the first year or so such as sleep/standby, hibernate, display brightness control, etc.

Dell needs to offer Linux alternatives for the Precision laptops in the USA or, at the very least, offer the Precision line without Windows and ensure that the hardware is supported by the most recent Linux kernels. 

As for Dell's primary competition; HP currently supports RedHat and SUSE linux on its top of the line Elitebook laptops and you can also purchase the Elitebook laptops without WIndows (with FreeDOS).  The HP Elitebooks are Dell Precision laptop's primary competitor since they also offer next business day service, etc. Dell had better meet the competition here or people like myself will start purchasing HP instead.

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