cyte1959

Dell Linux Launch Page

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by reg 03/12/07

Have a Dell Page that lists Links to Linux Distro download sites.

The Dell Linux Launch Page would also promote on-sale Dell products for Linux
(notebooks, PCs, printers, network cards, video cards, etc) - all 'Linux Supported Devices'. It's a market category as well as a Dell Linux branding strategy.

Laptops / PC come installed with a Fast, Small Linux install, under 100 MB.

Just big enough to quickly boot, find the internet, and display the dell Linux Launch Page. [I recommend a Dell modified version of www.puppylinux.org, www.knoppix.org, or www.vectorlinux.org ]

Then the User can keep to mini install and use it for internet browsing and web email and basic documents and graphics - or use the Dell Linux Launch Page to find and download a 'Full Sized' Distro.

IDEAS IN ACTION STEPS:
1. Dell Builds and Posts its own Dell Linux Launch Page EASY!
2. Dell selects one of the above mentioned small fast linux systems, and works with that community to customize a Dell Hardware version - auto detects all Dell Hardware.
3. Install that little Dell Distro on Hard Drives, and include a Live Boot CD copy with each computer. ( for system restores if their downloaded Linux doesn't work out...)
4. Now people can select Dell Linux as one of the choices for OS - and not pay for Vista!
5. New PC/notebook owners boot up their machine with Dell's little linux, opens with a Welcome Page with 3 links - Help files (on PC), Manuals (on PC) and Dell's Linux Launch Page (internet).
There is plenty of money to be made this way, all they need to do is get on the ball... It also has the added benefit of Saving Dell System Build Times, and reducing costs!

Any less than 100 MB partition image will copy onto a Hard Drive and CD very quickly. 10 Comments »

Stripped down, fast Linux Box

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Desktops, Linux submitted by pawprintz 02/17/07 **REVIEWED**

How about a fast, Internet ready Linux desktop. Small form factor, pretty monitor, mouse & keyboard, the O.S., OpenOffice & Firefox. Cheap'n'fast


Dell sees the value of this idea, and is keeping the sugestions for a Linux small form factor on the radar. john_h will let the community know of any new information as it comes.




130 Comments »

Build a Dell Linux Distribution

Linux, New Product Ideas, Desktops and Laptops submitted by jemfisher 02/20/07

With the wave of support for the Linux kernel to power desktop PC's, I think its time for a company with the quality build that Dell has to provide users with PC's that work for them. The adoption of Linux to power Dell PC's would give Dell a greater freedom to move forward with innovation. With the adoption of a Linux kernel Dell would be able to sell PC to meet users' demands. Businesses demand different machines than home users, students demand different machines again, machines targeted at younger users, etc. 100 Comments »

Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware

Linux submitted by gergnz 02/19/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!!
Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.




186 Comments »

Advertise Ubuntu a little more loudly

Advertising and Marketing, Linux submitted by zhinker 05/16/07 **NOT NOW**

I may be wrong about this but it doesn't seem to me like Dell's done any sort of advertising at all for the new Ubuntu pc's that it'll be rolling out soon, except for it's initial declaration I haven't heard a word about on any non-linux media (everyone using linux knows about it of course).

Unless Dell is planning on marketing this solely to linux users, it might want to let the rest of the world know that it's going to be selling Ubuntu soon (a simple photo and note on their website would be enough to make a bunch of pc buyers at least interested, and the ad wouldn't even cost anything). The problem with going after only current linux users is that you're substantially lowering your market base (which of course, is already pretty low--I realize this is just an experiment) to people who might already have pc's their perfectly happy with for the next couple of years, and I'm also worried that this perceived lack of interest might give Dell, and hence other pc manufacturers, the idea that selling linux computers is still a failing enterprise.

That's my 2 cents 36 Comments »

Pre-install gNewSense on laptops and desktops

Software, Desktops and Laptops submitted by libervisco 02/21/07

gNewSense, from http://gnewsense.org/ , is a pure 100% Free Software Ubuntu based GNU/Linux distribution sponsored by the Free Software Foundation, an organization which started the Free Software movement from which the latter Open Source Initiative sprung up. It is the organization behind the GNU General Public License.

gNewSense is special in that it does not contain any code under proprietary licenses at all, and is yet quite usable even for the average user. This means that it is easy to guarantee that all software within gNewSense is completely legally distributable.

The idea is to offer a line of laptops and desktop PCs whose hardware perfectly fits what this GNU/Linux distribution supports (and it doesn't support only a few hardware devices, notably some wifi chips and some Nvidia and ATI cards). It should be quite possible to build a system that doesn't contain any such unsupported parts.

The benefits of doing this is offering a choice for those who wish to have a completely legally free operating system working out of the box on Dell computers. There is a great number of people within the Free Software community who would appreciate having such a choice and would buy it for themselves and recommend it to their relatives and friends.

It would also certainly attract attention of the Free Software Foundation which would publicly commend Dell for offering this choice, which is very good for bettering Dell's reputation within the whole of Free Software and Open Source movements.

If Dell decides to do this, they should brand these boxes by the correct terminology, calling the operating system they are offering as "GNU/Linux" because the GNU Project, sponsored by the Free Software Foundation, started what we today know as GNU/Linux, a popular free operating system that rivals Microsoft Windows. Many of the core and essential components of the OS come from the GNU project. 23 Comments »

Become the open source OEM

Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by ntaylor0909 02/17/07 **REVIEWED**

I read the same question on Linux forums, all the time: What is the best brand of computer/laptop to purchase for Linux. I know that there is the n series of computers and notebooks, but it could go a step further. Accept the recent offer of free Linux driver development from the Linux Kernel Community so that DELLs "just work" with Linux. Maybe look at some ideas like LinuxBIOS and/or OpenBIOS. Become the OEM that everyone recommends. There is a growing market for Open Source friendly computers and DELL could own that market.


In the past year, we've made a lot of progress on getting Linux to work well on all of our products. Our goal is to become the hardware vendor of choice for Linux users. Click here to learn more from john_h.





45 Comments »

Dell recommends, Ubuntu, like did with Windows Vista!

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by oagostinho 05/29/07

I'll be very glad if Dell recommends Ubuntu too, like do with Windows Vista! Why not? Think about it! Ubuntu is the best open-source operating system out there for us!! See Ya!! Orlando Agostinho, Computer Engineer, Lisbon/Portugal 25 Comments »

Dell and Microsoft Branded Linux

Dell, Linux submitted by hirsute 03/12/07

Pre-installed Linux is the number-one idea for Idea Storm, yet it is unrealistic given the wide variety of the Linux distributions, features, and configurations that would drive its price out of the exosphere. I propose something more practical: that Dell (potentially with the help of Microsoft) offer its own Linux distribution. This to me is also more valuable, since it would include Dell and Microsoft tuning, potentially making Linux far more useable, and it could include Dell and Microsoft proprietary software, for which I'd be willing to pay good money (I need professional software).

11 Comments »

Sell Ubuntu Systems to Businesses

Linux, Sales Strategies, Small Business submitted by defrex 06/20/07

Recently Dell refused to sell their Ubuntu PCs to a small non-profit business. Please do sell them in future, letting the market for the Ubuntu PCs expand however it chooses.

see: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=478975 9 Comments »

Vista

Operating Systems submitted by mattigreenbay 03/27/07

I got this idea from http://badvista.fsf.org/ Before i read this [quote] I thought Vista was great now... well see for yourself.

" * They decide which programs you can and can't use on your computer
* They decide which features of your computer or software you can use at any given moment
* They force you to install new programs even when you don't want to (and, of course, pay for the privilege)
* They restrict your access to certain programs and even to your own data files

DRM is enforced by technological barriers. You try to do something, and your computer tells you that you can't. To make this effective, your computer has to be constantly monitoring what you are doing. This constant monitoring uses computing power and memory, and is a large part of the reason why Microsoft is telling you that you have to buy new and more powerful hardware in order to run Vista. They want you to buy new hardware not because you need it, but because your computer needs it in order to be more effective at restricting what you do.

Microsoft and other computer companies sometimes refer to these restrictions as 'Trusted Computing.' Given that they are designed to make it so that your computer stops trusting you and starts trusting Microsoft, these restrictions are more appropriately called 'Treacherous Computing'." 7 Comments »

Stop making excuses, and start paying attention. WE WANT LINUX!!!

Linux submitted by homer 02/28/07

Dear Michael Dell,

By now, many people will have started reading Blogs and articles about how you have back-peddled on your commitment to listen to your customers' wishes. Here's just one:

http://blog.lobby4linux.com/archives/104-So,-How-Does-It-Feel-To-Have-Been-Ha...

[Edit] Here's a more "high profile" article, from The Inquirer:

Dell backs down from Linux promise

That makes this site (DellIdeaStorm) nothing but a farce.

First you ask us what we want, then you just blatantly ignore us. What exactly was the point in asking us what we want? Is this some kind of sick joke?

Maybe you were taken off guard, and hadn't anticipated the vast demand for Linux that happened, but it did happen, so deal with it ... or be perceived as a liar and a charlatan.

If you amalgamate all the various Linux "idea" posts on this site, and tally up the total votes, you're looking at something like TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND VOTES FOR LINUX. Are you just going to ignore that, and pretend it never happened?

Here's your response to this amazing phenomenon so far, and my comments:

We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations.

Well you are obviously not listening. The vast majority of the Linux requests on this site are not from "corporate" customers, they are from end users seeking home computing Linux solutions. Are you listening yet?

This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems.

It's not a step forward, it's a sidestep shuffle. What exactly are you afraid of ... that people might actually prefer Linux to Windows? I could build and "certify" a Linux workstation in 20 minutes, without the assistance of production facilities and a team of engineers, why is this such a problem for the world's biggest OEM?

Are you suggesting that Linux somehow represents a "problem" with regards to hardware, and that it's going to take a team of rocket scientists months to discover Linux compatible components?

Right now, Linux works with virtually the same hardware that WIndows XP does, and considerably more hardware than Vista ... but that doesn't seem to have prevented you "certifying" Vista (a.k.a. Windows ME2). What a joke!

As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux. In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another.

No, no, no, no. That's not how it works. This is just more excuses.

At the end of the day, Linux is Linux is Linux. The distro is not that significant (other than the distinction between a commercial or community distro).

Surely the CEO of one of the world's biggest companies can make a decision.

Pick a Linux distro and run with it. And stop making excuses.

My personal preference is for Fedora Core, but if you offered an Ubuntu desktop machine, I'd buy it, because (like I said) at the end of the day it is Linux that is important, not the distro. My primary motivation is to keep my money out of Microsoft's pockets and have an OS ... any OS ... that is not Windows. I can, and probably will, switch between half a dozen distros during the lifespan of that hardware.

However, it is extremely important that you offer pre-installed Linux workstations to end-users, rather than just "OS-free" systems, because without this option, you will be helping to perpetuate the misconception that Linux is not popular. Well congratulations, you have just discovered exactly how much of a misconception this really is. Maybe you should have considered DellIdeaStorm years ago, rather than sit around waiting for point-of-sale figures that could not ever accurately reflect the popularity of something that is a free download.

Trust me ... you will not alienate anyone by making a firm choice of distro support. I'm sure the tens of thousands of home users, who are demanding Linux from Dell, will be overjoyed just to have a choice of any Linux distro.

We want users to have the opportunity to help define the market for Linux on desktop and notebook systems.

This is just nonsensical marketing gobbledegook. Say what you mean, and stop obfuscating the truth with gibberish.

You can "define" the market right now ... by selling us what we want, rather than what Microsoft dictates you sell to us. The 200000+ vote for Linux should be a clear enough "definition" for anyone ... who's prepared to listen ... and not bury his head in the sand.

In addition to working with Novell,

Bad move. By all means offer Microvell to any corporate user gullible enough to swallow Steve Ballmer's baseless FUD about Microsoft's intellectual property, but I think you'll find home users rather less than receptive to any distro offerings from any company that sleeps with the enemy.

we are also working with other distributors and evaluating the possibility of additional certifications across our product line.

This is the only promising statement in the whole response, but it sounds like a lot of hot air to me.

Actions, not words.

GIVE US LINUX!

Are you trying to rejuvenate sales or not? Give the customers what they want.

We are continuing to investigate your other Linux-related ideas, so please continue to check here for updates.

Oh I'll be sure to, but I'm not holding my breath. Microsoft has you far too firmly under their thumb for me to seriously expect any positive changes at Dell.

Thanks for giving us all a glimmer of (false) hope, though. 68 Comments »

No Linux CANNOT totally replace Windows...sadly!

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by kdubber 05/01/07

I see from the most popular article of the moment.. one that supports multi-booting of linux distros and Windows ..that the belief is that Linux can totally replace Windows...
SAD but true is the fact that this is really NOT true.. I wish it could..but as I have written before here and in other places..Some professional apps just CANNOT be replaced or run under Linux.. Such programs as Adobe's PhotoShop and AutoDesk's AutoCAD .. just to name two that I know of... simply cannot be replaced by anything presently available under Linux ... correct me if I am wrong..but having used QCAD and the GIMP.. they are not yet ready for Prime Time in the professional Drafting, Engineering or Graphic Arts arenas..
Developing an Ubuntu based distro that will run these.. or a consortium of Adobe, AutoDesk Dell and others to whom this would be an advantage... developing said distro..or porting ability..
As well as getting the MASSIVE gaming community a Linux distro that will be game friendly.. and a FIRST choice option instead of emulation..
This will get Linux where it needs to be in order to become a true Windows replacement ...until Linux can run these professional and popular programs.. it wil remain sadly an also ran in the OS camps..truly a shame considering it's value as a rock solid platform under which to operate!
Kent 12 Comments »

Fed up with Microsoft

Operating Systems, Laptops submitted by triangle 02/19/07

Each week I receive in my mailbox promotionnal offers from Dell.
Our company have only needs in laptops but we never bought a Dell because were are SMB company needing no-OS pre-installed because we run NOVELL-SuSe.

So the day each people could buy a laptop "nacked" I will change my opinion and have a look on Dell products for office and for personal home use.

My proposal is to deliver pre-installed Windows if it cost something to Dell more to nack computers and simply disagree with the EULA. Dell have no need to provides activation codes and the consumer will be happy to have the choice.

When you read Wall Street journal you can see that Microsoft course decrease since they published security updates for the most secure OS of the planet. Not very credible...we prefer running Gnu/Linux that is really more secure because they are no needs to buy additional stuffs like antivirus, antispyware, firewall...and office suite :
all come inside.

It is very curious that a world leader in computing does not see the needs of his customers : now you have to think in many ways : Microsoft, Linux and why not tomorrow Macos on regular PCs (the install protection was already hacked).

In other way it is incredible that Vista could be sold with DRM inside, reducing video quality when not drmized and many other tricks allowing the computer to do what it wants and not what wanted by his owner....simply crazy. 1 Comment »

Pre-Install Linux / Contract Out Paid Support Options

Linux, Service and Support submitted by i22yb 03/04/07

As many others have posted, give an option for having Linux pre-installed - be it Ubuntu, openSUSE, etc. Then, Dell should sign a support deal with the respective linux distro maker (Canonical, Novell, etc.) where Dell would get a small cut of the paid support fee and the distro maker would handle all of the linux support for Dell.

#1 - Customer gets more control over what goes on their computer.

#2 - Customer gets most knowledgeable support they can without dealing with scripted help lines.

#3 - Dell creates a new revenue stream for themselves.

#4 - Dell doesn't have to absorb the extra support costs regarding linux and can roll out systems with linux options much faster.

#5 - The linux distros get an additional revenue stream that helps them furthur improve desktop linux for the end user.

End result... EVERYBODY WINS!!! Comment »

Deal with Microsoft will affect Linux Sales

Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by tuxsudo 05/08/07

If sales of Linux machines flop, Dell needs to realize that the deal with Microsoft deterred potential Linux customers (myself included) from buying from Dell.

Dell - don't blame Linux for not being "Market Ready" -- blame the fact that you are putting your weight behind the dishonest assertion that Linux steals from Windows. 15 Comments »

Ideas in action for corporate clients

IdeaStorm submitted by storm 02/25/07

Most of the ideas on ideaStorm seem to come from retail clients. Yet Dell's first "Ideas in action" was for corporate clients. From Dell's press release:

"...we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux..."

How about working with your retail clients? How about GNU/Linux (or no OS) on entry level Dimension computers?

I'm glad that the first ideas in action was about pre-installed GNU/Linux. But with "Dell recommends Windows Vista™ Business" on the top of the press release, I wonder who's interests you are serving.

1 Comment »

Available Certified/Pre-installed Supported Enterprise Linux Distribution

Linux, Servers and Storage submitted by danhomolka 02/22/07

Offer to supply/pre-install (if desired) supported Enterprise Linux Distributions, for example, from Novell:
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server [http://www.novell.com/products/server/]
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop [http://www.novell.com/products/desktop/]

Canonical:
- Ubuntu

RedHat:
- RedHat Enterprise Linux

A *supported* and *certified* Linux distribution is essential for commercial organizations to be able to deploy Linux in production use. 4 Comments »

Get Microsoft to pay you A LOT to stay away from Linux - after all they paid Sun billions

Dell, Linux submitted by jmxz 03/14/07

Before doing all the Linux ideas here, perhaps check with Microsoft to see how much they will pay you not to.

And yes, Microsoft almost certainly will pay.

Dell is probably the biggest Vista reseller in the world - and the only significant one still totally loyal to Microsoft (HP's pretty excited about Linux right now) - so if Microsoft wants Vista to succeed, they need Dell far more than Dell needs Vista (especially since even your Windows users seem to prefer XP).

With that negotiating power I figure you could get way more from Microsoft than the $2 billion dollars they gave Sun in their 2004 PR war against Linux
http://news.com.com/Sun+and+Microsoft+Friend+and+foe/2009-1014_3-5184266.html
and they gave Novell a third of a billion dollars to help spread FUD
http://news.com.com/2100-1014_3-6133361.html< Dell's more important to Microsoft than Sun and Novell put together - so surely they should give you guys at least the $2.3 billion they gave your competitors.

As a Dell customer, of course I want you to provide Linux -- but as a Dell shareholder, please see if you can get billions of dollars from Microsoft first. 28 Comments »

Stay away from SUSE Linux (Novell/Microsoft)

Linux submitted by sirro 05/08/07

Please don't make us have to pay dollars to Microsoft to use Linux on our servers! That is just so wrong. 5 Comments »