tomasz

Linux, Unix caution

Linux, Operating Systems - Multiboot submitted by whit3hawk 05/06/07

I'm guessing that most of the demand for Linux comes from more sophisticated users. While this is good (I would indeed like the idea), you don't want to leave out the beginners who wouldn't know what to choose, and many choices should be made for them, which also dovetail into being able to change those choices once they are a bit more advanced, and ready to change original choices. 7 Comments »

Dell should branch out into video game development!!!!

Gaming, Linux submitted by goalsetter21 05/04/07

With Dell's major venture into PC gaming system development (i.e. XPS and the AlienWare purchase), in my opinion Dell should consider purchasing or starting up their own video gaming (VG) software development company.

VG development can be a very high margin business and Dell can leverage it's existing knowledge of gaming hardware performance.

3 Comments »

debian

Dell, Linux, Operating Systems - Multiboot submitted by plesaleza 05/05/07

i know they decided on Ubuntu, but seeing as it is free, why not have another linux distribution such as Debian available. 2 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 »

Proof that Linux and OSS are ONLY for hobbyists!

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by phubert 03/06/07

Since so many have tried to say Linux/OSS are only for hobbyists and 'not for business', I thought it would help if we could supply anecdotal evidence of business, Education and government USE of Linux and OSS.

The title, clearly, is an exercize in light sarcasm. 481 Comments »

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 »

Another way to deliver Linux on large orders

Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by phubert 03/16/07

One contributor to a web site suggested:

"Let me ship you (Dell) our internal build, and you send us 5000 of those machines." ... or 500, or 10 or 20.

In other words, provide the OPTION that the customer send Dell the customer's Linux build, and Dell would pre-load the machines the customer orders with that build. 7 Comments »

Provide XenSource bios virtualisation with multiple OpenSource OSes

Linux, Operating Systems, Desktops and Laptops submitted by awalker1975 04/23/07

Provide BIOS virtualisation on new PCs (XenSource) with the following OSes pre-installed within separate 32 and 64 bit virtual machines: OpenBSD, Ubuntu, OpenSolaris/Solaris, Fedora, OpenSuse, so that a user can experience all versions. The user can then decide which to remove and which to replicate.

The Hyphervisor (virtualisation manager) would be located in the BIOS, so that it controls whether virtual machines (32 or 64 bit) can exchange information and would also permit simultaneous booting of all virtual machines or just selected virtual machines. The BIOS could be configured to disable/enable virtualisation (and which would prevent software from enabling or disabling virtualisation features). With virtualisation enabled, an operating system install would only see the provided virtual machine as real hardware. The Bios Hyphervisor would protect and prevent another instance of a Hyphervisor from gaining control of the virtualisation unless specifically configured to allow a Hyphervisor within a single identified virtual machine. 8 Comments »

Moving Dell forward - in all arenas

Dell, Linux, Operating Systems, Service and Support submitted by phubert 03/01/07

A brief outline...

* contact existing Linux distribution maintainers
- ask if THEY will certify their distribution with Dell machines
if Dell provides the machine.

* offer pre-installed Linux for such distributions

* create a website for 'Dell OSS community' users to discuss/support
FOSS software on Dell machines - forums for Windows & hardware
issues could be created as well.

* create Dell ombudsman positions for Windows/Hardware/Linux-FOSS
issues.

* EXPAND aggressively into Consulting Services, beginning
with what Dell already knows: hardware - but consider adding
UNIX-to-Linux and Windows-to-Linux server and desktop
migrations.

* create similar support for non-English-speaking customers,
perhaps specific to the market area (Europe, Asia, etc.) 6 Comments »

Yet another reason why Dell needs to become more openly Linux-friendly

Education, Linux submitted by phubert 03/01/07

Microsoft Windows ousted at California school district
http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1245...

Windsor is a short distance north of Santa Rosa on hwy 101 6 Comments »

Saving billions for us all -- while selling Dell's???

Advertising and Marketing, Dell, Linux submitted by phubert 02/21/07

***************************************************************************
*

It should be abundantly clear that all levels of government and public education could have been saving tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars (for us all?) by NOT constantly re-inventing the wheel!

How many MILLIONS of hours of PUBLIC DOMAIN software development have duplicated efforts or simply flushed down the drain?

Solution: collaborative software development and CODE SHARING.

Free (as in liberated) Open Source Software?

This is NOT a new concept!

Can Linux/OSS save us ALL significant $$$.

Information Technology is a COST CENTER to businesses, government and private individuals.

How could Dell help? Simple: Aggressively promote Linux/OSS "complete solutions" based on Dell hardware/

Partnering? How many options can YOU think of? 26 Comments »

Dell Linux Support Issues

Dell Community, Linux submitted by phubert 03/19/07

Can the community begin to list areas where they've had trouble with Linux on Dell machines???

Isn't this at least ONE place to speak up?? 9 Comments »

$299 Laptop

Laptops submitted by jack_satan Feb 1

Dell already sells a completely functional (albeit low-end) Vostro 1000 for $399 with a 15.4 in. screen, 80 GB HDD, Windows, and free shipping. If they just offered the same computer with a 14.1 in. screen, open-source operating system, and 60 GB HDD, they should be able to sell it at $299 with an even better profit margin.

Furthermore, besides for the public relations coup from offering the first fully functional sub $300 laptop, Dell would also be opening up a whole new market of buyers that have been clamoring to get their hands on the OLPC XO, Asus EEE PC, and Intel Classmate. 20 Comments »

Dell _could_ ALSO be OSS-friendly by...

Dell Web Site submitted by phubert 02/22/07

Dell _could_ have a web site similar to this one that both offered and enabled participants to offer references to OSS RESOURCES.

The Mozilla Firefox extensions main page with 'most popular' 'recently updated' etc. could also serve as an example. 1 Comment »

Novell?? OH NO!!! Test the OSS community waters!

Dell, Linux submitted by phubert 02/26/07

Dell finally posted a response to the input at this site but this statement: "as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux," is unlikely to encourage many Linux users, given Novell's recent, highly controversial, arrangement with Microsoft, seen by many as only undermining Linux/OSS by creating unnecessary doubts about users rights TO Linux.

In the following paragraph, Dell provides this: "In addition to working with Novell, we are also working with other distributors and evaluating the possibility of additional certifications across our product line. We are continuing to investigate your other Linux-related ideas, so please continue to check here for updates.", which is somewhat more hopeful, at least.

I would hope Dell would consider community concerns, while identifying the unique needs of home/home office users (which is where Linspire/Ubuntu and the Crossover Office product come in).

Good luck Dell... to us all.

If you respond well, customers will respond also to you. But I also understand you face risks in any of the directions you choose to follow. Choose well.

17 Comments »

Edubuntu (Linux)

Education, Linux, Operating Systems submitted by shadow_mil 02/25/07

Edubuntu is a side version of ubuntu. But the software on it is geared towards educationally purposes... and go from small children to collage level. Comes with a full suite of open-office software, typing games, and other educationally software. 3 Comments »

Please gently persuade Alienware for an Alienware-loaded Suse Open-Linux

Linux submitted by isg91xf 05/02/07

Dear Dell,

Please persuade Alienware, the new bleeding-edge performance wing of Dell (and indepedently run by its founders), to ALSO include Linux (my preference is Suse Open Linux, which comes also as a boxed set; an advantage, for it gives extra "tinkering" room ).

I require (badly need) to do Magnetic Resonance Imaging software development. For THAT task, Linux, X-11/Motif, and the GNU arsenal are of paramount importance.

The needed laptop would, ideally, be a Windows Vista (Ultimate) dual boot.

What Parallels.com offers is attractive, but that is limited by the fact of being a simulation, a virtual (not direct execution) of another operating system.

Thanks,

Ivan Salazar (isg91xf) Comment »

Expand Services efforts - into Linux migrations

Linux, Service and Support submitted by phubert 03/14/07

Dell could also expand its SERVICES business by providing phased Linux migration offerings.

Sell migration 'packages' of various flavors or 'stages' such as:

* Evaluate desktop needs
* migrate to Linux clients/thin clients integrated with Active Directory
* offer Crossover Office to run required Windows applications
* recommend Windows application alternatives

or
* Evaluate use of Exchange/Outlook features
* replace Exchange with appropriate alternative software compatible with Windows desktops & Outlook 7 Comments »

Which Linux? Support and participate in existing standardization and development efforts!

Desktops, Linux submitted by phubert 03/19/07

If Dell is not already involved, it should look into supporting and JOINING existing industry efforts towards Linux, Linux desktop, and document standardization and development efforts.

The LSB is one effort toward Linux distribution standardization.

The ODF is aimed at document standardization.

KDE and Gnome are working toward making applications interoperable between the two most popular desktop development environments.

Get involved! 6 Comments »

Commercial software library for Dell's Ubuntu

Linux, Software submitted by sorkkarauta 05/04/07

Establish a software repository for commercial Ubuntu software. It would be a new distribution channel and innovative way to sell software.

In this case all new Ubuntu PC's would have limited access to download commercial software (eg. games, tools, productivity sofware etc.). It would be good way to gain incomes by selling centralized distribution channel for commercial software developers and it is also supportive function for sales.

I am pretty sure that it is very difficult find a place for Ubuntu commercial software in stores. But this problem can be avoided if Dell is able to provide software distribution channel for customers.

Please comment: tuomolle@jippii.fi 3 Comments »