Dell, Intel Sponsor Linux Conference Near Microsoft’s Backyard
Microsoft has got to be scratching its head in bewilderment. This was supposed to be the year of Vista. But Vista has been a yawn for most PC buyers and some customers are seeking alternatives. In fact, two of Microsft’s closest partners — Dell and Intel — are set to sponsor a major Linux event right in Microsoft’s backyard.
The event, Ubuntu Live, is scheduled for July 22-24 in Portland, Oregon. In addition to Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth, top open source executives from Adobe, Hewlett-Packard, MySQL, Novell and SugarCRM will be on hand. The VAR Guy also intends to crash the party.
This conference is not to be confused with the LinuxWorld conference, which has a loyal following in the enterprise IT space. In stark contrast, Ubuntu Live and events like it could help Linux leap from corporate servers onto consumer — yes, consumer — desktops and mobile devices.
Dell in May unveiled selected PCs and notebooks with Ubuntu pre-installed. The first Dell systems shipping with Ubuntu are reaching customers now. And going forward, Intel is working with Ubuntu to adapt the operating system for smart phones and other emerging mobile devices. Watch for Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded Edition to debut this fall; Intel-based devices running the operating system are expected to surface in 2008.
Of course, Dell, Intel and other Microsoft partners continue to aggressively promote Windows Vista. And that’s logical, considering Microsoft has already sold 40 million Vista licenses. But for the first time in a decade, as Ubuntu Live proves, Windows isn’t the only party in town.
This could have been MS’s big year, if only they would have focused on an OS that doesn’t suck!
Vista really is a pain i.t.a. It crashes to often on my laptop.
I have looked into Dell’s offering of an Ubuntu Laptop (Inspiron 1420N)- you save “only” $ 50 ($794 vs $844) by ordering Ubuntu instead of Vista. That is not incentive enough, because you can always install Ubuntu later in dual-boot mode and then have both. Just in case… 😉
no worries Matthy ..! i have been using Ubuntu in my Dell Inspirion 1405 .. It runs on Ubuntu Edgy-Eft and believe me it runs perfect and I don’t have WINDOWS installed …. I use it for all normal desktop stuff like music,word processing and it rockks ! im happy with it .
As soon as these systems with ubuntu are available in Quebec, i’ll buy one of them. But forget the price difference. Vista basic vs ubuntu Feisty. In Gutsy (next release in october 2007) Compiz-fusion should be included. And that brings us to the level of Vista ultimate and more. Frankly much more 3d effects than Aero. So for me Vista will always be just a pale imitation of linux progress and posibilities. The future of computing…is linux not windows.
exactly Jean, vista (i have personally) is a BIG slow bloated p.o.s. so i dual boot with ubuntu. ubuntu is driven by what consumers want, microsoft is driven by already having a huge marketshare