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 Channel Futures

Open Source


Dell Preparing Ubuntu 10.04 Linux Systems

  • Written by The VAR Guy 1
  • July 26, 2010
Plenty of folks are confused about Dell's commitment to Ubuntu, the Linux distribution promoted by Canonical. In recent days, old rumors about Dell abandoning Ubuntu have returned. But in reality, Dell indicates it is preparing to ship systems with Ubuntu 10.04 -- the most recent Ubuntu release -- within the next few weeks. Here's the reality check.

Plenty of folks are confused about Dell’s commitment to Ubuntu, the Linux distribution promoted by Canonical. In recent days, old rumors about Dell abandoning Ubuntu have returned. But in reality, Dell indicates it is preparing to ship systems with Ubuntu 10.04 — the most recent Ubuntu release — within the next few weeks. Here’s the reality check.

Most Ubuntu followers know the back story: On the one hand, Dell says it is the world’s leading provider of Ubuntu-based computers. But on the other hand, critics note Dell’s Ubuntu website (www.dell.com/ubuntu) hasn’t offered any desktop PCs with Ubuntu pre-loads for the past year or so. Further complicating matters, a blog started a rumor that Dell essentially was abandoning online Ubuntu system sales.

Too bad nobody read the fine print. Check the Dell web site and you’ll find the following line:

“Beginning with Ubuntu 10.04, available on Dell systems this summer, boot times have improved dramatically over Ubuntu 9.10. Depending upon the Dell computer your purchase, boot times can be around 30 seconds!”

Translation: Dell is currently transitioning its Ubuntu-centric systems from Ubuntu 9.10 to Ubuntu 10.04, the long term support (LTS) release that debuted in April 2010. The move indicates Dell’s confidence in Ubuntu, rather than a rejection of Ubuntu.

UPDATE, July 27, 2010: Dell’s Web site now lists a Studio XPS system running Ubuntu 10.04.

For another view on Dell’s commitment to Ubuntu, check out SJVN’s perspectives. (Disclosure: The VAR Guy used to work with SJVN, and frequently reads his coverage for strong opinions in the open source market.)

The VAR Guy has requested additional comment from Canonical regarding the Dell-Ubuntu relationship. And our resident blogger is hoping to visit Dell’s headquarters in August. If that meeting occurs, The VAR Guy will ping Dell for updated views on Ubuntu, Google Android and other emerging operating systems.

Follow The VAR Guy via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter; and via his Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center. Plus, visit www.VARtweet.com.


Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Mobility Open Source

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9 comments

  1. Avatar Nick July 27, 2010 @ 1:31 pm
    Reply

    Installing a SSD and Linux Mint 9 (which is based on 10.04) on a 2 year old Dell Latitude boots to a usable desktop in 11 seconds after POST. Factoring in POST time, I still can boot into a usable desktop under 20 seconds.

    I’m using Gnome shell BTW which I can only describe in one word: fresh! I also have automatic login enabled .

  2. Avatar Civet Cat July 27, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
    Reply

    I agree, all this clearly demonstrates Dell’s confidence in Ubuntu. Oh those confused idiots who don’t get it! And by all this I don’t mean just the dropping of online sales, but also the flattering comparison between Windows and Ubuntu that was put up on the Dell website, when Dell said everyone uses Windows, except programmers who might want to, maybe, some day, try Ubuntu.

    And when I’m done reading this wonderful, reassuring, if a tad nonsensical blog (the fine print seems to be speaking to the author in a language the rest of the world won’t understand), I think I’ll take a cruise down a wonderful river in Egypt.

    Oh, and be a dear, do update us on what Canonical spun, won’t you 🙂

    Said. On what they said.

    Well, cheerio.

  3. Avatar Arnold July 27, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
    Reply

    Dude. How long does it take to prepare a Linux install image? How hard is it to make Linux PCs easy to find and order on a Web site? This is software, for cripe’s sake. When automakers have to shut down and retool their production lines they do it with less fuss and a lot faster. Dell is pitiful, and their Linux PCs and desktops are half-baked and overpriced.

  4. Avatar Robert Pogson July 27, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
    Reply

    We have recently been reading about Dell accepting $billions from Intel to exclude AMD. I wonder how many $billions Dell has accepted from M$ to:

    recommend “7”

    never have Ubuntu v “7”/XP as a heads-up choice on Dell.com

    when they do offer Ubuntu and that other OS on the same hardware on different pages to always make Ubuntu more expensive

    What’s with that? I can make a single image of GNU/Linux that will install on any PC in my shop. Why cannot Dell do that for all its products and cut out fragmenting its site so that no one can find anything on it without using Google?

  5. Avatar lw9474 July 27, 2010 @ 7:53 pm
    Reply

    So buy their windoze deal and install Ubuntu. It takes 20 minutes. Probably less time than windoze takes to boot and update the first time. We have done over 40 of them this year. Let M$ keep paying the front money. I have a jump drive with 10.04. It doesn’t hurt my feelings to install over them.

  6. Avatar Advocate July 27, 2010 @ 9:17 pm
    Reply

    M$ can grease PC manufacturers like Dell, but they can’t grease the Ubuntu community. I have turned tens of Windows PC’s into Ubuntu machines.

  7. Avatar Robert Pogson July 27, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
    Reply

    Paving over that other OS with GNU/Linux is a wonderful thing but not if it means buying a new PC with perhaps multiple licences for an OS, up/down/sideways rights to another OS, etc. paid to M$. That contributes to the distortion of the market. M$ gets to call it a sale and use the ripoff profits to contribute to other campaigns.

    If you need a new PC, build your own or order from an OEM who will supply “no OS”. Even though you cannot likely save much, you will employ someone locally, possibly you, and get exactly the hardware you want. Dell’s FreeDOS machines would do but they are as limited as the Ubuntu machines. IMHO Dell and other OEMs should offer choice of OS just as they offer choice of hard drive or RAM.

    Another very decent alternative to a new PC is a used machine formerly running XP. There are millions available dirt-cheap and they will often run GNU/Linux well. If you need better performance, use a powerful new machine as a terminal server and use the old machines as thinnish clients. A lot of businesses have kept their old machine for six years and are recycling the hardware for bargain prices. I got a bunch for $0 this year: P4, 512MB, 40gB, solid. It takes 4 minutes to do a minimal installation of Debian GNU/Linux or a bit less to write the corresponding disc-image. Log-in to a usable desktop in 5s. Open OpenOffice.org, 2s.

  8. Avatar anthony July 27, 2010 @ 10:53 pm
    Reply

    Yes, as lw9474 suggests, you can just buy a windows laptop and wipe it. But, it just kills me to have to pay for an OS I won’t be using.

    If I could get a refund, without the grief, than maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

  9. Avatar lw9474 July 30, 2010 @ 3:09 pm
    Reply

    I agree about paying for something you are not using. But the intent of my original post was to point out that it is LESS expensive to do that than to buy a white box or a linux box from Dell. Obviously, someone is subsidizing it. I really don’t care when the bottom line is saving $200+ per desktop. Show me the money.

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