Dell to Offer Open Source Alternatives

By Greg McNevin

March 30, 2007: Dell has put an end to speculation and confirmed that it will indeed be bundling Linux with its new PCs and Laptops.

After scouring through the mountain of customer feedback and requests it received last month during its IdeaStorm initiative, Dell will be bundling select new machines with Linux and OpenOffice.org as an alternative to the dominant Windows Vista.

“We will expand our Linux support beyond our existing servers and Precision workstation line,” wrote Dell in its IdeaStorm blog. “Our first step in this effort is offering Linux pre-installed on select desktop and notebook systems.”

The company said that out of the 100,000 customers who filled in the detailed Linux survey, over 70 percent said they would use a Linux-based Dell system.

"Dell has heard you and we will expand our Linux support beyond our existing servers and Precision workstation line," wrote the company. "Our first step in this effort is offering Linux pre-installed on select desktop and notebook systems.

“We will provide an update in the coming weeks that includes detailed information on which systems we will offer, our testing and certification efforts, and the Linux distribution(s) that will be available. The countdown begins today."

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