Dell releases PC loaded with Linux (in China)

From: Anthony Yeo <vze2jy85@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed Mar 28 2007 - 07:14:03 AKDT

Hi Folks:

Dell releases a computer loaded with Linux! I think it
is only a matter of time before this happens here.

Tony

***

Network World's Linux & Open Source Newsletter,
03/28/07

Dell releases low-cost Linux desktops...in China
By Phil Hochmuth

Dell last week began selling low-cost Linux PCs to
enterprise and consumer customers. They just have to
be in China to get a hold of the machines.

Dell began offering Dell Dimension C51-n machines with
Athlon64 3200 CPUs, a 17-inch LCD monitor, and a
pre-loaded Linux operating system for 2,999 Chinese
yuan (around $517 U.S.). Dell would not say what
version of Linux it will offer on the machines.

Dell appears to be trying to upstage China-based
Lenovo, the former PC/laptop division of IBM, which
was sold off in 2004. Lenovo currently offers no
low-cost Linux machines in China — a country where
Linux has become very popular, with the emergence of
Red Flag Linux, a Linux company based in China
offering a distribution by the same name. Dell, for
example, has sold tens of thousands of Linux-based PCs
to elementary schools in China, running Sun Wah Linux
— a Chinese distribution of Linux based on Debian.

This is all fine and good, some stateside desktop
Linux enthusiasts may say, but what about us? The
distribution of Linux on pre-installed Dell machines
has been a sore spot lately for Dell's U.S. customers.
The controversy started in February when Dell launched
its social networking site Dellideastorm.com, where
members could contribute ideas on what directions Dell
should take, then vote the suggestions up or down on
the list.

An overwhelming number of participants said Dell
should start offering free Linux distributions on its
PCs and laptops. Some called for other types of open
source software support. Since then, Dell has said it
is investigating bringing back wide distributions of
Dell Linux PCs, a practice it stopped several years
ago.

The Chinese Dell Linux deal was probably well in
motion before the Dellideastorm flap began.
Unfortunately, this may give more fodder to the
"enthusiastic" — to say the least — Dell Linux
proponents to paint the vendor as unresponsive to
customers. The ball is in Dell's court now.

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Received on Wed Mar 28 07:14:16 2007

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