Ron Schenone

Dell – No Operating Systems Installed? They've Had It Dude!

Posted by on Feb 25, 2007 | 8 Comments

For the past several weeks we have hearing about Dell’s new site for customer feedback and that customers have been asking for Dell systems without any operating system, or with a Linux variation installed.

What’s funny is that Dell has been producing their ‘n’ series system for the past year. Did no one notice? I did a story on this last month. See here.
And now the latest rumor is that Dell MAY offer a installed Linux product, which I would guess is going to be Red Hat. Why? Dell has already invested in Red Hat, so it seems natural that would be the product they would want to support.

So what’s wrong with this picture?

  • The open source movement is to small to make a dent in the PC market. If you mention Linux to most consumers they would respond ‘isn’t that the expensive car?”
  • Dell has already started to ship PC’s with AMD processors and still sales slipped.
  • And now the $64,000 question for Linux PC’s. Who’s going to provide the support? India?
  • Sell Dell systems at retail outlets?  Nobody has thought of that before!

I believe that the biggest obstacle that Dell needs to overcome is their customer support. Treat your customers with indifference and it will bite you in the butt every time. Dell’s rag to riches story and business model was based on a good quality computer backed by the best support in the industry.

Dell needs to get back to the basics.

Open Source ‘n’ series Dell’s

[tags] dell, linux, amd,  [/tags]

  • http://fractalbeanstalk.blogspot.com/ Tim Hodkinson

    You know, maybe the problem with Dell is actually their customers. They’re asking for something that’s already available.

    Or maybe… whenever anyone asks for suggestions about how to improve computing, there’s always a crowd that forms chanting, “Linux, Linux, Linux!”

    Anyhow, Ubuntu offers support. Dell could ship the computers with Ubuntu disks in the box and users could go to Ubuntu for support. If Dell wanted to make things even smoother, they could cover the support costs. And call it… Dellbuntu.

    Maybe I should visit that Dell feedback site.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Tim,

    I think you have a great idea. Maybe you should run it by Dell. After all, everyone else is voicing their opinion.

    Actually they have only received about 1800 suggestions. Makes one wonder how many of these folks will actually buy a Dell if it came with Linux, no matter what the distro. was.

    Later, Ron

  • http://fractalbeanstalk.blogspot.com/ Tim Hodkinson

    Sure enough, it’s already there.

    Of course, it doesn’t really interest me because I prefer to buy used computers off-lease. They’re usually only 2 years old and sell for $150 with no OS.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Tim,

    To bad – I was going to make you my official Dell liaison as well. :-)

    How are things over at vistabad.org going? I hope you understand that these are none paying positions! LOL

    Have a good one, Ron

    PS Michael can’t make any money with people like you buying off-lease equipment! That would a good post at IdeaStorm – buy used – not new!!!

  • http://fractalbeanstalk.blogspot.com/ Tim Hodkinson

    I made an interesting discovery at Badvista.org. When I registered, their blog suddenly appeared on the page, and guess what was the most recent posting?

    (2007/02/20) “Tell Dell to sell free software systems”

    “Dell is soliciting your ideas for how they can improve their systems. This is a great way to let them know that you want hardware to be sold preinstalled with free software, or without any operating system on it at all so that you can set up your own non-Vista free software environment.

    There is no reason you should be forced to pay a Microsoft Tax every time you buy a Dell computer.

    You can go here to propose your idea and to vote for ideas you support. If you register an account with them, your vote counts for 10 anonymous votes.

    Did you vote? Let us know in the comments here.”

    Maybe this explains all the Linux cheering over at Idea Storm and also the complete lack of awareness that Dell already sells systems without an OS.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Tim,
    Good find. Maybe Dell should change their procedure for voting. Most Dell systems have a service tag # affixed somewhere on the case. If you register to vote you can than be asked to provide the service tag # to verify you are a REAL Dell customer.

    One vote per number. Sounds like someone or some .org may be stacking the deck. :-)

    Thanks for the info. Ron

  • Wayne Whitfield

    this and anything to do with dell is a scam

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Wayne,
    Thanks for your comment.

    Ron