[ale] Dell picks Ubuntu for Linux PCs

[Watson, Keith R.]

Dell picks Ubuntu for Linux PCs
http://news.com.com/Dell+picks+Ubuntu+for+Linux+PCs/2100-7344_3-6180419.
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http://tinyurl.com/yvgb6b


By Stephen Shankland

Story last modified Tue May 01 10:13:41 PDT 2007

Dell is trying a second time to sell personal computers with Linux
preinstalled, this time using the up-and-coming Ubuntu version of the
open-source operating system.

At the end of May, the No. 2 PC maker will begin selling some
consumer-focused laptop and desktop models with Ubuntu's new "Feisty
Fawn" version of Linux installed, Dell spokesman Kent Cook said. The
company announced the Linux move on Tuesday on its IdeaStorm site,
launched in February to gather feedback directly from customers about
what they want.

"Today, we are excited to tell you that Dell will begin offering
Canonical's latest version, Ubuntu 7.04, as an option on select Dell
consumer models in the U.S. in the coming weeks," the company said in
its announcement.

Dell also announced that it has improved its Linux forum and has given
it prominent placement on its Dell Forums Web page.

When buying the Dell systems, customers will have the option to purchase
support from Ubuntu backer Canonical, said Jane Silber, the start-up's
director of operations.

Companies have been trying for years to make a go of Linux on PCs--Dell
even invested in one company, Eazel--but generally, they've had little
success, even though they offered lower prices, polished graphical
interfaces and necessary software such as Microsoft Office competitor
OpenOffice.org.

"I don't think this is going to be a knock-the-ball-out-of-the-park home
run," said IDC analyst Al Gillen, who still doesn't see a major Linux
draw for most Windows PC users. But the move is notable for the fact
that it's Dell making it: "Dell typically doesn't do stuff if they don't
think they're going to get enough volume to justify it," Gillen said.

Dell, suffering market share losses to top PC seller Hewlett-Packard, is
trying reinvigorate its direct ties with customers, an approach that
long has been the company's hallmark. Linux-based PCs was an
"overwhelming" request from the IdeaStorm site, Cook said.

"We heard loud and clear from customers that they wanted this," Cook
said. And of those who wanted Linux, "80 percent came back and said
Ubuntu," Cook said.

Cook wouldn't share pricing details or say how Linux PCs would compare
in price with Windows PCs.

Dell began selling Linux PCs in 1999 and added laptops in 2000. But in
2001, Dell reversed course, canceling the Linux PCs because of
insufficient demand. Today, Dell certifies Red Hat or Suse Linux for use
on some business-oriented PCs, but except when larger customers place
custom orders, customers must install the operating system themselves.

This time, things are different, Cook said.

"We think great strides have been made since 2001," Cook said. "Linux
has evolved to a point where there is something available for
consumers," though Linux PCs will appeal mostly to a Linux enthusiast
market that's more limited than that for Windows Vista.

And Dell validated the Linux request through its own research. "There
definitely are those who are Linux zealots, but we did some checking as
well," he said.

Dell's move isn't likely to dethrone Microsoft any time soon. On
servers, the Redmond, Wash.-based company faces several strong
operating-system competitors in Linux and Unix, but its dominance in PC
sales hasn't been dented.

Of the 160.5 million operating-system licenses shipped in 2006, Windows
accounted for 92 percent, compared with 4.1 percent for Mac OS X and 3.8
percent for Linux, Gillen said. "We're not seeing any breakout momentum
for Linux on desktop," he said.

A big boost for Linux
But Canonical believes the time is right.

"The market is ready," Silber said. "We think the combination of the
timing, the technology and the partner are aligned to make it happen."

Dell's partnership is a significant endorsement for the up-and-coming
Linux support seller. Canonical doesn't yet have the widespread hardware
and software partnerships possessed by incumbent Linux power Red Hat and
Novell's Suse Linux, but it's working to build them.

The company is starting its business by trying to appeal to users of
desktop computers. From there, Canonical Chief Executive Mark
Shuttleworth has said, the company plans to head to the server market,
where the real Linux bread and butter can be found.

Cook wouldn't comment on whether Dell plans to offer Ubuntu on its
servers as well. "We're looking at Linux across the breadth of our
product line. It takes a bit longer sometimes on that side. Stay tuned,"
he said.

Raven Zachary, an analyst for the market analyst firm The 451 Group,
believes that day will arrive.

"I think you will find Dell, over time, also offering Ubuntu across its
server product line as Ubuntu grows in popularity in the data center,
due in large part to Canonical's 24-7 support offering and the
simplicity of managing one distribution from the developer's desktop to
the data center," Zachary said.

Customers are reporting use of Ubuntu more than IDC had expected, Gillen
said.

"It's showing up as well as any traditional nonpaid Linux distribution
is showing up and starting to rival some paid distributions," according
to Gillen. "It's not first-tier, but it's pushing the envelope getting
into the first tier."

Canonical wouldn't reveal financial terms of the deal.

"It's a very significant deal for us, in terms of evolution of the
company," Silber said. "How big a deal depends, to a large extent, on
how many machines are sold. We think that'll be a high number."


keith

-- 

Keith R. Watson                        Georgia Institute of Technology
Systems Support Specialist IV          College of Computing
keith.watson at cc.gatech.edu             801 Atlantic Drive NW
(404) 385-7401                         Atlanta, GA  30332-0280