[ale] macbook and linux

[Daniel Howard]

I would not characterize Dell as anti-Linux.  The fact that they are 
offering Linux boxes at all is positive, and as for the cost aspect, I 
suspect it has much more to do with basic economics than being 
pro-Windows: you can always charge less and make a lower margin for an 
item you expect to sell many more of, and so far Dell's Linux sales, 
while increasing, especially on the server side, are still only a small 
fraction of what Windows based systems are for them.  Walmart can charge 
$200 for a Linux box because they are so much bigger and their shoppers 
typically only care about price, whereas Dell shoppers go there for 
quality/support, so the Linux business is likely to grow much more 
slowly.  The cost of support per sale for Linux may be higher for them 
as well due to users not being familiar with the OS and calling for more 
basic things (where is the IE icon?).  Before I characterize them as 
anti-Linux, I'll wait to see over coming year or two how the 
price/hardware performance compares as sales of Linux based systems grows.

Best,
Daniel



Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:06:44 -0500
From: Jeff Hubbs <hbbs at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [ale] macbook and linux
To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
Message-ID: <4748CAA4.3030902 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

This, to me, paints Dell as both anti-consumer and anti-Linux.  I
wouldn't reward them with my business.



Geoffrey wrote:
 > > James Taylor wrote:
 >> >> The specs are not to great compared to what I can pick up for 
sale at similar or better prices from Costco, Office Depot or even
 >> >> Microcenter.  You don't pay the microsoft "tax", but you pay more 
for less performance.  It might feel good, but it doesn't make sense
 >> >> economically.
 >> >>
 >> >> It's hard to take Dell seriously about this when they offer the 
low end of each of their lines for not great prices on their non-ms
 >> >> boxes.
 > >
 > > You're right.  I just priced an Inspiron 1420 with Ubuntu and with
 > > Windows.  Identical systems:
 > >
 > > Ubuntu:  $1518
 > > Windows: $1318
 > >
 > > And the windows laptop has a 250G drive, whereas the Ubuntu could 
only go as large as 160GB.
 > >
 > > So you're paying $200 MORE not to get windows, along with the 
smaller hard drive.
 > >
-- 
Daniel Howard
President and CEO
Georgia Open Source Education Foundation