Dell Set to Sell Ubuntu Linux

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Linux has never been a consumer option on mainstream hardware from a name
brand manufacturer. Until now.

Dell and Canonical today are announcing that Dell will ship PCs with Ubuntu
Linux pre-loaded. The move follows an unprecedented outcry from Dell’s users
who demanded that Dell support Linux for consumers and specifically Ubuntu
Linux.

“We’re obviously very excited about this. It’s a strong endorsement of Ubuntu
and is recognition for the traction and momentum that we’ve been building
over the last few years,” Jane Silber, director of operations at Canonical,
told internetnews.com. “As well it is a true broadening off access
and adoption for Linux in general and Ubuntu in particular on the desktop.”

Though Linux has been available as an option for servers and business
workstations from Dell and other hardware vendors before, consumer-targeted
desktop PCs have never had this type of offering.

Initially the Dell Ubuntu pre-load option will be available only to U.S.
consumers purchasing through Dell’s Web site. Dell engineers will be
installing the recently launched Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn.

Dell will install the version of Ubuntu that is identical to
that which is freely available and not some special version made just for Dell,
according to Silber.

Canonical also noted that any demand that the Dell deal may drive toward Ubuntu will not be a problem. Ubuntu updates on a fairly regular basis, with users connecting to the Ubuntu update infrastructure to download patches and updates. In the case of the recent Feisty update, Ubuntu servers were overtaxed with users waiting many hours to download the full update.

“There is a big difference between providing updates, which are generally
small, and having people waiting to download 700MB ISO images, which was the
release-day issue,” Silber explained. “We have a very healthy mirror system
already; we have over 100 mirrors around the world and I don’t expect any
problems.”

Dell will not be offering the KDE Linux desktop variant of Ubuntu, called
Kubuntu initially, and will focus only the GNOME Ubuntu version. That said
Silber was quick to point out that this is just the beginning.

“We’ll see how it goes, as both companies are interested in serving a market
that exists and, clearly right now, it looks like there is a pent-up demand
for Ubuntu, and that’s what we’ll be delivering initially,” Silber said.

Dell had been soliciting customer feedback since February through its IdeaStorm Web site about what people wanted. Pre-loading Linux became the first customer-requested option adopted by the company, with Ubuntu being the
specific Linux version that users were asking for.

Though Silber declined to comment on the revenue arrangement surrounding
the deal with Dell, she was quick to note that, as always, Ubuntu will remain
free. She explained that Canonical’s business model is around support,
certification and training.

“With Ubuntu on Dell, commercial support is available for those that want
it,” Silber said. “For those that opt not to purchase, there is always
community support.”

Though the deal with Dell marks a significant milestone for Ubuntu and for
Linux, Silber noted there are still some challenges.

“We will need to see the demand for the support offering; it’s unknown at
this point,” Silber said. “There is proven demand for pre-installed Linux
this has been a well researched business decision to do this.”

This article was first published on InternetNews.com. To read the full article, click here.