Dell Goes with Ubuntu

What is Ubuntu? Ubuntu is an African word that means 'Humanity to others' and 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. Ubuntu the software is an open-source Linux-based operating system that can be used on laptops, desktops, and even servers. For those of you that are unaware, open-source software is generally a free form of software. Ubuntu is no different and includes everything a user needs to function, such as document and spreadsheet software, a web browser, and even an instant messaging service.

So how did Dell decide to use Ubuntu instead of another Linux-dased operating system? Their quest began in March when they made the announcement that they would begin selling some of their PCs with Linux pre-installed. This had been the outcome of them receiving information from the IdeaStorm feedback website, where they had received numerous requests for a Linux PC.

"When asked which distribution of Linux Dell should prioritize on, Ubuntu was the most requested option," the company stated. Dell then released a statement saying, "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 US in the coming weeks."

The pre-installation requests of Ubuntu have been the largest request from the IdeaStorm website, with the second highest request being a pre-installed Open Office. Last month, the CEO of Dell, Michael Dell, was reported as already using Ubuntu 7.04 on his personal laptop, as well as the Firefox browser and the OpenOffice.org productivity suite. Dell then thought that if the products were good enough for their CEO then they were good enough for their customers.

Dell already supports Red Hat's Enterprise Linux on their Precision workstations and Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop on their Linux systems. By adding Ubuntu to the mix, Dell will then be helping the community-driven software be even more easily accessible to the consumers that are interested in a Linux platform.

Ubuntu founder, Mark Shuttleworth, doubts that the marriage with Dell will have an immediate impact on desktop Linux, but he feels that it will definitely help with the company's long term growth. "I don't think there's going to be a big-bang event when the world suddenly shifts from one platform to another, but I think that Linux is coming into its own as a viable, reliable platform," he said.

"An initiative like this from Dell is phenomenally important in raising the attention in the industry of the importance of Linux as a platform. I think one of the consequences of this is going to be lots of computer consultants out there that have Linux expertise but have never talked about it are going to say 'we have Linux too'," Shuttleworth went on to say.

So for Dell customers that are itching to join the Linux bandwagon, the wait is almost over. Stay tuned for more news from Dell on the upcoming marriage of Ubuntu onto Dell systems. For the rest of us that are looking to change operating systems, you can download the Ubuntu operating system via their website or you also have the choice of ordering a disk.

*Sources*

-Computer Business Review Online. URL: http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=FFA8A600-2FFD-434F-8E3E-D01A616B309B . Aslett, Matthew. 2007May2.