Dell picks Ubuntu for Linux PCs

from WinCustomize Forums
This is not the first time Dell has tried offering Linux OS on PCs to customers as the linked article points out. Is there any reason to believe Dell will have any sucess this time around?   

Okay lets see a show of hands, given a choice, if you where buying a new computer for any purpose, would you choose first a Dell, and then one with Linux OS installed over any other computer (includeing home built) and MS?   

What little I know about Linux I read here. From what I understand there are different versions, is Dell installing the right version?   

WWW Link

The other thing that I have pick up reading the forums ia that there are strong opinions about OSs. Give your pros and cons but try to make it more than "just because'.   



EDIT Since there haven't been any replies yet include in the discussion the Apple/Mac platform. This should be a lot of fun!!      
60,981 views 34 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ubuntu is a great linux distro (version built on the *nix core).  It's intuitive, has good harware support, doesn't take too many resources.

Dell offering it can only be good for the consumer.

{Having said that, most folks that play with linux buy from Dell I think.  They build their own PCs}
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ubuntu is great. I love it. I have a PC running XP, and a PC running Ubuntu. I use my XP machine more only because it has all my music on it. If not for that distinct advantage, I'd probably use the Ubuntu machine more.

(Plus . . . my XP machine has the big, nice screen, whereas my Ubuntu one ain't so big. )
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I would absolutely choose it. Ubuntu is a wonderful O/S, and developments over the past few years in open source make it much more promising than it might have been in earlier releases. I, for one, wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Thanks for the update.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well i checked out some of the stuff on the OS...looks pretty damn good...i'm downloading it right now
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the replies. It would appear that Dell is installing the right version of Linux.   

What Office or Graphics etc. software would you want/need to install?   

So far we only have the Linux side, can't wait for the MS and Apple/Mac people to comment.   

Just for the record I have a PC the has Windows XP Home on it. I think for practical reasons competion is not only good it's needed.   
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What Office or Graphics etc. software would you want/need to install


Ubuntu comes with OpenOffice.ORG and The GIMP
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ubuntu comes with OpenOffice installed, which means you get all the functionality of Microsoft Office for a much better price . . . free!

And besides OpenOffice Draw (which is a pretty okay vector drawing program) you can install a Linux version of GIMP or GIMPshop if you need something more powerful . . .

Again . . . all free! I love that price.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok...here it goes, after downloading and burning th ISO of ubuntu 32 bit and trying to install it on a HP 6630 (which used to run 98 but i formatted the drive and installed XP)i formatted the drive to blow XP out and tried to install ubuntu, the OS doesn't support the video card (which is onboard) on the HP...i tested it on that system cause there was no way i was going to install it on my 64 bit system just to find out it doesn't support my hardware.it seems like in order for this OS to be installed you have to do some home work on the hardware it will accommodate to.that really sucks too, i really wanted to try this OS out now alot of people know why linux is a free download,you have to go thru a live sh*t binge and purge just to install it where as winblows you pay for it and it does what it's exactly supposed to do and that's to accommodate to every major software and hardware on the planet..no offense to linux users.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
whatwhere - Well that's a bummer.   

What you point out though is really some of the same problems people have voiced with older PC's and attempting to upgrade to Vista. What hardware didn't it like in your HP? Was it just drivers and can you go get them? If the HP ran 98 and than XP you would think Linux would run.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
you have to go thru a live sh*t binge and purge just to install it where as winblows you pay for it and it does what it's exactly supposed to do and that's to accommodate to every major software and hardware on the planet


No, Windows supports hardware for which it has drivers. As for software, I could tell you several software apps that will not run on some Windows machines.

What you need to do is find Linux drivers for your motherboard and video card (even when it is part of the chipset, it is still identified as a video card), and make sure you have those on hand. Go to www.linuxquestions.org, and see if you can find help there.

Windows has to deal with driver issues to, it's just that since many of those drivers are preinstalled, you don't SEE these issues.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay lets see a show of hands, given a choice, if you where buying a new computer for any purpose, would you choose first a Dell, and then one with Linux OS installed over any other computer (includeing home built) and MS?

Jafo keeps his hand down.....twice...

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

whatwhere - Well that's a bummer.

What you point out though is really some of the same problems people have voiced with older PC's and attempting to upgrade to Vista. What hardware didn't it like in your HP? Was it just drivers and can you go get them? If the HP ran 98 and than XP you would think Linux would run.


it basically supported everything but the vid card, it showed me a list of errors that pointed at the vid card..i guinea pigged the HP cause the last time i wiped out my system was to install mandrake and of course it didn't support my hardware...at the time i looked on the mandrake site and my hardware wasn't listed...i should of looked on thier site first but being that i really want to give linux a shot i figured what the hell i do it and see what happens
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jafo - I take it the thought of a Dell with Linux installed is not what you want as a gift!!!!         
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top


No, Windows supports hardware for which it has drivers.[/quote]true, but then again they are more dirvers out there for winblows then any other OS that i know of

Go to www.linuxquestions.org, and see if you can find help there.
cool thanks man i'll give that a try

Windows has to deal with driver issues to, it's just that since many of those drivers are preinstalled, you don't SEE these issues.
yeah i know...i was playing HL2 with my old system which was a P4 with HT with a ati radeon x850xt pe vid card...for some reason the game locked and winblows carashed...as always

As for software, I could tell you several software apps that will not run on some Windows machines.
yeah tell me bout it...LOL xp ran winamp with no problems...i go to install winamp on vista and it tells me "it's not compatible with this version on windows" which sucks cause winamp is about on of the best players i ever used


Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
whatwhere - Well then it's not as bad as it could have been.   

Are you going to try the link that Gideon identified in reply #10?   
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
whatwhere - If and when you do check out the link come back and post the out come.   
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
now alot of people know why linux is a free download,you have to go thru a live sh*t binge and purge just to install it where as winblows you pay for it and it does what it's exactly supposed to do and that's to accommodate to every major software and hardware on the planet..


Yeah, right. Try installing Vista on that old machine and come back and tell us how great it worked. Oh, and go ahead and use some of your old Xp software on Vista and again tell us how well they all worked. I know far too many people for whom either their machines, software, or both aren't compatible with Vista.

Windows doesn't "accomodate" every piece of hardware on the plant. There's a reason why the ship with a drivers disc; Windows can't make the hardware work without it. Well, neither can Linux (although quite often you'll find that Linux already has built in drivers for a huge range of hardware).

I think Dell is making the right choice of distros to ship on their Linux machines (I'm sure Novell is losing sleep over it too). Ubuntu is user friendly and is well put together. While a Windows user will still have a bit of a learning curve with Ubuntu or any other Linux distro Ubuntu would be an easier transition for them and someone who isn't very familiar with any OS would find it quite easy and enjoyable.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jafo - I take it the thought of a Dell with Linux installed is not what you want as a gift!!!!

Oh....GIFT?...yes...I'm all for it...but the Linux wouldn't stay on for long...not unless it came with a whole SWAG of propeller hats...

Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
hardware on the plant. There's a reason why the


Err, that should be planet and "why they"

That's what I get for trying to eat and type at the same time
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ubuntu can always be booted and run from the cd or DVD.  It's slow, but it allows you to see what will and won't work without having to install anything.  That feature alone is awesome.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Zubaz - This may not be a fair question or comparision but to your knowledge can you boot any version of Windows from a CD or DVD?   

Looking back at the replies it appears that only Jafo was nice enough to post a "no thank you" comment. Only MasonM posted some "pros". Other than the price, free, is that a good enough reason to get Linux?   

Let's try to keep the thread going atleast alittle longer Okay?
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This may not be a fair question or comparision but to your knowledge can you boot any version of Windows from a CD or DVD?

You can boot XP from a flash drive...if the bios supports it..

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jafo - Thanks for the answer.   

Now that I think about it it's more like comparing apples and oranges. In order to get XP on the flash drive it would have to be yours, MS/Windows program validation would get in the way. Not the same thing if you just want to see if Linux will work with you system. Correct me if I'm wrong.   
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Installing XP onto a flash drive can be done...though it will conflict with the MS EULA...so the issue is whether the question is 'can it?' vs 'is it legal?'.

'Owning' the XP/MS Licence does not entitle a person to install to any media of their choice, so in that regard Linux is 'better'.

Conversely, having Linux accessible on a bootable CD/DVD means it's so much easier to revert to an OS that actually has practical use ....

Jafo hides from the 'Nixers in their propeller hats...