No more dsdt programmed only for windows !!! Linux and OSS compatibility is a duty for every hardware vendor !

Farfetched, shallow, and unreasonable. Especially 5 and 6. Especially 6.

Linux is easy.
I use linux since 3 years with no problem.
But i need to work a little bit, not du to the system, but to find a computer.
Today i'ma working on a Mac.
I dell propose all its computer with the opportunity of linux, i'll buy a Dell.

Notebook purchase in the next 30 days

I have been looking for a notebook to install Linux Ubuntu on. I don't need Windows and I don't want to pay for something that I will not be using. Dell hardware has an excellent reputation but the threat of buying a computer that may not be fully functional in Linux keeps my away from an internet purchase. I would rather buy a Dell, but why should I pay for an operating system that I will not be using.
Give us the option to have Ubuntu pre-installed or have no system installed and let us install lLnux ourselves

1) Work with hardware vendors to get drivers for Linux, on all models, especially power management.
2) Make all models of laptops and PCs available with a No OS option, and a Linux (top 3 is a good idea) option. And these options SHOULD cost less than Windows since Linux is cheaper than Windows, and the distributors of Linux will support the OS of choice. Obviously, a No OS option should be the cheapest.

I see no reason why a hardware vendor would limit their customer base by not having Linux drivers. There are more installations of Linux than Mac, and more everyday. If the development of Linux drivers is not something they do well, outsource or open source, and they will get created. Open source drivers are preferred.

There is also no reason why Dell should not offer a No OS option on every single piece of hardware they sell. This works for anyone that currently owns their own OS (Retail Mac x86, Retail or Corporate purchased Linux, BSD, FreeDOS, existing Retail/Corporate/Strong Arm Windows purchase, etc). Again, there is also no reason to make this cost more than a Windows version of the same hardware. Even if Microsoft is giving kickbacks like Intel, the cost of testing, configuring the hardware, purchasing and configuring the hardware for duplication, and supporting Windows on your hardware has to cost more than a No OS option that needs no software support. And don't let Microsoft give you that piracy BS. People want choice, and the choice is almost always Linux or BSD over pirated Windows.

Dell DOES offer some "Open source" notebooks. They come without an OS installed an a Freedos install kit. Certainly not quite to the level proposed here as far as support goes but it is a start I guess.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/nseries_nb?s=bsd

All the ideas reagarding this are thrashed out in the "main" Linux thread.

The main reason this is an even better idea on a laptop is that the number of people into hardcore gaming on laptops are even lower than on desktops. Or to put it another way: there are laptop buyers with just NO interest in gaming period. Those are a big part of your market.

You'll have to make sure WiFi is pre-sorted and if you're smart, you'll also offer something with onboard EVDO as well (with the Linux driver issues solved). EVDO under Linux is doable but it's a pain to get it running the first time...Dell can of course eliminate that problem in short order.

As to no-OS options:

Once Dell has set up Linux for a given system, laptop OR desktop, the cost to install it to a hard disk is trivial. They have to format the drive anyways; the same process that formats can write a disk image to it. There's really no reason to have a no-OS option. Unless of course Dell ends up having to charge about $15 a pop or so for MP3 and DVD/DIVX codecs...hmmm...which they might strongly want to consider...

Yes, please! I have a Dell Dimension that I dual boot using an external USB drive. It is fun (but oh, so frustrating!) to set it up so that Linux works 100%. So far my main headache is the wireless...

Hi all,

I bought a DELL D620 last July with NO-OS option. So it was already possible to ask DELL to remove their "recommended OS". I installed a Slackware 11.0 whereas they didn't know if the hardware will be recognized ... So I think that people at DELL support are not able to support in details all Linux distros even the major distros ( RH, Suse, Mandriva, debian ...) because they don't have any training on that OS. And it will be very complicated for them to support all hardware, without the help of the Linux community ...

But everything is possible with Linux ... :) !!!

There are many informatic specialists that convert their win-based laptop into linx-based laptop, but frequently facing configuration problems (display, sound, wifi,...).

I want a Dell linux laptop

I would buy a dell linux laptop, it would be nice if you could request dual boot aswell

Next year I start to study. If there is a Linux Notebook available (enought is only "Linux Ready" and no installed OS) buy Dell, I will by it directly.

I think their are enough experts for Linux-maschines available. Their is no problem to find somebody!

I own a Dell Latitude D600 running Ubuntu 7.04. The community support for Dell is already quite good, but it would just be great if it would be possible to buy a notebook or desktop already shipped with Linux.
A few months ago we decided to set up a own computer pool with some scientific software ( I'm a scientist at a technical university). We wanted to have Linux on the system due the the scientific software ( e.g. octave ) and there were no hardware out there who could deliver us just desktops with preinstalled Linux. I hope so much next time we can just order it at dell.com/de

If you offer a Inspiron with Ubuntu my choice for my next notebook will be DELL!!!
For me its that simple.

i would love a no OS laptop or Linux Laptop. i absolutely would be interested. currently you cant home build a laptop. i have to buy old used laptops and put linux on them. Use a popular Distro for ease of installation.

site problems caused duplication

i bought a toshiba satellite laptop, first thing i did was get rid of windows and install ubuntu (which i knew would work fine with wireless internet since the intel centrino wireless chipset) everything works perfectly!!(luckily i may add) but i would have definately gone for dell though, having the reasurance that everything was already setup and working would have been a much better choice! btw desktops with linux preinstalled are available on ebay, just search for ubuntu, theyre really reasonable prices! if dell did preinstalled linux laptops they would definately be my choice next time i need to buy a laptop!!
afterall IBM have just invested $1billion dollars in linux !!!

Yes I want such hardware, without any microsoft hardware, please

I don't care about service and support, or idiot-proof-ness. I'm a programmer and a SysAdmin. I just want to buy a laptop from Dell, not some custom manufacturer, where they will tell me that "Everything on this laptop is guaranteed to work with the following distributions: ..."

I don't even want it pre-installed, I just want Dell to tell me that it will work with openSuSE 10.2, RedHat xxx, and whatever other distros.

some hardware can be a pain in the ass to install(webcams are a good example). it would be great if really everything could work out of the box. linux has come a long way already, but i think it could gain more people if it was hassle-free

I'd really buy a Linux laptop.

Last year, I was looking for a Linux laptop (or at least a brand new laptop without Windows preinstalled), but to no avail. So I had to buy a desktop computer, built by myself.

Also, if sometime Dell offers Linux-based laptops, it would be great if they sell (or ship) them worldwide, not just the US, Canada and (sometimes) Europe.

If dell sold a linux laptop then a Dell would be my next laptop purchase.

I'd like a laptop with no microsoft tax on it. i work with ubuntu.

I want to add that it is not important that dell offers multiple distros, it's important that they offer computers with hardware support in the mainline kernel. Doing this will ensure that a user can run *any* distro.

They could make their install image very lean, focused simply on functioning hardware and the main applications that every one has come to expect (office suite, web browser, im client, anti virus (unnecesary), and support just that. Users are then free to add as much other *unsupported* software as they want, just as is the case now. Practicaly speaking Dell's support requirements on a basic Foss bundle will probably be *far* lower than an MS bundle. If anyone doubts this ask someone on the front line of a mixed os helpdesk.

They could easily partner with RedHat, Ubuntu/Canonical, Suse. I actualy think Ubuntu/Canonical is the best choice as their main product is also free. I'm sure Canonical & the Ubuntu community would bend over backwards to assist in hardware validation and support

As far as Linux drivers go The Linux kernel team has made a formal offer to *create* and *maintain* a Linux driver *for free* for *any* hardware manufacurer. There is an incredible level of desire to offer *free* assistance to the hardware and computer OEMs by the Free and Open Source communities, both in terms of hardware and end-user support.

Link to the Linux kernel teams formal offer of free hardware support.

http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers.html
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers_faq.html

I bought one DELL Inspiron 5 years ago. I had it fixed six or seven times since, having been disappointed I haven't planned buying one again. I loathed the preinstalled Windows XP Home image, which I considered just crappy (not mentioning the additional applications installed!).

However, offering models bundled with a Linux distribution like (K)Ubuntu is in fact a good reason to reassess my opinion about the Inspiron series. I think, I could imagine buying such a model - provided that it's cheaper than a comparable notebook with Vista.

i had some dell flyers put through my letter box, these included very cheap laptops which come with windows. however as al inux user i refuse to pay for something i don't want. therefore i phoned the sales line and had a protracted conversation... i could not even get the laptop without windows installed. the indian guy informed me i can only get the high end laptops without an OS, and that was my only option if i don't want windows. i dont' really care if it comes preinstalled with linux or not, since it is free anyway it doesn't make much difference to me. anyway, subsequently i sent an email to the sales team in the uk, explaining i would like a dell laptop either with linux or with no OS. they ignored my email. i think the laptop situation is more severe as one can always build their own desktop pc, but with a laptop you really are 100% forced the windows route for pc architecture. come on dell, listen to us!

It's all about delivering laptops that work with Linux out-of-the box, either by choosing hardware vendors that already support Linux or working with them and the Linux community to develop drivers for them.

thanks warner for pointing this out. Let me repeat it here. The linux kernel community offers free linux driver development for any hardware vendor interested! :
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers.html
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers_faq.html

there is no excuse!

@warner: I totally agree. The key issue to proper linux support (or freebsd or whatever) is to have free drivers in the standard kernel. That is, the drivers should be open-sourced under GPL. Dell doesn't have to write the drivers themselves but they should provide the specs. Binary drivers (as they are provided by many companies) are just as restricting as any other proprietary software: you depend on the manufacturer, and if he decides to stop linux support then you either have to buy new hardware or you cannot upgrade your operating system.

I already have a Dell laptop and almost everything works with linux:
a little bit to say that EVERYTHING works with Linux!
(and do not pay a windows licence that one does not use!)

I think it would be a great business idea for dell people, to develop an option like this, not only because of the obvious price-drop; you could actually compete with mac (and others) in his territory (that is trust, my friends). So you see, you are not selling computers, you are selling trust and security. In the way you are keeping Microsoft busy in order to not slam you with their prices.

I agree with offering several Linux distros as options, as well as OpenOffice. I have been using Linux for a long time, while being able to do everything everyone else can. I would also like to see Dell list what Windows and the other MS products actually cost. They cannot be free to the user, they are bundled into the price. Another issue of concern, is how Vista has digital rights management, so that you may not be able to do what you think you can. There is a lot of this news on the Web. I wish to be able to use my computer in the manner of my choice, after all, I bought it!

I'll vote for this if the laptop comes with only F/OSS supported hardware. A machine with ATI/nVidia hardware, or Broadcom/ndiswrapper wifi is a non-starter for me.

I also don't buy laptops without an RS-232 serial port because I use it to support Cisco hardware and I don't want to have to carry a USB dongle around everywhere. I really don't see why RS-232 has disappeared from most laptops (cmon, 9 pins isn't that big).

And what's especially important for a laptop is getting Suspend2 to work correctly.

If you make sure that your linux laptop has all the drivers up and running in linux I would switch from buying apple laptops to buying Dell. Number 5 and 6 are especially good ideas.

Been using Linux on laptops for about 6 years now. The headaches for me are:
1) ACPI power management: sleep and hibernation. Dells (all laptops) have broken DSDTs. Please fix them.
2) Better video support direct rendering / acceleration.
3) Wireless (WPA, WPA2, etc) that doesn't require proprietary firmware.

Honestly, I can work around items 2 and 3. It's item 1 that concerns me. Fix the damn DSDTs!!!

Dell could make a deal with a major Linux distributor (e.g. Novell, Red Hat, Mandriva) like they to with Microsoft.

amoroker, you are bordering on trolling. There is no supporting evidence (i.e. you haven't provided it) for your argument. If you have tried any linux, it was probably red hat back in 1998 and things have changed since then (I bought and immediately returned Win 98 First Ed, because of how poor it was).

As many users have pointed out - there are many people willing to give free, any driver that's required. Saying it is ridiculous to think that we can get a secure linux laptop operational, is silly and ignores the fact that Windows laptops break (frequently). My wife stuffed her Win Xp laptop in 2 months. 6 months after installing ubuntu, it still works perfectly.

She wants a new laptop in a year or two. I will not buy her one unless it comes with either a linux distro or non-os option available. If Dell offers it, Dell gets my cash. Simple

If Dell starts offering Linux pre-loaded machines with Linux-friendly printers,Dell has my $$$.
(Freespire Linux user.)

SuSE

Put SuSE on it

:)

Please

I bought an Inspiron 6400 about 6 months ago. Almost everything works fine with my chosen distribution (Ubuntu 6.10 currently) except for graphics. The laptop comes with an ATI chipset that is not properly supported by open source X drivers. My resolution is 1024x768 instead of 1200x800.

I could find a driver on ATI's site probably but I have no interest in doing so and having my video break when I apply security patches for the kernel or X.

My next laptop (I expect I'll buy a new one within the next 12 months) will be better researched and if the laptop will not run at optimal resolution without hunting for drivers then that is not a laptop that I will buy - most intel graphics chipsets work ok, ATI does not. I must say though that the majority of things work great (no problems with sound, wireless, touchpad or even the funky buttons on the front.

Having Linux pre-installed is not an issue for me. I erase Windows, install Linux, end of story. But if Dell went the extra step and integrated things like firmware-tools and functional hardware monitoring then that would be a definite plus. For a company as large as Dell supporting a few popular Linux distributions by way of apt and yum repositories should be a drop in the bucket ... do it and you will be keeping my money in the future as well.

Back in October I purchased an HP notebook as it was easy to get and appeared to work with opensuse. Had Dell supported a linux notebook, then I probably would have purchased the Dell.

I agree -- around 3 yrs ago at a Linux expo in NYC I approached 2-4 Linus vendors and asked them to pick A FEW (ie 2-4) good laptops and work with the manufacturers to GUARANTEE that their distribution would install properly and without problem on these SELECTED laptops -- to no avail. I'm somewhat of an amateur, and need a very good desktop with an excellent compliment of office apps - about 18 months ago, my last fling with LINUX (I try every 24 months or so) was when I bought an HP DV1000 and tried to install SuSe on it -- too many problems (never did get the modem to work, took one week of effort to get the printer to work because of a SuSe documentation error, the mouse pad worked but not all the features .. and it is still screwed up because the repartitioning tools were only one way -- from NTFS to LINUX, and not back again, so if you made a mistake and had to shrink LINUX partitions and expand NTFS partitions -- NO WAY. Plus the office apps didnt work either (talk about buggy software), and the fonts were still krap (but thats an extremely old problem that may never be solved)

I don't ask for anything too fancy, just a laptop where all components work out of the box with a modern Linux distro (Fedora/SuSE/Ubuntu). I have not had trouble for years with my desktops/laptops/servers being fully functional using Linux, but if I drop $1,000 on a laptop I want the manufacturer to certify it is fully functional with Linux.

I have just bought a laptop, and would have bought it at dell if they provided a range with linux (preferably kubuntu in my case) installed.

great idea. I really want it

I love the idea of a laptop with Linux pre-installed. Personally I would prefer a laptop with either OpenSuSe 10.2/10.3 on it + proprietary codecs and multimedia support, or Unbtu Edgy Eft/Feisty Fawn + proprietary codecs and multimedia support. On my desktop I installed it myself (dual-boot), but for laptops it is just too much hassle and too much risk for an end-user.

Dealmaker/breaker, is of course full support for hardware: wireless, bluetooth, full 3D accelleration for XGL/AIXGL, suspend, ... there already exist companies which create Linux laptops, for example http://system76.com/ .

Support on hardware parts and maybe even software would be great, Dell could work with the distribution vendors and in case of known bugs push out priority updates. Or give customized support options so you can cater to each category.

And if possible, make it cost less than the same laptop with Windows preloaded!

I'm looking out for a laptop myself, and Linux is a very good match for laptops, if all the HW is compatible, but as far as I know, there are no companies in Europe selling those. And the ease-of-mind of having my Linux laptop & software (at least, the OS) supported by a company with good reputation, would be a big plus. And of course not to forget the distribution channel, so that I can easily obtain it.

hello,
Ilnux offers possibility to be on a laptop if Dell offer the choice before buying I definitely will take it .
cheers

Very good news indeed.

I for one have never bought a new laptop for the simple reason that do not want to pay for software that I am not going to use, ( MS Windows).

It would be even better if Dell joined the campaign for improved linux drivers, not only for laptops but for desktop systems as well.

I really like this idea. I like Dell hardware. The server i bought of them a year and half ago has run without any problems at all and was beautiful designed. I have however personally never bought a Dell laptop and the primary reason is that I get so annoyed with the "Dell recommends insert latest version of Windows here" plastered all over their website. The server I could get without Windows preinstalled, if I could get a Dell laptop without Windows, having it preinstalled with a Linux distro working out of the box would be a great bonus, I would buy one.

i have 2 DELL Inspiron Laptops (9200 and 6000). I would be glad, when they we being offerd with a linux OS!

Yup. This one is a hands-down winner for techies.. the same folks who recommend systems to buy for themselves and others to the corporate big-wigs who ask because they don't know.

Hello, Dell?

I have no reason to use my Dell with Linux OS. Linux is only OS, no more. It's not a corporate OS (may be, exept SuSE). I can use Firefox, OOo, Thunderbird, GIMP in Windows as well as in Linux. If you can buy Latitude D620 for 1800$ approx, the 140$ WinXP OEM is not so hard for you budget, isn't it?

Ahhhh.......but if you are never going to use Windows and want the Dell hardware why pay the $140 for it. Give me $140 break and hardware compatible with Linux.

Yea I think the driver issue is important, and I think ubuntu is probably the best choice as a distro to use. I've already purged XP on an older Dell laptop I have and run Ubuntu. I love it.

Mandriva-2007 works very well on a Dell-Inspiron-9400. Only linux drivers for Dell All-in-One Printers (i.e. Dell-Photo-944) are missing.

As a matter of fact, I just purchased a Dell E1705 and after chatting for nearly 30 minutes with a sales rep they could not tell me if it was linux compatible, I specifically asked if it had Broadcomm drivers or Intel Drivers for the wireless card and the sales rep couldn't answer. I took my chances and bought it. Well, it had the broadcom drivers and even with NDIS wrapper I have only found one distro that I could get it to work on. I didn't buy the no-OS laptops because a 17 inch screen was not offered and I still need to run windoze for 1 application. (secure web mail not supported though firefox). The SD card reader didn't work in Linux either. So, now I am dual booting but still wish the pre-installed Linux were an option.

I definitely like this idea, I'm having dreams of seeing a white laptop with some sort of Dell+Tux logo on the front and a crisp screen running Ubuntu. Instead of the Windows key a tux key too. Theres a growing population of Linux users out there and it would be great to see Dell make a move twords the new market. I personally run Linux alone on my Dell in only 256Mb RAM.

Definitely Linux compatible hardware would be nice. I've always had trouble with my non-Dell DVD burner (but then again Windows did too, infact it would crash every time I tried to burn something).

There is no reason why Dell is holding off on offering linux on its Laptops. I Intend to eventually buy the precision series and immediately install Linux on it

I'm tired of binary programs and drivers that I have to pay for. Aren't you?

I think Dell's corporate will quickly understand the software world has changed dramatically since open source software has become the new path. The hardware guys that "get it" will still be around in the 10 years. Those that don't, won't. It's pretty simple, really.

It is Linux based hardware driving the server market. We are seeing the desktop/laptop market growing now. It won't take 10 more years, it is happening now. Note that it is those without an entrenched IT base that are moving right now. It is fascinating to watch those with lesser resources take advantage of the open source world. Those with lesser resources are actually a larger base of users/businesses than those that currently have the major IT in place. Look at China, India, all of Africa, it is huge what is happening with open source in those countries. All this speaks toward a move by Dell to expand it's markets with open source based hardware. I'd rather sell a billion Linux laptops to the rest of the world while selling 100 million Windows laptops to North America and Europe than just the 100 million to North America and Europe.

I am also running linux on two Dell Laptops. I had a hard time configuring both of them because there was just very little information on how to set up the system. I nearly came to the point where i thought it was just not possible to setup Linux on my Dell. Now everything is working fine but it would be great to have a preconfigured Linux System where all the Hardware is working just fine.

With Ubuntu and Freespire now working together that is going to only make their disros stronger and Dell would be Smart to get behind them. I purchased a toshiba a couple months ago but definately go Dell if they would get behind this.

I'd like to see Dell selling a laptop with GNU/Linux preinstalled, particularly the gNewSense distribution, as it's 100% free as in freedom (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/) If you'd also like to see it preinstalled, please vote for the idea to do so at http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/63082/Preinstall_gNewSense_on_lapto... .

you lost my recent purchase of a laptop to www.system76.com

I have read a lot of die hard linux users say how much they want all open source or nothing. I myself and probably like most others that are starting to experiment with Linux. I like the option of using Flash Player, configuring my Nvidia graphics card etc. I just want a computer that works and software that works on it. I have my Dell XPS M140 setup with PCLinuxOS and I like some of the options they have included on thier latest release, because my wireless card works, graphics card works, sound works and all without much configuration. I do think there is a happy middle point. Use the top 10 distributions and let the users pick. If you like 100% open source fine, if you want more of a Freespire approach that's fine too. Just allow us all to choose something other than the latest "flawed" version of Windows. "Dell Choice" would be a good option.

My wife and I left Windows behind last year. As our machines are aging I'd love to be able to buy off-the-shelf linux box's by a reputable name brand company. One important point.... I don't want one like I've seen offered at other places where their only linux alternatives are just machines to get rid of old hardware with. I want current and powerful processors, decent size hard drives. In other words if you are going to charge me close to a Windows system price I want a close to Windows spec. machine! None of this Celeron/Sempron w/ 512MB RAM and 80GB HD at the same price as the Athlon 64 x2's w/ 1GB, 160GB HD's w/ Windows. If you don't do it and HP or another top 5 manufacture does...Guess where my $$$ is going...

You used to sell Linux laptops. I have a Dell Inspiron 7500 purchased in 2000 that had Red Hat Linux preinstalled on it. You stopped selling them after a short time, and I've always wondered why. You included the full install media, and also a complete guide on how to reinstall it. It was a fine machine. I still have it.

I need to buy a laptop in the coming months, though I would defer my purchase if Dell were to offer Linux pre-installed. I expect it to work out of the box just as a Mac or Windows machine would. I hope to see one soon.

Dell should consider to offer other options than Windows to its customers, although the pressures from Microsoft and reductions given for keeping its monopole.

It would be great if Dell could cooperate with companies like Canonical for Ubuntu, to provide laptops well adapted to Linux.

I am already an dell laptop owner, I wasn't sure to buy an dell laptop because I was obliged to get it with windows !
I decide to buy it finally because Inspiron 6400 is nice and your PC are very customizable, I'm really "happy" with this laptop because I've installed Ubuntu without big problems, but some little constructors sell PC with linux inside, so please don't oblige me to get my future PC (mine and for my family : father, mother and friends) in an other constructor.

When I received your "satisfaction survey", I already send my opinion about linux in your PC.

I'm not a geek, I began with Ubuntu one year ago, I think it's really easy to use some "user-friendly" linux distributions the great problem is the drivers for some materials. It will be fantastic if you product laptop and classic PC with linux or without operating system but perfectly compatible with some distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE are good choices I think).

It's important that you stop to sell everytimes windows with your PC (for home I mean) more and more person don't want to use this OS, so they paid for something they won't use ! Personnaly, it's made me angry.

I really hope that Dell will apply these ideas about linux and stop to buy everytimes windows with PC.

If I made some mistakes in this comment I'm sorry, but I'm french.

我想买个linux的本本，dell大叔加油了！！！～～～

I like the idea, but then I hope the internal wifi card will work out of the box. I not a linux geek and I still have to work with a wired connection on my linux laptop.

I also miss Linux (eg. openSUSE) on DEL-Laptops!

Well reading the link below, it appears Dell is just paying lip service to this Ideas or doesnt understand what pre-installed means
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/02/23/6868.aspx#comments

Well Dell if this is the best you can do for your most popular idea, you should shut down this site, because all it does is alienate all of your customers, whether they want Linux or not, they see you doing nothing on this issue, which makes the site look like sham.

firstly Mr linux give it a few days at least... then submit a new suggestion, tell them that their lucklustre linux support sucks and we want more... i know i'd vote for more....

Crap. I do not trust Dell providing pre-installed Linux. http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/63835

I WANT A LINUX LAPTOP.
Build a decent, stable, powerful enough for home use including video editing Linux laptop for CAD 600 or 700, and you've got yourselves a new customer.

IMHO, not all the suggestion would work, but if there would be at least a complete set of drivers supporting all of the hardware and featured of the Dell notebook, I would be happy. Also it would be nice if corresponding drivers would be available on dell support web site.

Reply to shrewduser, The website has been up since Feb 16th and this has been one of the most popular options since the start and a week later this was the best they could come up with in a week. There is no preinstalled anything but Windows, even with the FreeDos option you have to install it !!!!!

I wonder how much the linux "packager" will charge for a full hand holding service contract for an OS written by amateurs in their spare time?
but then again who needs pre-packaged drivers anyway, any real linux geek would just write his/her own drivers and then give them away.

@hackamore
If you'd read earlier int he thread...
The linux kernel community offers free linux driver development for any hardware vendor interested! :
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers.html
http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers_faq.html

I agree with the above posters. Last year, I shop on Dell's website. I even called to ask about getting a home computer with Linux. That was a no go - Dell wouldn't do it. What I ended up doing is building my own computer, downloading drivers, and tweaking Linux to work with the hardware. Yes, Linux can be tedious to install, but it's worth it because of its stability, free software, and security. I have used Linux since 94, and I do not want to go back to Windows unless Microsoft stops with all of their anti-piracy countermeasures, DRM, and exorbitant pricing. Most of these things hurts honest consumers rather than thwart piracy.

Dell can take several different Linux distributions and tweak them so that they install on each particular machine without a hitch. This means that once someone inserts the disk, the machine only ask for minimal information and all drivers, components, and optimizations are selected by default. Dell could do this for minimal cost and satisfy very many people. By offering extra free software (at no cost to Dell) such as Open Office, GIMP (Image editing), Asterisk (does voice over ip, traditional telephony, and voice mail), Instant Messaging, etc. Dell could add value roughly at 10's of thousands of dollars in equivilant proprietary software. In addition Dell should write a custom program specific to each particular distribution that allows users to retrieve, install, and support drivers for new pieces of hardware.

By doing this, Dell could tremendously increase its sales for relatively little upfront costs. It will bring very good publicity to Dell - especially when consumers buy computers from other vendors which contain restrictive Microsoft Vista.

Dell lost a sale by not offering me pre-installed Linux. However, the next time I get ready to purchase a new computer, I will check to see if Dell offeres what I want for the right price. If so, I will be more than happy to buy.

Make sure things like external display switching works (i.e. Fn-F8) - it is the only thing that I have still got windows on my DELL laptop for...to give presentations!

Oh YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!

Knows somebody why d520 with freedos is more expensive then with winxp? $1,310 and $1,282

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 (2.00GHz) 4M L2 Cache, 667Mhz Dual Core
Genuine Windows XP Professional, SP2, with media
15 inch SXGA+ LCD Panel
1.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM
60GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM
8X DVD+/-RW w/Sonic Digital Media™ and Cyberlink Power DVD™
Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Dual-band Mini Card
Dell Wireless® 350 Bluetooth Module

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7200 (2.00GHz) 4M L2 Cache, 667Mhz Dual Core
FreeDOS Operating System Kit
15 inch SXGA+ LCD Panel
1.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 1 DIMM
60GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 7200RPM
8X DVD+/-RW, Data Only
Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Dual-band Mini Card
Dell Wireless® 350 Bluetooth Module

I would like to have a laptop which works perfectly under Linux, meaning opensource drivers for all the devices.