Dell E-vote on which linux distro Dell will offer- "The Dell Linux Distro Elections"
1060
points posted to IdeaStorm, Linux by arclight
02/24/07 **IMPLEMENTED**
Why not have a online E-Vote about which linux distro to offer.
As the Ideastorm community update pointed out, even though there is a lot of interest in "linux"- there is diverse opinions about what is the best distro and which ones Dell should offer. Its not practical to offer all of them, yet in the end any single distro will result in complaints and be a compromise.
Rather then try to decide independently which distro to offer first, host a online e-vote election where distro's can be nominated and run in a large online election.
By having an organized election:
*it will be limited to clear choices (distro's that were nominated)
*Each will get the same exposure to voters, and in the same time frame.
In the long run, any number of distros could be offered but this could help make it clear what distro has a lot of support and take the 'heat' off Dell for whatever choice it does make. If a distro team is angry they did not get elected its the community not Dells fault, and they could always run again next year in another linux election.
Consider this excerpt from the Dell IdeaStorm February 23, 2007 release:
"As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux. In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another. "
Dell does not have to pick, the community can choose for them with an election.
--Update March 13th--
They heard! From Ideas In Action:
March 13, 2007
Linux – We’re listening... Now Tell Us More... : )
The IdeaStorm community’s interest in open source solutions like Linux on Dell platforms has come through loud and clear. Many of you have suggested a survey to help Dell determine which distribution is most popular, and we think that’s a great idea. Based on your idea, we now have a short survey, which will be open until March 23, where you can tell us more about your favorite distribution of Linux, your preferred method of support, and more.
To access our Linux survey, see today’s blog post on Direct2Dell. We hope you’ll continue to be a part of this discussion on Direct2Dell and IdeaStorm, and check back for more details as we gather your input.
Here are the links (survey ended)
Link to the blog here here
Link to the survey here (survey ended link removed)
--Update March 24th--
The Dell linux survey ended.
Check out the Idea in Action that gives the details on the Linux survey.