Dell has made a strong effort to support the Linux community. It recently released a $250 Ubuntu laptop.
“A third of our Mini 9 mix is Linux, which is well above the standard attach rate for other systems that offer Linux. We have done a very good job explaining to folks what Linux is,” Dell’s Director of Marketing Jay Pinkert to Laptop Magazine.
Late last year there was a ruckus in the blogosphere in regards to Linux netbooks having a four times higher rate of return. But Jay said that the return rate was comparable. MSI wasn’t running Ubuntu so maybe the distro is all the difference? Hardcore linux users could also be choosing to buy Dell.
Jay cited Linux’s ability for Dell to offer a very low price point as a key advantage. One of the largest computer manufacturers is basically saying that operating systems are a commodity.
Linux has always needed strong corporate sponsors to gain marketshare. It would be interesting to see how things will change once Google’s Android OS is released for the netbook market.
Very surprising…I tried to chat with a Dell agent to get a specific answer to a question that was not answered from reading web site specs and they tried to push me to XP.
Ubuntu Runs On One Of Every Three Dell Netbooks Sold | Ubuntu-News - Your one stop for news about Ubuntu // Feb 25, 2009 at 3:41 pm
[...] “A third of our Mini 9 mix is Linux, which is well above the standard attach rate for other systems that offer Linux. We have done a very good job explaining to folks what Linux is,” Dell’s Director of Marketing Jay Pinkert to Laptop Magazine. Read the comment here [...]
I would buy one if is was available in Australia - Dell has to obey its Microsoft masters. Out of the dozen or so netbooks available at the popular retail store, all of them run Windows XP. At the other stores there is only one Linux netbook, and that is the original 7in eeePC which they are trying to get rid of. Despite Linux being ready for the general populus, Microsoft’s influence over the OEM’s is extremely strong.
Maybe it is a personal preference for that agent. I know it doesn’t make it right though. Everyone should have the option of choosing what they want.
I can’t help but wonder if they get more commission if you go for Windows maybe?