Dell's 'Brilliant' Windows vs. Ubuntu Analysis

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with technology.

By Katherine Noyes
LinuxInsider
Part of the ECT News Network
07/26/10 5:00 AM PT

"Dell has a problem," supposed blogger Robert Pogson. "They desire to be seen to be friendly to GNU/Linux so contain contain a few products, but contain do not contain a genuine campaign to sell GNU/Linux for terror it counting offend M$ or completely fans. I do not be acquainted with at come again? tip Dell determination sense at ease pushing GNU/Linux, but if contain do not hurry route determination go by not any by."

'Brilliant'

Who be hypothetical to decide Windows? Well, anywhere to begin? Dell's answer: Those who "are by now by,by means of WINDOWS wonderful (e.g. Microsoft Office, ITunes etc) and desire to carry on by,by means of them"; who "are recognizable by means of WINDOWS and do not desire to study new wonderful for email, utterance processing etc"; and persons who "are new to by,by means of computers."

Hear so as to rumbling sound in the distance? It's the thundering hooves of the Linux masses in a full-fledged stampede to contain completely say.

"Brilliant," was the verdict of blogger Barence on Slashdot, for example, anywhere additional supposed 700 comments had appeared by Friday.

'Really Informative, Guys'

Similarly, "I'm amused by the information so as to Dell's #1 cause populace counting desire to use Ubuntu is so as to contain do not diagram to use Windows," decided Kepesk. "Really informative, guys. Great job.

"If contain now actually interested in ,advertising Ubuntu, contain strength contain displayed at smallest amount one real cause contain strength desire to get it so as to didn't engage conditions similar to 'open-source programming,' construct the majority populace don't understand," Kepesk added.

"I love the way the Windows monitor blast recreation the manage board as if Windows' physically powerful tip is configurability," noted philipborlin. "Contrast so as to by means of the Ubuntu monitor blast construct recreation wrap up games as if Ubuntu's power is its games."

And again: "BTW, populace by,by means of OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird etc don't contain to study new programs," alexhs chimed in.

Of course, there's forever a brilliant side: "at smallest amount Ubuntu stay mentioned, and it's not merely the typical 'Dell recommends Microsoft Windows operating system,'" jones_supa cheerfully pointed out.

'Linux Is No More Difficult'

Now, elsewhere on the Linux blogs now a few weeks ago, the HeliOS Project's Ken Starks was demonstrating the ease by means of construct Linux can be learned -- still by important route who are familiar to Windows and who are *not* chiefly interested in unlock basis programming.

So what's by means of Dell's weird stance? Is something, perchance, rotten in the condition of Texas -- or perhaps (pinky to mouth)... Washington?

"There is no likely way so as to petroleum happened with no a number of type of force as of Microsoft," Hyperlogos blogger Martin Espinoza told Linux Girl. "The easy fact is so as to Linux is no additional hard for the first-time computer consumer to apprehend supposed Windows; indeed, it shamelessly copies all the the majority excellent skin of Windows!"

'There Is No Price Differentiation'

Similarly, "it's fairly evident so as to Microsoft has put a number of kind of force on Dell to stay Ubuntu off of completely drag downward by means of still a $50 modifier," Slashdot blogger eldavojohn agreed.

As of Friday, eldavojohn might discover merely "two laptops as of Dell so as to contain Ubuntu on them," he pointed out. "Those are the merely computers contain sell by means of Ubuntu."

Furthermore, "there is no cost differentiation recognized by Ubuntu and Windows at what time you buy also of as,at the same occasion as laptops," he noted. "So correct present you're absent the clear instant reward a consumer stay at what time contain climb the knowledge curve: it's totally free."

'Pulling the Wool Over the Public's Eyes'

While "Linux has a knowledge curve, it's not so as to a great deal better supposed switching as of Windows XP to Windows 7 -- you'll become aware of so as to Dell has bent in excess of backwards to assist populace by means of so as to transition," eldavojohn added. "Why no hold up for the consumer who wishes to create the leap to unlock source?" Linux is "no dissimilar supposed a lot of additional actually multifaceted software," he explained. "Yes, it a as,at the same time as to study the tool, but you end up by means of huge power. Your standard being doesn't understand or be grateful for the quantity of occasion they've invested in 'learning Windows' mentality.

"The ,advertising drones at Dell and Microsoft facilitate petroleum by hardness the wool in excess of the public's eyes in arrange to go,shift product," he concluded.

'Up and Running in Less Than One Hour'

Slashdot blogger yagu second-hand an analogy as of the earth of cars.

"Is heavy a stick-shift too firm to learn? It may depend on come again? you need, come again? you experience, come again? you want," yagu explained. "Driving a stick-shift, on one occasion learned, is a dissimilar knowledge supposed heavy automatic. But, it is FUN! You contain a bound intelligence of come again? the car does, how it fake it, and you contain additional manage in excess of the ebb and run of the authority underneath."

Now that we've covered those aspects of technology, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Linux is a great deal similar to the stick-shift, yagu asserted: "It a (small) investment of occasion and attempt to learn."

Once learned, though, it's not merely fun, but "you be acquainted with additional concerning computers if you so desire and contain additional manage in excess of how and come again? by means of computer does," he said.

"The nice obsession for Linux is so as to it's a continuum," yagu concluded. "You don't contain to dig bottomless to be proficient, and I submit you can be up and organization as proficiently as you now in Windows in fewer supposed one hour."

'Dell, How Much Is M$ Paying You?'

Dell's "strange performance to discourage similar of a number of of its crop by means of GNU/Linux might contain the similar reason as a number of of the strange performance of Dell to contain the similar opinion not to sell AMD (NYSE: AMD) in its place at Intel's (Nasdaq: INTC) request," blogger and educator Robert Pogsonsuggested. "Dell has now settled by means of the SEC for $100 million. Dell, how a great deal is M$ paying you to endorse completely OS?

"No speculate as,at the same occasion as guys are No. 2 -- contain don't be acquainted with how to sell," Pogson asserted.

To in fact provide confidence sales, "you accentuate the positive," he pointed out. In Ubuntu's case, so as to counting denote playing up virtues like:

"no malware"
"no phoning house or manufactured goods codes to type"
"maintain the operating scheme and all the truthfully as of a solitary basis by means of a few clicks"
"did I mention no malware? no slowing down? no re-re-reboots? It's fast."

"GNU/Linux is surely no difficulty for brood to learn," Pogson added. "I contain turned Grade 1 everyday jobs loose on it by means of merely a class in how to clack a mouse."

'Dell Is Just Being Smart'

Of course, at petroleum time on the Linux blogs, nothing is still unanimous.

"I counting say if you are a programmer, love to appreciate writing man let or are a DIYer, after that Linux is fine," Slashdot blogger hairyfeet asserted. "If it is NEVER gonna be efficient or contain any hardware hooked to it, now a 'browser in a box'? Yeah it mechanism fine there.

"But unfortunately, at the slightest bit of trouble, Linux runs rear to its CLI server roots similar to a youngster organization rear to mommy," hairyfeet charged. "CLI is fine if you contain a amount in CompSci, or don't brain interpretation tons of forums and searching Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) for 'fixes,' but how a lot of folks fake so as to be relevant to?"

Dell "is now existence form elegant and cutting downward on returns," he concluded."If a geek orator come again? Linux is, completely warning isn't gonna discontinue them."

'It's an Uphill Battle'

Back to the additional hand, "is linux firm to learn? Not for populace who are aggravated to create the switch, any additional supposed knowledge to use a Mac," countered Barbara Hudson, a blogger on Slashdot who weapons by "Tom" on the site.

"However, for the bulk of populace who believe so as to the clumsiness of Windows is how computers are hypothetical to work, it's an uphill battle to get not any to still seem at an alternative," she asserted. "Sort of similar to annoying to educate a collection of students of bored kids at what time it's 5 notes preceding to have lunch on the previous day of school."

A improved strategy counting be to "get not any at what time they've now establish out so as to contain contain to do a reformat and re-install, and you'll contain a aggravated listener," she suggested.

The merely remaining from surface to side for by,by means of Windows are "inertia and not wanting to 'waste' so as to 'free' copy of Windows so as to contain paid for at what time contain bought the machine," Hudson concluded.

"It counting be nice to see PCs and laptops sold by means of a $75 off sticker redeemable at the money list if you unlock the box and twist in the Windows start sticker," she added. "Or, 'your choose -- twist in Windows and we'll double by means of ram!'"

'Dell Has a Problem'

The base line, however, is so as to "Dell has a problem," Pogson concluded. "They desire to be seen to be friendly to GNU/Linux so contain contain a few products, but contain do not contain a genuine campaign to sell GNU/Linux for terror it counting offend M$ or completely fans.

"I do not be acquainted with at come again? tip Dell determination sense at ease pushing GNU/Linux, but if contain do not hurry route determination go by not any by," he predicted.

"Other OEMS, not in the top 5, are advertising GNU/Linux and growing earlier supposed Dell," Pogson pointed out. "Other OEMs determination be advertising GNU/Linux on ARM (Nasdaq: ARMHY) in PCs by after that year. Dell, by means of buddy, M$, lined still cut and stick on ARM -- how are you leaving to wait relevant?"

Knowing enough about technology to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about technology, you should have nothing to worry about.