[kwlug disc.] dell is selling linux pre-installed

[Unsolicited]

John Kerr wrote, On 5/04/2007 3:23 PM:
> Hello
> 
> 
> */"Insurance Squared Inc." <gcooke at insurancesquared.com>/* wrote:
> 
> There'll be lots of folks buying it because they're
> cheaper then installing their old copy of XP.

Probably not as many as one might think.

Assuming their copies are OEM, likely, or, unless you bought a full,
non-upgrade version, retail, doing so would be illegal. And the whole
point of MS requiring registration. Which is worth pointing out to any
of one's friends.

Assuming they actually received a CD.

> Perhaps, but at least people will be getting a look at Linux. Do not be
> surprised if there is a move to block of downloading the drivers for the
> Motherboard in the future. This would force the purchase of the OEM
> software.

I suspect the driver issue might not be as big as one might think.
Dell uses pretty standard stuff, so even if you can't ms update
one-stop driver shopping, the drivers will likely be somewhere else on
the Dell site. IMO. As well as from the original vendors themselves.
e.g. Realtek.


> I believe that many folks would not want to venture down the route.
> Survey your friends (the non computer savy ones) and see how many of
> them have ever installed Windows from scratch.

Say rather, I think, how many will find out how easy it is. Well,
maybe except for the network card. (-:

The pain will come when they look for the additional software.

Which would be an opportunity to direct them towards FOSS that runs
under Windows. e.g. A link recently posted here (I think):
http://linuxeq.com/. Or
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ListOfOpenSourcePrograms,
http://osswin.sourceforge.net/.

Not to take away running the Linux, or dual-booting, but frequently
there's sufficient resistance to a hurdle that high, or its perception.

Perhaps an opportunity for vmware player, xen, or wine.