Dell will offer Linux preinstalled on consumer computers

Posted Thursday, 29 March 2007, 10:53 HST @787

According to Engadget and PC World, Dell will soon offer preinstalled Linux operating systems on consumer desktops and notebooks. Over 70% of respondents to CEO Michael Dell’s pet project, IdeaStorm, indicated that Dell should offer preinstalled Linux.
Previously, Dell only offered Red Hat Linux on a high-end line of workstations and servers.

More details appear on the company’s Direct2Dell blog. Dell has some major work to do before it can roll out Linux boxen, including:

Writing Linux drivers for Dell hardware. This is no small ask, considering the variety of hardware that Dell preinstalls on its consumer boxen. In many cases, Dell relies on the hardware manufacturer to provide drivers. However, some manufacturers offer limited driver support for Linux. Should Dell take charge and develop Dell-certified Linux drivers for critical hardware?
Training technical support staff for Linux systems. I went through two weeks of Dell technical support training in 2003 when I worked on the Optiplex support desk for a few months. Again, recruiting and training the technical support team is no small task. Many of Dell’s technical support staff work exclusively with Microsoft Windows. However, Dell writes most of its training materials in-house, and Dell’s instructors are usually recruited from Dell’s technical support staff.
Determining pricing. How much can a customer save by choosing Linux instead of Microsoft Windows Vista? Is it possible to avoid the Microsoft tax by choosing not to install any Microsoft software on a Dell box?
Determining the distribution(s). Linux comes in a variety of versions or distributions, each with its own special features that add value to the core Linux operating system. Will Dell offer Red Hat or its free cousin Fedora? How about Ubuntu? What about consumer-friendly distributions such as, Linspire, Xandros or Mandriva?
Determining the software load. Will Dell preload GPL software such as OpenOffice and Firefox? Will Dell load its own branded Linux software instead?
Linux support for Windows. Will Dell offer preloaded Linux software that can run Windows applications, such as CrossOver or VMware? Will Dell offer Microsoft Windows as a dual boot or emulation option?

One final thought: is Linux still a source of competitive advantage for Dell, or is Linux becoming a key success factor (KSF) for the mainstream computer industry?