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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?

I’ve had a few students ask me why businesses should upgrade to Windows Vista, the newest version of Microsoft’s operating system. Microsoft has spent a great deal of money and time promoting Vista, and has claimed that businesses are accelerating their Vista migration plans.

I always tell people to wait until Microsoft releases their first Service Pack before installing new Microsoft software.

This article from ZDNet features an interview with Simon Szykman, the CIO of NIST, the US government bureau that sets Federal standards for cryptography, information security, and other areas. NIST also runs the Computer Security Response Center, which posts alerts and warnings about virus, worms, and other computer security threats.

Sadly, that article has a deceptive title. NIST hasn’t banned Windows Vista. The agency is evaluating the operating system.

NIST, like many large organizations, has several applications that were developed in-house. While Microsoft tested Windows Vista on thousands of computers worldwide, companies usually perform their own testing with these homegrown programs. This is crucial, as Windows Vista might not support hardware or software that companies rely upon every day.

In January, ZDNet described how Microsoft invited NIST and the National Security Agency and to review and comment on the official Windows Vista Security Guide. NIST is still examining how to secure its own computers wafter Windows Vista is installed. The Janaury 2007 version of the guide is available here.

Dell, HP and other computer manufacturers have largely stopped shipments of Windows XP on new computers. Customers who haven’t switched to Windows Vista usually wipe the new hard disk, and install Windows XP. However, some new machines might be used as testbeds to determine how much value Windows Vista might deliver.

NIST, like other organizations, has already adopted Internet Explorer 7, which was included in Windows Vista. IE 7 also shipped for Windows XP, and for most Windows users, it’s a good upgrade that closes some security holes and adds helpful features like tabbed browsing. Of course, Firefox has offered tabbed browsing for years.

Microsoft Office 2007 shipped earlier this year, but as I mentioned on February 21, some companies are encountering problems with Office 2007’s new file formats.

Personally, I don’t plan on using Windows Vista any time soon. I’m hoping to replace my university Windows XP computer with a Mac. I’m waiting for Office 2008 for the Mac, also.

powered by performancing firefox

According to ZDNet, founder Michael Dell has returned to the CEO slot at his own company.

This was a surprise to me, as former CEO Kevin Rollins represented Dell on stage at a major Microsoft Vista launch event in New York City on Monday, as shown in this New York Times article.

Bloomberg News also discussed the event here.

Rollins is on the left in this picture from the event. He does look a bit unhappy, doesn’t he? Also in this picture, from left to right: Dean Maloney of Intel, Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, Hisatsugu Nonaka of Toshiba, Hector Ruiz of Advanced Micro Devices and Todd Bradley of Hewlett-Packard.

Brian Caufield of The Red Herring has an interesting article that poses an important question: has Dell run out of ideas?

This article first appeared on my old blog at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/wsodeman?id=46

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060814/ap_on_hi_te/dell_battery_recall

“The [Consumer Product Safety Commission]. knows of 339 incidents in which lithium batteries used in laptops and cell phones — not just Dell products — overheated between 2003 and 2005, Wolfson said.”

When we’re talking about overheating, we’re talking about explosions and fires.

Last week, British officials banned laptop computers and audio players as carry-on items, following the gel bomb arrests.

A UPS cargo plane was destroyed by fire last February in Philadelphia. The blaze may have been started by a crate full of laptop computer batteries.

This Dell recall may inspire airlines or the FAA to draft tighter restrictions on laptop computers, iPods and cell phones in commercial airplanes. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in both devices, as they perform well and last longer than other rechargeable batteries.

Passengers may not be happy. I always carry my electronic devices in my carry-on bag when I fly, simply because I don’t want them jostled and fondled in my checked baggage.

See the chapter on computer hardware in the IS 6100 textbook.

Laptop computers require a large amount of electrical energy. While it is possible to power a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone from an RJ-45 network jack, this only needs about 5 watts of electrical power.

You may be familiar with the watt, as it’s the standard measure for household light bulbs.

Five watts not nearly enough to power a laptop computer. Even the smallest laptops use much more powerful batteries.

In comparison, a AAA battery delivers only a few watts, and for a limited amount of time.

August 15: Here’s some additional information from Engadget, which has been covering this story for several months. Check the multiple links regarding explosions in this article. A reader posted a link to Dell’s statement here, including instrucitons on replacement batteries.

The New York Times reports that Sony management confirmed that the company manufactured and sold the affected batteries to Dell. The batteries were shipped to Dell customers in computers sold between April 2004 and July 18.

CNN reported on August 15 that Sony is paying most or all of the recall costs. While this minimizes Dell’s direct losses, they will see an immediate drop in sales revenue as customers choose Dell’s competitors.

The Houston Chronicle reports that customers are hammering Dell with e-mails and phone calls as news spreads about the recall.

Engadget reported on August 6 that an Apple PowerBook exploded. Apple has already mounted a recall for some PowerBook and MacBook models, and Sony batteries are involved.

This article first appeared on my old blog at http://www.bloglines.com/blog/wsodeman?id=48

URL: Dell facing slew of Chinese lawsuits over CPU switcheroo

To some consumers, it may seem like a minor change. Dell shipped the Chinese version of its Inspiron 640M portable computer with an Intel 200M CPU. The marketing materials indicated the model used a more expensive process, the 2300.

The major difference between the two processors is that the 2300 includes hardware support for virtualization. This allows the computer to run several different sessions and operating sessions at the same time with a minimal performance loss, when compared to older technologies such as emulation.

When used in a Macintosh, this technology allows users to run Windows, Linux, DOS, or almost any other operating system while they run the default MacOS.

Virtualization is also a key technology in server deployment. Dell, HP and other computer manufacturers sell large multiprocessor cmoputers that behave as many different servers. Each server runs in its own virtual session, so one large computer can replace several separate computers that were each dedicated to specific functions, such as e-mail, the Web, and transaction processing.

In a consumer-grade laptop, the loss of virtualization is not as as critical as it might be on a server computer.

However, word spread quickly through Chinese forums and web sites that Dell had advertised a more expensive processor than it actually shipped. In Windows, it is easy to check what processor your computer is using, by examining the System Properties box in the Control Panel. Try using the shortcut keys Windows+Break.
Dell managers blame a mixup between manufacturing and marketing, and have offered an apology and full refund to customers. The apology is crucial in Asian markets. However, some litigious Chinese customers have decided to sue Dell’s Chinese subsidiary for damages.