Dell Does Linux, Yesterday and Today

by Sam Dean - Jun. 17, 2010Comments (5)

As time flies by, even though Linux isn't a raging phenomenon on the desktop, it is nevertheless interesting to watch Dell's unflinching support for it. The company has adamantly challenged charges from makers of Windows netbooks who claim that return rates on Linux netbooks are high, and it has continued to offer Ubuntu on its systems, support for which Canonical should be thankful. This week, there are even more signs that Dell--the number two PC manufacturer behind HP-- remains a loyal friend of Linux.

As Network World notes, Dell says that Ubuntu is safer than Windows from a security standpoint, a fact which few users of Ubuntu would doubt. Hackers congregate around Windows becuase of the critical mass of users that it has. Check out Dell's own Ubuntu page for more evidence of its support for the OS. It clearly notes the following:

"The vast majority of viruses and spyware written by hackers are not designed to target and attack Linux."

As noted by The Register, it also looks like Dell will join Acer and HP in offering netbooks based on Google's Chrome OS this fall. Remember that Chrome OS is Linux-based. In fact, the Canonical team helped with its development. The Register spotted some language on Google Code that suggests that Dell will support the OS.

Dell, of course, has a long history of partnership with Microsoft surrounding Microsoft Windows. But why does it have to be a one-trick pony? On a continuing basis, Dell is setting an example with its support for Linux.

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by an anonymous user on Jun. 17, 2010

I am sick and tired of the non-sense of security by obscurity.

Linux is more secure, well because it is more secure, not because it is a smaller target.

Think of all these financial and government institutions, that run mostly Linux to keep your bank accounts, social security data, etc. Think of the stock exchanges that are running Linux. Aren't these a booty any hacker would salivate over? Yet, somehow you don't here that Linux server was hacked that often. Now, when it comes to Windows server you do here this once in a while (http://www.policeprofessional.com/news.aspx?id=6859). Windows is much smaller player on servers than Linux, yet it is in the news more often (in a bad way). Not too mention that 6-7% of the Desktop marketshare (source: Steve Balmer) is quite a good chunk.

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by an anonymous user on Jun. 18, 2010

Once again Dell is "praised" for supporting linux, I would be impressed if there was something on the front page about linux systems or something stated in their advertisements.

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by canthus13 on Jul. 21, 2010

Bah. Dell doesn't support linux on the desktop. Not really. They generally have 1 desktop and 1 laptop model that they're willing to ship with Linux, and they hide it to the point where it might as well not be there at all. I'd like to see Linux as an option on most if not all the machines they sell. I rarely have issues installing Linux on any Dell, so it shouldn't be much of a stretch for them.

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by an anonymous user on Jul. 25, 2010

Yes. Everyone look at DELL! Such a huge Linux supporter! Thats why they put out stupid advertisements that say Linux should be used by those who are interested in open source programming.

Dell's Linux offerings are weak compared to other vendors.

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by Steve on Sep. 27, 2010

"Hackers congregate around Windows becuase of the critical mass of users that it has. "

No, hackers congregate around windows because it is fundamentally easier to hack. Think about it: the net runs on Linux and BSD. There is more in it for hackers to gain access to the machines that power the web than to poxy little clients. The reason they don't is that Windows is demonstrably easier to hack than Unix based OSs.

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