Old OEMs, New Linux Tricks?

Published: Mar 14, 2006
Updated: Feb 2, 2021
1 minute read
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Ive been thinking a lot, lately, about PC manufacturers and desktop Linux. Ive long believed that for desktop Linux to really get going, it needs big-time vendor support, with OEMs like Dell, HP and Gateway putting Linux PCs on the shelves of Best Buy, Circuit City and CompUSA.

Over at LinuxToday, my buddy Brian Proffitt has suggested that Dell should stop pussy-footing around and simply pick a desktop distribution and get on with it.

In my recent interview with Michael Dell, I actually asked him that question… several times.

We went around and around it, but now, after our conversation, and having read Brians story, I think I finally get why Dell wont do it.

I realize, in fact, that Dell is very unlikely to ever support a desktop Linux until theres either a clear winner, or theres enough in common among the major popular distributions that Dell can support all of them without undue effort.

Why? Because Dell is not a leader.

Dell, in particular, but all the major OEMs are inherently conservative businesses. Michael Dell doesnt want to be a Linux leader.

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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

I'm editor-at-large for Ziff Davis Enterprise. That's a fancy title that means I write about whatever topic strikes my fancy or needs written about across the Ziff Davis Enterprise family of publications. You'll find most of my stories in Linux-Watch, DesktopLinux and eWEEK. Prior to becoming a technology journalist, I worked at NASA and the Department of Defense on numerous major technological projects.

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