U.S. computer manufacturer Dell is preparing to say yet another plain "No" to Windows Vista. The systems builder has introduced two new business strategies that will most likely take their toll on Windows Vista in the long run. In this regard, Dell has recently announced that it will ship computers pre-installed with Windows XP and the Ubuntu 7.04 distribution of Linux alongside machines running Windows Vista.

Additionally, Dell has failed to match AMD's enthusiasm in deploying Windows Vista internally, according to ZDNet Asia. Dell's director of client marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Eric Greffier, revealed that the computer manufacturer is on the brink of deploying Windows Vista across the desktops in the organization, but that the process could stretch until Microsoft makes available the foist service pack for the operating system.

"We are pretty much in the same position as Intel within Dell. We knew we would roll out Vista internally faster than any other OS but if we are at the SP1 level it is going to be safer," Greffier explained, adding that customer demand for Windows Vista has indeed surpassed that of Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Paul S. Otellini, Intel CEO has announced earlier this year that his company has no plans of deploying Windows Vista until SP1, and Dell's strategy matched this approach. By comparison, AMD is in an advanced phase of the Vista adoption program and will not wait for SP1. Microsoft has disputed the fact that these postponements represent a banning of the operating system and argued that extensive testing and preparation has to take place in corporate environments.