14 DAY TRIAL // U.S. computer manufacturer Dell has managed to break ranks from traditional partner Microsoft and announce that it will begin selling machines pre-installed with the Ubuntu 7.04 distribution of Linux. In the original equipment manufacturers ecosystem Microsoft and Dell have a longstanding partnership over the delivery of the Windows platform to customers via Dell machines.
Signs that pointed to Dell choosing Ubuntu 7.04 as the Linux version to ship on the company's computers could have been spotted a few months ago, as Dell Chief Executive officer, Michael Dell revealed that Ubuntu Linux 7.04 was running on his Dell Precision M90 laptop, with an additional two machines powered by Windows Vista Ultimate.
The seed of Dell's decision to pre-install Ubuntu 7.04 can be identified in the company's IdeaStorm, an initiative designed to give customers a chance to contribute ideas for product offerings. According to Dell, the customer response was overwhelming, and as a result of the feedback centralized from in excess of 100,000 clients, the company selected Ubuntu 7.04 to fill in the market niche for Linux.
This latest Dell announcement comes on the heels of another move from the computer manufacturer announced in mid April. Then, also as a result of customer input, it revealed that it would continue to offer the Windows XP operating system on Dimension E520 and E521 desktops, and on Inspiron 1501, E1405, E1505, and E1705 notebooks.
While Dell's new business strategies are obviously a sign of loyalty to the company's customers, they both slam Windows Vista. Dell selling Windows XP and Ubuntu 7.04 alongside Windows Vista offers alternatives for users that will take their toll on Microsoft's Wow.