Great Great Great.

My congrats to the Ubuntu team for having a great distribution and Dell for having the courage to be the first in starting this Open Source revolution.

Options are always great.

That's great! New Era is beginning today, PC's users were expecting this great news from Dell!

Bravo Dell.

Thank you!

About free vs unfree drivers: Will you mark models will work using only kernel.org drivers?

Yes, we'll publish which drivers are necessary or optional for use on our offered systems, including which are Free and which are closed-source.  Expect the closed-source list to be very small.

Thanks,
Matt
 

But still no Vista Express Upgrade.  Can we ship our machines back to you guys in order to get new ones with Vista?

 Also, Dell has long supported Linux usage in the server market - that's why up until this Vista Express debacle we've always chosen Dell for servers.  Though now that Dell has demonstrated superior customer service and relations, they won't be having us buying from them anymore.
 

Congrats Michael.  I knew that you would choose the long term goal over the short term.  This is the best way to start the turn around at Dell.  With some other careful business decisions and calculated risks, I can see a path for Dell to return to the top of the PC retailer market.  I can see a methodical approach to regaining market share for Dell, I would like to share it with you.  You have my email.  Again, congrats on the good work!

 Ernest
 

:D

Ubuntu is a good choice. Of all the options, it's the best suited for the common user.

This is definately the way forward - no vista headaches!  Well done dell... just please stand up to whatever pressure Micro$oft place on you!

Surely the start of the revolution - other manufacturers will be sure to follow.

Thanks also due to Mark Shuttleworth and the Canonical team for producing a distro worthy of the mainstream.

We hope this offer is open to world wide. Awesome!

One question:

How will DVD and proprietary formats be handled?

Wow.

Hello,

So when will the models be available?

 
Joel


 

Excellent news, I just hope that this will be available in the UK as well as the US!

 Come on Dell, sponsor the LUGs in the UK and really promote your product over here!

 Cheers,

M.

 

Excellent.  Provided they have what I need, my next computer may yet be a Dell (my i8600 is going out of extended warranty in about half a year).  I will try to find ways to support your Linux efforts while still supporting other, longer-running linux efforts (I'd mention the computer vendor's name, but I think you'd not like me to, so suffice it to say that they're pretty well-known within Ubuntu for shipping all models with Ubuntu).

(As an aside, I think you mean "IdeaStorm" not "IdeaStrom")

 

Oh, I just remembered.  Currently, BIOS upgrades are only available using DOS (FreeDOS works fine, but it's still annoying to have to keep a FAT partition and a Boot CD around).  VBIOS and firmware (e.g. DVD drive) upgrades (at least for my i8600) are Windows XP ONLY, which don't work with FreeDOS nor Linux.  This latter problem really really annoyed me because until I upgraded my VBIOS, opengl didn't work at ALL on my video card.  To fix it, I had to back up my hard drive, install Windows XP, upgrade VBIOS, re-image hard drive.  This was EXTREMELY annoying (not to mention nerve-racking because I had to wipe my hard drive), let me tell you.

 How will BIOS/VBIOS/firmware upgrades be handled on these machines?  It's a critical question to me, since I don't plan on

Dell has an open source framework for managing firmware updates in the same manner as you update your other system software, such as apt-get upgrade and yum update.

See http://linux.dell.com/firmware-tools/

Congrats Dell.

I really liked this move

I will buy a Dell with ubuntu installed on it.

GOOD DECISION DELL - YOU HAVE GAINED A CUSTOMER BY THIS DECISION (me)

i cant wait to see the hardware offerings.

please make sure to tag the open source drivers 

Great move Dell !

Freedom of choice, that's all I ever wanted.... 

Matt: I have heard of a framework for managing updates, although this exact one is news to me.

However, the existance of the framework does not imply its use.  Are you stating that these notebooks will use the aforementioned upating system? 

That's awesome!!!

Thanks to Dell and Ubuntu team (especially Mark for being such a great leader) for making this happen.

I can't wait to buy a dell laptop with Ubuntu :)

INCREDIBLE

it's smart choice

Viva Ubuntu 

Wow, thanks Dell!

This is a very clever movement, you'll get lots of customers...
 

This news is truly inspirational! What can I say that has not already been said in all the comments before mine? Thanks to DELL for having foresight, thanks to Ubuntu for providing foresight, and thanks to the billions upon billions of lines of code written by the contributors that make open source what it is. This is an honor to their commitment. Like it says on the box ... Linux for Human Beings.

Have Fun!

;) 

Now that's some good news that you don't hear every day. It was about time somebody did it.

 The next laptop has to be a dell with ubuntu.

 Good work Dell.

 

My next choice is DELL!
 

Great! Simply graet!

I hope to use in future only free (as in freedom) drivers.

Give me a full-linux-compatible notebook DELL :D

 (Thanks a lot Canonical)

Regards 

Congratulations!  I'm very impressed by how fast Dell has moved on this issue.  I was hoping to see pre-installed linux by September, but it looks like I won't have to wait long.  I've been postponing my purchase of a new laptop since I heard of this initiative at Dell, and will be among the first in line to order an Ubuntu laptop.  The fact that I'm writing this on a Dell inspiron 6000 running Ubuntu 7.04 flawlessly is ample proof that Dell is capable of delivering Linux-Ready laptops.

I hope that you will offer an ultra-portable laptop with a Flash-based harddrive option.  Who me?  Picky?

But don't worry, even if you don't offer all the options available for Windows right away, I'll take what I can get with an eye to the future.  I'm eager to reward Dell for advancing the cause of free software and for the chance to vote with my dollars. I'm sure that the financial success of this first Linux offering will quickly lead to a broadening market.

Ya se cual sera mi próximo portatil :)

 Gracias!! así es que se hacen los buenos negocios!
 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Please offer this on all yours notebooks!!! WORLD-WIDE!

I win in saves for use FREE OS and you win an ETERNAL CUSTOMER.

Thanks Mr. Dell! 

Well.

I need a new computer.

I found the company from which I'll buy it! :) 

Ubuntu's a good move for dell.

I may even pick up a desktop later on.

But any Ubuntu powered laptop has to come from System76 for me. They've been supporting Ubuntu on home and portable computers for the longest time. Not to mention the awesome customer support.

so how is this going to work, are you going to stuff it with crapware toolbars and such?

in my case id be interested in buying, cos i know the hardware will work with linux, but will u fill it up with hidden partitions and such that automaticly restores the default installation that is impossible to get rid of ?

unless i can format the harddrive 100% and install myself i wont be buying anything 

Yay!

This is great!

I have one concern though...

 
Will Dell advertise this offering everywhere and make ordinary people really want to buy it, or will Dell make Ubuntu available to those who want it, and not advertise it that much (in which case ordinary people won't know what it is and therefore won't want it)?

(and I find it a little ironic that there's a button at the top of this text box that says "Paste from Word")

What I'm REALLY looking forward to is an Ubuntu pre-loaded Dell laptop optimized for Compiz/Beryl 3D desktop.

 

Great decision, congratulations to Dell and Canonical!

 Please consider making the Linux pre installed PCs at least a little bit cheaper than those with Windows. Otherwhise a lot of costumer might think "Why not paying the same and get a Windows license for free?"

Good news. I want to be able to buy Linux pre-installed - and Ubuntu is my favourite distro.

 

Moreover Ubuntu is my prefered OS, I think dell have done a good move.

 Come on guys!

Well I am looking for a JOB and as soon as I get one I am saving up for a Laptop with Ubuntu from Dell, So I can surf around my house and in the garden smoking a Cigaret. I will be putting SmiplyMepis on depending how it works but I will use Ubuntu if it works better.

I will give Ubuntu a spin anyway.

 
Well done Ubuntu and Dell. This will help all the Linux Community as a hole!

we need this option in the UK as well, other wise I am gonna have to wait a wile I guess

Great Move!

Please do it in europe too.

:) 

I am the MD of a UK SME that is migrating wholesale to open source, and I've been waiting for Dell to make this decision.  Its excellent news for all those business users trying to migrate away from Microsoft.  Choice is what we want.

I certainly shall become a new Dell customer as a direct result of this decision.

 Dr Steele

MD - Mercian Labels Ltd

Such good news...

Dell gets my vote for actually listening to it's customers.

The ability to buy a desktop or laptop without paying for an operating system that I do not use is a big thing. The Windows tax was always unfair. It's great to see a company offer an alternative. Ubuntu is a great OS to start with. 

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

je vais enfin pouvoir m'acheter un ordinateur portable!!!!!! 

 merci merci merci!
 

Great news!  Can we expect to see Dell advertising their new OS choice in commercials?  I hope so, I wouldn't want to see this endeavor fail simply because nobody outside of Linux circles knows about it.  You would be the first PC manufacturer to tell consumers they can now choose which OS they get on their new computer.

 
I think that a great number of people would like a non-Windows OS, but just don't know such a thing exists (outside of Mac anyway, and people don't like Macs for other reasons).  It seems to be a standard saying from computer users that they "hate windows", showing them that Dell offers an alternative would at least grab their attention, if not their wallets.

Its amazing and instopable!!!

Congrats to every1 how work hard to make this posible.
soon or later every company will sell cheaper pcs with linux preinstalled.
Dell is 1 step forward and winning cosumers.

thanks Dell and thankz Mark. 

Its amazing and instopable!!!

Congrats to every1 how work hard to make this posible.
soon or later every company will sell cheaper pcs with linux preinstalled.
Dell is 1 step forward and winning cosumers.

thanks Dell and thankz Mark. 

Great!

Hopefully we'll have the Dell-Linux option also in Europe!

Amazing, just amazing.....

I've been using Ubuntu for the last months, and i'm sure it's really going to happen....

Great News,

When I can purchase a pre-install linux setup from Dell I will be straight online to order.

Chris, UK 

This is sooo great.

I wish everyone who want to use Linux will by from Dell.

And I also wish you start selling in Isral.

Congratulations for this notice!!!

Now I going buy a Dell's laptop to me.

Thank'S!!! 

Thanks Dell. I am emotional, tears roll down my eyes.

We are going to spend the next 6 months, coding like crazy and contributing code.

I am doing this with 15 other coders, we call this the Dell-Ubuntu Marathon.

End users ...here we come. 

Awesome!

It's the start of a huge step today for making the world more open regarding contents. Congratulations Dell!

Glad to see this announcement from Dell.  I missed the part where Dell asked for input - so I am not one of those who asked for Linux on Dell products.

On the other hand I am about to the point of buying a new laptop.  (Not in a hurry - I can wait to see what Dell will do.)

I finally switched my primary desktop over to Linux not too long ago (Ubuntu was really the enabler).  What caused me the most grief was getting drivers and configuration going to drive dual 24" Dell flat panels.  Did install Linux on a laptop, briefly, but backed off after driver trouble (video glitches, no wireless support).  Vendor support for Linux drivers is sometimes weak.

What I hope to see from Dell is a set of hardware with excellent driver support under Linux.  I do not care so much that Linux is pre-installed.  I do care quite a lot about the quality of driver support.  Hopefully the Dell folk can select hardware and work with vendors, so that a laptop from Dell will work very well running Linux. 

I can't describe my happiness......It's ubuntu ..... finally we can buy ubuntu pre-loaded Laptops :)

PLEASE make them available outside USA as well, and do include at least some business laptop models. (I'm typing this on a Latitude D600 that's never ran anything but Linux since it left the factory, now running Kubuntu 7.04, and we've ran various Linux versions in several Latitude models with very few problems so I know it isn't too hard.)

 

Wonderful!  I look forward to purchasing a laptop in the next few months!

WONDERFUL NEWS FOR DELL AND UBUNTU!

This is great news!

Thank you Dell!
 

Congratulations to Dell for taking such a bold and correct move. No other major computer making company has taken such a decision as of now, but soon after seeing the great finiancial results of Dell for next fiscal year because of this move others will soon follow or rather have to follow to be in the game.

My next laptop will be from Dell.

I was looking to buy laptop from IBM (T60p) , format the hardisk get rid of windows and install Ubuntu on it. But now on my new Dell I don't have to do it. Thats Great..!!! 

Please do it whole heartedly and not just for the sake of doing it as most computer makers promise but no one does it actually.

Fantastic news!  Since I  have been running linux on my dell ever since I got it I cannot welcome this more than anything else. I hope edge cases will also be solved by the community this creates (such as cooperability with dell docking stations; currently you are not able to hot dock for instance)...

 Thanks Dell!
 

WOW!

That's exactly what I've been waiting for!! THX Dell!! 

Please make it cheaper than windows and support all the great range of desktop and laptops which Dell has. If the pricing is equivalent to windows then most household users will buy laptops with windows installed and they wont get opportunity to use Ubuntu.

Users using different distros of linux, please dont get upset by this move atleast we have one computer maker supporting linux fully.

Down the line in few years we can see linux everywhere on desktops and laptops and this is possible if computer maker supports linux so that common user dont have to worry about hardware and drivers.

Linux is prime time ready even on desktops and laptops except in some of the areas like drivers, if Dell-Ubuntu can take care of it and other hardware compatibility issues with linux, we are sure we will see linux everywhere ....  

In future I want to hand my Kid linux system and dont want her to get addicted to Windows. 

Good option for users that need microsoft platform is offer a Ubuntu Feisty as base system and if the customer wants, a Windows XP virtualized with qemu or virtualbox (with a good and easy interface)

 

I am glad

 congratulation for these news

I use dell and windows xp

my next computer will be dell  linux
 

One suggestion, one request:

The suggestion is that you mention which version of the linux kernel supports all the hardware in each ubuntu system - the reason being that proponents of other distributions will know whether they can get it to work. I use Ubuntu, but I know that a lot of people don't. But just buying an Ubuntu preloaded computer is like a badge of compatibility with most linux OS's out there.

And the request is one echoed further up in the thread - PLEASE make it available overseas! This time New Zealand! 

My desktop died on me 4 weeks ago, I bought a headless machine from PC company in the UK. If I had known earlier I would have bought Dell.

I will buy Dell in future simply because you are giving me exactly what I want to buy. No checking up on graphics cards to see if they are compatible or finding some piece of hardware on my machine won't work, e.g. winmodem or card reader. I know I can buy a machine that will 'just work'. Whats more if Ubuntu works then virtually every other Linux distro will

I simply go to your website. Pick the laptop/desktop I want. Problem over. This is a win-win situation, good news for Linux and a good business decision for Dell
 
 

great deal,

i would love to own one dell. 

just waiting for release. 

Dell, this is the best decision I've seen made by any computer company in the past 5 years.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You've got my dollars. 

This is great news for the open source community in general.  It will be interesting to hear about what level of support they will allow for Ubuntu.  Hopefully, other linux distributions will get a renewed sense of vigor and respond with even more enthusiasm.  Way to go Ubuntu!

 As always, you can already get free tech support using IRC, at irc.freenode.net, channel #ubuntu.

 
Holla!