Consumers keen for pre-installed Linux on Dell PCs

Dell Computers, due to its disturbed condition sought ideas from consumers through a new user forum, Dell IdeaStorm, which was launched February 16, shortly after Michael Dell resumed as the chief executive.

The torrent of requests portrayed customers’ hope for better services. A majority of customers asked for Dell notebooks and desktops to be loaded with pre-installed Linux distributions plus the open source alternative to Microsoft Office - OpenOffice.org.

Dell acknowledged that over 83,000 users have promoted the idea of pre-installed Linux. Apparently, among the reactors were some of the most proficient buyers who are not only capable of identifying trends but might also manipulate other buyers.

The Computer maker might not be able to take instant action on these requests as a problem for the company has been which Linux distribution to run with.

"As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux," Dell stated on IdeaStorm. "In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another."

However, Dell intends to proceed with certain desktops and notebooks certified to run Novell's Suse first, which maybe trailed by other popular Linux distributions, such as Fedora and Ubuntu.

In addition to working with Novell the company is also in touch with other distributors and is assessing the prospects of additional certifications across its product line.

Responding to the consumers' requests for more control over the software on their PC, Dell said it is working towards the idea and will be expanding this effort in the coming months. “Today, customers can kick-off an un-install of almost any application by declining the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) associated with software.” Said dell on its forum.