Dell : Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft® Windows® [Archive]

cascade9

June 11th, 2010, 01:44 PM

Open Office gets a big red "X" for windows? Wow, news to me, and to various people I know who use OO on win. :lolflag:

It would be nice if they had more than 2 models running ubuntu, a Mini 10n and an Inspiron 15n.

newbie2

June 11th, 2010, 01:46 PM

http://www.thevarguy.com/2010/06/10/memo-from-dell-ubuntu-linux-is-safer-than-windows/
):P

BigSilly

June 11th, 2010, 01:48 PM

You'd think with this in mind they'd perhaps have a decent range of Ubuntu products wouldn't you?

Ichido

June 11th, 2010, 01:48 PM

"Safer"?

I no longer worry about Virus', Worms, Trojans or Keyloggers.
I do Not use any Anti-Virus Software.

When I update my Ubuntu, I do Not lose my Files, Documents, Photos, Graphic Files, Music or Videos. Just the O.S. Is changed.

About every 25 boots, a Automatic System Check is done but I never De-Frag.

My Wireless is ALWAYS Encrypted with WPA.

I have been using Ubuntu GNU/Linux for more than 5 years now and I will Never go back to Window$.

Safer? My answer is YES!

llawwehttam

June 11th, 2010, 01:50 PM

to me it just looks like a publicity stunt to get linux fans to buy from dell..................... its not working for me. lol

Tristam Green

June 11th, 2010, 02:16 PM

to me it just looks like a publicity stunt to get linux fans to buy from dell..................... its not working for me. lol

++

False Marketing ploys do sell product, though. One cannot deny this.

Guess what? Malware designed for Linux systems that run a silly little rm -rf /* command don't work on Windows systems :O :O Scandal!

lostinxlation

June 11th, 2010, 03:18 PM

So, what is Dell going to say about the computers they are selling with Windows ?

aaaantoine

June 11th, 2010, 03:25 PM

Oh man... They don't even have a desktop option anymore?

Just a netbook and a laptop. That's it? Pathetic. There was at one time 6 different Ubuntu Dell systems.

(Though I guess the sort of people that would know to look for Ubuntu would just build their own tower...)

Edit:

Oh, there's a couple of links at the bottom for Vostro and Latitude. No pictures. Not very conspicuous.

betrunkenaffe

June 11th, 2010, 03:27 PM

But the story doesn’t end there. Dell claims it has shipped more computers pre-loaded and pre-tested with Ubuntu than any other computer maker in the world since 2007. (Alas, Dell doesn’t disclose exact shipment figures for Ubuntu PCs.) And Dell states that it will introduce Ubuntu 10.04 systems in mid-2010.I call BS on that, if Ubuntu has been selling as well as they are claiming, then why have they been silently removing all their computers which run Ubuntu? The specs are never up to date and they don't even provide any real way of getting to them on their website (they never really did but you could find them before). On the Canada site, you only have the option of Linux if you are buying as a business.

So yeah, I call BS on them outselling companies that keep up to date specs and provide easy access to the option.

McRat

June 11th, 2010, 04:16 PM

Dell has dropped down to third place in the PC market and wants to turn things around.

I'm not sure MS is all that happy with Dell offering Linux machines, but you will notice that Linux is NOT an option, like other items are. Linux systems are segregated from Windows systems. You can "pick" your O/S as long as it comes from Redmond.

I believe MS is courting Dell to try and keep them away from making Linux an actual choice:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/offers/default.aspx

This ad originally appeared on the front page of the Windows site, but they moved it to a child page, probably because other computer mfr's got pissy.

ikt

June 11th, 2010, 04:52 PM

I think they should be congratulated on offering linux/ubuntu at all, this is fantastic and will buy my next laptop with ubuntu preloaded from them.

MCVenom

June 11th, 2010, 05:03 PM

I was a bit bothered by some of the inaccuracies... and the line:

We're glad you found Dell's Ubuntu website...

Should have been followed up with:

...it's not like anyone else will.
:lolflag:

Roasted

June 11th, 2010, 05:14 PM

I think they should be congratulated on offering linux/ubuntu at all, this is fantastic and will buy my next laptop with ubuntu preloaded from them.

I have a hard time agreeing with this statement. I don't like how Dell offers it and then hides the site. I don't understand why they are so extremely limited on what systems come pre-loaded with Ubuntu when there are tons of Dell laptops that run Ubuntu GREAT - such as the Dell Latitude E5500, Precision M4300, Latitude 2100, etc. These are all laptops I had Ubuntu on. Yet they offer such a limited selection?

It's as difficult to find the site as it is to stumble across ubuntu.com and download it yourself. It shouldn't be that way for a vendor to "proudly" offer a Linux based operating system.

BTW - Why would MS be pissed at Dell? HP offers OpenSuse systems. I'm a little sick of hearing Microsoft whine. I hope they die. Soon.

TheNosh

June 11th, 2010, 05:24 PM

there were a few other things that weren't quite accurate, but this one caught my eye.
http://imgur.com/fgbsq.png

seriously. writer is fine most of the time, the other components have never really lived up to expectations for me.

Merk42

June 11th, 2010, 05:27 PM

Dell has dropped down to third place in the PC market and wants to turn things around.

Source?
Who are the other two?

AlexDudko

June 11th, 2010, 05:57 PM

HP offers OpenSuse systems.
I have one, but it's not OpenSuse it's SLED (Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop) - a very stable and reliable system.

Blümchen Blau

June 11th, 2010, 06:06 PM

Who are the other two?

HP & Acer

No Notebooks from Dell with Ubuntu in Austria (exception is the Netbook I believe):mad:

Dustin2128

June 11th, 2010, 06:16 PM

I think the writer did a poor job and dell is doing even worse, included fee for photo editing? Do they take out gimp and hold it hostage for 20$? And I think a better word to use when describing anti virus is unneeded rather than unwarranted, people will connect that with warranties. Don't ask me how but they will. And also
The vast majority of viruses and spyware written by hackers are not designed to target and attack Linux. makes it sound like its only a matter of time before Linux gets attacked by hackers; viruses don't attack Linux because the very structure of the kernel/OS iirc prevents them from proliferating, you know the need to use sudo for certain administrative tasks whereas on windows they start you on a default administrator (root) with no password. Windows is designed to get trashed. That said, I have noticed that they were 'silently' removing all the linux desktops they had, and I'm wondering if their advertisement pages were to blame...

MasterNetra

June 11th, 2010, 06:20 PM

earthpigg

June 11th, 2010, 06:29 PM

how did you come across that page?

how would one navigate to it from the main dell.com page?

MasterNetra

June 11th, 2010, 06:40 PM

how did you come across that page?

how would one navigate to it from the main dell.com page?

Click "For Home", Scroll down and on the left-most col under Operating Systems (which itself is under Essential * Links) you click "Open-Source PCS"

*= Varies on sub-section of "For Home" Just clicking "For Home" it should be PC

squilookle

June 11th, 2010, 06:46 PM

Depends how the OS is configured, you would think.

And I think Included Fee was meant to say Included Free...

newbie2

June 18th, 2010, 12:13 PM

Dell removes "Ubuntu is safer than Microsoft® Windows® " statement from website : http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/137354/index.html
:p

Tristam Green

June 18th, 2010, 12:55 PM

Clearly Microsoft's lawyers took to Dell HQ.

Windows7SWins and anything to stifle dental FLOSS, right?

squilookle

June 18th, 2010, 02:26 PM

Haha!

Probably because it took off, and the news sites picked up on it. For example:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/14/dell_ubuntu_windows_security/

vaustvest

June 18th, 2010, 03:02 PM

what's wrong with marketing, isnt it the only thing why windows is it is right now?

marketing. and billions of dollars on it.

Frogs Hair

June 18th, 2010, 05:29 PM

lancest

June 19th, 2010, 12:15 AM

Got to admit - I was pretty excited a few years ago about Dell promoting Ubuntu. Error in my thinking.

IMHO now Dell is just an MS puppet. How could they be anything else?

Better to buy from a real Linux hardware distributor such as Zareason (http://zareason.com/shop/home.php).

irv

June 24th, 2010, 07:38 PM

In case you missed this in the last News letter.
161445

Memo From Dell: Ubuntu Linux Is Safer Than Windows

http://www.thevarguy.com/2010/06/10/memo-from-dell-ubuntu-linux-is-safer-than-windows/

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml

Penguin Guy

June 24th, 2010, 07:40 PM

Totally agree, the fact that Linux is unpopular is it's greatest protection against viruses.

Tristam Green

June 24th, 2010, 07:43 PM

Old news; Dell has since amended the site because the claim is misleading.

(recurring?)

CrimsonBizarre

June 24th, 2010, 07:43 PM

---

doas777

June 24th, 2010, 07:43 PM

I agree with the overall statement, assuming the user is even remotely qualified, but I disagree with their justification for it. *nix is safer because of the strong protections isolating its components. that said, yes there will be professional malware written for linux if the market share continues to grow, but it will probably never get as bad.

Tristam Green

June 24th, 2010, 07:50 PM

In case you missed this in the last News letter.
161445

http://www.thevarguy.com/2010/06/10/memo-from-dell-ubuntu-linux-is-safer-than-windows/

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml

also, you may want to edit out your email address from your screenie. all kinds of folk can glean info just from an email address.