[ubuntu-uk] Mark Shuttleworth on Dell

[Mac]

For anyone who didn't see the Lifehacker article, here's Mark 
Shuttleworth's explanation of how come it's so hard to find Ubuntu 
systems on the Dell UK site...


Lifehacker: It seems that pre-installed Linux computers are gaining 
momentum. Are there plans for partnering with other major corporations?

Mark Shuttleworth: Of course. There are discussions underway which I 
can’t go into because they’re not ready to be announced. The main thing 
is to recognize that Linux remains somewhat of a specialist’s option. It 
is actually quite prevalent amongst the specialist providers. If you 
talk to any of the major system integrators they will all do Linux 
deployments for you. Even if you talk to some of the smaller OEMs they 
will all figure out how to work with you and to work with Linux. Where 
it has always been blocked is in the large-scale consumer market. I 
think Dell has been very clever in the way they’ve done it. They’ve 
figured out how to make Linux available to those consumers who are 
specifically looking for it without accidentally having folks who don’t 
know what Linux is (and who don’t really want Linux) accidentally buying 
those machines. That’s critical to the economic viability of the offering.


Full article:
http://dailydiy.com/2007/08/30/ubuntu-founder-mark-shuttleworth-on-productivity-and-linux/


Mac