[ubuntu-uk] Preinstalled Ubuntu was [Fwd: Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference -- now available]

[Rob Beard]

On 28/01/2009 15:38, mike daniels wrote:
> The PDF downloadable Ubuntu Pocket guide is some 170 pages, so a long print job, content is for newbies and experts alike, so I agree, a "must" for any LUG "libraries".
> Lets hope that 2009 sees dealerships offering Ubuntu, preloaded, on thier homebuilt machines.....just think, release from those silly Windows messages like "Do you really want to".
> Thanks again, all, for your contributions, no 089 premium rate numbers for help, just the sharing concept of helping each other free!
> Thanks Rob, regards, Michael
>    
Ahh don't get me started on the Windows messages asking if I really want 
to do something.  When I shut down Vista (still haven't installed Ubuntu 
on my laptop) and I have any apps open it asks me if I really want to 
shut down.  Not very useful when it sits there, I just want to be able 
to select shutdown and let it get on with it (I have the power options 
set to always on so when I close the lid it just turns the screen off).

With regards to machines with Ubuntu pre-installed, there is Dell who 
pre-install Ubuntu on a couple of laptops and their new netbooks, 
Toshiba also have a Netbook with Ubuntu Netbook Remix installed, and 
there are other companies who have been doing similar for a while and 
others who are starting do to this.  IIRC Efficient PC 
(http://efficientpc.co.uk/) is one of them.  Heck, I even found a cheapo 
(circa £230) desktop PC listed on PC World's web site which comes with 
Linux (although I'm not sure if it's either available in store or which 
version of Linux it is - it's a start though) - http://tinyurl.com/aneapz

I did notice two reviews on the PC World machine, one from someone 
called Linda...

Good Points: "it has a really good spec, and runs really fast"
Bad points: "it has windows linux as the operating system"

and another from Anonymous...

Bad points: "you cant install windows"

I think the problem with this is that "Anonymous" was expecting to get a 
cheap PC and possibly stick on a pirate version of Windows.  If they 
wanted Windows then they'd have to pay extra for it.  On the other hand, 
Linda's review wasn't too bad, I mean she says it's a good spec PC and 
runs really fast which is probably does do and I'm sure she's happy that 
she can browse the net etc on it.  I think thought she was expecting 
Windows hence "it has windows linux as the operating system".

How I see it, if PC World are selling these machines then it's got to be 
a start.  It's just a case now of getting them in store and training the 
few mindless sales drones to explain that although Linux won't run 
Windows apps (well not all of them) it is most likely compatible with 
their documents, they'll be able to browse the internet, check their 
e-mail and do pretty much everything they would probably do on Windows 
anyway.

Maybe Canonical should start talking to companies like the Dixons stores 
group and see if they can get some Ubuntu machines in the store with 
decent documentation such as the Ubuntu Pocket Guide bundled in.

Rob