Why not include a live Linux DVD with each Dell desktop/laptop?

[Matt Domsch]

On Tue, Nov 14, 2006 at 01:45:58PM +0000, Richard Lloyd wrote:
> I can understand that pre-installing Linux on Dell laptops/desktops
> automatically implies that Dell has to support that Linux distro (even
> if you put big red warning labels everywhere on the Web site and in
> the distro that it's unsupported), but why not include a free live
> Linux CD or DVD with every machine sold? It would be labelled unsupported
> (including when you went to install it, you'd have to agree that it
> there is no direct support from Dell and you agree not to hassle them
> about it :-) ).

I hate the word "support" only because it means different things to
different people.  To those more Linux-savvy, seeing "unsupported" to
you probably means "I know not to call Dell if something doesn't
work", but you'd still expect *some* level of functionality (e.g. the
machine boots, finds its disks, finds its network port, finds its
video).  Given the multitude of disk controllers, network adapters,
and video chips available on today's systems, that's in fact no small
feat.  So before we could consider dropping a CD/DVD in the "goodie
box", we'd have to do at least enough development and testing to
ensure that much works, even if there's no after-sale telephone number
to call for support.

As you point out, we're doing that work on Servers and Precision
Workstations today, so there's some amount of carry-over, but I wish
it were as "free" of development effort as most end users seem to
think it would be.

That said, we're doing what we can, working with the various component
vendors to get GPL drivers written and included in kernel.org, so that
your choice of distros really becomes a matter of personal choice and
timing - which distro version has a kernel.org-derived kernel with the
drivers I need for this specific system.  That approach maximizes the
number of distro choices, while keeping my teams from chasing after
every new distro/derivative that gets announced.

Thanks,
Matt

-- 
Matt Domsch
Software Architect
Dell Linux Solutions linux.dell.com & www.dell.com/linux
Linux on Dell mailing lists @ http://lists.us.dell.com