Dell backs down from Linux promise

DELL HAS DASHED the hopes of Open Saucers who wanted the maker of tin is to install the operating system in some of its computers.

Open saucers hopes were raised when Dell posted a note on its online suggestion box, IdeaStorm Web site saying it was “listening to its customers” and certifying three of its corporate hardware lines -- OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations -- for use with Novell SUSE Linux.

The move was clearly an attempt to put some spin on the fact that open saucers had flooded IdeaStorm with a Linux request and Dell hoped to show its Linux credentials by talking up its SUSE testing. According to ComputerWorld, the news was interpreted that Dell is thinking of issuing hardware with Linux onboard something that indicated the spin on the story was a bit out of hand.

Dell issued a statement today saying that it was not even close to installing the OS into any of its product ranges and that certifying the hardware for being ready to work with Novell SUSE Linux, was not the same thing.

A spokesDell said that Dell was still listening to its Linux customers and already offers factory-installed Linux on some specific Dell Precision workstations for high-end corporate users, but is not currently installing the OS on its other laptop or desktop machines.

While not ruling out the option of expanding the pre-installation program at a future date, afterall Dell talks to AMD these days, there are no plans to do so yet, the SpokesDell said.

In a confusing development, another Dell Spinner Caroline Dietz said that the company's first post last Friday about certifying machines for Novell SUSE Linux on the IdeaStorm site is "only the beginning" of such posts by the vendor. So expect lots of traction and retraction on this. µ