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Perhaps ...Perhaps ...Posted Mar 12, 2007 22:12 UTC (Mon) by AnswerGuy (guest, #1256)Parent article: OpenOffice.org sends Dell a letter
Perhaps we should look at an alternative approach to this issue. How about if we work within the same model as the competition here ... we subsidize Dell to include an Open Source Solutions DVD with their systems.
This DVD could contain a short video (playable on Windows, in a normal DVD player, or under Linux?) introducing FLOSS ... and giving directions on how to boot the same DVD and use it to install Linux (and OpenOffice.org) on the system (multiboot or complete).
In other words ... let's use roughly the same approach as the "crapware" vendors.
The question then becomes ... who wants to commit the funds to such an endeavor? We're probably talking about a few million U.S. dollars per year (assuming something like $5 to $10 per system?).
Soliciting Dell for funds is a bad strategy in this case. It would be the right strategy if they had something to gain by the donation --- but we've already established that Dell doesn't perceive any benefit to replacing MS Windows (which enables them to include a boatload of subsidized crapware while passing the direct OS licensing costs neatly on to their customers).
Sun funds OpenOffice because it helps ensure an available, portable tool suite that enables usage of Solaris (SPARC and x86) on more systems ... which, in turn, enables sales of their hardware. They also benefit from further viability of their Java offerings (since they still sell a number of services and products based on Java even as they are giving away and opening up the core of the language).
IBM funds a number of open source efforts because the currently position themselves primarily as a professional services and integration company. So they benefit from having portable tools that can run on their p and z series (POWER and S/390) "big iron" systems as well as in other ways).
Where can we find a way for Dell to benefit from any migration towards our software?
JimD
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Perhaps ... Posted Mar 13, 2007 3:36 UTC (Tue) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link] ""Where can we find a way for Dell to benefit from any migration towards our software?""
When people start wanting Linux machines for large scale business desktop deployments they may choose to use Dell if the price is right.
What else would they get out of it? They are a PC hardware company and they sell PC hardware. If end users want Linux machines and they don't have them then their potential business goes to HP or some other competiting hardware.
Even if a company buys 90% Windows hardware and 10% Linux hardware, what do you suppose is the chance that they'd rather go with a hardware vendor that can provide for both rather then having to go to different vendors for different OSes?
Perhaps ... Posted Mar 13, 2007 6:38 UTC (Tue) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link] Even if a company buys 90% Windows hardware and 10% Linux hardware, what do you suppose is the chance that they'd rather go with a hardware vendor that can provide for both rather then having to go to different vendors for different OSes? Almost zero ? I'm working in company where 90% desktops are Linux and 10% are Windows. Yet it buys all desktops with Windows (and some - from Dell). There are few reasons but mostly it boils down to the simple logistic: it's not known in advance if this or that system will be used with Linux or Windows - better safe then sorry. If all systems have Windows license you save on license management, etc. In short: if you need mix of Windows and Linux on desktop - it's just easier to buy all systems with Windows... Servers... servers are different. You don't switch from Linux to Windows and back at the drop of hat on servers...
Perhaps ... Posted Mar 13, 2007 8:56 UTC (Tue) by hein.zelle (guest, #33324) [Link] > Where can we find a way for Dell to benefit from any migration towards our software?
I think the advantage is already there, but they're either not seeing it that way, or bound by other reasons to supply only microsoft. The plain advantage for Dell would be that they can offer a system with a full operating system and software installed, at a lower cost for the consumer. If they did that, many consumers would certainly bite, increasing Dell's sales.
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