Dell certifies laptops, desktops for SUSE Line

 

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By Matt Whipp

Posted on 28 Feb 2007 at 16:25

Dell is working with Novell on certifying some of its laptops and desktops for the SUSE Linux operating system.

The decision follows a recent initiative by Dell to improve customer feedback, in the form of its IdeaStorm, where the public is invited to post ideas that it would like to see taken on by Dell.

The call to offer Linux was made thousands of times by users looking to have non-Windows platform options on Dell products, as well as the opportunity to have less bundled software and a choice of open-source products such as OpenOffice.

'We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops, Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations. This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems,' Dell responded.

Dell already offers Dell Precision workstations with Red Hat Linux pre-installed, but is determined to offer a greater choice of operating system, to include Novell's SUSE and potentially other Linux distributions such as Ubuntu.

'As this community knows, there is no single customer preference for a distribution of Linux. In the last week, the IdeaStorm community suggested more than half a dozen distributions. We don't want to pick one distribution and alienate users with a preference for another. We want users to have the opportunity to help define the market for Linux on desktop and notebook systems. In addition to working with Novell, we are also working with other distributors and evaluating the possibility of additional certifications across our product line,' said the company.

Even so, the Novell-certified products will not be supplied with pre-installed versions of Linux. Dell is simply confirming that Novell's SUSE platform will work problem-free on its hardware and giving customers the option of purchasing the operating system to install it themselves.

It also sells n Series desktops, notebooks and workstations, giving customers the option of installing their preferred operating system separately.

Dell declined to offer further details of its future plans involving Linux.