Microsoft's failed attempt to wean Intel off Linux | Hacker News Reader

Microsoft's failed attempt to wean Intel off Linux

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18 pointschaostheory10 comments

Is there a lesson in this for Dell, HP, and other Microsoft-friendly OEMs?

I don't know, is there? I was under the impression that Dell has successfully been distributing devices with Ubuntu installed.

Dell has long been ambivalent about Linux. Their earlier offerings were difficult to locate on their website. They rarely mentioned Linux in their direct mail catalogs. Only recently when they switched from SUSE to Ubuntu have they increased the visibility of their Linux offerings. It's slowly gaining momentum there. I look forward to the day when they start advertising that they sell Linux on their TV ads.

I often hear that Ubuntu is not visible on Dell's website.

After reading your comment, on a lark I typed www.dell.com/ubuntu . voila! that URL does take you to a Ubuntu specific page :)

Do you think that people browsing Dell site are going to type in the ubuntu url? They may never heard of it.

On the other hand, Dell is capable to upsell vista with xp. Why are they not capable to offer ubuntu using the same mechanism?

Dell offers a Mini 9 with XP for $349, with Ubuntu for $359, how that can be?

Answer: M$ strongarming Dell

Answer: They want to discourage price-senstive people from buying Ubuntu. Why? Because price sensitive people tend to be new to computers. And people who are new to computers will have a harder time using Ubuntu than XP, which raises Dell's support costs.

Try using your head next time.

People new to computers have no existing assumptions, how the computer should work and in fact have easier time to use Ubuntu than those exposed to XP/Vista previously.

Try observing reality around you next time. (Yes, flame, he asked for that. It is amazing what some people are able to rationalize and be rude in the process).

oh man, so close! i agree with most of that, and was just about to vote you up, until i read "try using your head next time."

i know we've got a lot of new people lately, so: no insults on hacker news, folks.

There's this push/pull kind of relationship in all sorts of areas. I interned as an Intel performance engineer working with Microsoft products and it seemed to be the case where you'd try really hard to get Intel products into the relevant Microsoft labs so they'd tune against your hardware vs. another vendors.

It gets even more complicated when factoring OEMs in as the Intel/AMD Microsoft/Linux causes all sorts of arenas where you're cooperating in some areas, competing in others and trying to make sure you've got enough leverage to not be beholden to anyone by playing both sides against each other.

It tends to end up being good for the consumer even if it is a bit convoluted at times.

I was expecting something a lot worse than stating the obvious.

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