Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by shmerl on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @05:34PM
(#13700773)
> The reason people never switched is because Linux (almost) never came installed on desktops.
Yes, that's exactly my point. Solving that problem is key to improving Linux adoption.
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by icc97 on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @05:57PM
(#13700978)
As much as I'm not a fan of some of Dell's dodgy multinational practices, I have respect for them pushing mainstream adoption of pre-installed Ubuntu.
I tried to persuade a UK company Novatech that offers computers without an OS to go one step further and offer Linux. They liked the idea, but the support overhead wasn't worth it for them.
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by scholia on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @06:04PM
(#13701045)
> They liked the idea, but the support overhead wasn't worth it for them.
The support overhead killed Linux on Asus and Acer netbooks. That and hardware returns from people who found the operating system unusable....
Outside of Apple, PC margins are extremely thin.
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by digi_owl on Thursday February 23, 2017 @11:01AM
(#13714919)
The only company i recall having trouble with returns were MSI, but then they managed to ship their Wind series with missing drivers for things like the webcam...
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by scholia on Thursday February 23, 2017 @03:59PM
(#13717727)
When your margins are as thin as they are in the PC industry, even quite a small percentage of returns can devastate your profits.
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by shmerl on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @05:58PM
(#13700985)
Unfortunately, even Dell don't offer Linux on every model.
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by icc97 on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @06:06PM
(#13701059)
No, I think it's basically one model only the XPS 13/15. But still, it's a mainstream supplier offering linux pre-installed.
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by shmerl on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @06:08PM
(#13701075)
Which again doesn't solve the problem described above. Only massive availability can change things.
Re:The Year of Linux on Everything but the Desktop
by progman on Tuesday February 21, 2017 @07:07PM
(#13701550)
If you want massive availability go with Android. If you want personal customization go with classical Linux.
If Windows is installed you use that. If OSX is installed you use that. If Android is installed you use that.
Still even now compare the number of options available for buying a PC / laptop with Linux on it to one with Windows on it.