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Ubuntu VS Windows According To Dell UK

April 18th, 2010 | by admin |

Ubuntu I was doing a bit of research today to see how the relationship between Canocial (Ubuntu) and Dell is. It’s great that Dell sells Ubuntu based computers but what’s not so great is what trash they are publishing on their web site. Here is a quick excerpt:

WHICH OPERATING SYSTEM SHOULD I CHOOSE ?

UBUNTU is not a Microsoft Windows operating system – and is not compatible with Microsoft Office programs – so it’s important you make the right choice:

Choose WINDOWS if:

You are already using WINDOWS programs (e.g. Microsoft Office, ITunes etc) and want to continue using them
You are familiar with WINDOWS and do not want to learn new programs for email, word processing etc
You are new to using computers

Windows

Choose UBUNTU if:

You do not plan to use Microsoft WINDOWS
You are interested in open source programming

Ubuntu

That’s enough to make most Ubuntu users and developers fume at the ears – and it could also be enough for a court case – as Dell clearly is publishing errors in it’s content in order to mislead the public. Of course when Dell sells Windows it gets paid by Microsoft – so it pays to for them to mislead the public into buying Windows over getting the free Ubuntu.
One lie you can spot right away is that Ubuntu is notr compatible with Microsoft Office. Office is seperate from the operating system and also Ubuntu uses Open Office (or any other non Microsoft office suite) which is free and compatible with Microsoft Office. That’s right – you can open, edit and save in Ubuntu and then dummies using MS Office can still work with your files. Also annoyingly, Dell states that you should use Ubuntu if you are interested in open source programming – as if that’s the only reason you may want to try Ubuntu.

Dell should be more honest – especially as they are one of the biggest sellers of PC’s and notebooks in the world. Misleading conumers can easily lead to law suits.

Read their article here on “Windows or Ubuntu” -
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/windows_or_ubuntu?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

4 Responses to “Ubuntu VS Windows According To Dell UK”

4
admin Says:
April 26th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Hi JackVoo,

I agree with you and would even say that the default install of Ubuntu with GNome could be labeled as too simple! I think my daughter can use it and she’s not 4 months old yet

Another important aspect is security… Windows security problems alone coupled with all of the costs should rule it out for new computer users. New computer users get easily put off by complications caused by insecurity and privacy issues. Windows is a bottomless pit of proprietary software lockin’s and security black holes…

For new users a plain simple and unbreakable operating system will be best – and Ubuntu is totally unbreakable with Linux’s permissions system.

By the way earlier I mentioned Linux isn’t any good for .net development – well I was wrong because the *Mono* project is going good and strong for .net development and even live deployment of .net programmed sites…
3
JackVoo Says:
April 26th, 2010 at 2:46 am
“You are new to using computers” This statement is writen by Dell as a suggestion for choosing Windows. Anyone think that current Linux OS is difficult to use by a new user??? New users who haven’t familiar with any OS are the easiest to adapt. Then, is window design for new users who really don’t have any computer experience, that he or she can do some office work in fresh Window? The answer is NO. Dell is really misleading people. I am using Linux (ubuntu) in browsing internet (especially Facebook), doing report (open office), watching video (totem, mplayer, vlc…..) and many more. I rarely use it for programming, although, linux is the best in supporting programming language.
2
admin Says:
April 19th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Hi crazylinuxuser,

Yes I agree with you about the support – Dell will have to carry the costs of having a Linux support team. Basing it in India shouldn’t cost them very much at all though

As in your example about documents – I’d personally always send files as PDF to ensure anyone can read them.

Yep it’s still quite a way to go until we see more software developed to be cross platform and hence see more software running on Linux. I guess it will always depend on what the computer user wants to do.

For surfing the web, email and documents Ubuntu is brilliant. It’s also excellent for any kind of programming or development except for MS .NET. For other specializations software is still lacking – the biggest example is gaming. Very very few modern games are available for Linux. Music production and movie production still have a long way to go too.

Thanks for your views!
1
crazylinuxuser Says:
April 19th, 2010 at 4:33 am
Maybe dell don’t want to lie to their client about opensource potential.
Or simple because they don’t want to handle customer asking for “Linux” support just because they can’t run an ABC online game.

Even though there’s increment in project to port or clone windows software but it still can’t beat windows software in term of “getting the job done”
(I’m referring to software installed in windows not the OS)

For example, is there any student in this country or even world write their bachelor/master/PhD thesis using open-office (from their brand new dell-Ubuntu laptop) and guarantee the the formatting wont be different after they submit it to their supervisor where it will be open with office 2007 then?

I’ve spend most of my computing time in Linux too. As a user I know what Linux capable of doing and how far it can really do. Don’t lie to ourself just because we think we’re better. The road is still far ahead.
Just another 2 cent opinion