[url]http://www.pcworld.in/news/index.jsp/artId=5144580[/url]

As per Jeremy Bolen - Dell spokesman

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Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"Cymbal Man Freq." <Don't [email]Bother@ForgedPostsAnonymous.unor[/email]g> wrote in
message news:eE8GdCGYHHA.3256@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Dell may offer Linux as alternative to Windows
> 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
>
>
> BOSTON (Reuters) - Dell Inc. is considering offering the Linux
> operating
> system as an alternative to Microsoft Corp.'s Windows on its personal
> computers, a Dell spokesman said on Tuesday.
>
> The PC maker said it received more than 100,000 customer requests for
> Linux in a
> "suggestion box" posted on Dell's Web site less than three weeks ago.
>
> "We are listening to what customers are saying about Linux and taking it
> into
> consideration," said Dell spokesman David Lord. "We are going forward.
> Let's
> say, 'Certainly stay tuned."'
>
> Linux is an open-source operating system that is generally available for
> free
> and can be used to run most computers, including Dell's PCs.
>
> Dell does not break out how much it charges for Windows when it calculates
> the
> cost of a computer system, but a basic upgrade version of the software
> generally
> retails for $99.
>
> The only operating system that Dell currently offers on its PCs is
> Windows, with
> one exception, Lord said. It sells high-end Linux desktops designed
> specifically
> for use in oil and gas exploration, he said.
>
> Making Linux available on other Dell PCs has been the top request since
> the Web
> site was launched on February 16, according to data posted on the site, as
> of
> Tuesday evening.
>
> The second most popular request was that Dell offer another popular free
> software title, OpenOffice, which competes with Microsoft Office programs
> including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
>
>
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