Dell jumps on the Linux bandwagon

The company will ship desktop computers running the Linux operating system, even though it claims that some of its UK customers 'don't want them', writes Simon Goodley.

Dell's corporate desktop Optiplex offering will run on Linux from this week.

'Linux is an emerging operating system. If customers ask for Linux on the desktop, then we will provide it,' said Soren Krarup, Dell's European marketing manager for Optiplex.

However, Dell's UK alliances manager Steve Smith claimed that the company has barely seen any demand for desktop Linux in the UK. 'There has been interest from just a couple of accounts,' he said.

Desktop Linux has so far been highly niche, either within software development environments or for some graphics applications, says Smith. Dell is positioning Optiplex with Linux between high-end PCs and workstations.

Analysts were unimpressed by Dell's initiative. Desktop Linux is not important to corporates, said Ashim Pal, an analyst at researcher Meta Group. 'It is only important to the hobbyist.'

Phil Blades, head of technology at Cap Gemini UK, said Dell's move is more about politics than business. 'In view of the Microsoft anti-trust case, I think some big players will be trying to make sure they're not tarred with the same brush,' he said.

Dell has been shipping workstations with Linux worldwide for two months.

Reports suggest that the company will also market a Linux mix of its home PC offering, Dimension, from October. However, Smith ruled out any such consumer Linux option in the UK for the foreseeable future.