Dell hasn't provided many details yet and more importantly, hasn't addressed important questions like distribution selection and support options. It is possible that Dell's announcement is intended to show consumers that the company is giving serious consideration to public feedback while the relevant decisions are being made. According to Dell, more information will be made available within the next few weeks.

Citing support issues and the vast diversity of the Linux software ecosystem, I argued last month that Linux preinstallation on regular home consumer systems made little sense for Dell. Instead, I argued that Dell should focus on improving Linux compatibility in their regular consumer offerings and providing better support for large-scale Linux roll-outs for schools, companies, and public institutions—the market sectors where Linux provides the most value. Although I took some heat for the argument I made, it really is common sense and its not all that different from what other industry analysts are saying. In an editorial published earlier this week, Manek Dubash—TechWorld columnist and former editor-in-chief of the UK's PC Magazine—makes an argument virtually identical to the one I made last month... More

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