By Stephen Shankland
CNET News.com

Dell is trying a second time to sell personal computers with Linux preinstalled, this time using the up-and-coming Ubuntu version of the open-source operating system.

http://www.dell.com/linuxsurvey

Dell actually seams to be interested in supporting Linux in the not too distant future, and has opened a survey to get an idea of what people want in a Dell Linux system.

The post on Dell's blog is here: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/default.aspx

This... actually seams genuine on Dell's behalf, and I must say, if we can support this, and show them the demand for it as an alternative, this could be of massive benefit in the super-cheap end of the market, not to mention the power user segment.

Discuss in the forums!

Dell caught the attention of many with it's recent announcement for plans to introduces Linux on it's prebuilt systems and notebooks.

However, Dell has now clarified that it would not preload Linux on Dell systems, at least for now.

Although Dell is dancing around the idea of reintroducing Linux desktops and notebooks, the computer maker said it won't make a move until one of the competing flavors of Linux emerges as a business favorite. Dell now maintains that it doesn't want to pick one Linux distribution and alienate users with a preference for another. 

Pressure from Microsoft?

Comments. 

As has previously been reported here and elsewhere, ever since Microsoft and Novell signed the patent cross-licensing deal, Microsoft have been making noises that Linux violates Microsoft patents.

Well, now a web site called Show Us The Code have asked Microsoft to do exactly that; in a move reminiscent of the SCO/IBM tussle, Linux advocates have demanded that Microsoft show the patents and infringing code.

Show Us The Code are asking for anyone who has written code for Linux or any company that feels threatened by the possibility of a Microsoft lawsuit of Linux patent violations to support the request that Microsoft disclose the location of any and all Linux code that infringes Microsoft patents, so that Linux programmers can remove the infringing code.

Discuss in the forums!

Netscape 9, a Mozilla based web browser, will be launched for Windows, Linux and OSX operating systems at the same time.  Netscape 8 is Windows only.

Netscape was once the coolest browser to have.  The next installment will be a non-bloated version, without any email client or page editing features.  It will be a free product, but with close association to its mother site netscape.com.

Comment in AOA's community forum.