Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 13th Nov 2006 20:56 UTC, submitted by D.C. Parris
Linux "A few months back, LXer reader, cyber_rigger, began compiling a list of vendors who offer GNU/Linux pre-installed. The list quickly grew, even drawing attention from other news outlets. Meanwhile, the LXer team went to work to produce a usable database that anyone can browse and search. We still have one or two features to implement, but users can quickly and easily browse the Pre-Installed Linux Vendor Database of 106 vendors. All vendors in the list offer reasonably-priced desktops and/or notebooks for home and office users, and either offer Linux only, or as an installation option on the system configuration page of their sites."
Order by: Score:
v No thanks
by ronaldst on Mon 13th Nov 2006 21:31 UTC
RE: No thanks
by r_a_trip on Mon 13th Nov 2006 22:10 UTC in reply to "No thanks"
r_a_trip Member since:
2005-07-06

I prefer Windows.

Just because you prefer Windows, it should be the only preinstalled option for everybody else?

v RE[2]: No thanks
by CuriosityKills on Mon 13th Nov 2006 22:45 UTC in reply to "RE: No thanks"
v RE[3]: No thanks
by ronaldst on Mon 13th Nov 2006 22:52 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: No thanks"
RE[4]: No thanks
by anda_skoa on Mon 13th Nov 2006 23:18 UTC in reply to "RE[3]: No thanks"
anda_skoa Member since:
2005-07-07

Actually I did it on purpose to prove a point. I am glad I succeded. ;)

You are purposfully posting offtopic for being modded down?

Wouldn't it be better to just skip discussions of articles you are not interested in?

RE[4]: No thanks
by DigitalAxis on Tue 14th Nov 2006 02:47 UTC in reply to "RE[3]: No thanks"
DigitalAxis Member since:
2005-08-28

So you admit the purpose of your post was not only irrelevant to the story and off-topic, but purposefully trying to stir up the ardor of the thin-skinned?

No wonder you got modded down.

v RE[2]: No thanks
by CuriosityKills on Mon 13th Nov 2006 22:51 UTC in reply to "RE: No thanks"
RE[2]: No thanks
by tomcat on Tue 14th Nov 2006 18:24 UTC in reply to "RE: No thanks"
tomcat Member since:
2006-01-06

Just because you prefer Windows, it should be the only preinstalled option for everybody else?

He didn't say that. He was talking about his own personal needs, not yours. What you need is your own business.

Great First Step
by Jon Dough on Mon 13th Nov 2006 21:31 UTC
Jon Dough
Member since:
2005-11-30

Now all we gotta do is get these into the big box retailers so people can play with the display models. Once they see how superior GNU/Linux is to any version of Microsoft Windows and OS-X, they'll fly off the shelves!

RE: Great First Step
by Tom K on Tue 14th Nov 2006 18:39 UTC in reply to "Great First Step"
Tom K Member since:
2005-07-06

Earth calling Jon Dough.

Name one way in which the average user will find GNU/Linux superior to Windows ... let alone OS X.

RE[2]: Great First Step
by Moulinneuf on Tue 14th Nov 2006 21:57 UTC in reply to "RE: Great First Step"
Moulinneuf Member since:
2005-07-06
RE[3]: Great First Step
by Tom K on Tue 14th Nov 2006 23:37 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: Great First Step"
Tom K Member since:
2005-07-06

Ahhh yes, experimental software that provides you with useless effects.

I'm sure people will fall head over heels for that, when given the choice between it, OS X, and Vista.

RE[4]: Great First Step
by Moulinneuf on Wed 15th Nov 2006 00:57 UTC in reply to "RE[3]: Great First Step"
Moulinneuf Member since:
2005-07-06

I am glad that you agree , its a nice change from your usual self.

You know what would be impressive , you actually formulating a clear and precise demand for something that would impress you for real , who know's you might just get it.

SWTechnology
by jack_perry on Mon 13th Nov 2006 21:31 UTC
jack_perry
Member since:
2005-07-06

Awesome list. The workstation in my office is a SWTechnology machine, so it's good to see them get some credit.

HP and Acer..
by joeprusa on Mon 13th Nov 2006 21:38 UTC
joeprusa
Member since:
2006-05-25

...should qualify, at least here, in the Czech Republic. They offer boxes with FreeDOS and Linux, respectively. In other words - no OS at all, since these do not get installed and you certainly get no support whatsoever for the OS.
Does anybody know if they offer anything like that anywhere else?

Linux Certified
by Ronald Vos on Tue 14th Nov 2006 00:03 UTC
Ronald Vos
Member since:
2005-07-06

Linux Certified is in that list. But they're NOT reasonably prices imho ;)

What a wonderful idea
by Sphinx on Tue 14th Nov 2006 00:50 UTC
Sphinx
Member since:
2005-07-09

and just in time for Christmas too!

Does pre-installed really mean that much?
by fsckit on Tue 14th Nov 2006 01:32 UTC
fsckit
Member since:
2006-09-24

I really don't get why people think there a dire need to have pre-installed Linux boxes. 99% of the people who load up Linux on a box wouldn't stand for someone else loading their OS for them (no matter how OEMs install it, it won't be right).


* And as everyone know all statistics are pulled straight out of someone's anus. That's where my 99% comes from ;) I'm also posting this from an LFS install, so take my opninion for what it's worth.

HappyGod Member since:
2005-10-19

Having someone install it for you is not the problem, most people would be happy to just have a blank box.

The problem is having to pay for Windows when you're not going to use it.

anda_skoa Member since:
2005-07-07

really don't get why people think there a dire need to have pre-installed Linux boxes. 99% of the people who load up Linux on a box wouldn't stand for someone else loading their OS for them

I think there are different target groups.

Those who will do their won customized installation anyway get the advantage of having a fully setup reference installation: which modules are loaded, how xorg.conf looks like, etc

Another group are people who might use custom installations on their own systems but would not midn having a vendor supported version on a second machine in the house or at a relative's place.

Depending on the installed distribution there is another group: people who never do anything else than what they got initially, i.e. do not buy additional hardware or software, more or less use it like a TV set or a type writer.

v Lies Lies Lies!!!
by NotParker on Tue 14th Nov 2006 03:44 UTC
RE: Lies Lies Lies!!!
by stestagg on Tue 14th Nov 2006 03:46 UTC in reply to "Lies Lies Lies!!!"
stestagg Member since:
2006-06-03

This is good. Now that Microsoft have been forced to act competitively, we are finally seeing some progress.

v RE[2]: Lies Lies Lies!!!
by NotParker on Tue 14th Nov 2006 03:49 UTC in reply to "RE: Lies Lies Lies!!!"
RE[3]: Lies Lies Lies!!!
by stestagg on Tue 14th Nov 2006 04:04 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: Lies Lies Lies!!!"
stestagg Member since:
2006-06-03

Cultists believe legislation mandating "open source" (when they mean GPL) is competition.

That is not what I'm talking about. We already know about your OSS fixation. I'm talking about the fact that Microsoft licensing actively prevented ISV/OEMs from selling other operating systems, by

a) Not allowing any dual-boot system (This is why BeOs isn't with us today).
b) Charging OEMs for each processor they sold, NOT each copy of windows.

And you say that closed-source software engenders choice. Ha.

And still ... .4% of sales
How can you measure a free operating system by sales?
There is no way that .4% is accurate. For a start, at least 60% of internet servers (NOT domains) still run linux. Then there are dual-boot machines which make up the majority of Linux installs. The real figure for Linux installs is closer to 4% than .4%. Once systems begin to be sold pre-installed (Not what Dell does) by system vendors, there is a chance that more people might begin appreciate OSS.

The problem is that 90% of users vote with their arses. So all these 'market share' figures mean very little. If Linux came pre-installed on every Machine, and people had to fork-out $250 to install Windows, the scene would be VERY different.

RE[4]: Lies Lies Lies!!!
by NotParker on Tue 14th Nov 2006 04:53 UTC in reply to "RE[3]: Lies Lies Lies!!!"
NotParker Member since:
2006-06-01

I'm talking about the fact that Microsoft licensing actively prevented ISV/OEMs from selling other operating systems

Microsoft has always worried about piracy.

OEMs get a fantastic deal on the OEM copy of Windows, and it would have been very easy to rip Microsoft off by reporting more sales of alternative OS's.

OEM's always had the opportunity to sell a retail copy of Windows with the PC's they were selling.

How can you measure a free operating system by sales?

Actually I was using the .4% showing on web logs and wrongly using the term sales.

.4% is in fact the installed base of Linux.

For a start, at least 60% of internet servers (NOT domains) still run linux.

Actually, the 60% comes from counting PARKED DOMAINS hosted by large hosting companies.

The majority of Fortune 1000 companies use IIS.

If Linux came pre-installed on every Machine, and people had to fork-out $250 to install Windows, the scene would be VERY different.

But they don't have to. The OEM price for Windows is around 40$ on a Dell.

As I've noted, people prefer to pay for pirated cd of Windows than download Linux for free.

As I've said, Gartner found that up to 80% of the PC's with Linux installed have Linux replaced with a pirated version of Windows.

Edited 2006-11-14 04:53

RE[4]: Lies Lies Lies!!!
by Bit_Rapist on Tue 14th Nov 2006 07:06 UTC in reply to "RE[3]: Lies Lies Lies!!!"
Bit_Rapist Member since:
2005-11-13

) Not allowing any dual-boot system (This is why BeOs isn't with us today).

totally off topic here but why do some people think that BeOS was killed by MS?

Heck Apple did plenty of damage to them long before they decided to go x86.

In my opinion the only thing that killed BeOS was an egomaniac at the helm of the company.

- please feel free to mod this down as it truly is off topic!

RE[4]: Lies Lies Lies!!!
by tomcat on Tue 14th Nov 2006 18:28 UTC in reply to "RE[3]: Lies Lies Lies!!!"
tomcat Member since:
2006-01-06

a) Not allowing any dual-boot system (This is why BeOs isn't with us today).
b) Charging OEMs for each processor they sold, NOT each copy of windows.


Aren't you aware how long ago this was the case? (Hint: Nearly a decade). Isn't it time to move on, psychologically speaking?

RE[3]: Lies Lies Lies!!!
by dylansmrjones on Tue 14th Nov 2006 12:13 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: Lies Lies Lies!!!"
dylansmrjones Member since:
2005-10-02

Any evidence for those claims?

No? Thought so....

Cool idea but...
by Bit_Rapist on Tue 14th Nov 2006 07:08 UTC
Bit_Rapist
Member since:
2005-11-13

If I'm going to give pre-installed linux this year I'll probably just build the machine myself for the person.

Not that its a bad idea, linux needs to be on more OEM machines and I know quite a few people who's needs would be met just fine by most any linux distro on the scene.

pre-built
by Darkelve on Tue 14th Nov 2006 07:50 UTC
Darkelve
Member since:
2006-02-06

"If I'm going to give pre-installed linux this year I'll probably just build the machine myself for the person."

You're going to build your own laptop?

RE: pre-built
by dylansmrjones on Tue 14th Nov 2006 12:16 UTC in reply to "pre-built"
dylansmrjones Member since:
2005-10-02

Why not? It's perfectly doable - just like building your own home workstation/server.

RE: pre-built
by Bit_Rapist on Tue 14th Nov 2006 20:16 UTC in reply to "pre-built"
Bit_Rapist Member since:
2005-11-13

You're going to build your own laptop?

WEll no and naturally that would be the exception for me.

I'd still price compatible laptops from all vendors and if I could get a laptop with windows installed and put linux on it after purchase I'd go that route if it were more affordable and offered the features I want.

Just around the corner, but no linux, yet.
by jochem on Tue 14th Nov 2006 08:42 UTC
jochem
Member since:
2006-03-07

I live one block away from one of the shops mentioned here, and yes you can buy an pc without an Os, they have never heard of linux. So i looked at the other stores, wich have more support. Its nice to know that some really make an effort to install it on an pc, and sell it.
I will list two more for the netherlands : http://www.mingos.nl/shop/index.php
and one very odd pc, wich is for people who know nothing about operating systems , http://www.simpc.com/ wich you can buy at dixons, its based on gentoo, but an commercial product.
The thing wich is strange is that the big vendors could , if they wiched to do so, make an list of models and sales points for their products with linux. What is holding these companies back to say, Dell has this notebook, with an Logo on the box : ready for linux! Or any other brand? Hp ; model X label - Ready for linux! There are usb flash drives on the market that already have this on their products : it reads - Support Linux Kernel 2.4.10 or above without device drivers. Thats what i would like to see, Pc , ready for linux , wich means it has fully support for linux, no extra drivers needed, or if needed, supplied on cdrom with the pc. Is it that hard to do? No!

And it shall be done....

good idea but..
by roger64 on Tue 14th Nov 2006 14:01 UTC
roger64
Member since:
2006-08-15

- It's just a beginning. Few shops out of the english-speaking countries > It does not reflect the reality.

- How much do they charge for one entry?

I would feel more confident if it was coming from some central non-profit database. Or is it?

Anyway, a good step is a good step. It will grow.

Nice job that show a Big problem
by Moulinneuf on Tue 14th Nov 2006 22:44 UTC
Moulinneuf
Member since:
2005-07-06

Really nice job from LXER , but It actually highlight the fact that software makers need to go more pro-actively after Hardware vendor 160 + vendor out of hundred of thousands is not a real pretty site.

Not many big brand name either.

Irrelevent
by Angel Blue01 on Wed 15th Nov 2006 00:11 UTC
Angel Blue01
Member since:
2006-11-01

What difference does this list make? These are small manufacterers who are not familiar to buyers, and may not even be closeby.

Unfortunatly.

rklrkl
Member since:
2005-07-06

If I'm not going to buy a big-name OEM brand and go to a whitebox seller, then you really need a configuration tool on the Web site to let you select the specs (CPU, RAM, disk, monitor, OS etc.). Looking at the dozen or so UK retailers on that "pre-installed Linux vendor" list (some of which seemed to only sell Linux CDs/DVDs and not the hardware...ho hum), I only saw *one* that offered an online config tool for a PC:

http://www.goldenelectronics.co.uk/

This is actually pretty nifty - a good range of decent spec models (why do so many vendors who sell pre-installed Linux [or no OS pre-installed] give you a rubbish spec machine on the assumption that if you want Linux, you can't afford good hardware?), the ability to buy the machine without a monitor - are you listening Dell UK? - and a choice between no OS (would be my choice) or pre-installed Windows. Ironically, despite this being clearly the best UK site in the list, the one thing it *doesn't* seem to offer is pre-installed Linux!!