Dell Users Demand Linux-Based Laptops

February 23rd, 2007

Dell is weighing a request to give customers the option to purchase PCs with the Linux operating system, instead of the default Microsoft’s Windows, after thousands of users voted for that idea on a company’s new blog called Dell Idea Storm.

“The most popular threads on Wednesday included demands for Linux-based laptops, consumer PCs that are not pre-loaded with unsolicited applications and requests for Sun Microsystems’ OpenOffice applications instead of Microsoft’s Office suite. Popular requests also included a preference for Mozilla Firefox Web browser instead of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, and pleas for Dell to stop routing service calls to operators in overseas countries such as India,” IDG News Service reports.

Dell leaders have heard those ideas “loud and clear,” and plan to post a statement on the blog this week explaining how they will react, Dell spokeswoman Caroline Dietz said on Wednesday.

She warned that the company would judge ideas on more than just their popularity.

“Just because an idea is number one or number two doesn’t necessarily mean Dell will do it, but it does mean it will receive the highest level of attention,” she said.

Dell Idea Storm was launched on February the 16th with aim to collect users’ feedback and improve customer service.