To clarify my previous post, my focus was more in regards to in-warranty hardware replacement support, rather than on-site support service. A mom and pop system builder can take a solid beating dealing with hardware warranty support issues for individual consumer desktop PC's. All those costs often fall on the system builder. Been there, done that. Ouch.
So when recommending Linux on the desktop for home users, acquiring a PC certified for Linux thru Dell or HP could provide some solid advantages, even to those who are in the local "support" business. Regarding "Linux on the desktop" certification and support... Anything that Dell or other PC vendors can do to help simplify supporting "Linux on the desktop" for home users would be a big plus in my book. If the Linux market is to grow, at least in the consumer-end/home-user arena, then the PC hardware vendors will need to step up to the plate. Otherwise Linux on the desktop will remain a grassroots effort, which I am not sure but might be a good thing? However if PC vendors have the courage and do decide take the plunge then the question is, which Linux distros/builds and hardware models (and device drivers) should the various PC vendors support/certify? I'm not sure how the "certification" process works now, or what different levels of certification are now or should be available, but I suspect certification is not a cheap undertaking/proposition. Maybe it is something which only larger enterprises can afford or be willing to pay for? Or is there a level of certification that can be afforded to end-consumers and small-businesses too? With certification I suspect many "partnerships" are to be formed, which will likely result in Linux fragmenting more than it has already. Choice is good, but end-consumers/home-users often don't like an over-abundance of choices. >From an end-users perspective (who enjoys new multi-media devices, including firewire, and who looks forward to wireless USB and 802.11n ) I would prefer if Dell worked to "certify" some of there more recent models from the XPS, Dimension and Inspiron lines. But from a "Linux desktop in the enterprise" perspective, I understand Dell needs to pay the bills why they would focus on the corporate Precision, Optiplex and Latitude lines. I'm hoping they can learn something from the experiment and apply to consumer offerings soon. On the other hand, when supporting small organizations, identical cloned whitebox builds are usually preferable (Linux desktop or otherwise). So I would like to see the PC vendors support a separate "Linux on the whitebox desktop" certified program, offering PC's built around several different Linux distributions. A program catering to small local system builders who focus on providing Linux on the desktop support to small businesses, rather than to individual end-consumers (but could be some overlap). For such a program to be palatable the PC vendors would need to ensure a guaranteed source of readily available replacement hardware components will remain available (for a contracted timeframe) without having to pay an arm and a leg. Otherwise, again what's the point? Instead just build your own and acquire enough backup components for the long haul (and ensure at least one full working backup client box is always on-hand/ready-to-go. And don't get burned...recommend a risk analysis on which server and network hardware replacement components should be kept on-hand, and get those "inventory" decisions signed off by various key managers). ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben Barrett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 3:49 PM Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] Looks like Dell is going to start pre-installing Linux Agreed -- I don't know if what quality of on-site service Dell provides in this area, but I think their coverage plans are pretty cheap actually.... try hiring someone on an hourly basis when you're in a pinch, that nearly spells S-O-L. :) Very few DIYer's, even, do it ALL themselves... ben On 2/26/07, silver <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Yes those are my thoughts also. A whitebox puts the onus of support on me > and only me. I can troubleshoot my own stuff when needed. But when setting > up friends and relatives with Linux on the desktop, the assurance of > knowing > they will have access to hardware support when I am unavailable is what > I'm > after. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michael Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group" <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 2:00 PM > Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] Looks like Dell is going to start pre-installing > Linux > > > Bob, > > Your point is very true. I guess what my point was if you are using > white boxes. An let's say you have a processor, hard drive and or > memory failure. You have to deal with that your self. If you have a > supported system by HP or Dell they send you a new part by way of UPS, > FedEx or USPS. You might even elect to pay for a 8x5 or 24/7 support > contract. That way you have very little down time. Not only that but > you might even get 98.765% or 99.999% uptime. Some business try to, > or want to meet the five nines. > > -Miller > _______________________________________________ > EUGLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > > _______________________________________________ > EUGLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list [email protected] http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list [email protected] http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
