Tech Shout!

Slowly but gradually Linux is creeping towards Microsoft’s hold on the operating systems market. Now Dell has jumped into the Linux fray as last week it launched an online survey website, which Dell hopes will help decide what versions of Linux it ultimately might load in its desktop and notebook computers.

Jeremy Bolen, spokesperson for Dell said, “There are literally hundreds of distributions we could support. There isn’t a de facto standard or two in the market. What we are hoping to find in the data is some of those comprehensible preferences so we can reach the significant mass of the market with the features, products and avenues of support they want.”

The big challenge for Dell will be to sell these Linux-loaded PCs and notebooks at a profit. However, there are many other computer makers, though not on a large scale, have adapted Linux and made profits out of it. The advantage with Linux is that compared to Windows, there are less license hassles as well as the open source operating system is very cheap.

Not just Linux, open source software is picking up fast all over the world. Mozilla Firefox is a great example that consumers are accepting open source products. Even when it comes to servers, Linux-based servers are preferred to Microsoft’s Exchange. Dell must have surely noticed that. Game developers too are coming out with games that run on the Linux operating system. A huge chunk of Dell’s profits come from gaming PCs it sells.

One more advantage with Linux is the languages. Many flavors of Linux operating system have non-English versions. Not only European languages, but also Asian languages like Mandarin and Hindi are available in the market. Like other tech companies, Dell will be aiming to make it big in the developing markets like China and India.

Click here to head to the Dell Linux Survey webpage. The survey will be open from March 13-March 23. The survey will surely make it clear to Dell, as Linux is available in many flavors and different kinds of consumers prefer different versions.