Dell's Mini 10v netbook that was launched last week has some nice new upgrades, including "wireless improvements" according to Betanews, but one thing that users shouldn't expect is the latest version of Ubuntu, 9.04, or even version 8.10. The netbook is currently being sold running Ubuntu 8.04 standard, but in an email that Dell sent to Betanews, they believed that installing the newest version is not in the best interest of the mainstream users.Dell has stated two main reasons for sticking with the older version. A Dell spokesperson said, "We are trying to stay on a 12-month cadence to keep costs down, and build a stable platform. A mainstream user does not care if it's 8.04 or 8.10 or 9.04 (he/she does not know what those are) -- she just wants it to work right and be stable/safe... most of the Linux enthusiasts would not like to be so far behind, but they are not our primary target audience for the [operating system] image," in the same aforementioned email. To add to this, Dell is still very satisfied with Ubuntu for its netbook platform, and said, "We have offered Ubuntu pre-installed on our consumer systems for two years now, based on customer feedback on Ideastorm. Canonical has been enthusiastic about working with us to deliver a rock-solid Linux experience for the general non-technical community, and we look forward to continuing this dedicated team effort going forward."
Dell ensures that they do their best to keep stability as high as possible in their devices, stating, "In addition to 8.04, we chose to control our updates (via our own update repository -- similar to MS update). We go the extra mile in double qualifying all updates (that one would see in stock 8.10 and 9.04) and only publish those that are rock-stable. We will [put in] select features over the course of the year that make sense for the product, like wireless improvements."
This is all well and good, but what do you think, Neowin? Would you like to see Dell offer the latest version of Ubuntu, or stay a step behind if it means greater stability for the end user?
If the user wants/needs a newer version for any reason, chances are they'll know how to upgrade and sort out issues themselves.
If the user wants/needs a newer version for any reason, chances are they'll know how to upgrade and sort out issues themselves.
Precisely
It sure makes sense to support a stable version and not the "bleeding edge" (by ubuntu standards).
Ok, I'll look at both of them
I'd imagine a lot of people would do that with a new Windows machine too — I certainly don't want all the crappy software from the OEM, I want a nice clean system
I'd imagine a lot of people would do that with a new Windows machine too ? I certainly don't want all the crappy software from the OEM, I want a nice clean system
+1 lol
Each Ubuntu release I have installed has been very stable, and an improvement over the prior version.
Each Ubuntu release I have installed has been very stable, and an improvement over the prior version.
I believe that LTS versions are every 3 releases. You asked for a year, they deliver a year and a half. Not much of a difference.
+1
+2
At least they're have two years worth of stable API/ABI.
Economics 101
Economics 101
Make something difficult to find or obtain, people don't buy it.
Common Sense 101.
While I detect a certain amount of sarcasm as most new users wouldn't know how to install an OS, especially Linux, most people who'd actually order a laptop with Linux installed are knowledgeable enough to do so themselves.
Meh. You could use the same sarcasm about Windows or OS X. The thing is that Ubuntu use shorter release cycles, but this LTS version is more comparable to those, using two year cycles, and maturing more over time, so it makes complete sense Dell is doing like this as an OEM with their users potentially sitting with the shipping OS for a long time.
As for that argument, I think it's easier to upgrade Ubuntu online via a GUI than going to a store, informing yourself about the edition differences and what you want, and purchasing a retail CD.
Not everyone who order a laptop with Linux knows how to install it. Some order Linux because their friends told them that it's cool to have Linux. Take Mac for an example.
+1, Not anyone can install linux, some PCs just come with it
(and the salespersons tell the user it works exactly like Win, because they just want to sell so they can clear the stock. And they're right, in some way, it's just like Windows.)
Prefer greater stability for the customers. That should come first, even if there are improvements in newer versions.
I think Dell is trying to make people get a hold on Ubuntu and not start releasing new netbooks with every new Ubuntu releases.
Sure, it won't be a problem if they keep shipping new versions, and their users keep upgrading, but the problem for Dell is that they won't necessarily do the latter thing there and perhaps just sit there with their shipping versions. Then it's good to use the LTS version.
Everybody else will just want Windows anyway.
Forgive me as I've yet to play around with Netbook Remix, Dell customized or otherwise, but my understanding was that it was just as easy to customize and tear wide open as every other flavor of Ubuntu despite the usual lack of an optical drive.
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