DELL offering Hardy Heron with their Systems?

BSD- good question.

No it won't effect MS or Apple.

They probably welcome it, thinking it'll be another future convert for them when they hafta use the Com-line. I do see it as a positive sign that vendors are willing to ease some dedicated machines into the mix. I think that says as much about the recent developments and growth of Linux than anything else. People do see it as an alternative, and actually now know that it exists outside of the laboratory. Linus does have some growing to do. MS and Macs are not sitting still.

It is unlikely that the inclusion of Ubuntu in the mix will make any difference overall, however this does indicate that Ubuntu has gained respect as a alternative platform. DELL responded to what the people wanted having carried out a survey and for that they should be applauded.

Now on to Linux in general in its various guises it is obvious it will never be able to put a fight with Windows it is more likely many Windows users will start to consider a Dual Boot scenario, something that is already becoming apparent with Ubuntu's Wubi installer http://wubi-installer.org/ which does not interfere with the Windows Bootloader, if this could be applied to more distros. then the popularity of Linux I believe would really open up. For many people they fear Linux and the message has not got through to them on how easy it is to use these days.

Now on Linux and MAC. Here there is a possibility in the future they could be in real competition with Linux, not yet but maybe at the rate things are improving I would say around 10years, with the likes of OpenSUSE and Sabayon beginning to offer a Linux option to the discerning.

My conclusion.

The MAC options would be OpenSUSE or Sabayon

The Windows options would be Ubuntu, Mint ,Mandriva etc. etc. etc.

LUg.

EDIT :

To phoenix

You are quite correct that Wubi is not intended for a full installation but the point I was making is Wubi for many people will be more than adequate as it offers around 80-85% functionality of a full installation. If the likes of Wubi could be applied to other distros. it would give more people to get somewhere close to the full experience, without being somewhat limited to running Ubuntu, so more distros. please as choice is what Linux is all about. As you know there are massive limitations on LiveCD's and Virtual Machines.

LUg.

No, it won't affect them at all.

In case u didn't know, that linux laptops other than the Eee PC r actually making a loss and r more expensive than others with Windows on them.

Those laptops according to what I have heard in a linux forum don't even have working power management sometimes which defeats the purpose of pre installing or even if it does work an ubuntu kernel update breaks it.

Even Lenovo and Dell both, though they do offer linux, they don't really concentrate on it at all.

EDIT

My opinion is flawed, I am sorry I forgot to mention one of my friends bought it when I suggested him to and thats when I found out, later on he sold it and got a Mac.

Dell couldn't care less about Ubuntu, they know that a regular consumer won't buy it.

Think about it, why should I buy a laptop thats more expensive then the windows version, in some cases has less powerful hardware and is more expensive, an update could break it, it looks ugly, and lets not forget the fact there is no special app on linux I can't get on lets say Mac OS X.

Why not just buy a Mac? Linux is free, I can get it whenever I want, thats what a regular consumer would think, simple as that, thats what all my friends think and even adults and people older then me have the same opinion when I explain to them about ubuntu.

Why pay a huge price for something like ubuntu, when with a few extra amount of cash I could get a Macbook?

EDIT 2

There is no reason for me to buy an expensive linux laptop if it has no special apps and is in the same price range as a Macbook.

EDIT 3

To Linux Ubuntu geek, I agree Wubi is nice but the people who developed wubi for ubuntu and even people on the ubuntu forums will tell u this if u don't believe me that wubi isn't for normal use.

Its just a preview for new users to see if they like it and if their hardware is supported. It doesn't offer power management, or performance a proper install gives and u can check that out by playing a high performance 3d game.

Wubi also prevents u to learn the installation procedure, its just to get an idea of the OS and nothing else.

EDIT 4:

Here is another reason a normal person won't buy linux, ease of use and codecs.

You can easily connect lets say an xbox controller to windows or OS X, but on linux is horribly difficult to setup.

Now codecs, in USA for example many codecs r illegal though not everyone cares but still, now Bluray is coming out and all commercial OS's will get support to play encrypted bluray movies, linux users will have to wait a very long time if they r even able to play encrypted bluray movies legally.

I have no doubt that it is a positive move, helping users to find Linux as they start out in computing or to buy a computer without an unwanted OS on it. However, this in itself seems unlikely to effect anything much.

It is still up to the GNU/Linux community to spread understanding of, appreciation and, as a result, desire for GNU/Linux. The budget does not exist for the kind of advertising that Microsoft and Apple can produce, so it's up to the user base, the community, to make up the difference.

In any case I'm pleased to see Dell, a fairly big player in desktop computing, offering this choice to their customers.

I used Ubuntu for 6 months, it has everything you would ever need. Half the fun is downloading the open source programs. I found it made the internet much faster, far more user friendly then windows, extremely stable, and I suggest you check this out

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7QyyC4LRoYI

That is what it can do, better than Apple and Vista combined! (Granted it takes a little work!)

As great as Hardy Heron looks, it still lacks actual programs. I'm all for open-source, but stuff like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, etc. just work better. It also lacks programs needed for jobs, schools, etc.

I'd prefer manufacuters to throw in a free Ubuntu disk. Just for consideration.

It won't affect Microsoft nor Apple. Both offer more convenient and easy-to-use operating systems. Hardy Heron is good for an enthusiast looking for a break. No novice computer user would go installing, or knowing about it.