HP To Sell PCs With Mandrake 9.1 338
theoddball writes "HP just announced a new PC model (HP Compaq d220) that's available preloaded with Windows or Mandrake 9.1. The machine appears to be targeted to business users, although it's on the lower-end of the scale - specs are here. Mandrake also has a press release announcing the deal, which will grow to include four other HP models. Is this a sign that top tier manufacturers are taking Linux more seriously, or at least seeing a profitable niche?" We commented on MandrakeSoft's status update yesterday.
ipaqs (Score:5, Interesting)
Hopefully (Score:2, Interesting)
Price is the same, no matter what the OS is? (Score:4, Interesting)
operating systems included: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional; Microsoft® Windows® XP Home or Mandrake Linux 9.1.
Interestingly enough, there is no mention whatsoever about the difference in price depending upon the OS. If I were someone who hasn't heard of Mandrake Linux, why would I bother selecting it if I am getting a MS OS (something that I am much more familiar with) for the same price? Where is the incentive for me to buy a system with Mandrake installed on it?
From a business perspective IMO, paying for something unkown would be a no-no. One might consider taking a RISK if one buys something unfamiliar at a lower price with some extra incentives thrown in. Include Mandrake's documentation in HARD COPY; free training courses for employees, etc???
It's about damn time (Score:5, Interesting)
Mixed Environments? Nice. (Score:3, Interesting)
Emphasis mine. Isn't HP like in the top 3 PC sellers in the USA? And HP puts out a press release to businesses that pretty much makes it seem like OS's other than Windows in businesses are becoming pretty damn common.
I tell most my friends around me not to buy MS stock. Because once they lose their enormous marketshare, like dominos they'll lose their monopoly. HP just reinforced my belief that I'll get to see this happen within 5 years, easy.
Good luck to multiple OS's on computers! Go Apple! Go beOS!
Re:Desktop vs. Office/desktop? (Score:4, Interesting)
That and the prediction that Linux will surpass Apple in desktop usage next year.
I have lots of friends that I met from other completely non-tech message boards that I participate on. In the chat rooms I've been asked on many occasion by these people about switching to Linux which has always surprised me because I've never mentioned it to anyone. They know that I work professionally as a computer programmer and that's about it.
A few years ago I used to pitch Linux to everyone who didn't care. I stopped for just that reason... no one cared. Now I find those same people are starting to care. Why? Because they hear about it from companies like Wallmart, HP, Dell etc. so now all of a sudden it must mean something.
This is exciting news ineed.
- Garett
The Microsoft tax (Score:5, Interesting)
Gimme notebooks first ! (RE: ipaqs) (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:For about 5 minutes.... (Score:3, Interesting)
Desktops perhaps, but they still sell "workstations" loaded with RedHat Linux. What's more, on one system I tried configuring, the price dropped a massive $23 when I selected RedHat Linux instead of XP.
What happened to HP an Debian? (Score:2, Interesting)
trademarks (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Good. Distro variety. (Score:2, Interesting)
Mandrake aims to be roughly binary compatible with Red Hat.
Laptops and mandatory M$ payment? (Score:3, Interesting)
Since M$ forced Dell to stop shipping laptops without Windows it's been practically impossible to buy a quality laptop without the M$ fee. Even IBM, with all it's pro-linux steps it has taken recently, ain't selling a laptop without Windows.
And does someone know wether it's the manufacturers that are in league with M$ or the retailers or perhaps both?
Mandrake's hardware compatibility (Score:2, Interesting)