Dell Preloads Ubuntu Linux in Europe, Offers SUSE Linux Desktop in China

Dell has begin shipping Ubuntu Linux preloaded on consumer PCs and notebooks in Europe and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 on business PCs in China.

Dell CTO Kevin Kettler announced the news during his keynote at LinuxWorld 2007, claiming such efforts will expand adoption of Linux on the desktop worldwide. 

The CTO displayed a photo of founder and chief executive officer Michael Dell using Ubuntu Linux on his home machine and hinted that many employees have begun to drink the Kool-Aid. The Round Rock, Texas PC maker is now piloting Linux as a Dell corporate desktop image, he said. 

Dell announced in May that it would ship Ubuntu Linux preloaded on consumer PCs in the U.S. market. Expanding the Dell-Ubuntu deal outside the U.S. is a big step, Kettler said. 

 "We're making available the Ubuntu Linux distribution in the EMEA region, and available in  three countries -- the U.K, Germany and France -- on Inspiron notebooks and Inspiron desktops to start off and well continue to evaluate."

Dell also announced plans to offer Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 factory installed on select notebooks and desktops in China.  Dell currently preloads Red Flag Linux in the Chinese market and will add SLED 10 the mix. Details will follow soon, Kettler said.

Kettler presented his keynote on a Dell XPS laptop running Windows Vista, Ubuntu Linux and VMware Player and advised attendees to use virtualization offerings to sell desktop Linux to skeptical CIOs who choose not to run Linux on the corporate desktop.