One of the complaints lodged against Linux systems is that they update too frequently. Die-hard Linux users compulsively update their systems, always running the latest bleeding edge version of the kernel or various applications. At least, that’s the impression that many non-Linux users have about die-hard Linux users. Dell, who have been offering Linux on some laptops for two years now, have recently made it known that they won’t be updating to the latest and greatest version of Ubuntu any time soon.
Dell offers Ubuntu 8.04 on the systems it sells. That version is now a year old, and two subsequent releases have hit the streets, each offering significant improvements in terms of system updates. Important security fixes are released for the older 8.04 version, but new features and system updates are not.
The gang at BetaNews got ahold of a Dell spokesperson for some info on this:
“We are trying to stay on a 12-month cadence to keep costs down, and build a stable platform,” a Dell spokesperson said in an e-mail to Betanews late last night. “A mainstream user does not care if it’s [Ubuntu Linux] 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 (i.e., 8.04 vs. 9.04), but they are not our primary target audience for the [operating system] image.”
Dell’s doing the right thing: they’re focusing on giving a rock-solid system to the average consumer. Dell gets to minimize the changes between systems, which will reduce their support costs, and users get a system that’s well supported.
It’s a fine line to walk, though, because the newer versions of Ubuntu offer some strong incentives to upgrade. I’ve experienced substantially better startup and shutdown times with Ubuntu 9.04. Newer version of Firefox, OpenOffice, and other applications also mean enhanced functionality.
Dell goes a lot farther than they need to with the way they support Ubuntu:
“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,” according to Dell spokespersons.
By having a Dell-specific repository for software updates, they’re making themselves a one-stop shop for all things Ubuntu on their hardware. The folks who want to explore the wealth of additional free software available to Ubuntu users can add additional repositories, but the average user just looking for a reliable, supported system should be extremely well served by Dell’s repository, and the work they do to make the packages secure and stable.
We talk a lot about “Linux on the Desktop”, and we have no shortage of opinions and ideas on how that’s coming along, and how to make it better. I think Dell’s a good example of how to make Linux on the desktop a success, and I’m looking forward to their continued support.
Scott. Very well written. I agree with you. I bought my wife a Dell mini 9 with Ubuntu 8.04. If it was my laptop, I would run the newest and greatest, but my wife is satisfied with everything the laptop offers now, which is a stable and well run Operating System.
I have no problem with this as long as you have the option to bypass it and be on the “bleeding edge” if you would rather.
I think this makes sense. I can appreciate what Dell is trying to do here. Ubuntu is an entirely new system to most folks and they want to make sure there are no widespread problems that would give Dell or Ubuntu a black eye. Most of us Ubuntu users know that 8.04 is, as they describe, “rock solid”. I am running 9.04 and love it, but it has some issues that sometimes requires the command line or tweaking. You don’t want to put newbies through this.
I also like the idea of Dell repositories. You want to make sure that whatever users install on their machines is optimized for the hardware. It should not break the installed programs. This often happens with updates, especially when there are kernal issues associated with the installation. So keeping everything consistent is a really good idea.
For those of us who want the latest greatest programs, we accept the reality that comes with doing so. We know that we must sometimes tweak and go to the command line to get things working again. For me it’s no big deal, but for my newbie colleague it is. I want him to have a machine that “just works” ! He is not interested in having the latest Amarok or the newest update to Open Office. As long as he can listen to music and be sure his word processor will work all of the time he doesn’t care.
Bravo to Dell, it sounds like they have thought this through and want to do it the right way. More companies need to model this approach as it will go a long way toward making Linux on the desktop a true option for non geeks.
Ubuntu 9.04 is a great point supporting Dell’s position. Jaunty has been a disaster for quite a few configurations. Some users depended on ATI binary drivers for they graphic interfaces. ATI orphaned a great number of their products, some quite recent, by not supporting them with the new version fglr. And the old drivers do not support the new version of X.org included in 9.04. The open-source drivers are not stable or fast enough. Here I am without GoogleEarth and with display freezes couple of times a day. For me, 9.04 it was Ubuntu’s Vista.
But Dell doesn’t have the solution either. In the open source environment, upgrading software often is the rule. Software is improving constantly and there is no financial impediment in moving to the new version. But this is not always possible with an older OS.
It is relevant for every class of user. I will give you an example. Can I get the newest OpenOffice for Dell’s Ubuntu?
yes you can get open office 3.0 for the mini , located at
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ubuntu hardy main
you will also need to load the key of course , apt-get update and when finished it will show updates available, it is a direct auto install ( 19 ) packages and takes a little while to load
Thank you Dell! This is absolutely the thing to do. One of my major issues with Linux is that they update far too often and don’t test enough.
So they will release a shiny new distro with all this new cool shit but when I install it I find out I can’t get to the cool shit because my damn graphics/sound/wifi cards don’t work. Even though they worked perfect in the last version. If Apple or Microsoft did that all hell would break loose.
I appreciate Dell’s reasoning, but when I was running Dell’s Ubuntu I never received a single security update. I find it hard to believe that their version some how magically didn’t need updates that Canonical put out for vanilla Ubuntu.
The commenting filters are too hard… this is Ubuntu LTS and more programs can be found on getdeb.net