You have probably learned it by now, from various web sites such as <a title="Slashdot - Pre-Installed Linux Tops Dell Customer Requests" target="_blank" href="http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/19/2212213">slashdot</a>, <a title="Computer World - Hey dude, you're getting Linux on that Dell" target="_blank" href="http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9 You have probably heard by now, from various web sites such as slashdot, Computer World, OS news, and also right here at Info World, that Dell is contemplating the possibility of selling machines pre-loaded with the Linux operating system. This started with Dell’s Idea Storm web site, which is a community discussion style web site where users can provide feedback and discuss ideas. Looks like Dell is listening.The users are not asking for a commercial version of Linux either (since Dell already offers Red Hat Enterprise and SUSE Enterprise on selected machines), people are specifically asking for three free distributions: Ubuntu, Fedora, and OpenSUSE. The second item on the Idea Storm list is Pre-Installed OpenOffice / alternative to MS Works & MS Office.Further down the list are: Have “Firefox pre-installed as the default browser”, “No OS Preloaded”, and “No Windows Option”. Looks like Dell customers want choices other than the standard Microsoft solutions, but can Dell deliver? The idea of Dell selling machines pre-loaded with Linux is not all that new or shocking. After all, Dell is already doing this in China with Red Flag Linux. In fact, Dell has offered Linux as early as 1998, but eventually quietly dumped it in 2001. And let’s not forget that Microsoft probably won’t just sit still… This love affair between Dell and Linux, will it last this time around?Update Mar 1, 2007 Well, it looks like we will have to wait a while. Dell announced that it is not planning to sell systems pre-loaded with Linux in the near future. Josh Kuo Co-Owner of q!Bang Solutions Feb 26, 2007 Technology Industry