Dell announces Linux-run desktops

Open source operating system (OS), Linux, took a step on to the corporate desktop with news that Dell in the US is offering the free software on its Dimension desktops from October, and on Inspiron laptops by the end of the year.

The decision marks the first big step away from the server and high-end workstation market for the Linux OS.

Steve Smith, alliances manager for workstations for EMEA at Dell, said :"This week in Europe we are shipping two Poweredge server models, two desktop models from the Precision range and the GX1 workstation, but that's all for the moment."

Smith said there had been tremendous interest in the server products and for workstations, but not a great demand for desktop machines. He added that customers are prepared to pay exactly the same price for a Linux model as for a Windows one because they get more support - from both Red Hat and Linuxcare.

Phil Blades, head of technology for the telecommunications, media and utility division at Cap Gemini, said: "Choice on the desktop has been missing for some time - it is good to see extra flexibility being offered to people. But the problem is support. Unix and PC support usually keep very separate within a company."

Blades added that without such support it was unlikely corporates would move in numbers to the platform and Linux-run systems would remain popular with "the technologically well-endowed subset".