Dell denies Linux installation

A PC dealer in Europe has begun selling Dell desktops equipped with Linux, but Dell emphasised that the systems were customised by the dealer and that this isn't the first time this has happened.

Questar, an Italian-based computer seller, has begun to ship Optiplex business desktops loaded with Linspire 4.5, a version of Linux, and a copy of OpenOffice, an open-source alternative to Microsoft's Office software package. The basic Questar computer, with a 2.4GHz Celeron processor, sells for about €560.

Dell spokesman Jeremy Bolen acknowledged that Questar is selling Dell PCs with Linux, but noted Dell's dealers are allowed to customise their machines. Although Dell mostly sells its PCs directly to customers, the Texas-based PC giant has an army of integrators and resellers that sell its machines.

Bolen added that this isn't the first time Dell PCs have come with Linux and that Dell isn't itself selling the machines, an inaccuracy that appeared in several news reports and seems to have come from language in Questar's press release.

Dell will honour the warranties on the hardware but will not provide service and support for any issues with the software. "It is not Dell factory installed," Bolen explained.

Michael Kanellos writes for News.com