Dell and Linux FAIL!

by Darren Poulson Linux

Well, my laptop is playing up and getting a bit old so I’m in the market for a new one. I only want to buy one with Linux pre-installed, not for any anti-Microsoft reasons as such but just so that it can be noted that there is a market out there for Linux computers. My current laptop was bought from Dell with Ubuntu installed on it, which has done me well for the last few years, so I decided to give them my repeat business. Checking their Linux website shows no current devices available, so I decided to try and contact them to see if there were any future plans.

First off, when trying to contact Dell for any reason, they don’t supply an email address! I find this most bizarre as I don’t necessarily want to phone, snail mail, or chat online with a sales person. I bit the bullet and went to the online chat to ask the question and here is the conversation:

 

13:46:21 Customer Darren Poulson Initial Question/Comment: Are you going to be offering any more linux (ubuntu) systems? I need a new laptop and would rather buy one linux installed
13:46:51 System System You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
13:46:51 System System Connected with rayees_fatima
13:47:01 Agent rayees_fatima Thank you for contacting Dell Sales Chat. This is Rayees Fatima, your Sales Advisor. Please give me a moment while I review your query. In order to serve you better, may I have your telephone number&email address, just in case of disconnection I can either call you or email you back. My email address XXXXXXX@dell.com and direct dial number XXXXX Ext: XXXXX
13:47:06 Agent rayees_fatima no

So, a one word response from their sales team. I guess they must be very, very busy and don’t have the time to answer properly. Granted, they did actually answer my question, but a two letter answer is rather abrupt.

Needless to say, they won’t be getting any repeat business from me, and seeing as I generally get asked for advice on buying laptops and desktops they’re probably going to be loosing a bit more business too. Time to find somewhere else that sells linux laptops!