To: store@mailserve.us.dell.com
Subject: Open Letter Re: Linux on Dell Hardware
Date: Sat, 09 May 1998 03:38:17 -0700
From: Jim Dennis <jimd@starshine.org>


 To: Mr. Michael Dell, CEO, Dell Computers
 cc: T.R. Reid
 Re: Linux on Dell Hardware

 Dear Mr. Dell,

 Please forward this to members of your marketing staff.

 It is with great disappointment that I read comments by one
 of your representatives, a Mr. T. R. Reid to the effect that 
 "none of Dell's customers" use Linux (*).  

 This is patently untrue.  I have personally administered a number of
 Linux servers that were running on Dell Dimension desktops.  I have
 also often recommended them to my clients, despite the fact that your
 company offers no option to unbundle software from the system (software
 which is utterly useless for my applications).

 Obviously my advice was misguided.  I clearly have failed in my
 duty, as a consumer, to provide you with proper feedback --- and this
 as resulted in a gross display of ignorance regarding the needs and 
 preferences of your customers (at least the ones I represent).

 Forthwith I'm retracting all recommendation of your products from 
 all Starshine's customers where the intent is to use the system 
 under Linux.  I maintain a list of smaller hardware companies
 which do provide Linux, FreeBSD, and other alternatives to meet
 the needs of their customers.  
 
 I'll be recommending VAResearch, PromoX, Telenet, SWT, Apache 
 Systems, Microway, and many others until you offer your customers
 a choice in the software that's bundled with your systems.  I 
 personally consider it a pity since your hardware has never required
 any special tweaks or considerations to run with any distribution 
 of Linux or FreeBSD that I've ever installed on it.

 This will be posted to a few Linux and FreeBSD venues as an open
 letter so that you can be provided with *honest* feedback from
 real customers.  Hopefully with the co-operation from other
 interested parties we can overcome this regrettable failure in
 communication.  You're comments have underscored the need for
 consumers every where to make their requirements and preferences
 known --- and we must no longer simply accept the "extra" 
 and unwanted components that our vendors foist on us. 

 It is time to just say "No!" to software that we'll simply be
 replacing.

 Thank you for your attention to this matter.  My apologies for
 not providing this feedback sooner. 

 (*) The precise quote was:

	"I haven't been able to find any examples of customers 
	requesting Linux"

	... and it can be read at:

	http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/content/inwo/0427/310649.html
 
--
Jim Dennis  (800) 938-4078		consulting@starshine.org
Proprietor, Starshine Technical Services:  http://www.starshine.org
        PGP  1024/2ABF03B1 Jim Dennis <jim@starshine.org>
        Key fingerprint =  2524E3FEF0922A84  A27BDEDB38EBB95A