CNET News.com: Dell sells laptops with Linux

“Dell now has begun selling two models of its laptops with Linux
preinstalled… The products, the Latitude CPX and the Inspiron
7500, come with Red Hat Linux 6.1 and are certified by
Linuxcare, a representative said. The Inspirons with Linux are
available now, but the Latitudes will be available Feb. 4,
according to a company spokesman. The move has been expected since
last August.

The CPX is the top-of-the-line model of Dell’s Latitude line,
slimmer and more expensive than the Inspirons, which are designed
to be more like replacements for desktop computers. The price for
the Linux models is the same as for the Windows 98 models, the
representative said.

Dell has been selling servers, workstations and business
desktops with Linux preinstalled. All major hardware companies
offer servers guaranteed to work with Linux, a clone of the
network-friendly Unix operating system, but comparatively few have
been offering Linux for laptops. One hurdle: Laptops often come
with proprietary hardware that’s more difficult for Linux
programmers to support, though informal sites such as Linux on
Laptops offer extensive help.”

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