We’ve been hearing that the number of people returning Netbooks powered with Linux operating systems is greater than the number of returns of Windows powered Netbooks, a story which seems to have started when MSI said as much.
Now a Dell executive refutes this and claims the whole Linux returns debate is a “non issue”.
Dell’s Senior Product Marketing Manager Todd Finch appears to be responding to a claim by Microsoft’s Kevin Turner that the returns are much higher for Linux based Netbooks.
Turner delivered a speech at Microsoft’s annual financial analysts’ meeting in which he said that retailers selling Linux computers were seeing returns around four or even five times higher than windows returns.
Turner spoke about the success Microsoft have had with getting retailers to upsell from Windows XP to Windows 7, and why they are having so much success?
“The reason we were able to make so much traction on this particular space is because we went to retailers and said, ‘Hey, what are your return rates on these Linux netbooks that you are getting?’ And they said, “Oh, gosh, they’re, like, four or five times higher than what we’re seeing on other PCs that have Windows,’” related Turner. “I challenge you to find a retailer who wants to sell Linux on these netbooks, because the returns are bad.”
Speaking at OpenSource World, Finch claimed this whole debate about Linux returns was a “non issue” according to a report written by Gavin Clarke in The Register which outlines the whole story.
Finch apparently said that the number of machines returned with Linux operating systems was about the same number returned with Windows operating systems and that Microsoft were “making something of nothing”.
“We are not seeing any technical reasons for why they are returning Linux machines so…we don’t see a significant difference between the return rate for Windows versus the rate for Linux. We’ve been quite pleased with the stability and technical soundness of the Linux machines” says Finch.
Apparently when Linux Netbooks were returned it wasn’t because of any technical problems with the Netbooks it was simply because customers had bought a low cost device and when they got it home they opened it expecting to find Windows but instead they saw a different interface.
“Now we are trying to be a little more explicit in our advertising,” Finch said.
Can’t wait to see what happens when Google’s Chrome OS joins the fray.
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Yes i have too heard many cases where people are not returning the note books that are being powered by Linux, whereas the use of notebooks powered by Windows in increasing tremendously. I think there my be some technical faults in Linux and it might be a bit slow. Lets see if the Linux owners can find out if there is any problem.