Here come the Dell Linux desktops, laptops

How much nag-ware, spy-ware, ad-ware, junk applications, free-trails and offers of all sorts are we going to see on these new Dell machines?

All Dell had to do was make sure there was support in the Linux kernel (with free drivers) for the components they use in their systems (esp. notebooks).

Instead it sounds like they are going to "engineer" a "user experience" similar to Windows.

Well, if the devices are supported, maybe it will be easier to wipe their distro off and install another one.

(edited for spelling & type-os)

When possible, they will use hardware with free drivers. That should mean - just guessing here - that you will be able to buy a laptop with a wireless card that works out of the box, hibernates properly, etc.

I'm sure Dell has a good reason for preferring free drivers - again, just guessing - and that would be because supporting proprietary drivers for Linux would be an expensive nightmare. You should be able to install any distribution you want, including gnewsense, on this line.

Besides, Windows users always want Linux that feels like Windows. Dell crapware should help in that way. It's not spyware, but should be close enough for most Windows users.

The proprietary drivers are often a disaster, which is a good enough reason to avoid them. :) I can't think of any besides binary firmware that are high quality.