It’s good to see Dell refuting Microsoft’s implications that netbook buyers are returning Linux-based machines in droves, in favour of Windows machines. They do admit that there are returns from people who look at the low price first, without realising that they’re buying a Linux machine – but that’s not the same as claiming that people who have specifically bought Linux machines are dissatisfied and returning them. In fact they state that generally the returns rate on Linux netbooks is about the same as Windows netbooks.

If other manufacturers are seeing higher returns on their Linux netbooks, perhaps it’s partly to do with the rushed and poorly supported Linux distributions they often ship.

It seems that Dell are actually doing quite well with their Linux sales though – otherwise they would have no reason for considering expanding their Linux offerings and finally bringing out an up-to-date version of their Ubuntu distribution.