For anyone who didn't see the Lifehacker article, here's Mark Shuttleworth's explanation of how come it's so hard to find Ubuntu systems on the Dell UK site...
Lifehacker: It seems that pre-installed Linux computers are gaining momentum. Are there plans for partnering with other major corporations? Mark Shuttleworth: Of course. There are discussions underway which I can’t go into because they’re not ready to be announced. The main thing is to recognize that Linux remains somewhat of a specialist’s option. It is actually quite prevalent amongst the specialist providers. If you talk to any of the major system integrators they will all do Linux deployments for you. Even if you talk to some of the smaller OEMs they will all figure out how to work with you and to work with Linux. Where it has always been blocked is in the large-scale consumer market. I think Dell has been very clever in the way they’ve done it. They’ve figured out how to make Linux available to those consumers who are specifically looking for it without accidentally having folks who don’t know what Linux is (and who don’t really want Linux) accidentally buying those machines. That’s critical to the economic viability of the offering. Full article: http://dailydiy.com/2007/08/30/ubuntu-founder-mark-shuttleworth-on-productivity-and-linux/ Mac -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/