Hey Greg Davis. You’ve just been named Dell’s (DELL) global channel chief -- in charge of the PC giant’s worldwide partner strategy. What are you going to do to help bolster Dell's profits? Here’s one suggestion: Offer some Ubuntu Linux PCs to Dell's global partner base. Here’s why.

Dell plans on expanding the reach of its factory-installed Linux PCs to include small and midsize businesses and Europe, Michael Dell, the company's founder and CEO, said at a July 10 event in New York.

There's been no major improvements in Dell's Linux software support, but there have been small, but handy, improvements in Dell's support offerings. For Dell Ubuntu laptop users, an important addition is the availability of the Conexant modem driver for the Inspiron E1505n and 1420n.

In an effort to expand its Linux offerings, Dell is researching new netbook-type devices and will soon offer netbook Linux OS upgrades, a company official said on Wednesday. The company is researching the possibility of offering new Linux-based mobile devices called smartbooks, said Todd Finch, senior product marketing manager for Linux clients, at the OpenSourceWorld conference in San Francisco.

The biggest obstacle Linux faces in winning new users is the install process. Aside from specialty resellers like system76, personal computers preloaded with Linux are virtually non-existent. Or was, at least: Dell now offers Ubuntu on both desktops and laptops (www.dell.com/open).

Dell has been somewhat slow in adopt new versions of Ubuntu. Currently, most of Dell's Ubuntu computers offer 8.04, which was the last long term support release. Dell has changed their minds, though, at least for netbooks, which will soon offer 9.04, the latest release.

Dell's efforts to reinvent itself this year through a dramatic break from its direct-sales model, expanded services and new enterprise offerings have shown positive early results, but some users have lingering concerns about the company's supply-chain management and support.

As Dell Inc. approaches its one-year anniversary of selling laptop and desktop computers preloaded with Ubuntu Linux, the company is continuing to expand the fledgling program to new computer models and markets.

I called the Home office department. I asked the representative if I could buy one of the ubuntu computers for my company. She said (and I quote), "these Dell computers are designed for personal use only, as long as you use it for personal use, you can purchase one."