In a worrying story – far more of which is contained in what is not said – the UK division of Dell has pulled its entire range of Ubuntu PC’s from its website and is refusing to say when, or even if they might return.

Dell UK insist they are still offering the option to escape the Windows mind-meld, but you now have to call them direct and place your Ubuntu order that way.

“We’ve recently made an effort to simplify our offerings online by focusing on our most popular bundles, based on customer feedback,” A Dell-UK droid told PC Pro. “We’re also making some changes to our Ubuntu pages, and as a result they are currently available through phone-based sales only.”

It’s ironic to read such a statement from a firm which barely offered a choice. If they had the cajones to properly offer Ubuntu, then they might be believed. One weak netbook and one over-priced laptop do not make a range.

And there are two possible reasons for this indefensible insult:

1] Dell  will claim they were not selling enough Ubuntu-loaded PC’s to be worth making the offer. This excuse can be shredded by the fact that no sane user would buy the underpowered, outmoded models they deigned to offer.

2] Microsoft saw the growing potential of Ubuntu [and Linux in general] to spoil their monopoly and either threatened Dell with cancellation of its place as an MS vendor, or offered indirect ”bribes’ if they came back to heel.

Whichever may be their true motivation – and I suspect both – this is another wound in Dell’s previously strong reputation, and – with the recent farce over faulty graphics cards – could see them relegated to the lower ranks of customer’s choices when they need a machine.

I used to be a disciple for Dell and recommended them highly to people for their reliability and value. I’m now in the market for a newer PC — and I’ll be buying HP.

I suspect many people will make the same choice, and Dell has no-one to blame but themselves. And Microsoft.