Dell has accused Microsoft of spreading rumours about the return rates of Linux-based netbooks.

Speaking at this year's OpenSource World conference, senior product marketing manager at Dell, Todd Finch said that there is no evidence that netbooks with Linux on them – instead of Windows XP – have a higher return rate, according to CRN US.

Finch said that Microsoft's suggestion that users are returning Linux netbooks because of lack of compatibility is a 'myth'. He said that Dell's figures showed that returns of Linux-based netbooks are a 'non-issue'.