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Ubuntu linux available on Dells

silverpig

silverpig

Lifer
Story on /.

linux.dell.com

"Today by 4:00 PM CST Dell will start selling three machines with Ubuntu 7.04 pre-installed. The two desktops (XPS 410n, $899 and Dimension E520n, $599) and the notebook (Inspiron E1505n, $599) will be the first three machines with the popular Linux distribution installed by default. There is little or no price differential between the Linux and Windows models; in fact, the entry level E520 Windows desktop is cheaper. Dell has announced that they will provide hardware support, and they've created a new site devoted to giving further Linux support and updates. At the moment the offer is only available in the US."
 
Oh goody....making an even larger fat wad of cash for not cutting a break (or even adding a markup seemingly on the E520) for open source software *golf clap*
 
niiiice - clearly they are marketing to those who want a laptop WITH linux, and are willing to pay a premium to have it work completely out of the box without excuse. Otherwise, there would be no reason to charge any more than the Windows version.

Eithre way, its progress 😉
 
The WoW finnaly starts here !!! 😀

In the future, if they sell Workstations with 2 Xeon 7350 and Ubuntu Linux, 8800GTX anjd 8GB of Ram, here I go ... 😀
 
Is demand really that high? I mean, most people haven't even heard of Linux, I can't imagine a substantial number of people wanting to buy a computer without Windows or OSX on it. Sounds like Dell is getting a little desperate.
 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Sounds like Dell is getting a little desperate.
Click to expand...
Why?

At least these days they are offering a choice of cpu and OS which is something I never thought they would.
 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Sounds like Dell is getting a little desperate.
Click to expand...

There was demand for it, and they acknowledged it. Desperate? Not likely. They don't need Linux to continue to make money.
 
Originally posted by: Alone
There was demand for it, and they acknowledged it. Desperate? Not likely. They don't need Linux to continue to make money.
Click to expand...
Is there real demand though? I know that all of the Slashdotters got together and asked Dell for Linux on their desktops. However, I'm not so sure that the average computer buyer would choose Linux over Windows. I just don't see it. What can they do on Linux that they can't do on Windows (that they would want to do)? If someone really had a need or desire for the features that Linux offers, why would they need to buy it preinstalled?

Also, Dell has decided to start selling computers in retail stores, and that makes me think that something is up.

 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Alone
There was demand for it, and they acknowledged it. Desperate? Not likely. They don't need Linux to continue to make money.
Click to expand...
Is there real demand though? I know that all of the Slashdotters got together and asked Dell for Linux on their desktops. However, I'm not so sure that the average computer buyer would choose Linux over Windows. I just don't see it. What can they do on Linux that they can't do on Windows (that they would want to do)? If someone really had a need or desire for the features that Linux offers, why would they need to buy it preinstalled?

Also, Dell has decided to start selling computers in retail stores, and that makes me think that something is up.
Click to expand...

There is interest.
 
Originally posted by: Alone
There is interest.
Click to expand...
Like I said, I know that a bunch of people flooded Dell with requests. It was on Slashdot, and I'm confident that helped increase the number of requests. Slashdot isn't composed of average users though. I'm really skeptical that a large percentage of users are going to suddenly buy these computers.

The Slashdotters might, but they'd have installed Linux on them anyway.

 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Alone
There is interest.
Click to expand...
Like I said, I know that a bunch of people flooded Dell with requests. It was on Slashdot, and I'm confident that helped increase the number of requests. Slashdot isn't composed of average users though. I'm really skeptical that a large percentage of users are going to suddenly buy these computers.

The Slashdotters might, but they'd have installed Linux on them anyway.
Click to expand...

Obviously it's not geared at the average user, it's for those who want Linux. I mean, they realize there's a market for Linux and they're building on it. I still don't see how that makes them desperate.
 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Alone
There was demand for it, and they acknowledged it. Desperate? Not likely. They don't need Linux to continue to make money.
Click to expand...
Is there real demand though? I know that all of the Slashdotters got together and asked Dell for Linux on their desktops. However, I'm not so sure that the average computer buyer would choose Linux over Windows. I just don't see it. What can they do on Linux that they can't do on Windows (that they would want to do)? If someone really had a need or desire for the features that Linux offers, why would they need to buy it preinstalled?
Click to expand...

There has been more then a few multi-million dollar roll-outs of Linux desktops. Sure this doesn't compare to the widespread use of Windows, but when India or whatnot is happy to drop 20 million dollars on some government role out then why not take their money?

I figure a lot of it is for yummy feelings for Linux folks. Linux folks tend to be more IT folks, people just starting out on Linux a few years ago now run IT departments and such things, so they are able to make buying decisions. Linux on the server is now significant portion of the market and if Dell can prove that they can do it all proper-like for a desktop then a server in comparision is cake hardware-wise.

Dell wants that geek 'street cred'.

Also, Dell has decided to start selling computers in retail stores, and that makes me think that something is up.
Click to expand...

That something is the fact that Dell isn't the biggest PC seller anymore. HP has surpassed them. So they are going to start doing different things to try to attract more positive attention and more customers. Obviously their current strategy isn't working out for them.

 
I think this is great because Dell will now be contributing quality drivers to the Linux universe. Plus the prices are great, I checked out the Inspiron and you can do a 2ghz Core 2 Duo for under $1,000 easily with Ubuntu.
 
Does this mean Dell will finally release printer drivers for my Dell color laser printer that only prints in black and white when I am using Ubuntu?
 
Not likely, because it is a lexmark printer that dell rebranded. But they might make future printers more linux friendly.
 
I think this is great because Dell will now be contributing quality drivers to the Linux universe.
Click to expand...

From my experiences with Linux on Dell servers I wouldn't get my hopes up too high about the quality of the contributions for notebooks and desktops.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
I think this is great because Dell will now be contributing quality drivers to the Linux universe.
Click to expand...

From my experiences with Linux on Dell servers I wouldn't get my hopes up too high about the quality of the contributions for notebooks and desktops.
Click to expand...


I have had no problems with linux on dell servers, with the exception of missing qlogic drivers.
 
Originally posted by: Nothinman
I think this is great because Dell will now be contributing quality drivers to the Linux universe.
Click to expand...

From my experiences with Linux on Dell servers I wouldn't get my hopes up too high about the quality of the contributions for notebooks and desktops.
Click to expand...

Pretty much my sentiments.

The thing that Dell would help out is dealing with distribution issues, like backporting newer drivers to older kernels (like with their DKMS stuff)

They would probably be usefull for things like quality assurance testing. Making sure that things like ACPI and video drivers work correctly on newer hardware. Traditionally Linux has been at a severe disadvantage for new hardware support because OEMs only tested Windows and Linux folks couldn't get access to hardware well after the hardware is released by buying it personally.


And the other thing they would be able to do is work with BIOS makers and put pressure on manufacturers.

For example the Dell Ubuntu model for the laptop is 1505n. The 1505 is the Windows model and it comes with ATI graphics, but for the Linux version they have Intel graphics standard and nvidia graphics optional.

If Dell chooses Nvidia or Intel for Linux support on laptops then wouldn't it make sense to have the same video chipsets for the Windows version, too? Why have 2 different variations on the same laptop if they don't have to?

ATI is probably going to be dropped from future Intel-based computers and laptops from Dell because of this.
 
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