Dell PCs with Ubuntu Are A Little Less Expensive 388
Chandon Seldon writes "Contrary to many earlier reports, it turns out that Dell's prices for its Ubuntu PCs are cheaper than similar Windows Vista PCs for all three Models. Ars Technica reports: 'So it turns out that not including Windows saves the consumer $50 from the regular list price. This amount is not too far off from what a large OEM like Dell would pay for a volume discount for Windows Vista Home Basic (the regular OEM price is about $95). Many value PC sellers try to make up for the cost of a Windows license by bundling demo and trial versions of software such as AOL (affectionately known as "crapware"), for which they receive money from software companies looking to increase their distribution levels. Dell is no exception to this practice, although on their web site it allows customers to select the option of not including various applications.' For direct comparisons, Nat Tuck of Umass-Lowell has put together a simple page showing prices for Ubuntu and Windows-based PCs."
This is well and good but.. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:This is well and good but.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:This is well and good but.. (Score:5, Informative)
Ubuntu == Red-Headed Step Child (Score:5, Informative)
1. There was a page on Dell's site saying displaying photoshopped pc's with a brown ubuntu splash screen, but the link took you to freedos systems. (?)
2. Search the phrase Dell linux and one of the links will take you to PC's with Red Hat.
3. Going through Dell's front door www.dell.com gets you absolutely zero indication they have Linux, much less ubuntu as an option.
I found the link to buy a ubuntu/dell pc in an article. This suggests some combination of typical corporate inertia and maybe, just maybe a Microsoft distribution agreement that discourages alternatives.
Re:Ubuntu == Red-Headed Step Child (Score:5, Informative)
1. There's an "Ubuntu Has Arrived" image that cycles through with the other advertisements on Dell's front page. This takes you to a page where you have the choice to shop for Ubuntu PC's and FreeDOS PC's.
2. The Ubuntu/FreeDOS PC's are not available through the obvious route (ie, by navigating through "Notebooks for Home and Office" -> "Inspiron" -> "Inspiron E1505", for example). There's an entirely separate navigation tree for Ubuntu orders.
3. Fortunately the navigation tree for ordering non-Windows PC's has an easy-to-remember URL:
http://www.dell.com/open [dell.com]
Which is good for spreading the word the old-fashioned way.
Re:Huh? (Score:5, Informative)
FYI: Ubuntu Promo works better in IE (Score:5, Insightful)
If you look at the page source you'll see they have a javascript array of urls, one of which always includes the Ubuntu promo link/image. These arrays are all sent to their 'montage' function which is supposed to cycle through the different promos (open the dell home page in IE and you'll see the desired function in action).
In Firefox 1.5.x for whatever reason (they have too many errors for me to even bother trying to track it down) the page will load the first random image which could possibly be the Ubuntu one. This is why you have to usually reload the page to get it. However, if you have NoScript enabled (or javascript disabled, take your pick) you will never see the Ubuntu promo as you will always get the default image.
So Dell did put an advertisement for Linux on their front page, and if they purposefully targeted anyone it was IE users, the people least likely to be informed about Linux.
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I guess I just didn't find the back page that actually offers Ubuntu.
Re:This is well and good but.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:This is well and good but.. (Score:4, Informative)
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"Not sure Open Source is for You?
The main thing to note is that when you choose open source you don't get a Windows® operating system. If you're here by mistake and you are looking for a Dell PC with Windows, please use the following link."
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Not every computer user is a gamer. In fact, gamers are in the minority.
It's true that computer gaming is one of the few tasks for which Windows is obviously more appropriate than Ubuntu, but that's not enough reason to say that Ubuntu is inappropriate for most people. Ubuntu even works pretty well for the occasional gamer - UT2004 online is a lot of fun.
Re:Next 6 mo prediction for dell call center (Score:4, Insightful)
1. Hey, my windows office that I copied from my buddy doesn't install!
You copied it from your buddy? Must be that DRM copy protection.
Have you ever seen shockwave work anywhere? Have you seen Homestarrunner.com?
It's already installed, but it's called "Rythmbox Music Player" in the menu for some reason.
GIMP is a more advanced version of Photoshop. Don't you hate it how new versions of software change things around?
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Well, people, time to cough up the dough (Score:5, Insightful)
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As someone who prefers Linux (Score:3, Interesting)
As someone who doesn't use Windows: knowing that the hardware works with Linux. Not sending any money to MS is also a plus.
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I'm not buying a laptop until quad-core units roll out.
It's not enough to put Linux on a laptop I don't want and expect me to buy it.
If you want to pay for me to buy a laptop I don't want, though, that would be okay.
Re:Well, people, time to cough up the dough (Score:5, Funny)
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The total bill was $948.
Then it struck me... How am I to connect this box to the Internet? NONE of the offerings included either a NIC or a modem, wireless or phone.
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Re:Well, people, time to cough up the dough (Score:4, Informative)
Every one of the systems includes an integrated NIC. It should show up in the "additional items" section at the bottom.
Re:Well, people, time to cough up the dough (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Well, people, time to cough up the dough (Score:5, Interesting)
Cha, cha, cha. I would have modded this funny. Perhaps this is why Dell has buried these Linux machines on their site. If you know enough use the command line under Linux, you're probably somewhat committed. You'll ask them for it (or just search), and now they will be able to easily provide. To the person who can spell "sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop", Linux has been 'ready for prime time' for a long time now. But perhaps not for the general public who might just pick Ubuntu from a drop down configuration menu because it was the cheaper option, then freak when they got it because it isn't Windows.
Re:Well, people, time to cough up the dough (Score:5, Insightful)
A) Install KDE, or XFCE or IceWM or Enlightenment or whatever or DE/WM you want or
B) Install whichever entire distro you want.
Personally, I like Gnome, after switching to KDE and back a few times... but I know not everyone does, so to each his own. But Gnome is a great place for people who are new to Linux to start. And if you don't like it, this is Free software, on pretty standard PC hardware, which means you can replace it without losing any real value (with Windows if you want to).
Two of the major good things about this product is that a) a major PC company is making Linux available pre-installed for everyone, and b) all the hardware in those machines is guaranteed to work under Linux. Not always with open source drivers, but it will be able to be Linux-compatible. Therefore, anyone who doesn't like the default configuration can install whatever Linux flavor they want, or any other x86 OS, or they can change the default Desktop Environment.
Can we please have people stop complaining because Dell isn't offering a default setup in exactly the l33t configuration you would have set it up on your own?
Comparisons? (Score:5, Interesting)
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The whole Vista interface was sluggish, especially in Media Center. Now, Ubun
oh goody... (Score:2)
no wait, no i'm still pissed that the default windows prebuilt would be cheaper.
What you pay for ... (Score:5, Insightful)
No modem, no driver problem (Score:4, Interesting)
As far as I can see, there's no way to configure a modem into the non-laptop models.
Re:No modem, no driver problem (Score:5, Funny)
A what?
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It's a fancy sound card, it makes all sorts of cool tones and whistles.
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Ideally an RS-232 one.
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And Dell does offer an internal modem in the FreeDOS version of the E520N.
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Proprietary driver, though. That's why I'd prefer an RS-232 modem if I was still stuck on dialup; then at most I'd just need to know the proper initialization string.
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The whole point is guaranteed compatibility (i.e. "hassle free"). We want Dell to use their might to improve the driver situation for Linux.
BTW, I totally understand that in the amazingly short time-frame Dell launched this, it's not realistic to expect that they could solve a problem that the Linux community has been just living with for years. Kudos to Dell for what they've accomplished so far.
But I still hope they find a sane
50$ is just the start (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:50$ is just the start (Score:4, Insightful)
It is unfair to include the cost of office when comparing the cost of windows vs linux.
Available outside US? (Score:2, Interesting)
Just wondering if this is also the case for the Ubuntu deal?
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Like comparsion with Vista Home Premium (Score:2)
I'm glad that Nat had to use Vista Home Premium in most of his examples -- I imagine that most people would want Home Premium if they were going to use Vista.
I also wonder what the price difference would be if XP Media Edition or XP Pro were still available.
The nice thing about Ubuntu for the home user is that most everything you need is either available or easy to install. I have been using Ubuntu dual boot with XP Pro on my laptop, and the only complaints I have is that wireless support could be better (
am I the only person (Score:2)
Can you geeks make up your minds? (Score:4, Interesting)
"wahhhh no OEM vendor will put *nix as an option on machines, whaa we have limited support, waahhh if we were more mainstream regular users would see how great *nix is"
Then it's
"Yaaaa go Dell, offering us what we want, give us the choice and we will show you that there is a market for linux."
Now it's
"Who cares if dell is offering linux, i can install it myself for free anyway or I can put together a better computer with bubble gum and bailing wire and make it run off a watch micro-processor. Regular people don't want linux blah blah blah"
You folks need to make up your minds. I think this is a great thing personally. I run both Windows and *nix systems and I used to be all about putting together my own PC's but now I have a life and other priorities rather than piecing together a custom system or digging up the information necessary to install some obscure video driver to make my selections work with my distro. I welcome being able to buy a pre-build and compatible *nix system from a vendor whom I can choke and yell at for anything gone wrong (hardware wise).
And you know what? That's what average folks want. In order to adopt linux as a home platform in Joe 6-pack's home you need that brand, you need that support and you need that gaurentee. Yes some people are afraid of changes and upgrade issues but its only more aggravated by the whole "the Internet is your support" mantra. Joe 6-pack doesn't want to read a 5 message boards to find out he needs to hand install some driver or app to get the feature he wants or to fix his machine. Granted a properly configured *nix environment should be rock stable but Joe 6-pack has been living in an MS world and needs to feel comfortable that he will have the same level of support he always has had.
Right now dell is offering these machines on a limited basis and is targeting the market segment that asked for these machines in the first place. If we don't step up to the plate and show Dell that this is a worthwhile idea then it will be scrapped before it has a chance to get going.
Personally I've been in the market for a new box and getting one ready to go with a warranty and a single support department to deal with makes the decision a lot easier and a lot less time consuming.
Yes I did save some money over a windows machine but that was never really the point of getting Dell to sell these things.
Re:Can you geeks make up your minds? (Score:5, Insightful)
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I'll buy one... (Score:3, Interesting)
...when they're offered for sale in the UK. It's a no-brainer. Dell's laptops are usually priced competitively and the $50 saving will add to that competitive edge. But, most of all, it'll take away the anxiety... Will the wireless work? Will I struggle to get the screen resolution right? Will the onboard ethernet show up? What about suspend?
In the light of this announceent, it'll be hard for me to justify buying my next laptop from anyone other than Dell.
DELL is selling Linux! (Score:2)
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Due to different hardware (Score:3, Interesting)
Not just $50 (Score:3, Interesting)
"Linux is only free if your time is worthless." Remember that? Well, that goes for Windows too: you need to figure the cost of your time into the cost of Windows. For me, the real savings here is to just buy a laptop that will just work, and I won't need to buy antivirus and antispyware software, and run them faithfully, and administer that Windows box.
I love Ubuntu because once it's set up, it just works. Now we can buy computers already set up. Sweet.
Now you have a reasonable alternative to a Mac for relatives who aren't computer savvy. Anyone who is intimidated by administering antivirus and such, this is perfect.
Im seeing a lot made of the price difference (Score:5, Interesting)
Know this...A ton of people buy dells everyday and out of those, many are buying their first computer or are generally considered novice users. Now Dell is also a sort of bargain type place, so people may be more frugal, not all, but certainly a good amount. Stay with me here...
So now you have people customizing their computer, choosing Ubuntu to save $50, $80 whatever it is, getting the computer at home and then having the realization they just got what they paid for. They will not be happy. Dell will have to field that support call from people who are CLUELESS to what Linux or an OS is. Many of those support calls will end with, "you probably want to buy Windows" and as a result, that computer user just had a nightmare experience and will never consider a Linux distro again. This is not a 'what if' scenario, this will happen and happen often if people are given the choice right off like people here want to see.
The point is this, if they list Ubuntu at $50 cheaper than windows to everyone with soliciting the Ubuntu option, it will be the end of this deal and it will not take long. The only way it would work is if Dell could manage to turn a profit from selling a machine loaded with Ubuntu, fielding all the support calls and then selling Windows at a higher cost to unsatisfied customers for a net gain that is worth that effort. So please, stop asking for equality in the OS choice screen during customization. If you get greedy like that, the whole program is probably going to go under. Be happy they are selling the boxes to you, not to your neighbor who does not know how to spell Linux.
technical support .. (Score:4, Interesting)
Dell says: Reinstall from the restore CD and hangs up
"choose between Vista/XP or Ubuntu so they can see the $50 savings on the configuration part of the process"
They get an equivilent GUI desktop for roughly $100.00 less.
"getting the computer at home and then having the realization they just got what they paid for. They will not be happy"
The get a GUI, a browser, email client, word processor and media player.
"Dell will have to field that support call from people who are CLUELESS to what Linux or an OS is"
I would guess that they get less support calls for Ubuntu as given hardware failures Linux is more stable over the long term. It doesn't go sluggish like Windows does and you have to reinstall every six months or abouts.
"Many of those support calls will end with, "you probably want to buy Windows" and"
The should do something like the one button restore [ibm.com] Levovo offers. Or put a base diagnostic system that can be invoked at boot time. Besides which there's only one thing more futile that working in a call center, that is working in one.
Im seeing a lot made of the price difference
The headline price is critical (Score:2, Interesting)
Vista E520 - http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetail s.aspx/dimen_e520?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19 [dell.com] - $369
FreeDos E520n - http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx ?c=us&cs=19&kc=6V440&l=en&oc=DDCWAN3&s=dhs [dell.com] - $679
Linux E520n - http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx ?c=us&cs=19&kc=6V440&l=en&oc=DDCWAV3&s=dhs [dell.com] - $
Linux seems to be $140 cheaper than Windows. (Score:4, Informative)
CPU: Celeron D => Core Duo
GPU: GMA X3000 => GMA950
RAM: 512M single channel at 533 => 1GB dual channel at 667
Disk: 160GB => 250GB
Net: 10/100 => 10/100/1000
Apart from the GPU, the Linux version is better in every way... but if you're looking for an entry level computer you're really looking for the unavailable $329 E520 with Ubuntu.
On the other hand, trying to configure a Vista box to match the Linux box, the best I can do is not $459, but $549... the following things are included in the price and can't be removed:
* Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD
* Starter pack - Yahoo! Music, Corel Photo and Dell Games
* 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
* 6 Months of America Online Membership Included
The difference between the Intel X3000 and the older Intel GMA950 in the Linux box is presumably balanced by the 10/100 ethernet versus the 10/100/1000 in the Linux version.
Say what you like.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Small glitch on the page (Score:2)
Where is it? (Score:3, Interesting)
It may be a bait and switch. "Here you can get a Linux desktop by following this link." Posts link on a few sites, "Look we only had 50 sales, no one wants linux."
Can anyone get to the page from the main dell.com site?
Worth it for Windows users, too (Score:3, Interesting)
'Course, I'd do at least a dual boot anyway, but this might still be a good option for users who want a clean installation of Windows.
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What you get. (Score:3, Informative)
OPERATING SYSTEM Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 7.04
MONITORS No Monitor
MEMORY 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
OPTICAL DRIVE 48X CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive
VIDEO CARD 256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache
SOUND CARD Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day
Mouse Dell® 2-button USB mouse
Network Interface Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
$459.00 Not Including Shipping
Not all that bad really. And there is a 3d card. Not the best but its something.
I wish Windows become an +50$ radio-button option (Score:5, Interesting)
o Ubuntu (included)
o Windows Vista (+50$)
That would be great.
After choosing the +50$, a pop up should warn that extra memory is required for the same level of performance.
Multiple reasons. (Score:3, Interesting)
#2. It's Dell. They have nationwide support. If you move, you can still get support.
#3. It'd Dell. They move a LOT of boxes. This will be incentive for those hardware vendors to support Linux to get in on this market.
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PRE-LOADED!!! :) (Score:2)
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That is most definitely not the case now. Intel cards are certainly not speed demons, but they work quite well as they have good open source drivers written by Intel themselves. Intel employs several of the main X.org hackers, including Keith Packard. Also see this announcement [freedesktop.org].
I would recommend an Intel graphics card over an Nvidia or ATI for a Linux machine unless you plan on playing demanding games like Quake 4 or
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I do (Score:2)
Re:Who... fscking... cares (Score:4, Insightful)
"Who fsking cares" is exactly the right question. My parents, grandparents, and many of my peers who know very little about computers don't care what operating system they are using on a computer. To them, a computer is a computer just the same, regardless of the operating system. The bottom line for them is the costs involved. How reliable is the computer? How long will it be until another computer must be purchased? How much up-front cost is required for the initial purchase?
To my mother, who I am proud to say has been using Linux since Ubuntu 6.06 was released, Linux seems more reliable. She still clicks on those goofy advertisement images that look like they have real buttons, but guess what - her machine doesn't need to be reformatted within a week after that takes place! So in her eyes, the machine is more reliable.
To my grandmother, she only wants to be able to talk to family via email. Why does she need to spend any more than the bare minimum? Will this machine be more likely to be usable until she is no longer physically capable of using a computer? That is more likely to be true with Linux than Windows while keeping the OS up-to-date.
And why not take this a little further... What if I'm a small company in need of some "thin client" computers. Why should I pay even a little extra for an operating system on 20 computers, when I can get it for free and completely avoid those fees (which would be a significant price difference, no doubt).
(Though this does not apply to the dell desktops directly, these could be used for this purpose...) John/Jane Doe wants to start a new business where a web-based application with a database is required. Why should he/she need to pay for a Windows server environment and Microsoft SQL Server licenses? The benefit here is clearly that a good deal of additional money can be focused on the business requirements, and not initial licensing costs.
Of course, I could present many more real-life examples I'm aware of... While that may not be a majority of the market, it is a solid start to appeal to these constituent groups, and it could to be quite lucrative long-term. Your needs are one thing, but I'm merely suggestion not being egocentric and suggesting we think of others' needs instead. Doing this will clearly benefit the entire community long-term.
Re:Who... fscking... cares (Score:5, Funny)
Tagline could be "Ubuntu: you'll die before it does."
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Well, if for no other reason, it's interesting because the ol' "Microsoft Tax" canard is one of those foundation building blocks of MS hatred. How many times have you read, right here, that even if a major direct-to-consumer dealer/manufacturer WERE to ship boxes with Linux onboard, that Teh Evil Micro$oft would still be making sure that machine sold for MORE than an OEM-Windows-equipped box would. This is interesting because it lets some of the hot air out of that particu
Re:Not really a troll (Score:5, Interesting)
I couldn't agree more. When I first started Slashdotting just about any pro Linux and pro Open Source comment would get modded up if it was coherent.
Over time this has changed. A sure way to get up-modded now is to point out how zealots upmod pro Linux comments and Microsoft bash comments. Actually pointing out a strength of Linux or Open Source over proprietary software, pointing out flaws in typical proprietary software sympathizer arguments, or even Microsoft bashing that is ontopic is solidly grounded in fact will get you modded down now.
I watch the moderation. Usually when the discussion is hot, an Insightful pro open source stance will get modded as such but a day or two after a story first hits the front page troll mods will come in. Actually, within the past couple months people see to have fallen in love with overrated moderations when there is no legitimate reason to downmod something. This way it is more likely to survive meta-moderation.
Either a bunch of Microsoft and proprietary software fanboys have started to camp on Slashdot (an awefully strange place for an MS fanboy to hang out) or the industry has recognized that Slashdot is a critical front in the development of Tech trends and prevailing attitudes and there are now paid PR shills monitoring Slashdot.
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Nobody is complaining about FOSS posts not getting modded up out of a sense of team spirit. The problem is that opposite happens. Up to date, informative, and sound posts are being modded down if they take a pro FOSS software stance. Further, a pro commercial stance is now being blindly modded up. The fact t
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Piracy (Score:4, Funny)
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This isn't easy for the typical user to do with Vista (yet?), as far as I know. Even with XP and activation, there were VLKs. Doing a quick search, I don't see any easy-to-find Vista activation circumvention without drawbacks.
Maybe this has something to do with why Dell is finally selling PCs with a non-MS OS.
Re:Piracy (Score:4, Funny)
My reason for making a recovery set is so when I sell my PC in a years time the buyer has the option of a legitimate copy of MS Vista or they can have my pirated but updated copies of Linux. I wonder what the buyer will pick?
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It's good that the Ubuntu systems are cheaper... (Score:5, Insightful)
Also, it bugs me that none of the Ubuntu systems have AMD processors! Most of us who run Linux want 64-bit these days, since 64-bit "just works" under Linux, and gives a pretty good performance boost. And among Intel Desktop processors, only the Core 2 Duo support 64-bit, while *ALL* the AMD processors now support 64-bit, from the lowly Sempron on up.
Anyone know if Dell will offer an AMD system with Ubuntu?
Re:It's good that the Ubuntu systems are cheaper.. (Score:5, Informative)
I think the issue is Intel offers open source drivers for their integrated video cards. Less legal complications and less software complications that way. Also, the Windows variants of these machines seem to offer ATI graphics cards, which are the most likely to have problems under Linux.
Re:It's good that the Ubuntu systems are cheaper.. (Score:5, Informative)
Also, it bugs me that none of the Ubuntu systems have AMD processors! Most of us who run Linux want 64-bit these days, since 64-bit "just works" under Linux, and gives a pretty good performance boost. And among Intel Desktop processors, only the Core 2 Duo support 64-bit, while *ALL* the AMD processors now support 64-bit, from the lowly Sempron on up.
Anyone know if Dell will offer an AMD system with Ubuntu?
Re:It's good that the Ubuntu systems are cheaper.. (Score:4, Insightful)
64-bit advantages (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm curious -- not saying you're wrong -- but do you have any source/benchmark for that "performance boost" statement? My educated guess would be rather the exact opposite, seeing how 64-bit pointers all over the board will increase memory bandwidth usage, cache load (and therefore misses) and possibly even start to cause paging before the equivalent 32-bit system would. All wit
Re:It's good that the Ubuntu systems are cheaper.. (Score:4, Insightful)
Of course, I made the choice that is most personally advantageous to me. I suspect this is a big reason why desktops bundled with Linux haven't caught on: small companies that try and sell Linux-based desktops don't have the same purchasing power and economies of scale as behemoths like Dell and HP which bundle their systems with Windows. So us Linux geeks buy the systems with Windows bundled and just discard it. We save money, but we pay Microsoft as well, so we're not saving as much money as we could in theory.
I think this is a pretty bold and impressive move by Dell... I just hope that they extend it across their entire product line. If the Customization options for every Dell system included a choice like, "Operating System: Ubuntu Linux (subtract $50/$100 from price)", you'd bet there'd soon be a *lot* more people running Ubuntu. Maybe a rough adjustment for those users and for tech support at first, but I believe the Linux community would come out far ahead in adoption in perception in a short amount of time.
Re:Anyway (Score:5, Insightful)
Those who are not so technically minded and buy the thing candidly thinking that they will come home and install World of Warcraft or Photoshop and use iTunes will be having a hard time with this...
So really, why don't pay, say 10 USD more to get Windows and THEN if you like to be cool, get the Linuzz pain and install it?
I must say that I'm really skeptic about this whole thing.... but who knows... After all we all know that THIS is the year of Linuzzz on the desktop.
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Could you please post the computer (model, additions, etc) that you purchased? I am in the market for a new laptop myself, and am looking for one like you mentioned here (similar requirements, for VM's, etc). While the Ubuntu Dell laptop is too underpowered for my liking, I am considering a Dell to support them for their Linux support...
Thanks
Ok, it's $1000 because I already have a monitor and because of the typical Dell instant discounts.
Dell Dimension E520N
Upgrade Processor to most expensive option Intel® Core(TM) 2 E6420 Duo Processor(4MB L2 cache,2.13GHZ,1066FSB)
Select Ubuntu 7.04 w/o support
Select no monitor
Upgrade to 4 gigs of RAM
Select standard HardDrive 250 GB
Select DVD Burner upgrade
Select Standard Graphics option
Select Standard Sound Card
Select No Speakers
Total $909
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That's kind of unlikely, given that the windows and linux versions are not on the same page, so you really have to *want* to buy a linux machine. I'm sure there will be a few people out there who will do what you describe, but, really, anybody that dim would have problems with any operating system.
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I am personally delighted that Dell is offering good practical machines that should just work. People who buy these should end up as happy customers. In the long term, that is good for both Dell and Linux.
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Not exactly a screaming fast card, but it's got 3D capability.
Re:No 3D in laptops. (Score:5, Informative)
I'm sure the card can't handly anywhere near whatmost nVidia cards can, but the Intel card definitely handles the basic eyecandy without problems.
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Dell has to support Windows just like any other OEM. Microsoft doesn't do it. If they did, they'd go bankrupt.
People who order Dellbuntu machines likely need less support anyway. Even better, an individual is more likely to get support from the Ubuntu community than Microsoft.
As for the pricing, perhaps Dell realized that their pricing scheme for the ill-fated N series was stupid (remember, the Linux machines cost more than the equivalent hardware with Windows?)