Comments on: Holiday Special: Dell Ubuntu Linux Netbooks At $299

By: Pogue Mahone

Pogue Mahone — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:48:21 +0000

ya’ll could just get your comp and just install Ubuntu and delete windows altogether.most all linux comps for YEARS have been this way,except for a lesser percent that were tailor made/specifically made for a linux OS.
you can also download the ubuntu netbook revisited version as well.you will need a way to get it into the netbook,by thumbdrive or external dvd/cd drive.and most of my ubuntu installs went so smooth,it is scarey.
dont complain you arent offered anything,buy comp and install ‘Buntu and MAKE IT SO.
the support forums have awesome and super talented mods and members. so no worries on Apu’s tech support are not an issue at all.get your comp set up,and ron popiel it–set it–and forget it.

pogue mahone

By: olo

olo — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:08:47 +0000

Dell does make nice laptops. I hava one but it’s getting kind of old. For now on I will stick with it. I will buy a new one as soon as they provide model of my choice with Linux or with no OS installed whatsoever. Why should I pay for Windows when I will be using Linux? This is crazy, bad and wrong. There should be a new, stronger word for that, for example badong. This is BADONG!

By: DOUGman

DOUGman — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 05:11:54 +0000

I do not see a ‘ad’ for Ubuntu, I see an ‘ad’ for Windows Vista.. with the recommendation from Dell for Windows Vista.

Yes, I know Ubuntu is listed in small print, but the majority of customers will not notice it. I eagerly await the day when Netbooks are shipped with the Ubuntu Remix and advertised as such.

So many people out there still haven’t a clue, that there is another way, instead of Windows or MAC.

By: zenarcher

zenarcher — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 23:06:57 +0000

Well, I purchased two Mini 9’s from Dell, which arrived at my house last Wednesday. I ordered both with Ubuntu Linux, 16GB flash drives, wireless and the webcams in them.

Personally, I’m impressed with them. Really impressed with the quality of the displays, considering their size. They are faster than my HP notebook with Ubuntu on it, too.

Of course, the first thing to do was to dump the Dell version of Ubuntu 8.04 and do a regular install of Ubuntu 8.10. Once that is done, the little Mini 9 will take 2GB of RAM and run just fine. Dell doesn’t even mention the 2GB RAM capability. Thanks, Microsoft!

http://agaricdesign.com/note/dell-mini-9-an-upgrade-odyssey

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:20:33 +0000

I saw this ad at blackfriday.info a week ago, and decided I had to get one. I love my Inspiron 1420n that I bought last spring (although I would have a 1525n if it had been available at the time). I didn’t really expect to get the same deal through the employee purchase program, but was pleasantly surprised to see it available there, as John pointed out. I hope this and other similar deals (like the Acer Aspire One at Newegg for $249) floods the market and maybe fills a few stockings with Linux netbooks this weekend.

By: aikiwolfie

aikiwolfie — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:56:56 +0000

Support? You mean apart from accessing the truly awesome Ubuntu forum? Canonical has a support deal with Dell. Dell only offers consumers Ubuntu. Which is developed by Canonical. The support option costs an extra £90. So consumer support is sorted.

On the corporate side of things you have the choice of Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Novell SuSE Linux. Dell primarily pushes Red Hat Enterprise Linux, but provides SuSE Enterprise Linux for those that want it. Just like other major tech companies both Red Hat and Novell have call centers for tech problems and engineers to come fix things when they go bad.

Support in Linux isn’t an issue anybody need worry about. Linux isn’t just a hobbyists toy. It comes with complete commercial support packages as well. If you feel the need to pay for support that is. When something goes wrong in Linux and I can’t fix it. I just reinstall it. And there’s no limit to the number of times I can do that.

Now why would you want to advise someone to opt for Linux? How about no Windows Genuine Advantage to go AWOL and shut down “your” PC and refuse to let you access “your own data”.

How about Linux has no clause in it’s license agreement that allows Microsoft to belligerently demand access to your PC any time it wants and Windows Vista does? In fact I think all versions of Windows now have that clause in their licenses.

How about not paying for licenses per CPU? How about the fact that Linux doesn’t secretly phone home when you’re logged out and start downloading or uploading data or software to and from your PC without your knowledge? The Windows update tool was exposed a while back for doing exactly that. Bear in mind your anti-virus software in Windows isn’t fully functional until you log in.

How about the fact that Ubuntu will run quite happily with only 1GB of RAM with all it’s bells and whistles switched on?

How about the fact Linux PCs don’t come preloaded filled to the gunnels with trialware. Dell advertises the larger hard disc in the Windows XP version of the Mini 9 as a cool feature. What they aren’t telling anybody is it’s literally already “over half full” with Windows XP and other crap Dell needs to push just to make a profit on a Windows PC.

If you opt for Windows. Always read the license agreement in full.

For the Australians among us. Yeah it sucks Dell won’t even give you basic Ubuntu pork scratchings. But at least they aren’t doing the hokycoky with you. You know where you stand. You can have Windows with your Windows and if you’d like something else you can have Windows.

By: HurdyGurdy

HurdyGurdy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:07:41 +0000

I am still trying to figure out the application? First, I couldn’t, in the wild reaches of my mind, suggest to friend to purchase a Linux notebook/desktop, let-alone any thing from Dell mailorder. First you are going to have two problems, support and support. Who do you call when you need Linux support? Who do you call when you need help on your Dell hardware? I wouldn’t want a friend/relative/customer/grandma/grampa/associate, etc. to spend 12 hours with Dell support in India for anything. And I would think that SMB VARs would be recommending a WinTel solution as that is what most if not all people are familiar with. So now let’s suppose you get this RED HOT deal at $299, then you need to subtract the cost of one’s time on the phone with a foreign person that one can’t understand. Let’s say, for example, that one’s time is priceless. Priceless minus $299 is a huge negative number with as many digits as in Pi or some other infinite number. It even may have a repeating pattern after the decimal place. I won’t be unboxing a Dell Linus $299 for Xmas and can’t imagine anyone else, say some young geeky kid that wants to ‘play’ with Linux.

By: Gerry Carr

Gerry Carr — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:58:29 +0000

stephen – VAR GUY – are you sure you have followed the promo. I just did it and the ONLY option I got was for Ubuntu???

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dndoxx1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=productdetails~laptop-inspiron-9

I think that is a session ID and won’t work but this
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/sna.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~topic=ena_sale

is the way in – takes a long time to load which I am hoping means it is being pounded for sales.

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:40:42 +0000

Do a search for “Dell black Friday” one of the google sponsored links is what you want.

By: John

John — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:19:55 +0000

I found the Ubuntu Mini 9 here:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DNDOXX1&s=dhs

If your workplace participates in Dell’s Employee Purchase Program, you can get the Mini 9 starting at $278.

Full disclosure: I do not work for Dell nor do I own one.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:42:39 +0000

Tried again but still only get windows.

By: steveee

steveee — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:53:32 +0000

Dell is not supporting Linux in any way in Australia. I have often bought dell equipment for many people not just my family. I will not prompt DELL equipment again. Its support is lacking.

It offers good product but NO Linux… I will find another supplier that has reasonable deals.

I feel cheated because of DELL’s lip service and on delivery with Linux!!