Dell’s U.S. website has finally made good on a promise to re-introduce an Ubuntu desktop PC. The move should silence critics who were worried that Dell wasn’t committed to the growing Ubuntu desktop and mobile markets. Here are the details.
Dell’s latest Ubuntu offering is the Inspiron 537 ST n-Series, equipped with Ubuntu Desktop Edition 9.04. Additional Ubuntu-equipped options include the Dell Mini 10v netbook (with 8.04), Inspiron 15n notebook (9.04) and Studio XPS 13 (9.04). Dell also offers Ubuntu Moblin Remix Developer Edition on the Mini 10v.
From Less to More
What a difference a few weeks makes. Back in mid-2009, Dell’s U.S. website was down to two Ubuntu options — a netbook and a notebook.
Dell’s U.S. website stopped offering Ubuntu on desktop PCs sometime around July 2009. The company repeatedly promised to launch a new Ubuntu desktop in a matter of weeks. But weeks soon stretched to months. By Aug. 28, sources closed to Dell and Canonical assured WorksWithU that new developments were on the way. On Sept. 9, ComputerWorld reported that Dell’s Ubuntu desktop was still just around the corner.
Now, it’s finally here — within days of Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth’s visit to Dell. And that’s no small feat — considering Dell also has its hands full prepping for Microsoft’s Oct. 22 Windows 7 launch.
Mixed Opinions
Still, I’ve heard from plenty of readers who opted instead for Ubuntu PCs and notebooks from ZaReason and System76. Plus, readers from Europe and Australia have contacted me multiple times, pushing hard to find out if Dell would expand its Ubuntu offerings worldwide.
In some cases the answer is yes.But ultimately, Dell has made it clear that the company’s Ubuntu strategy varies from country to country based on local customer demand.
Bottom Line
Depending on your geography, Dell’s Ubuntu efforts range from strong, to hit-and-miss, to non-existent. But overall, I can’t think of another large PC vendor that has given more attention to Canonical and Ubuntu.
And PC buyers who look hard enough will find some very promising options from Dell, System76, ZaReason and resellers like EmperorLinux.
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Dell’s offerings in other countries are pathetic. A while back I looked at buying a laptop with Ubuntu since I am tired of paying Microsoft tax everytime I buy a new pc. When I priced the system out it worked out more expensive with Ubuntu than with Windows.
So I gave up and bought an Acer and installed Ubuntu myself.
Slumbergod: Where are you based?
Still no dell deskop or mini with Ubuntu in Australia. We have one of the highest desktop Linux usage rates in the world.
PT: Assuming your comment is correct, I’m surprised. I was in Australia October 2008 and visited Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. I saw numerous netbooks and notebooks in retail stores running Linux. I think Dell Australia would see demand for systems with Ubuntu…
Joe,
I couldn’t find any navigation links to open-source or Ubuntu on either Dell’s US or UK web-sites, as previously existed. So unless the search engine is used it seems near impossible to find the Ubuntu products.
So Dell may be selling a few Ubuntu machines but I don’t think they are marketing any. So I would say overall things are going downhill with Dell and I doubt that Mark Shuttleworth will be fooled for a moment.
I’m sure Dell want to limit Ubuntu sales to people with some Linux experience and I don’t blame them for that. But if they were serious about Ubuntu don’t you think by now they would be spending a small amount on targeted web marketing on Linux-orientated web sites.
The clear lack of Ubuntu marketing by Dell is an issue that should be addressed. I think you are the ideal person to do this and I look forward to hearing your views on this in the future.
ZaReason and System76 seem to be the most favored Ubuntu pre-install vendors, but each time I have surfed their websites, I have found them to be a bit overpriced. Another Ubuntu pre-install vendor is a small business (in Georgia, I believe) called Eight Virtues http://www.eightvirtues.com
Their prices are much more reasonable. The only downside is that they currently only offer desktops.
tl@5: check http://www.dell.com/ubuntu
stlouisbntu@6: I will keep an eye on Eight Virtues. I also think the Linux crowd sometimes spends too much time focused on slight price bumps. I’m willing to pay a little extra for an Ubuntu PC from a vendor that understands the Ubuntu community and offers great customer service. My experience with both ZaReason and System76 has been very good.
I noticed that the only Core2 Quad processor option on this model was an 8200, which has no special virtual machine support. That is disappointing, as for me, virtualization is often integral to getting sew users to switch from a failing MS OS to Ubuntu. Note that virtualization will still work on this system, but you won’t be able to assign the VM more than one core.
I just went through the customization options for this PC on Dell’s website. Towards the end of the wizard is a page that lists “Top Selling Software” as options for this PC – but none of the titles are Ubuntu-compatible (although it doesn’t explicitly say so).
I feel this is misleading – inexperienced users could easily blow hundreds of dollars selecting Norton 360, Quickbooks, Photoshop etc. without being able to ever run them. Why include them as options if they’re not really options at all?
When can i get such a ubuntu preloaded PC/laptop in india? Still i am paying the microsoft tax
I couldn’t agree more, Joe. Pre-installed Ubuntu has *more value* than a PC on which I have to install it myself (as easy as that install is), and so is worth a modest bump. And while I’m pleased that Dell is again expanding products in the USA, I’m also very happy to support companies on the leading edge that focus exclusively on my environment of choice.
GREAT news! I’m really happy that it is out now, thanks for reporting this
Me too. Preinstalled, particularly in laptops and netbooks, is priceless. Sure, a quick install will almost get you there. But maybe suspend will be off. Maybe some hotkeys will be off. Maybe the battery indicator. Etc. I mean, modern Linux distros are a pleasure to install, and they just work. And that’s about that in desktops. Laptops are a different beast. They have lots of little things you expect to work.
Also: don’t underestimate the value of support. I bought a Dell Mini with Ubuntu, and I have 24 hours support via Chat (a million times better than calling them). They sent me a replacement battery when it seemed dead (it is actually a software bug that their customer reps are not aware of). How cool is that?
Still no Ubuntu Dell desktops in Australia. Anyway, I bought a Ubuntu Dell Latitude 2100 netbook, which I am extremely happy with. The pre-installed Ubuntu 9.04 works perfectly, and the netbook hardware is also very good, very rugged. It is in the business section of the website so ordinary consumers will miss it totally, which is a shame.
@Joe:
So you are willing to pay a little more for a well integrated Ubuntu system. What if none of the extra money you are spending with an OEM flows back to Canonical to help sustain the Ubuntu project? Would that sit well with you? Knowing that OEMs are pocketing your cash but aren’t chipping in to make sure the Ubuntu project is sustainable long term? How much of the price bump stays with the OEM and how much flows back as sustaining revenue that makes it possible for the Ubuntu project to exist?
-jef
Mmm. My previous post didn’t go through. I was saying that we were wondering what Mark’s visit to Dell’s heardquarters was about
http://www.linux.com/news/embedded-mobile/phones/114659:dell-tips-us-bound-phone-as-android-projected-to-outshine-iphone
Still not available in Switzerland.
I also looked at customizing this model… the card reader they sell as a 20$(!) option isn’t compatible with Linux (it’s clearly written if you try to choose that option).
Also after that they try to sell you loads of software which run of course only on Windows.
They could definitely gain from smoothing out the process a bit. They should only sell accessory that work fine on Ubuntu. I believe they could easily sell more accessories with ubuntu preloaded computer if they were all tested for being plug and play with it.
Printer, Graphical tablet, Webcam, TV tunner… all linux/Ubuntu compatible. Considering how hard it is to sometimes find info about hardware compatibility it would be a a opportunity for Dell I believe.
@Alex. I agree, things are getting actually a lot easier in that regard, but there is a niche for that. You just buy without doing any previous research with the piece of mind it’ll work.
And we were wondering about Mark’s visit to Dell:
http://tinyurl.com/yzp3q25
Note: I had to create a tinyurl, otherwise the post would not go through!
I always try to compare whether you actually save any money by having ‘buntu. They have made it particularly difficult to compare. The closest matching pair seems to suggest a saving of about $100 using the Ubuntu option. Unbelievable. Normally Dell just used pocket the difference.
What is more interesting is that installing the “obsolete” XP instead of Vista with free windows 7 upgrade, costs an extra $120…. What is really interesting is the Ubuntu support packages…basic for 1 yr is $125 (one off payment) or $24 ($2 X12)…does that make sense to any one? or $275 (one off) or $84 ($7 X 12)…most services are cheaper when paid for in advance, but these seem to be 3-5 times more expensive; unless you keep paying long after the support has stopped.
@Saif:
I think the per-month price quote is tied to paying for your purchase with a Dell branded credit card. You see the same thing looking at the on-call service plans for windows based systems. There’s nothing Ubuntu specific about what you are seeing. Dell wants you to buy systems on credit and pay interest charges over several months by enticing you with low monthly payments..for many many months.
Yes its wacky that you can end up paying for a service contract well past the end of the contract period…but that’s the situation you get in if you buy things on credit and plan to pay it off over time (paying interest charges on top of the purchase price)
-jef
Joe, it sounds like SlumberGod is from Australia. Every time I read about Dell’s Linux offerings I ring them up and ask, and every time I get the same answer.
“We don’t offer Linux here. That’s in America only.”
I’m guessing that unlike myself, most people just give in and purchase a machine with Windows, which they blow away and replace with one or another of the Linuxes.
My partner and I have a small company, we’re trying to get ourselves set up as a Linux reseller. Our problem isn’t one of locating customers, I’ve already proved the market is there, as has a company in Melbourne, Kogan pty Ltd. Our problem is finding good hardware that we can get that doesn’t come with Windows pre installed.
@Jef,
The extra cost does not need to go on to Canonical if the vendor is actually doing more than just installing the OS. They should confirm drivers and system behaviour. Also if I contact them, they need to have actual knowledge of Linux and the installed distribution. Integration does cost money, and it helps keep an alternative supplier in the market which is a good thing.
As happy as I am to hear this news, I do have some concerns.
It’s unfortunate that Dell only offers a 16X DVD+/-RW Drive option. Not having the option to burn cd’s or dvd’s is a major negative.
I’m sure if they actually provided a decent set of options for Ubuntu pre-installed desktops, the sales would be better. If I were looking for a new desktop today, I’d end being forced to purchase the one with Windows, just to get the better hardware options. They even could have had the option to buy Nero software so as to also make use of the blu-ray option for Unbuntu.
Oh well, my current desktop is only 1 year old, hopefully by the time I need a new one, there will be better Linux options.
I have come to the conclusion that there is only one Linux distribution Canonicle Unbuntu. that it is becoming another Linux popular Microsoft product. There are better Distribution out there better than Ubuntu, that never get a mention, LinuxMint, Sabayon, and for speed Pardus. From what I have read and understand Cononicle don’t put back into the Kernel development,
The whole point has been missed here, All Hardware peripherals drivers should work on any and every distribution. not just for Ubuntu. then Linux just might get somewhere faster,
In my opinion Ubuntu fans need to try other distribution before waving the Cononicle Ubuntu flag to much, they will be in for a surprise.
I often read complaints about how Dell offers Ubuntu/Linux. I never hear complaints about any other major company and their Linux offerings. Think about that.
As to the component offerings, computers are designed by engineers and ACCOUNTANTS.
Not buying from Dell, who is making an attempt at Linux, and buying from someone like Acer who makes no pretense of using Linux and installing your own Ubuntu must really influence Dell to put forth a lot of effort.
I like my Dell with Linux installed. It works well. I am tired of all of the whining Linux weenies.
Earl
@Earl:
Correction.
Acer does offer Linpus Linux preinstalls. They might be hard to find in retail outlets.. but they do exist.
Still pitiful… Joe, did Dell pay you? The PC sucks arse, I hope they gave you a nice bonus for writing an article that should ‘silence’ critics. Zareason, System76 and Penguin Computing deserve you time, not that crap hole called Dell. They don’t stop selling Linux based PCs.
Earl, Dell sucks… They put forth a weak offering and expect people like you to buy it and praise them for their sorry efforts, sorry buddy… You’re the weenie!
Dar said: “It’s unfortunate that Dell only offers a 16X DVD+/-RW Drive option. Not having the option to burn cd’s or dvd’s is a major negative.”
You are obviously not a savvy computer user. Of course it burns cd’s and dvd’s. “16X DVD+/-RW” is just what manufacturers call their drives now, to save print space. Geez, wake up. If you don’t believe me, call them up. People never cease to amaze me.
Dell’s Canadian website only offers the mini 10v with Ubuntu 8.04.
Carling said: “In my opinion Ubuntu fans need to try other distribution before waving the Cononicle Ubuntu flag to much, they will be in for a surprise.”
I have tried every distribution under the sun on many hardware configurations. Nothing has come close to ubuntu for ease of use and hardware detection. If there was something overall better, I would be using it. If you don’t like ubuntu, don’t use it. There are many choices out there.
I’m currently based in Asia and “naturally” Dell doesn’t offer any non-Microsoft preloads in their few regional physical stores. A relative of mine is currently visiting USA for a few days, but Dell’s direct stores there also stock only MS preloads so no sale.
But I can’t fathom why they also refuse to sell non-MS systems via their “built-to-order” channels in Asia. Their BTO systems are built to whose order?
HP at least has some limited Linux offerings available via direct order and they’ve been willing to offer decent discounts to Linux users, although the concept of officially refunding Microsoft Tax is alien here.
I think local LUGs could be more active in challenging the status quo by working with local consumer protection groups (where available).
Notebooks in particular tend to only be available with compulsory MS preloads (with some occasional domestically branded exceptions), but lot of desktop PCs are still being built in corner shops so in those cases the MS Tax is also unofficial.
From my point of view Dell’s few hard-to-find non-MS preloads in the USA (only) are merely a token gesture aimed at placating local antitrust authorities, quite possibly with Steve “AYE LUUV THEEES COOOMPANYYY, YEAAAH!!!” Ballmer’s full blessing.
I think it is appalling that you can’t build to order without MSFT OS. I am so tired of limited support from the major players. We now order specific hardware and as on the laptop front we have no choice but wipe MSFT and install Linux WITH NO REFUND OF COST OF MSFT. How can they offer SERVERS with Linux and not desktops / laptops of the same high caliber they offer with MSFT.
In today’s economy Linux is making more inroads with Businesses and users
(For the record, my previous comment is “awaiting moderation”)
Hi all,
I have another perspective to give. http://issuesaroundme.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/unable-to-get-an-laptop/
Now if there is any dell representative who wants to get hold of me please e-mail me. I live in Pune, Maharashtra, India. If there is some local representative it would be nice.
Dells Ubuntu strategy in the UK has stopped dead. We still only have one netbook running 8.04.
It’s great for US consumers Dell are so interested in Ubuntu in the US. But in the UK and elsewhere there’s little to nothing happening on this front. If Dell don’t make a serious effort soon I’ll have to shop around.
And just for the record. By serious effort I mean start giving Ubuntu customers the same range of choice as Windows customers. I’m an Ubuntu customer. I’m looking for a tablet and an all in one. But I can’t find one.
Dell offers Ubuntu but not in the form factors I’m looking for. Such a let down. “Touch” does work with Linux by the way and it works pretty well at that.
Brian@26: Nope, Dell doesn’t pay me to report the facts. I pointed out that Dell’s efforts have been hit and miss with Ubuntu. But I also welcome the constructive criticism from folks like you. I do keep in mind as we prepare future content.
Works With U from my point of view simply reports what’s actually happening. Which is a welcome breath of fresh air from the norm.
Aikiwolfie: Thanks for the note. We work hard to report the news but we also layer in our opinions. And we certainly value constructive criticism. It keeps us honest and focused on our key priorities: Tracking Canonical’s strategy and Ubuntu’s potential progress (and challenges) across multiple markets.
@aikiwolfie:
I dispute your claim. WorkswithU isn’t much better than other blogging sites. This site, like others, felt it was perfectly okay to cite an anonymous source to give an inaccurate estimate of when the Dell Ubuntu desktop would arrive. That sort of thing is far from factual reporting.
-jef
One little (but coming from Dell, not surprising) problem:
The Ubuntu version of the Inspiron 537 has no option for wifi at build time, but the Windows version of the same model does. Anyone care to comment on why?
It’s great for US consumers Dell are so interested in Ubuntu in the US. But in the UK and elsewhere there’s little to nothing happening on this front. If Dell don’t make a serious effort soon I’ll have to shop around.Even in india they are looking out for this.
Looks like dell is no longer selling the Inspiron 15n on their website.
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs