Comments on: Dell Website Shows Ubuntu More Respect

By: Jef Spaleta

Jef Spaleta — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:44:04 +0000

Carlos:
The US Dell Ubuntu store page lists 2 laptops at the bottom:
Vostro V13 and Latitude 2100
They don’t have a full spread on the page like the netbook..but the button links are there.

reference:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

But the desktop offerings introduced in October have gone missing again…..when did that happen?

reference:
http://www.workswithu.com/2009/10/07/dell-ubuntu-desktop-is-back/

-jef

By: Carlos

Carlos — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:27:58 +0000

Now all you can get from Dell with Ubuntu on it is a netbook. What happened to the laptops?

By: ubuntu4life

ubuntu4life — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:02:30 +0000

I think this is a big step for Linux.

“The future will be open.”

By: Jef Spaleta

Jef Spaleta — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:08:14 +0000

@aikiwolfie:

That brings up an interesting point. How much traffic do Ubuntu Dell purchases drive into the Ubuntu community support forums versus through Dell’s own technical support or Canonical’s support center? Is the free Ubuntu community support undercutting Canonical’s ability to get Dell and Dell customers to pay out of pocket for Canonical support services?

-jef

By: aikiwolfie

aikiwolfie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:54:53 +0000

@Leo: No OS was also an option we pushed for on Dells’ IdeaStorm forum. Dell didn’t like it. Apparently it would have cost too much in customer support or some such.

By: F. Fellini

F. Fellini — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:44:15 +0000

Sometimes you’ve got to give people their props where they are due. Its great that they are giving alternative operating systems a helping hand with respect to making Ubuntu available to customers.
When it comes to the barebones approach, some products lend well to not having a fully functional system at the point of purchase. Many people have the expectation of a fully functional product to buy while others do not. It all depends on how each individual customer defines a product and this may varies by situation. For instance we don’t all have to milk our own cows but we love the products (cheese, butter, ice cream) that come from milk at different times.

By: AAA

AAA — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:38:37 +0000

@Leo

> What I would like Dell and others to do, is to give me the option to buy ANY computer with NO operating system. Is that too much to ask? No, but there is a catch: they are afraid (for a reason) that people will have hardware compatibility problems and return the computer or parts of it.

WRONG. I am in Japan. Sony is offering this service (at least, or at last). Of course, they only provide support for windoze, but you don’t have to purchase an OS.

Dell notebooks are shitty. the build quality is a shame as for the LCD rendering. There is no system76 in Asia.

I agree with a poster above, I would like to have the choice to choose my OS, no matter the make or model.

I am really sad Linux-Ubuntu desktop is always on the cheap side of the sidewalk, it’s way better than windoze, sexier, faster, more reliable and performs better. I would like to see it on high end notebooks – Toshiba, Panasonic, etc.

Cheers.

By: Leo

Leo — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:24:02 +0000

@ricefg: While I agree in that they do great by offering the option you mention (Ubuntu on a lower spec’ed machine where it can still shine), there is no reason they’d not offer it on the same machine, just with a better processor: they already went through the process of validating and customizing Ubuntu for the device. There would be no additional overhead, just more sales, if they would also offer it in the higher spec’ed flavors of the same notebook.

The only reason they would not do it, is if MS forces them to make that decision. It is not a secret that MS dismisses Linux as an “inferior, basic OS for very basic tasks”. This only helps spread the FUD.

By: Ashish

Ashish — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:28:42 +0000

Well those who want to use Ubutu, they can buy anything. It works on assembled PC/LAPTOP also. They did a great work. Within 5 years, a better OS which is better than Windows. Very simple to install. Days are not far, when We will be using OS of our choice and not H/W vendors choice.

By: Yfrwlf

Yfrwlf — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:02:34 +0000

The pricing thing is totally lame and Dell can go to hell for it. I will not pay the same price as the Windows-taxed Microsoft computers just because it’s “a different choice”. The Linux options HAVE to be cheaper if they give you the same hardware, otherwise you are just getting screwed. Sorry Dell, but you’re not getting my business with a scam like that.

By: ricegf

ricegf — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:39:04 +0000

@andydread: Dell’s approach is not terrible – it’s spot on. The Ubuntu version of the Vostro V13 costs a full 25% ($150) less than the cheapest Windows 7 model. They accomplish this by using a less expensive processor and somewhat smaller disk.

But that’s the RIGHT approach, because Ubuntu is significantly less taxing on processors and requires less disk space than Windows 7. So you get equivalent performance for 25% less cash.

(My production workstation, for example, uses an old Athlon 3800+ single-core CPU with 2 GB RAM and a 60 GB disk. It runs Ubuntu 9.10 with hopped up Compiz in all its glory with no hesitation at all.)

I applaud Dell for making the right decision, and helping buyers select the appropriate level of hardware to run the more efficient Ubuntu system.

By: NoobixCube

NoobixCube — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:38:36 +0000

Unless I slept longer than I thought, October 2010 hasn’t happened yet. Third paragraph to last.