Dell releases Ubuntu 7.04 desktops at Windows prices

iTwire ^ | 2007-05-24 | Stan Beer

[N3WBI3]

The day Linux advocates have been waiting for has arrived . Dell has announced three different systems with Ubuntu 7.04 installed: the XPS 410n and Dimension E520n desktops and the Inspiron E1505n notebook. However, those expecting lower prices for their Linux boxes may be disappointed because there is little or no price differential between the Linux and Windows models. In fact, the entry level E520 Windows desktop is significantly cheaper.

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The pre-installed Ubuntu systems will be available at www.dell.com/open today. Starting price for the E520n desktop and the E1505n notebook is US$599; the XPS 410n starts at US$899.

By comparison, the starting price for a Dell E520 with Vista Home Basic, Celeron processor and 512MB RAM is US$369, while a Core 2 Duo model with Vista Home Premium and 1GB RAM is $679. The entry level of the Vista Home Basic version of the E1505 notebook is US$699, $100 more than its entry level Ubuntu counterpart. At the higher end the XPS 410, with Core 2 Duo processor, Vista Home Premium, 1GB RAM and 19 inch LCD monitoris exactly the same price as the Ubuntu Linux version at US$899.

Of course, it's hard to compare systems without seeing the equivalent configurations. However, early indications are that Dell will not be trying to sell its new Linux boxes on the price of the operating system. For Linux stalwarts, that should not be a problem. They can point to the plethora of free open source applications that will come bundled with the Ubuntu boxes, giving them a full strength working system from the get go without the need to buy additional applications.

The true test, however, will be how easily users will be able to configure the pre-installed systems to do the things they've been used to doing with Windows - wireless networking, music, videos, games - as well as driver support for their peripherals

According to the Direct2Dell blog, hardware support will come from Dell as well as the Linux section of the Dell Community Forum, with updates coming from the Linux team at www.dell.com/linux http://linux.dell.com. Users also have fee-based options for operating system support through Canonical, including 30-day Get Started, One-year Basic and One-year Standard.

[Golden Eagle]

You mean the applications everyone is used to like Quicken? Not much, considering the alternative is using some crapware clone like Das Kapital on Linux, or spending weeks trying to tweak it just so you can run your existing software under some half-cooked Windows compatibility layer.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Need to replace that buggy system?

[Quix]

Thanks.

Trying to throw enough pottery stoneware dinnerware place settings to be able to get a new robust system. Mine is very hefty just 5 years old and buggy. Figure the kind of system I’d like would be 2,000-3,000 I hate to go cheap on a new system given how quickly they are out of date.

But, will see what God provides.

2 CPU AMD ATHLON; RAID DRIVE MIRRORED; 1GIG HZ 1 GIG RAM (2ND GIG WON’T WORK); ETC. ETC.

Much appreciate the input.

[N3WBI3]

But it costs the same (actually MORE did you say?) than Windows? LMAO!

After Looking at Dells site here is the break down of the default Ubuntu option (E520N):

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4300 (1.8GHz, 800 FSB)
Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 7.04
17 inch E177FP Analog Flat Panel
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
48X CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

This is about the exact same set of hardware as the Dell Dimension E520:

Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4300 (1.8GHz, 800 FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium
17 inch E177FP Analog Flat Panel
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
48X CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3000
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

The total price is:

Ubuntu: $599

Vita (Basic): $679

The Desktop Linux option is $80 cheaper.

Now for vista we would have to add $169 for ultimate, $119 for business, or $34 for home premium..

[ShadowAce]

The laptop version (E1505N) is $100.00 cheaper.

[Golden Eagle]

Your data is contradictory. The specs you listed clearly show “Vista Home Premium” then right below you claim it’s “Vita Basic” (sic). Either would come with a working DVD drive though LOL.

[N3WBI3]

Thanks for the catch, I cant figure how I missed that. It is indeed home premium so you would have to add 169 for ultimate or 119 for business..

[Decombobulator]

Getting DVDs to work in Ubuntu is simply a matter of checking a box in the settings, which causes Ubuntu to automatically download a decoder that allows DVDs to play. The only reason it’s not enabled by default is so that the user has to explicitly acknowledge some agreement by clicking that box.

[N3WBI3]

Thanks for the post, having never used that distro I was unaware it was so easy and it does ship with the DVD working you just need to turn it on.

[Golden Eagle]

You have to acknowledge you are downloading and installing an unlicensed driver from another country that may be illegal. Dell won’t legally protect you, nor will this Ubuntu group.