Dell unveils first Ubuntu preloaded computers
Dell, the world’s No 2 computer maker, unveiled Thursday its first three models preloaded with Ubuntu Linux: the Insprion E1505n, a 15-inch notebook; the XPS 410n, a desktop that starts out with virtually identical specs to the Dimesion, and the Dimension E520n, a middle of the line desktop. The new models give buyers a third choice when shopping for a PC at Dell: a machine with Windows installed, a machine with no OS, on which they can install one of their choice, and now a machine with Ubuntu Linux already installed. The systems come with hardware support through Dell’s normal support channels. Software support will come from a variety of dedicated Web sites and Linux forums, Dell said.
Buyers can choose service upgrades from Canonical, the sponsor of Ubuntu, in a 30-day “get started” service and a one-year basic, or standard, service. The long-awaited release is a landmark for Linux, the most popular variant of open-source software, in the consumer market. Unlike proprietary software, open-source software lets developers share code and add functions, and users only pay for custom features, maintenance and technical support. However those who hope that a free OS would mean a cheaper PC are a bit disappointed. The laptop starts at 599 U.S. dollars, while the two desktops, the Dimension E520 and XPS 410n, start from 599 dollars and 849 dollars each, respectively. Linux is used as the operating system on less than 5 percent of the world’s computers, mainly on servers, but it is growing at 20-30 percent a year.
Comments(26)
i am not a ms lover but i still think windows are best for every normal user…
That I must strongly disagree with. Ubuntu is just as, if not more, qualified to be used by the normal user, and I would be so rude to proclaim that a person completely unexperienced in the computerworld would have much more benefit of useing Ubuntu than Windows.
I have been using Ubuntu for about two-three years now, and have seen and experienced how it has evolved from being a typical Debian clone into being a operating system on its own, which can with ease say “I AM the most userfriendly OS in the world!”
TRY Linux AGAIN…YOU WILL BE SUPRISED HOW GOOD IT IS
yeah , as much as i hate to say it, linux has a far, far way to go before being something capable of going mainstream…
…and god have mercy on the guys who provide tech support for the new users.
I really like Ubuntu and all about it but I’m still using Windows XP for all the easiness it provides
I wouldnt mind using linux… if there was support by 80% of the software released on the market… that WILL work in Linux without any EMULATION.
If games run 100% same speed as in windows, and if games support linux 100% then sure i will go to linux. however i dont see that happening anytime soon.
If my adobe programs work in linux at full speed.. i would switch. but sadly still so much missing….
Anon, so sad but so true.
1. is Alienware.
TREXX the number 1 PC maker Hewlett-Packard. Alienware is a subsidary of Dell.
hmm ubuntu wouldn’t be good for my mum. I doubt she would be able to install a program on it… and there’s no icon or program shortcut anywhere to be found after installing software. really, my mum wouldn’t like it.
oh and yeah I hope Dell didn’t put any ATI graphics card into these… Lol
Chris, installing software is ubereasy, it’s just different than on Windows. Newly installed programs (which you find in one central repository accessible through either simple Add/Remove Apps program or advanced Synaptic) go into logical categories (office, multimedia, graphics, etc) in apps menu, not into some random producer folder in start menu. I don’t know how Ubuntu/Linux way is harder.
That being said I don’t think Ubuntu will succeed this way. Price difference is non-existant or minimal so most folks will buy Dells with Vista even if they prefer Linux. That means they get compatible hardware and Vista license so they can legally use dll files needed for Wine, W32codecs and similar stuff.
If you are a gamer, go with Windows etc
If you have specific software not available under Linux then the choice is clear
but if:
You are like most of the average users who use their computer for surfing, playing multimedia, word processing, and that sort of thing, don’t touch Windows, Linux is here
Why bother with all the system crashes, virus infections, trojans, update problems, format problems, …. when you can easily avoid them ALL?
It is just a wrong conception about Linux world that average people are not using it and it is in part the fault of education institutes which are still using Word for wordprocesing and Excel for sci calculations etc! They are stupid or what? Sorry, but I know what I am talking about and I know Word and Excel are, at least in the past couple of years, the worst thing that could happen to a school or university!
Anyways, people have to be shown that Linux is nothing wierd, nothing out of ordinary, it is a tool that you would love it if you decide to give it a try!
I’m sure Dell expects to sell tons of these and this isn’t just a transparent PR move that will get them some free press, excite a few delusional basement dwellers, and then die a quiet death…
Yeah, sure, right. And Linux is going to take over the desktop any week now. Go ahead, hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
the market share for linux is no way going up by 20% a year
its been barly above 1% for a few years now and almost never increases
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=5
I really hate linux since it is ‘all wrong’ but it has good support from hardware manufacturers. Currently I tried out beryl on mandriva 2007 and it was cool, but also slows down my system too much.
Hey guys if u want ubutu Linux Ship to ur home for
Free
just go to
https://shipit.ubuntu.com/
or U can download it from their site
http://www.ubuntu.com
Or
If U want Solaris OS 10
DVD package For
Free
to ur home
Just go to
http://www2.sun.de/dc/forms/reg_us_2211_391.jsp
http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/get.jsp
or
U could download it from its site.
BTW I like Dual Booting & keeping both
Windows XP & Linux or Solaris.
lol @ mrx
hw manufacturers support linux? nice joke you got there.
how many of them release drivers for linux or hw documentation? not much
thats why hw support is so hard on linux, most of the time they have to reverse engineer to add support to the kernel.
What I don’t like is how Dell saves money on using a free OS vs having to pay for windows but they don’t pass the savings on to the customers. Dell sucks.
I wish people would realize the benefits/savings of having someone build them a custom PC and give me more business.
If you want Linux for using at home, try a PC (i386) emulator. It can emulate any PC compatible OS (DOS, Windows (All), Linux (All), and else…) while u are using Windows or Linux. worth to try. the soft i know is vmware but i’m quite sure there are others.
Lol, kinda funny.
Ive worked in a comp store for awhile …. and most viruses and trojans are self inflicted by the stupid user. Like… oh i dont know who sent me this email.. .but it says naked women…. lets open it!!! omfg im infected with an STD!
why do ppl always think moving away from windows means no virus’s or trojans? There is no viruses or trojans yet for linux because they havent bothered due to the low popularity.
Its just like terrorism… why strike at small populations when you can strike a higher populations?
It was kinda funny… why Apple stopped advertising their computers as virus free…. cuz they provoked ppl… and screwed themselves over. Cuz somebody in the end created the first apple virus.
Nothing is perfect, if its made by man… then it can be cracked by man. “IF” linux does become big… and take over the world…. then expect them to start whining about viruses… cuz ppl will target it more often.
However at the moment linux holds a small percentage of the market, why waste time and resources into creating a virus to screw so little ppl over… when you can create a virus that can screw over alot more ppl…
Also about Dell, i noticed they are alot better than most companies around. Dell service is hella good…. can get computer back within like 3days. Ive noticed HP stuff has become shit after they merged with Compaq.
Their service is dispicable….. last time i had a HP thing…. took like 1month for them to get it back, from service.
I will never go back to HP…. they have dissapointed me too much with their service crap, and their product quality. (Brought 2 printers from them…. and they magically broke after around half a yr…. and then wait 1 month for repairs….)
why the hell isn’t this cheaper with ubuntu installed???
i thought that would be the whole point in switching to open source, FREE software
very disappointing indeed
yea, i guess that can be a reason
maybe it should just come with a warning like ‘this is not windows’ or something
i still say it should be cheaper or instead add the cost as ‘extra support’ so they still make their money but give you the option of not choosin it if you how to use this ubuntu
there are exploits for the linux kernal all the time but nobody bothers to exploit them
@ valberg
Youre lying and extremely overconfident. Linux is not really for “normal users” and I think you are overestimating the general populace because youve been subject to mainstream culture for far too long.
@ baerin
that and im sure micropenis would be quite pissed off
@ everyone
dont run multiple OS’ unless thats what you’re distinctively going for. there is no reason and its a waste of space on your HD.
@ Q
would you be so kind as to share some of these exploits? security is a major thing many linux users (including myself) stress. and its not because linux has a smaller userbase, the way linux runs is just not vulnerable to many things.
Ruff McGruff
http://www.securityfocus.com/vulnerabilities
select linux as vender