Posted by
timothy
on from the on-again-off-again-baker's-man dept.
Zed writes "Showing a distancing of itself from Microsoft, Dell now offers businesses a chance to purchase computers without a Windows operating system. The N-Series computers start at $319 from Dell's website and ship with a FreeDOS CD in the box."
I know this isn't exactly new info, but if you look at freedos.org you will see that they have a news post about it. It has been available for a while now, but only in Canada. The news is that it is for US also now.
FreeDos is a cool project. You should check it out if you haven't yet.
A wake up call for Microsoft?
by
bc90021
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Since Dell has half the market cap of IBM. which makes it a sizable company in its own right, Microsoft (granted, which still has a larger market cap than both combined) should realise that two of the biggest computer makers are trying to distance themselves. If they weren't already afraid of the free movement (whether it be Linux or FreeDOS!) they should be paying a lot more attention very soon!
Element Computer
by
Deraj+DeZine
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· Score: 5, Informative
They're not exactly Dell (referring to the size, not the quality), but Element Computer has a strict no-Microsoft policy to avoid paying expensive licensing fees to Microsoft. All the computers they sell run Lycoris Desktop/LX (a Linux distribution). They've got some pretty nice computers for the price... now if only I wasn't so cheap...
-- True story.
More precisely
by
ScottSpeaks!
·
· Score: 5, Informative
According to their news entries, this is new for US customers, but it's been available to Canadians for a while.
When Dell stops this, and...
by
Anonymous Coward
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· Score: 5, Informative
When Dell stops this bullshit, and offers a windows delete credit across their entire product line (without invalidating warranties), then you will finally know that you aren't paying a full microsoft tax when you order a computer with Linux or some other operating system.
Re:IMO, This is great
by
piznut
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· Score: 4, Informative
Supposedly, you can get linux pre-installed. My assumption is that it will cost extra since it is Redhat Enterprise WS.
Their website seems pretty light on the details about linux but this page tells you what systems it is available for.
Then again, anyone who actually wants linux on a desktop machine probably knows how to obtain and install their favorite distro anyway.
Re:FreeDOS
by
Howard+Roark
·
· Score: 5, Informative
You install Linux on it.
If you read the fine print carefully, you will discover that the N series systems actually ship with no operating system installed. They include a FreeDOS media kit in the box. This way you don't have to pay any Microsoft tax on the machine. I suppose you could use the FreeDOS to test the machine before you installed the Linux distro of your choice,
--
Howard Roark, Architect
I believe in a Man's right to exist for his own sake.
Because they're really shipping it with no OS.
by
AzrealAO
·
· Score: 5, Informative
It's intended for Businesses who have a volume licence agreement for x number of Windows Installs. This let's them buy new workstations without having to pay for a Windows Licence they already have.
Price difference
by
ScottSpeaks!
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· Score: 4, Informative
Dell's offering a $200 rebate on the comes-with-Windows model at the moment, but if you set that aside, roughtly equivalent sample configurations are priced as follows:
Dell Dimension 2400: 2.4GHz Celeron, 256MB RAM, 80GB HD, CD-ROM, no monitor, Windows XP: $599
The arithmetic is left as an exercise for the reader.
Re:FreeWindows?
by
bhtooefr
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· Score: 5, Informative
ReactOS (formerly FreeWin95, a project to create a Windows 95 clone) is a project to create a Windows 2000 clone. It's at version 0.2 (just a couple of days ago, and I thought they hadn't made it to 0.1.6 yet). It'll have Wine in there to actually get decent Win32 support. BTW, the rosapps all run great on Win2K/XP, but they sucked ass on 0.1.1 when I tried it, which is good, seeing that they're coding against Win2K, and not ROS.
Re:Now how about...
by
blixel
·
· Score: 4, Informative
...laptops?
Yeah that's what I'd like to see. I e-mailed Dell two months ago about getting a laptop without Windows XP on it and this is what they said: (in short they said tough luck)
> Problem Description: > ------ I tried to purchase the Inspiron 5100 Notebook online but I noticed when I selected the option to customize that I was not able to remove Windows XP from the selection. As a long time "alternative operating system user", I have no desire to pay for an Operating System that I have no intention on using. -------
Dear Sir,
Thank you for choosing Dell Online Customer Care.
I apologize for any inconvenience this matter may have caused.
Unfortunately, we are unable to assist you with your request.
Online Sales Center at 1-800-915-3355 ext 62032 or via e-mail at:
Re:Is this new?
by
flyfishin
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· Score: 5, Informative
Not according to the FreeDos site.
"Update: (16 Jan 2004) This may look like a repeat, but it's not. Before, FreeDOS on Dell wasn't available to US customers - it was Canadian customers only."
Re:Is this new?
by
Xabraxas
·
· Score: 4, Informative
From the FreeDOS website:
Chuck found that US customers can purchase Dell systems with FreeDOS: Perhaps this is old news but browsing on Dell's Small Business site, I noticed that they are now offering select systems bundled with FreeDOS. From the web site: The n series features select popular models from the DimensionTM , OptiPlexTM and Dell PrecisionTM desktop lines sold without a Microsoft(R) operating system. Offered for IT professionals who want control over operating system development and installation, n series desktops are available with a copy of the FreeDOSTM open-source operating system included in the box, ready to install.
Update: (16 Jan 2004) This may look like a repeat, but it's not. Before, FreeDOS on Dell wasn't available to US customers - it was Canadian customers only.
-- Time makes more converts than reason
Re:Is this new?
by
scott_davey
·
· Score: 5, Informative
We just got in some multi-million dollar SANS from HP and they threw in a bunch of dual Xeon 3.2 GHz w/HT, 2GB, 136GB U320 Raid 5 Linux servers. HP has Open Source drivers for the Gig cards and even drivers/software for thier HP Lights Out management app for the Linux servers. With Dell you don't get any of that.
Actually, last year we bought a bunch of Dell PowerEdge 2650s with RedHat 9 (and then had to purchase RHEL only six months later because of that end of life bullshit...but that's another story).
Anyway, Dell has a really good installer that asks a couple of questions, then installs RedHat with all the right options for the hardware, including Dell's drivers for their gigabit ethernet card and RAID 5 config. It even included a custom hardware PNP lookup file with identifiers for all the components in the server that aren't in the standard distro.
Dell also have their management interface for linux, which does everything the windows version does.
I was quite impressed with Dell (Not so much with RedHat over that end of life thing)
Slashdot Mirror
Nope, you are right. They have been doing this for quite some time, they also offer Linux as an alternative as well.
Yep, back in 2002...
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=1534
Government's idea of a balanced budget: take money from the right pocket to balance...oh who am I kidding?
FreeDos is a cool project. You should check it out if you haven't yet.
SCO.com uses Linux
Since Dell has half the market cap of IBM. which makes it a sizable company in its own right, Microsoft (granted, which still has a larger market cap than both combined) should realise that two of the biggest computer makers are trying to distance themselves. If they weren't already afraid of the free movement (whether it be Linux or FreeDOS!) they should be paying a lot more attention very soon!
libertarianswag.com
They're not exactly Dell (referring to the size, not the quality), but Element Computer has a strict no-Microsoft policy to avoid paying expensive licensing fees to Microsoft. All the computers they sell run Lycoris Desktop/LX (a Linux distribution). They've got some pretty nice computers for the price... now if only I wasn't so cheap...
True story.
According to their news entries, this is new for US customers, but it's been available to Canadians for a while.
When Dell stops this bullshit, and offers a windows delete credit across their entire product line (without invalidating warranties), then you will finally know that you aren't paying a full microsoft tax when you order a computer with Linux or some other operating system.
Their website seems pretty light on the details about linux but this page tells you what systems it is available for. Then again, anyone who actually wants linux on a desktop machine probably knows how to obtain and install their favorite distro anyway.
You install Linux on it.
If you read the fine print carefully, you will discover that the N series systems actually ship with no operating system installed. They include a FreeDOS media kit in the box. This way you don't have to pay any Microsoft tax on the machine. I suppose you could use the FreeDOS to test the machine before you installed the Linux distro of your choice,
Howard Roark, Architect
I believe in a Man's right to exist for his own sake.
It's intended for Businesses who have a volume licence agreement for x number of Windows Installs. This let's them buy new workstations without having to pay for a Windows Licence they already have.
- Dell Dimension 2400N: 2.4GHz Celeron, 256MB RAM, 80GB HD, CD-ROM, no monitor, FreeDOS: $369
- Dell Dimension 2400: 2.4GHz Celeron, 256MB RAM, 80GB HD, CD-ROM, no monitor, Windows XP: $599
The arithmetic is left as an exercise for the reader.ReactOS (formerly FreeWin95, a project to create a Windows 95 clone) is a project to create a Windows 2000 clone. It's at version 0.2 (just a couple of days ago, and I thought they hadn't made it to 0.1.6 yet). It'll have Wine in there to actually get decent Win32 support. BTW, the rosapps all run great on Win2K/XP, but they sucked ass on 0.1.1 when I tried it, which is good, seeing that they're coding against Win2K, and not ROS.
...laptops?
Yeah that's what I'd like to see. I e-mailed Dell two months ago about getting a laptop without Windows XP on it and this is what they said: (in short they said tough luck)
> Problem Description:
>
------
I tried to purchase the Inspiron 5100 Notebook online but I noticed when I selected the option to customize that I was not able to remove Windows XP from the selection. As a long time "alternative operating system user", I have no desire to pay for an Operating System that I have no intention on using.
-------
Dear Sir,
Thank you for choosing Dell Online Customer Care.
I apologize for any inconvenience this matter may have caused.
Unfortunately, we are unable to assist you with your request.
Online Sales Center at 1-800-915-3355 ext 62032 or via e-mail
at:
DHS_On-Line_Order@Dell.com
How about putting the OS you purchased a license to use on your old boxen, that's not currently being used?
Those licenses are not transferable. You can't even blow away a PC and reload it with another copy of the OS you bought with it.
Intelligent Life on Earth
Not according to the FreeDos site.
"Update: (16 Jan 2004) This may look like a repeat, but it's not. Before, FreeDOS on Dell wasn't available to US customers - it was Canadian customers only."
Chuck found that US customers can purchase Dell systems with FreeDOS: Perhaps this is old news but browsing on Dell's Small Business site, I noticed that they are now offering select systems bundled with FreeDOS. From the web site: The n series features select popular models from the DimensionTM , OptiPlexTM and Dell PrecisionTM desktop lines sold without a Microsoft(R) operating system. Offered for IT professionals who want control over operating system development and installation, n series desktops are available with a copy of the FreeDOSTM open-source operating system included in the box, ready to install. Update: (16 Jan 2004) This may look like a repeat, but it's not. Before, FreeDOS on Dell wasn't available to US customers - it was Canadian customers only.
Time makes more converts than reason
Actually, last year we bought a bunch of Dell PowerEdge 2650s with RedHat 9 (and then had to purchase RHEL only six months later because of that end of life bullshit...but that's another story).
Anyway, Dell has a really good installer that asks a couple of questions, then installs RedHat with all the right options for the hardware, including Dell's drivers for their gigabit ethernet card and RAID 5 config. It even included a custom hardware PNP lookup file with identifiers for all the components in the server that aren't in the standard distro.
Dell also have their management interface for linux, which does everything the windows version does.
I was quite impressed with Dell (Not so much with RedHat over that end of life thing)