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Dell Sells Open Source Computers
Lo5 writes with the excellent news that Dell is selling desktop computers without Windows preinstalled. They are called "n Series"; you can choose from Dimension E520, E521, or C521 desktops. The hard drive comes unformatted.
Has anyone figured out how much cheaper these computers come than those with OEM Windows? Dell's pricing/models are so scattered I don't even know where to begin.
They have been doing this for some time. I have heard that Linux is known to port badly to these machines.
Shows how much Microsoft's monopoly is silently accepted when it's news that someone sells computers without Windows.
... and then they built the supercollider.
You have the source code for your BIOS?
When I used a genuine IBM PC back in the day, yes, IBM published the complete source code to BIOS. The listing was *the* API reference.
I bought a Windows X2 AMD Dual-Core 3800+ without monitor for $389, however, when I tried to purchase an n-series with the exact same processor without the monitor, I was not allowed to remove the monitor. Dell tech support said they could not sell the n-series machine without a monitor.
these machines arent any cheaper than Dell's other offerings with the same hardware
you are paying the same and not getting the $100 value of xp or so
And then there was E
Some makers of commercial software with a free trial, such as Symantec with its Norton Antivirus, pay makers of Lenovo-compatible PCs running Windows OS to install their products. Some claim that the trialware bounties more than pay for the entire cost of a Windows license.
My Acorn Atom actually came with schematics (2) and it was easy enough to disassemble the ROM. The manual even had a complete definition of the syntax in Backus-Naur format. Too bad modern computer makers don't seem to have that sort of respect for their users.
Signatures are a waste of bandwi (buffering...)
Furthermore, Dell is not selling a computer with nothing on it. Customise the configuration and you'll notice several differences with other Dell models. For instance, one needs to sacrifice a goat and pay some 10 to 20 Euro/Dollars more in order to buy a computer from Dell without a floppy. Those computers come with a floppy and if you don't want it they don't lower the price. The same goes for the optical drive. Also you'll need to buy a pretty expensive video card that you'll probably not use at all if you indent to use the computer as a server and work remotely on it. And don't forget to order Microsoft Flight Simulator or some of the other windows-only software they try to sell!
um...that isn't the same computer at all, the one in the article had a dual amd64 3800 and that one you linked to had a celeron/pentium 4/pentium d ...very different computers.
ojustgiveitup, a nice name but no I won't.
The visible differences between the open source E520 on the left side of the "open source" page and the E520 on right hand side of the Windoze bargain page are:
Those differences could hardly come up to $230, so you are paying the Windoze tax and then some for the illusion of avoiding it. Same box, same stuff in it, the one with Windoze costs less. What a dissapointment.
If I could not find a cheaper Intel or AMD system or just had to buy the Dell, I'd get the one with Windoze and try to return it ... that's probably what this is designed to thwart ... and use the difference to buy a nice LCD. Given the apparent dishonesty, Dell is going to be the last place I look.
DELL IS TERMINAL.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
I've done this for years, but I will admit the idea of a 'pick up and fix for me' warranty does have its appeal sometimes.
Mind you, if I got a machine from Dell it would have windows on it, I like my linux machines to be headless monsters capable of running my experiments, or simple coding boxes with a basic Gcard.
windows machines == gaming boxen for me, not a place for serious work.
No, the difference is that Dell get paid to install third-party apps onto a Windows install.
Not news at all. 6 months ago infact. I must have been one of the first idiots to purchase 2 "N" Series for clients and ignorantly forgot to look for XP licenses before buying them online.
I had huuuuge arguements with the poor Dell employee who answered my belligerent phone call, asking if could purchase XP Pro for the $58 extra it would have cost me in the first place. I didn't get the licenses.
Still, its not News. More Olds.
I have ridden the mighty moon worm!
So I went through and tried configuring one of these systems, but I couldn't add it to my cart because of 'Compatibility Problems', which the Dell website was even kind enough to explain to me so that they could be fixed and I could continue adding the machine to my cart. The 'problems' it reported to me were:
Errors:
Windows® Vista does not support Optical Drive selected.
Warnings:
You have selected Vista Premium Operating System with a Basic system configuration. To fully realize Vista Premium's capabilities you need to select at least 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM Memory.
And no, I did not change the OS selection, I checked twice that it was still set to 'FreeDOS'.