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Dell Ships Ubuntu 7.04 PCs Today
javipas writes "Today by 4:00 PM CST Dell will start selling three machines with Ubuntu 7.04 pre-installed. The two desktops (XPS 410n, $899 and Dimension E520n, $599) and the notebook (Inspiron E1505n, $599) will be the first three machines with the popular Linux distribution installed by default. There is little or no price differential between the Linux and Windows models; in fact, the entry level E520 Windows desktop is cheaper. Dell has announced that they will provide hardware support, and they've created a new site devoted to giving further Linux support and updates. At the moment the offer is only available in the US."
Microsoft pays a heavy subsidy to lock people in. So it costs you negative money at first, but believe me there is a positive cost at the end that more than makes up for it, or else they wouldn't do it. Open source is the same price the whole time: free.
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Makes sense if you consider the bundled software that comes with Windows that the software manufacturers pay Dell to put on the systems. And if you consider the added cost for supporting a new OS.
.. you've been asking for this for, let me think, for ever.
It's time to stop your moaning! And time to start your credit cards!!
Put your money where your mouth is :-)
monk.e.boy
Open source, flash charts
They fail to mention that the linux boxen come with a free copy of Office (a $300.00 value), free copy of Photoshop ($??? Value), and thousands of other free programs that will ultimately save you money. No, it doesn't make up for the base price of the OS, but with Linux, you don't just get the OS.
If nobody buys these, I seriously doubt they'll keep them around. And if Dell drops them due to lack of demand (in real life, not on the Internet), Linux will end up farther from getting on the average person's desktop than before.
Dell pays for Microsoft software just like everybody else. They don't pay very much, but they still pay a little for it. The difference is the 3rd party stuff. The Norton/McAfee third party trials. The AOL links on the desktop. The Nero trials and all the other stuff you either uninstall or wipe with your own installation of XP/what-have-you. *Those* are the sort of things that Dell gets kickbacks on.
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
There was a story on Ars Technica a while back (I don't have the link, sorry) where Michael Dell was doing a question and answer session, and someone asked him how much extra they would have to pay to get a PC without "Craplets". The figure he gave was $50 - $60.
Now, I don't know how much Dell pay for a vista license, and I don't suppose we will be finding out any time soon, but if it's less than $50 dollars (which would not be a shock) then the Linux machines being more expensive makes sense. If I had to guess though, I think they will probably sell for the same price as the Windows machines.
"I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks
And I'll be laughing at you when I buy a better-quality used laptop for $300-400 and install Ubuntu on it.
-b.
... that almost anyone clued in enough to decide that they want Ubuntu would be clued up enough to just buy the Windows version and install Ubuntu dual boot. Most linux users still have some use for windows and its lice to have it legally.
I wonder what discount could be had if there was a 'no support' option? I can't see regular home users queuing up to buy something they are unfamiliar with if the price is the same.
to get the PC with Windows, download & burn Ubuntu, ask for the Windows Vista refund, install Ubuntu, and you get a better deal, don't you think?
People are funny -- they'll think: isn't that the OS that they put on cheap crappy computers? A lot of people don't differentiate the computer hardware from the OS -- they think of computers as Windows, Macs, or Linuxes.
-b.
How smart of Dell, who will buy Ubuntu computer when he can for the same price have Vista license? You get all the dll files you might need for Wine, W32codecs, etc and can install Ubuntu by yourself since Dell doesn't modify Ubuntu install in any way AFAIK.
I agree, I will not be buying any of these, computers because I do not live in the US. However, I really hope this is a big success and leads to Dell spreading there offers to other models and countries.
Remember, not only does this mean it is easier for new users to have a computer running Linux/ubuntu/GNU/whatever because they know the hardware will be supported and they don't have to install it etc etc etc. It will also mean more extensive hardware support in Linux because hardware manufacturers will have more incentive to create (hopefully unrestricted/free) drivers for their products.
"sudo rm -rf your-face"
Furthermore, I believe the default config will have integrated video (which has open sourced drivers). You will probably have the option to upgrade to an nvidia card. (But the specs aren't official yet, so this is speculation based on what had been on Dell's wiki & official statements they've made saying they'll use F/OSS drivers.)
My old laptop is actually 2 1/2 years old. So my old laptop would be the same age as the one he is going to spend $400 on, and I only paid $650 for it new. Sounds like I'm getting the better deal here.
Besides, I've found that the useful life of most laptops is about 3-4 years. After that they start to either have battery issues, Power Adapter problems, loose or sticky lid hinges, worn keys, cracked frames and other component problems that require either repair or costly replacement parts. Not to mention you usually end up immediately investing money in RAM upgrades, as they are always under-RAMmed. You are basically at a point of diminishing returns with older machines like that. You end up paying out as much money to keep the older, slower, worn-out machine going as you would have if you had just ponied up the extra $200 - $300 for a low-end new one with a full warranty and support.
Old machines are fine as free hand-me-downs or when bought in large quantities where a few units can be parts-scavenged to repair other ones, but buying new is almost always the better way to go. Now that Dell is giving us the option for brand new with Linux, there really isn't any excuse other than penny-wise pound-foolishness.
Official Heretic from the "Church of Global Warming". Proven right thanks to whistle blowers. AGW = Flat Earth Theory
Windows costs less than free. They have to pay you to take Windows.
Do you really think there's a PC manufacturer out there who wouldn't want to tap into the Wal-Mart distribution channel?
Dell is geared up with the kind of manufacturing capacity to supply systems to Wal-Mart at the ridiculously low prices they demand. Landing a huge sales channel like this is hardly desperation on Dell's part. This is a win for both companies. Maybe even for those of us who buy systems, too.
> So maybe it DOES cost less overall to install Windows.
Initially, perhaps. Overall, no. Reason: Security.
What price do you want to put on peoples bank accounts, credit cards, ss#, etc?
One piece of malware and that initial savings turns into a vastly expensive liability.
Phishing is bad enough. Windows helps fill in the gaps.
boycott slashdot February 10th - 17th check out: altSlashdot.org
> I paid $100 for Windows XP. The Ubantu Dell should cost at lest $100 less than the identical Windows box.
1) Dell doesn't pay the retail cost for Windows.
2) Dell defrays the cost of each PC with the additional software (aka "crapware") that vendors pay to have pre-installed on dell PCs. At the moment, the version of Ubuntu sold with Dell PCs does not include such software...so you are buying a clean PC. Thus, the price comparison noted in the original article is inappropriate. Instead, one should compare the cost of the new Dell Ubuntu models with the cost of their equivalent Windows versions with the dell "clean PC" option...which adds additional expense to the Windows PC.
3) Dell must defray a range of costs associated with these new models, including additional work with OEM vendors for drivers, building a Linux-centric support site, and providing Linux OS phone support...at least with regards to how it relates to the hardware.
4) Most people who will buy one of these models with Ubuntu will most likely not do so to save money. Thus, Dell does not need to offer deep discounts...and this is a free market.
I am a Dell employee who can comment on the support standpoint. Canonical may be used for support in some cases however Dell has been ramping up 2 different call centers to be equiped to handle the Ubuntu calls. So there will be direct support from Dell on these.
My wife use to do response rate modeling for targeted advertising for a credit card company. The response rate is really, really low. You can't afford to pay very much per impression because otherwise, the numbers don't work out. They really don't work out for a Symantec who doesn't know who the buyer is, and there is a pretty good chance that the buyer is already a customer. What Dell ought to do is label certain models as 'Linux certifed' and allow you to buy those machines without Windows and the price of Windows deducted. The *ONLY* reason Dell (or any other Windows OEM) doesn't do this is that Microsoft threatened to retaliate in some way that would increase Dell's price for Windows and or MS Office. We don't know what form that threat took, but I guarantee you that this stupidity was dictated by Microsoft.
The ability to buy freedom for +$0-$100 more than the alternative, and invest in potentially a positive feedback loop of more and more vendors attempting to make Dell buy their components, thereby improving linux compatibility across the field?
Value of including craplets > cost of Windows.
Therefore, there is business case for MS to give away craplet-infested Windows install disks.
I don't know whether to be amused, intrigued, or run screaming in horror.
Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.