Slashdot Mirror
Dell PCs with Ubuntu Are A Little Less Expensive
Chandon Seldon writes "Contrary to many earlier reports, it turns out that Dell's prices for its Ubuntu PCs are cheaper than similar Windows Vista PCs for all three Models. Ars Technica reports: 'So it turns out that not including Windows saves the consumer $50 from the regular list price. This amount is not too far off from what a large OEM like Dell would pay for a volume discount for Windows Vista Home Basic (the regular OEM price is about $95). Many value PC sellers try to make up for the cost of a Windows license by bundling demo and trial versions of software such as AOL (affectionately known as "crapware"), for which they receive money from software companies looking to increase their distribution levels. Dell is no exception to this practice, although on their web site it allows customers to select the option of not including various applications.' For direct comparisons, Nat Tuck of Umass-Lowell has put together a simple page showing prices for Ubuntu and Windows-based PCs."
Why is 50 bucks such a big deal? It seems to be a penis size contest. The fact that Dell is actually SHIPPING these systems is the only part that should matter and it's been discussed enough as it is.
And it doesn't even matter that much. It's not like suddenly I'm going to suggest everyone who asks me (which happens a lot) buy an Ubuntu Dell. I will still send them to somewhere like Powernotebooks.com for laptops and a local vendor I have good ties with for desktops and they can buy their own OS, skip dealing with the crapware... Argh
No sig for you!!