Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ubuntu Dell $50 Cheaper Than Vista Dell

Posted by kdawson on from the all-that-and-a-better-os-too dept.

rhinokitty writes "Dell recently announced that their Ubuntu systems will be $50 cheaper than similar systems running Vista (Home Basic Edition). This will be a good fork in the road for those people who need a little extra push to take hold of their dreams and run Linux."

3 of 389 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Is Ubuntu good? by Tribbin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's the distro I install for all my friends.

    When I reinstall Windows for a friend, I put Ubuntu on their computer next to windows and tell them to boot it if windows fails again.

    It takes a couple of months before they really need to fall back on it. And in the meanwhile, at moments when they feel brave, they take a peek in the rabbithole.

    And they confirm; Ubuntu does a great job for a fresh user.

    --
    If you mod this up, your slashdot background will turn into a beautiful sunset!
  2. Re:$50? by fonik · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Heh, yeah.

    I like the part of the www.dell.com/open site where it asks you if you are there by mistake and suggests you go back to looking at Windows machines.

    The main thing to note is that when you choose open source you don't get a Windows® operating system. If you're here by mistake and you are looking for a Dell PC with Windows, please use the following link.

    Shop Dell PCs with Windows
    They even put the link to their Windows machines BEFORE the link to the Ubuntu machines. If you were selling cars and someone showed interest in an import, would you ask, "Are you SURE you want to buy one of THOSE?" Their machines work great, but the website is serious WTF material.
  3. Re:What this really means by Eivind · · Score: 5, Interesting
    But there are several trends coming together. Each individual one may not count for much, but the sum total is still starting to look interesting.
    • The average price of new computers is falling.
    • The price of Windows, both in pure dollars and in requirements is rising sharply.
    • Linux is getting easier and easier for the non-geeks to use.
    • You can get pre-installed Linux from vendors people have heard of. This matters.
    • There's a large amount (though not as large as I'd like) of articles and news-coverage of consumer-hostile "features" in Vista.
    • There is a distinct lack of *advantage* for a consumer moving from XP to Vista, in other words, MS has done next to *nothing* worthwhile for a consumer in the last 5-6 years.
    • Vista has horrible hardware-support. Of the 5 usb-gadgets that my wife uses, 2 failed to work with Vista. For one, an Epson-scanner, the status is: "Drivers will be released in february". Meanwhile, Linux supports more hardware out-of-the-box than any other operating-system ever has. (though not more than XP plus additional drivers)

    None of these are deal-breakers, really. And most people will certainly buy the "default" choice, Vista, without really giving it second thougths. But *some* will start thinking.

    Linux certainly won't displace Windows on the desktop this year, or the next. But it'll continue doing what it's been doing quietly for years already: growing.