Dell Offers Ubuntu Option With Alienware Gaming Desktop

dartttt writes "Dell has launched a new Ubuntu gaming desktop (first ever?) . Alienware customers can now choose either Windows or Ubuntu when buying a new X51. Ubuntu option is initially available to U.S. customers only and the price starts from $599." Also in Ubuntu news: Canonical announced on Friday the final beta release of Ubuntu 13.04, aka Raring Ringtail (the main release, as well as the growing flock of other *buntus).

Comments

That's weird.

[Seumas]

You have the inquisitiveness and good taste to use linux, but you have a low bar for standards, shitty taste, and willingness to overpay for Alienware?!

I mean, I'm glad to see linux anywhere it can get to, but that's such a bizarre pairing.

Re:That's weird.

[Verunks]

if you want a gaming laptop there aren't many other choices, and they are all priced around the same

Re:But where are the games?

[Anonymous Coward]

http://store.steampowered.com/browse/linux/

no Windows fee, so costs more

[dltaylor]

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x51/pd

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=DPDOXP4u&model_id=alienware-x51&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Ubuntu box gets lower spec' and fewer accessories:

Smaller hard drive 1 vs 2; no mouse or keyboard, ...

They're both 1049?

Re:no Windows fee, so costs more

[johnkoer]

Or Dell, like any other company, is trying to make a profit and sees an opportunity to get some additional markup. You could also speculate that if they make the Ubuntu boxes cheaper, more people would buy them not knowing what Ubuntu is. Then when they try and install their copy of The Sims they will call Dell and complain. This raises their support costs for the computers and thus has to be included in the base sale price.

Why so negative?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm constantly surprised at how some people can only see the bad side to any news.

Finally we're seeing mainstream acceptance of Linux as an alternative to Windows and yet people still complain. This is a great first step, a major manufacturer is putting Linux onto machines designed to be sold to the home in a competitive way. It can only lead to good things, more game manufacturers taking notice and developing their games for the platform, which in turn will make the hardware vendors made decent drivers.

And yet all some people can focus on is the fact that this machine doesn't suit their own personal special snowflake situation. the mind boggles!

Dell still doesn't get it

[loufoque]

Why is Dell making stupid Linux offerings?
Either they're providing Linux on shit hardware or on gaming hardware. Neither is the right target.

People want Linux on good hardware, but not for games, they want it for work.
And they want it to be part of the main offerings, not hidden on some special section of the website.

Re:But where are the games?

[Mike Frett]

I have about 30, most all of them are compatible or will be once Valve releases HL2. And we already know any new games Valve releases will be Linux native. There are also dozens of sweet Kickstarter projects about to be released also. And lgdb.org has a huge database of games.

I think what you are really saying is "Where are the Graphically Superior Games". Well, IMO Graphics don't make the game, but they are nice to look at. The solution is to stop buying Windows only games and check the compatibility before you buy a game so you're not stuck.

Emulators and not-an-emulators

[tepples]

Nearly every game for NES, Super NES, or Sega Genesis works in emulation on Linux. If you have a Retrode, you can turn your Super NES or Genesis cartridges into ROM files and play them that way, or you can use a Kazzo to dump NES cartridges.

And if you're not into emulation, you can try Wine, which is not an emulator. Plenty of PC games made for Windows work in Linux through Wine. Or you can try a load of amateur games made with SDL or Pygame.

Steam DRM tends to feel less evil to the user

[tepples]

DRM on Window - Evil
DRM on Linux - OHMERGOSH I CAN'T CONTAIN MY ERECTION!

That's because the DRM on these Linux games tends to be Steam DRM. DRM is evil, but Steam DRM tends to feel less evil to the user in practice. Unlike Assassin's Creed 2 and SimCity (2013), which made headlines for requiring a continuous Internet connection during gameplay, games using Steam DRM only require the user to connect to the Internet once after installation and every 30 days thereafter for single-player or same-screen multiplayer mode.

Re:Steam DRM tends to feel less evil to the user

[Runaway1956]

Sorry - DRM is still evil. I might consider a game or something that I have to connect to the internet ONE TIME for verification. Every thirty days after? No sale. No phone home features, thank you very much.

Re:But where are the games?

[mwvdlee]

This machine will run Tux Racer like you wouldn't believe!

Re:Pay to upgrade their experience to what?

[Runaway1956]

I'm not the one trying to make a living by entertaining people. In fact, I'm very UNentertaining. People pay to not see or to hear me.

What I know for sure is, gaming is trying to follow in the footsteps of the music and movie industries. They really need to back up, look at reality, and find another way to go.

I no longer play games. I got tired of them. But, I know for a fact, that purchasing a game, only to run into DRM bullshit only forces people to torrent the cracked versions. I did it, and I've watched my sons do it. Whether it's a CD check, or an online activation check, or whatever, if I have to jump through a hoop to play the game, it's not worth playing. Just grab the cracked version, and you don't have to jump ANY hoops.

Just entertain people, and see if they reward you. Stop treating entertainment like it has to be a big business. Don't spend 3 million dollars developing a game, in the hopes that you'll make twelve million in sales. That's just retarded Hollywierd thinking.