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Dell’s Big Ubuntu Linux PC Launch Happens Today at 4pm CST

By Alexander Grundner | May 24th, 2007 Interest Level: SMOKING HOT


dell ubuntu coming soon graphic

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am, and the rest of the Linux home users, are that Dell came through on their promise. This marks the first time that a first tier level PC OEM has delivered Linux to the home market – and it’s definitely been noted by the community worldwide. Below is an excerpt from Direct2Dell’s announcement regarding the PC models which will initially be launched and their corresponding prices. Also, if you have a chance, check out the video (mid-page) Dell prepared touring the Linux group where they chat about free open-source software, multimedia codecs (more info), notebook ACPI and hotkey support.

It’s finally here. Later today, Dell will offer U.S customers three different systems with Ubuntu 7.04 installed: the XPS 410n and Dimension E520n desktops and the Inspiron E1505n notebook. These systems will be available at www.dell.com/open by 4pm CST today. Starting price for the E520n desktop and the E1505n notebook is $599; the XPS 410n starts at $849.

Hardware support will come from Dell. Beyond that, users can turn to the Linux section of the Dell Community Forum for help and also get the latest updates from our Linux team at http://linux.dell.com. Users also have fee-based options for operating system support through Canonical, including 30-day Get Started, One-year Basic and One-year Standard.

[VIDEO]

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____________
Alexander Grundner is the Editor & Publisher of eHomeUpgrade. He has been following "Digital Home" developments since 2003. He's also a fan of cross-platform, open development software and industry standards related to media, networking, and the web. You can catch his daily tech musings on Twitter: @agrundner.
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  • Yeah, I saw the same speculation on the net. It didn't really make sense to me, though. Dell is saving big bucks on not offering technical support (outsourced to the Dell Linux Forum and to Canonical for a fee) on their Ubuntu systems and by installing an OS that costs them $0 to integrate into their hardware once all the R&D is completed. Sure they're not getting kick backs from Microsoft and third-party application developers, but there's nothing they have to offset costs for, which in turn brings down the retail price of the PC.




    Here's a more detailed Dell Ubuntu vs. Vista PC price comparison chart (via Digg). And here too: Slashdot - Dell PCs with Ubuntu Are A Little Less Expensive
  • mcstayinskool
    It sounds like the internet grapevine was in error then...good. $100 cheaper will hopefully be enough incentive to sway some people into giving it a shot.
  • mcstayinskool said: I have one major thorn about this though-- my understanding is that buying an Ubuntu-equipped Dell machine will actually cost *more* than the same hardware equipped with Windows. Presumably this is because of all the discounts Dell can put into a Windows machine as a result of the misc. corporate crapware they preload on to it.


    If you compare the prices announced, the Dell Linux PCs are about $100 less than the Windows versions. Example: Dell e1505 with Windows = on sale for $699 (reg. $948). Dell e1505n with Ubuntu Linux = $599.
  • mcstayinskool
    I recently dropped Gentoo on my desktop and Fedora on my laptop for Ubuntu on both, and it was one of the most relieving decisions I've made in my long relationship with all things Linux. Ubuntu is a fantastic distribution, the best I've ever seen. Soooo many things I could never get to work "just worked" after the move to Ubuntu. It may not be "ready for grandma", but then again neither is any flavor of Windows.




    I'm pretty psyched that Dell has made this move as well. It may mean that Linux might actually take that long-anticipated inroad to the mainstream desktop. Or it might not. We'll see.





    I have one major thorn about this though-- my understanding is that buying an Ubuntu-equipped Dell machine will actually cost *more* than the same hardware equipped with Windows. Presumably this is because of all the discounts Dell can put into a Windows machine as a result of the misc. corporate crapware they preload on to it. Any way you cut it though, OUCH. It's a much harder argument to make for a user to switch to Linux when they don't realize the cost savings from not having to purchase the OS.





    Regardless, kudos to Dell. It will be an interesting development to track as these units are sent out into the wild.





    #!/ben
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