Dell cuts price of Ubuntu Linux PCs
By John Pospisil
Dell has cut $50 off the price of PCs with Ubuntu Linux preinstalled rather than Windows Vista.
For example, an Inspiron 1420 notebook (14.1 inch display, 80GB hard disk, 1GB DDR2 RAM) loaded with Ubuntu Linux now costs US$774, while the same notebook loaded with Vista Home Basic Edition costing US$824.
PCs with Ubuntu preinstalled are only available in the US.
The move comes after constant complaints from users on Dell’s IdeaStorm web site that Ubuntu computers were often more expensive than equivalent Windows Vista computers.
However, the $50 saving on the Ubuntu PCs hasn’t been enough to satisfy some Linux aficionados, who say that Dell can still do more.
“I see this as nothing but air from Dell. I was all for it at first, but now that the picture is clear, I’d like to see it fall flat on Mike Dell’s face,” complained kamaboko.
“I wasn’t expecting a $200 drop in price. What I was expecting though was something along the lines of $50~$75.”
Dell decided to start offering PCs with Linux preinstalled earlier this year after launching its IdeaStorm suggestions web site. Within just 11 days of the launch of IdeaStorm, more than 83,000 users had requested that Dell offer PCs with Linux pre-installed.
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Read more entries by John Pospisil.
Stumble It!
July 5th, 2007
Actually $50 is just about right. That’s just about the cost of the Windows license per system that Dell has to pay. No windows, no license fee.
July 5th, 2007
I just bought one of the Inspiron Desktops (all default items except for 1GB memory). I bought it in the last week for
July 5th, 2007
I’m so tired of Linux users whining about paying for something I’m about to switch to *BSD. What a bunch of sniveling cry babies.
Sorry, I guess it is only the whiners that are heard from usually.
Dell is taking a real chance with this project. What major company has done more to get Linux on computers?
July 5th, 2007
Personally I hope Dell makes a thumping great profit. They should do exactly as they have done – charge a little less than a vista machine – make a bigger profit. I would hope that their margins on a linux box are considerably higher than for a vista box. Dell deserve to make out like bandits until other computer manufacturers get off their butts and start competing with them. This is the handsome reward that the market supplies for being first.