Ubuntu-based Dell systems $50 cheaper than Windows

While it shouldn't exactly come as much of a surprise, a post on Dell's IdeaStorm site confirms that Dell systems pre-loaded with Ubuntu are, in fact, cheaper than comparably configured Windows-based systems -- about fifty bucks cheaper, to be precise. In the example given on the site, a Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop loaded with Windows Vista Home Basic Edition totaled up to $824, while an otherwise comparable system with Ubuntu installed rang up at just $774. A Dell admin on the site later added that " on average, comparably configured Ubuntu systems will be about $50 less than Windows systems." Of course, as The Inquirer points out, $50 ain't that bad a deal for Vista, even if you just use it for the occasional non-Linux app or game.

[Via The Inquirer]

[derek @ Jul 4th 2007 12:23PM]

Whoopee...

[Jahbuh @ Jul 4th 2007 3:25PM]

Dell needs to sell a system with less bells and whistles Ubuntu doesn't need 2gigs of ram and a dual core quad system to run smoothly; that's one of the great things about the OS.

[jabber_wolf @ Jul 5th 2007 3:02PM]

Um 'scuse me, can I have both?
Sorry I'll just get my vista, change the partition size, install ubuntu and have both worlds.

[Marcus @ Jul 4th 2007 12:43PM]

The idea is you won't be giving that $50 to Microsoft, you have failed me engadget!

[Erik_the_Red @ Jul 4th 2007 2:25PM]

Unfortunately, it isn't as simple as keeping $50 away from Bill Gate's wallet. While I'm all for not having to pay the Micro$oft tax, until Linux gets better application support for common applications -- from companies that would benefit from an open OS platform (Intuit, I'm looking in your direction....) -- I will have to keep paying for Windows. Sucks.

[wingman @ Jul 5th 2007 2:35AM]

At least if we give money to Bill, it goes to good causes. Steve...dont know...dildols?

[Blake @ Jul 4th 2007 12:48PM]

If you have a free copy of Business, like i do, you could save $50 by not buying a useless vista serial.

[Keith Wakeham @ Jul 4th 2007 12:49PM]

So has Dell figured out how to put AOL and earthlink links and all useless software on the linux bases systems?

[wellingj @ Jul 4th 2007 1:12PM]

Why do you think it's only $50 cheaper? If they put all the crap ware in I bet it would knock another $20 off the price.

[Nushio @ Jul 4th 2007 1:11PM]

Doesn't matter. As soon as I get a Dell, I'll format and install a clean Fedora 7 (Or whatever distro of your choice is).

The option of "sticking it up to the man" is nice, because there's 2 kinds of people that'll choose this option:
Those who want Linux
And those who Pirate Windows.

[ragu @ Jul 4th 2007 1:00PM]

Thats not fair, should it be only 50 quids deal between M$ and Linux OS, although I agree there's hidden TCO costs for Linux support.

[stinkingpig @ Jul 4th 2007 4:05PM]

50 bucks is 25 quid, isn't it? Can I get that in rupees?

[wellingj @ Jul 4th 2007 1:13PM]

You're an idiot. The MS 'TCO' metric includes development and support costs for servers, Not recreational computer use. You actually spend less time supporting an Ubuntu Linux desktop than you do a Windows desktop for several reasons.

1. Little to no viruses on Linux (you can argue about why but it hardly changes that fact that there are very very few)

2. If you have to reinstall for any reason you don't have to get permission or jump through hoops.

3. Your computer will never decide that you are a pirate for updating your hardware causing more hoop jumping.

4. Updating of ALL programs is automatic, with no restart required.

[Eric @ Jul 4th 2007 1:27PM]

The only thing they don't mention is that those are base web prices, I made a quick phone call and got them to knock off just over $100 bucks. I hung up called back and no deal on the linux notebooks. Never pay whats on the website, anyone can get a better deal just by calling.

[Ethan Duffy @ Jul 4th 2007 1:43PM]

This is a pretty great step by Dell and it's nice that's it cheaper, though I expect it gives Dell a larger margin. The impact of this depends a lot on how many models it's on and how much they advertise it, but the choice is there and hopefully it will mean the attempt to force a DRM base into our homes through sheer ubiquity won't work.

Now can people have a choice in the UK please? I nice super-inexpensive laptop would be nice and could happen now Vista basic's somewhat unjustified system requirements will not be necessary anymore once the seller's XP licenses run out.

[AdvidG @ Jul 4th 2007 2:33PM]

Oh Snap!
I was thinking It would shave off a lot more then that. Ok...then, Superload with your "Crapware": AOL, Vonage, Earthlink ect. All the good stuff to "Help" me...(clean out my bank account faster...Oh look, here comes the Overdraft charges= Yay for TCF Banks!!). Just knock off as much as possible. Then I'll just promply format the drive and load up any OS I wish.

Then batten down the planks and raise the sails ...cus where going deep up in them Pirate Bitch Dark Water Guts.

Set sail for Theft!! (I don't DO 'Adventure')
J/K...NOT.

[brackishboy @ Jul 4th 2007 3:14PM]

$50 (~£30 to us Brits) doesn't seem like much to pay for Vista over Ubuntu, but what the article hasn't mentioned is the reason the difference is so small- I imagine that Dell's Vista installations have been subsidised with crapware.

One month's free trial of Norton Internet Security, anybody? Thought not.

[Loonie @ Jul 4th 2007 3:19PM]

Gives one some idea of the kind of OEM discount MS gives vendors.

[benford @ Jul 4th 2007 4:18PM]

Actually, you do have to reboot after a kernel update if you want to use the new version of the kernel.

[arthur barnhouse @ Jul 4th 2007 4:33PM]

I was like you once, but I, like you, was wrong. Linux has worked with the last three systems I've used it on. I now have a laptop and a home server that run Xubuntu and Mandriva 2007 respectivly.

[Chris @ Jul 4th 2007 4:51PM]

$50 + the time it takes to clean up all the crap Dell gets paid to add to the install. it's worth the extra $50 to get retail to have a clean install.

[Norock @ Jul 4th 2007 6:11PM]

What I see resulting from this is customers opting to get a $50 upgrade on their HDD or screen resolution or something that they don't NEED but wouldn't mind having, and then pirating their own copy of XP or what have you. Anyone else think so?

[Doncolmi @ Jul 4th 2007 9:50PM]

Me parece poca la diferencia de dinero...50 dolares es una broma.Deberia ser un valor mas significativo.o mejo..."LA QUIERO SIN SISTEMA OPERATIVO" uso algo...me bajo en el ciber la imagen de UBUNTU la quemo en un cd y listo me instalo yo mi sistema operativo.

[Samuel @ Jul 5th 2007 12:26AM]

This is only from the base configurations, which are generally useless at estimating what you really should/would pay. If you're configuring a decent system, an evalue code/special config for a Windows machine will give you a much better deal than any linux machine they sell.

[KC @ Jul 5th 2007 5:08AM]

That's pretty cool. I wonder if they have proper support for wireless now, and have an easy way to switch between SSIDs.

But frankly, I would pay that $50 extra to be able to have a native Windows environment, and dual boot Linux on the machine instead.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 5th 2007 8:40AM]

I'd pay more than 50 dollars for a legitimate XP install anyway, why not just pay it and get a legal copy for your machine cheap?

-unless you've got a couple already laying around of course, then by all means save the money.
-and that is of course if you're into Windows.

As far as Ubuntu goes, I was very very surprised to see how well the live CD handled the machines I've tried it on so far, even the oddball tertiary machine I just built for messing with.

I'm getting ready to set it up "for reals" just to see how living with it might be.

Either way, choices are good.

[Barb @ Jul 5th 2007 11:47AM]

This may be just me, here, but isn't buying a Dell with Linux pre-installed sort of, I don't know, defeating the purpose of open-source software? I mean, the whole point of the movement is to take power away from the big guys, to get something YOU have more control over....

But here, let me pay dell to put together my system and install the most generic distro there is on it. I mean, granted, Ubuntu is *nix for noobs, but...

FFS!

I mean, I'm NOT ever ever EVER going to buy a machine with Vista on it. I'd switch to Mac first, and that's not really something I want to do, but IF I were going to go the Linux route, I'd just build my own damn computer.

I could see how that would be tough for a laptop, though. Ahh, well. Life is one big gray area.

[Randavance @ Jul 5th 2007 3:18PM]

To me personally, it is not the cost of Windows that is a problem, it's Windows in general. I use Linux because I enjoy the freedom, not just from Microsoft, but from a lot of small restraints that most people have grown use to. I take pride in being able to customize my desktop truly however the hell I want it to look. I like the fact that I really can do anything because someone has always written a program to do so, and I love installing a program by typing in the command "sudo apt-get install firefox" and within seconds having Firefox installed on my computer. Most occasional windows programs I can just run in WINE. While it may not work for everybody, there's a lot of little things that just make Linux better to me personally. I have a copy of Windows XP on my current machine that I removed completely and will never reinstall, nor will I ever use Vista, regardless of if it is $200, $50, or even free.

[murcia ative ingles @ Sep 10th 2008 3:51PM]

as vincent said regarding why people buy linux
PRICE PRICE PRICE

if windows dell inspiron1525 is 50 more with vista.i think theyll buy vista and never use linux

most folk wat a good experience at a lowest price..theyre not green or freeware or anti bill

so wen ubuntu is much lower itll catch on

an idea
send a rebate check to ubuntu buyers not from dell but from ubuntu itself or some org that wants to promote free os
you buy a pc with preinstalled linux from dell or anyone. you get a receipt .you send receipt to get rebate .

maybe google can get involved
or me at native ingles murcia spain
we jus bought 5 mini9 dells with ubuntu at 350 each for our english teachers...