Dell's XPS M1330 with Ubuntu pre-load in Germany, only

Whoa Dell, what's this? An exclusive, XPS M1330 in Germany sporting an Ubuntu 7.10 pre-load with full DVD and webcam support? Where's the Stateside love, yo?

Update: Dell tells us it's also available in the UK, France, and Spain. Headed to the US in "a week or so."

[Thanks, Roland K. and Andrew M.]

[carl @ Jan 24th 2008 8:00AM]

Most linux users will know how to wipe the HD and install ubuntu so i don't see it as a major problem.

[fxyefx @ Jan 24th 2008 8:16AM]

I think the Dell laptops/desktops that ship with Ubuntu usually cost about $50 less for the same configuration. Not to mention the inconvenience of not having it work right out of the box! Def. a nice time/money saver for those who know they'd be sliding over to Ubuntu to begin with...

[ChromeSushi @ Jan 24th 2008 11:22AM]

Do most linux users like paying Microsoft for Windows?

[ark_v2 @ Jan 24th 2008 10:35AM]

Well, now it'll be easier to get their drivers.

[John @ Jan 24th 2008 2:33PM]

So when is Dell Linux coming to Canada?

[Superprime @ Jan 24th 2008 8:21AM]

Dells laptops come preloaded with FreeDos in Eastern Europe

[Joe_Templeman @ Jan 24th 2008 8:33AM]

If it wasnt for the qwertz keyboard I'd jump on a train and bring one of these bad boys back to england!

[Eric YJ Chiu @ Jan 24th 2008 8:39AM]

Trust me, Eurostar cost more than a OEM version of Windows Crapsta.

[Joe_Templeman @ Jan 24th 2008 8:46AM]

Yeah but Germany has other benefits other than just cheap laptops!

[/dev/urandom @ Jan 24th 2008 8:50AM]

So, for those of us that installed ubuntu by ourselves, do we get to have an MS tax refund?

[john @ Jan 24th 2008 9:11AM]

While i have tried many versions of linux in the past i was wondering if anybody knows if ubuntu ever solved the issue with wireless networking?
http://www.articlesdirectorysite.com

[Marvin @ Jan 24th 2008 10:45AM]

I got a Dell Inspiron 6000 and Ubuntu 7.10 and wireless networking worked perfect straight out of the box, eeh, .iso :)

[Generic @ Jan 24th 2008 9:08AM]

Please forgive my ignorance guys, but I always manage to find opensource binaries to run on XP and have never really used Linux for anything other than "because I can". Other than the trivial price difference, can anyone give me the definitive reason why do people buy Linux pre-installed over MS-Windows.

Not trying to be funny or ridicule anyone but really, why?

[silverblackvoid @ Jan 24th 2008 9:12AM]

ignorance is bliss, my friend.

[Generic @ Jan 24th 2008 9:14AM]

thank you for the meaningless reply, I enjoy nonsense just as much as the other guy...

[MBS @ Jan 24th 2008 9:28AM]

Umm, how about no need to run anti-anti-anti-malware software. How about less resources wasted by the OS. How about better security. How about customizeability. How about not doing business to a convicted felon. How about ease of finding, installing, and maintaining your applications. Just to mention a few.

[silverblackvoid @ Jan 24th 2008 9:31AM]

well i think some people prefer linux because its much more powerful than windows. well its not for everyone but if you are really into computing than im sure you know the reason. it has its own charm and the immense satisfaction it gives when you know that you've a lot more control over your system. you can tweak it, bend it, and reshape it to your liking, and no one's gonna sue your ass! hope that helps.

[Generic @ Jan 24th 2008 9:36AM]

you make overall good points especially with "anti-anti-anti-malware software" except that I can do all that with XP. and whats "doing business to a convicted felon"?

[ldrn @ Jan 24th 2008 10:53AM]

He was making a comment on MS's monopoly conviction, I think.

I run Linux on all my machines except one. I prefer it. The way it does things is very different from Windows, and I'm used to it.

It's also frankly superior in several aspects I use often. It's inferior in others -- such as games, and I know that's not a fault of the OS but it remains a fact. If I'm on Windows, I have to set up a fake Unix environment that runs slowly to do things like SSH, and have to worry much more about viruses and malware. I also can't customize things the way I like.

I'm not saying you should buy one with Linux, just explaining why people --namely me -- would want to. Being able to just turn it on after getting it and have it work rather than putting in a LiveCd and sitting through a few hours of install is a big thing; plus, while it isn't as bad as Windows's obscure driver searches, unsupported hardware on a laptop can mean hunting down obscure configuration options.

Well, also, we're not using Windows anyway, so it's nice not to have to pay for it.

[AlphaC @ Jan 24th 2008 9:19AM]

Please make it available also in Italy!

[Andy Brudtkuhl @ Jan 24th 2008 10:50AM]

What about the M1530?

[David Lari @ Jan 24th 2008 11:35AM]

Another reason to use Linux is that competition is good for all users. Even if you only plan on running Windows OSes, you should thank the Linux (and Mac) community for making inroads into breaking the monopoly that has stifled competition in computing for far too long. Competition will improve OSes for all of us.

[LongshotX @ Jan 24th 2008 12:53PM]

I would argue the Windows monopoly has done a lot more good than either Linux or Apple OSs for the average joe.

[J @ Jan 24th 2008 12:38PM]

it's good that someone offers it. but dell wants 39€ shipping cost here in germany (that's 57$ atm!!)
so they can keep it...

[Yem @ Jan 24th 2008 7:02PM]

Interesting. I just put Ubuntu on my new m1330 yesterday. BTW they seem to have switched to an Intel 802.11n chip which works out of the box (yay).

[Richard @ Jan 25th 2008 3:46AM]

Dell Marketing - Germany "Ve hav ways of making you free"

[nick @ Jan 29th 2008 11:36AM]

Why would you bother ordering it with Ubuntu when it's cheaper just to buy it with Vista and then install Ubuntu yourself? If you don't believe me, try speccing up two identical sytems yourself (one with Vista, one with Linux).

The Vista machines are ALWAYS discounted - pretty much permanently, by up to £250 and you can get a further 10% off with easily findable coupons. The Ubuntu machines are not discounted. Therefore it's cheaper just to buy it with Vista and then format the hard disk and put Ubuntu on yourself.

Actual numbers for 2.0Ghz, 2048Mb, WLED screen upgrade, NVidia card and 6 cell battery:
With Vista: £680.09
With Ubuntu: £804.49

So the supposedly FREE Ubuntu is effectively costing you £124 MORE. You'd have to be an idiot to order anything through Dell's Ubuntu pages.