14 DAY TRIAL // Dell's Ubuntu systems are once again in the spotlight. This time with a price-related issue. Even though it did not manage yet to satisfy its customers? demands on IdeeStorm and start shipping Ubuntu pre-installed machines also outside the US borders, Dell proves its interest in meeting the users' needs and responds to another of their requests, that of cutting the price for the Linux-based systems.
More exactly, Dell has cut US$ 50 of the price for the Linux pre-installed machines after more than 7,500 people signed a thread on IdeaStorm for a higher discount for the Ubuntu machines. An IdeaStorm user made public his story of how he changed his mind about buying a pre-installed Linux PC, buying a Vista-based one instead, due to the higher discounts. Then, more than 7,500 people joined him and asked Dell for a price cut. According to the user involved, the Vista-based XPS 410 had $200 off and free ship for a total of $869 while the identical Ubuntu machine was $1019 plus $29.99 shipping. Therefore, the Ubuntu version was $170 more expensive than Windows was.
Now, after Dell has re-edited the prices for the Linux powered machines, an Inspiron 1420 notebook (14.1 inch display, 80GB hard disk, 1GB DDR2 RAM) with Ubuntu Linux by default now costs US$ 774, while the same notebook, loaded with Vista Home Basic Edition costs US$ 824.
Configuration of the pre-installed Ubuntu systems (for more details you should check dell.com):
Dimension E520 N :
- Intel Core Duo Processor E4300 (1.8GHz, 800 FSB) - Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 7.04 - 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs - 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
Inspiron E1505 N :
- Intel Pentium dual-core proc T2080(1MB Cache/1.73GHz/533MHz FSB) - Ubuntu Edition version 7.04 - 512MB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 DIMM - 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
XPS 410 N :
- Intel Core2 Duo Processor E4300 (2MB L2 Cache,1.8GHz,800FSB) - Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 7.04 - 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs - 250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
Inspiron 1420 :
- 80GB SATA hard drive (spin rate of 5,400 rpm) - 24x CD burner/DVD combo drive / 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write ability - anti-glare widescreen 14.1-inch display with 1,280x800 WXGA (Wide XGA) resolution - Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 - four USB 2.0 ports - 1 IEEE 1394 FireWire port - integrated 8-in-1 media card reader