Dell's Ubuntu love-in expands to new laptops
Existing gear gets Hardy Heron
Linux lovers take note, Dell is feeling another round of the community spirit tugging on its heartstrings.
The Round Rock vendor said it will pre-load the Ubuntu operating system on two new boxes, starting early next month.
It's also arming its current selection of Ubuntu PCs and laptops with an updated version 8.04 (AKA Hardy Heron) operating system.
Just in time for the LinuxWorld expo in August, Dell customers will be able to purchase XPS M1530n and Studio 15n laptops with Ubuntu installed. (The n at the end means it's a non-Windows system.)
Models currently offered with the open-source OS - the XPS M1330n and Inspiron 1525n notebooks and Inspiron 530n desktops - will now come pre-loaded with Ubuntu 8.04. Note unfortunately the hardware doesn't receive a refresh.
The company said in the Direct2Dell blog it spent months in development and testing to provide more peripheral support on the OS. Things like ATI Video Graphics, Dell Wireless, Fingerprint Readers, HDMI, Bluetooth and MP3/WMA/WMV are now good to go on the systems.
Dell also said it has taken steps towards making Linux more accessible to a global marketplace by adding the ability to select different languages during the first boot.
"While this does not mean we’re shipping in every country (yet), it’s a step in the right direction," wrote Dell product group strategist, Daniel Judd.
The updated systems are now available in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and select parts of Latin America. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Contrary
If someone bought a CMOT Dibbler sausage in a bun, would I be offended that they don't want a slightly more pleasant (and not to mention clean) rat on a stick?
No my friend, I'm not offended. I'd just feel pity for the pour sod and move on.
@AC
"If I buy one of these ('cos they're cheaper), then bang on a warez'd copy of Server 2008, would you Penguin lovers choke on your oatmeal?! :-D"
I would still think your doing us a favour. There is nothing worse than buying a machine for linux, only to buy one with a windows tax. Thats clocks up +1 for M$ windows figures. You add +1 to linux figures.
RE: Contrary
Hell, I ran Win2k8 Server in a VM on a Vostro 1400 laptop as a domain controller, DHCP/DNS, WDS, PXE server, for half a dozen Win2k/XP/Vista VMs on my main workstation.
While still using Ubuntu for wanking/banking on a seperate workspace. Seemed to work OK once it had a couple of gigabytes of RAM in it.
Why bother wiping it? :-P
Steven R
Contrary
If I buy one of these ('cos they're cheaper), then bang on a warez'd copy of Server 2008, would you Penguin lovers choke on your oatmeal?! :-D
I save more
I also just compared 2 virtually identical laptops - saving £54.99 using ubuntu over windows. Will probably order in next day or two, if I can't find a better deal.
The spec. is as close as possible with the windows version having bluetooth built in (not optional), and ubuntu missing it as standard. Why pay more??
