Dell and Ubuntu

sparksfly

A new dawn in computing has arrived as Dell are now offering computers and servers loaded with the excellent free Linux Ubuntu operating system. Apart from the Apple mac this is the only non-microsoft OS pre-loaded onto a new computer. The Ubuntu site lists a host of free applications to manage all the functions that windows has such as music, photography, office, internet and e-mail and will update like windows. This is great news for those who dont like the increasing grip of Microsoft's might or indeed their new Vista system. Put "Dell" and "Ubuntu" into google and read all about it.

feylya

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055086664

a5y

Any specific release date for this is Ireland?

I've read just about everything on this and I still haven't found anything, what about other manufacturers?
Desktop linux wrote (http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5566172390.html) about MadTux, but a read about some of the terms and conditions on their shipping policies pages is certainly not reassuring.

3. All sales are final. You may return defective products within 30 days of purchase for exchange with identical products only.
4. NOTE: MadTux only guarantees that the media we sell has been recorded without media defects. We do not guarantee that any of the Linux or other software distributions sold on this site will actually function correctly on your computer. Please exercise caution before installing Linux or similar operating systems on your computer as permanent damage to your computer can occur.
(source)


I'd really like my next PC to run Linux, but there always seems to be considerable reasons not to.

martin84

I think its brilliant! Linux is growing very fast in popularity and so it should.
Of course there are big issues, device drivers and software compatibility been the main ones but its always improving.

Capt'n Midnight

a5y wrote:

3. All sales are final. You may return defective products within 30 days of purchase for exchange with identical products only.
4. NOTE: MadTux only guarantees that the media we sell has been recorded without media defects. We do not guarantee that any of the Linux or other software distributions sold on this site will actually function correctly on your computer.
...
I'd really like my next PC to run Linux, but there always seems to be considerable reasons not to.

Please explain how this is somehow different from other OS vendors guarantees ?

also I'll hold the praise to Dell until they consistantly price the Linux PC's, incuding specials, at about €70 less than a similar windows machine, otherwise you'd be better off trying for a windows refund.

a5y

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

Please explain how this is somehow different from other OS vendors guarantees ?

I guess it doesn't. I suppose I'm just wary of importing from the US, I don't know where I stand regarding consumer rights and the legalise is intimidating.

rogue-entity

As far as I know, if you buy a product online, from the US, you are covered by the EU Distance Selling Directive, and among other rights, you have (I think) a 7 day cooling off period.. need to look into that one though.

ethernet

I admire the move. It's obvious the demand was there. Yesterday on Slashdot, there was a article about Dell refusing to sell the new PCs preloaded with Ubuntu to businesses. Microsoft must be fairly applying the pressure to try and keep full control over businesses. I know you could just reformat and install upon arrival, but that defeats the whole idea.

deRanged

you do realise that Dell have been shipping servers to business with linux pre-loaded for years?
I know I bought a load of servers with RedHat 7.3 5 years ago.

It's only the home market that's changed, and the flavour of linux.

also - Dell didn't refuse to sell a pc with Ubuntu to a business, they refused to sell a home product to business. Standard practise, and every manufacturer will try the same.

ethernet

deRanged wrote:

you do realise that Dell have been shipping servers to business with linux pre-loaded for years?
I know I bought a load of servers with RedHat 7.3 5 years ago.

It's only the home market that's changed, and the flavour of linux.

also - Dell didn't refuse to sell a pc with Ubuntu to a business, they refused to sell a home product to business. Standard practise, and every manufacturer will try the same.

I realise they have sold Linux on systems aimed at business for a while now. Not everyone who wants Linux preinstalled on their machine wants to pay for commercial support or get involved in licensing for a commercial distribution when there are free alternatives.