Dell Ubuntu Customization/Selection = HORRIBLE!
Update: Dell appears to have added 2 new laptops to their lineup since I wrote this article. The Google cache (dated April 5) shows only two machines, as there were when I wrote this. Now, there are four! Strangely, I cannot find any announcement, leading me to believe this could have been some sort of a bug??? That would make sense, but everything was still working on the page, so I am confused.
I do appreciate Dell trying to sell Ubuntu machines, but frankly I am surprised they are selling any at all. Here is why:
Lets take a look at Dell’s huge (sarcastic) selection of two (yes, two) Ubuntu machines. One is a desktop the other is a laptop. That alone is bad enough, but if you look even further, it only gets worse.
Perhaps the most noticeable option missing is on the desktop side. You can’t even get a Core 2 Duo processor. The only processor option on the desktop is an Pentium dual-core. Come on, Dell.
Most of the rest of the configuration on the ONE desktop seems reasonable, except for the lack of an option to get a wireless keyboard and mouse. I don’t have any idea why that option is left out.
The notebook Dell offers is barely better, if that. First of all, you had better want a 13″ notebook, because that is your only choice. Plus, in order to figure out that the notebook has a 13″ screen, you have to click on the notebook and then look at the tech specs tab and you better hope you don’t click on the customize button before looking at the tech specs, or else you will never know how big the screen is.
If you do figure out how big the screen is and don’t give up trying, you had better also like black, because that is the only color choice, despite Dell’s massive number of banner ads advertising all the colors you can get. Introducing Dell’s new advertising slogan: “Dell. You can get a custom color laptop, as long as it runs Windows.”
Basically, you should buy from Dell if you (1) want an underpowered desktop with wire clutter all over your desk or if you (2) want a black 13″ laptop and don’t mind digging around the product details to find out the most obvious spec about your new laptop: the size. Otherwise, may I direct you to System 76 or ZaReason.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:36 am
I completely agree with this. I have been looking to purchase a Quad Core system for sometime now but it’s near impossible to get one from any of the major vendors (Dell, Gateway, Lenevo) without it being pre-loaded with Vista or being extremely limited in selection. Best bet is to just roll your own or get a barebone system from TigerDirect or Newegg.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:29 am
its stupid to buy a dell ubuntu notebook. and its even more stupid to buy a zareason / system76 notebook - way too expensive (after all seems a downstream product). get your favorite hardware with whatever it comes - example i got a dell vostro 1400 and its the best and cheap, and put whatever os you want. rememeber that oem windows is virtually free. all that microsoft tax crap is for gossip.
ps : this assumes one doesn’t want warranty and support and can install ubuntu. if one can’t, linux is not for them :D.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:00 am
I had to purchase a few PC’s a little while ago and I had all the intention to buy a Linux PC from Dell but the models available left me going elsewhere, I did find the model that would suite our needs on dell’s site but that came with Vista and had no option of removing it.
In the end I went to another U.K online retailer and bought a couple of acer desktops at a good price. They then had vista stripped out as soon as they arrived. It is just a shame that the money that went on those Vista Licences could not be redirected to the open source community which is now powering the machines.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I, too, agree with your assessment and compared their Linux and Microsoft systems at
http://theprofessorpod.blogspot.com/2008/01/is-dell-serious-about-linux.html
Are they simply using Linux as an advertisement relationship with the open-source and Linux community, I wonder.
Cataract Moon
April 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I see this is true of the USA site but check out whats available from the Canadian site
http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/linux_3x?c=ca&cs=cadhs1&l=en&s=dhs
Three laptops and one desktop with lots more options available. Dell what gives with the no USA love?
April 7th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Dell’s Ubuntu offerings are disappointing, but it seems they are trying to limit their support to specific hardware offerings. It’s better to scope out the hardware, buy one of their Windows offerings and install Ubuntu yourself.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I’m not sure what country you’re in, but I see three different laptop models at http://dell.com/open -> Ubuntu
The desktop selection is not good, but the E2160 CPU is no slouch.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Hey don’t worry, who cares if Dell is missing the boat, there’s a few companies still sailing your way:
ASUS C90
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1641&l1=5&l2=141&l3=536&l4=0
Buy it here (if you want)
http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Product_Code=C90S&Screen=PROD
or
http://www.directron.com/laptopbarebone.html
If a company won’t sell you want you want, go to another company, let youre $$ do the talkin!
April 13th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Just two small sidenotes:
1) Take care of your warranty. Dell, in Britain, is the only one OEM, which allows you the operating system on your hard drive without losing hardware warranty. If you, for example, install Windows XP on Windows Vista machine from Acer, you broke the warranty. That’s just nuts.
2) I would like to advocate even a bit more for Dell. I work in a small shop, we sell laptops, and we used to give 5% discount off Dell Online prices. The problem was, several times it happened to me, that the price of the unit changed in the process of specifying the system - Dell’s pricing is REALLY dynamic, and it’s pain in the arse to keep track. So, maybe, you just hit the page in the process of updating of their page…
Anyway, I would like to see GNU/Linux more visible on Dell page. I tried to search for it yesterday, and I work with dell.co.uk almost daily, but, I was unable to find the section in less than 5 minutes…
April 14th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I was looking over their site for my brother and they have Open Source linked at the bottom-left of the search pages I saw. They appear to slowly be bringing Linux forward.