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4790

Please make Ubuntu XPS Notebook cheaper than XPS Vista Notebook

4790 points posted to Linux, Operating Systems, XPS products by dki May 26

Hi,
I have tested the price of the default Vista-Notebook XPS M1330 (in Germany) and the Ubuntuversion with the same Configuration. The result was amazing :(:

Vistaversion: 909,00 €
Linuxversion: 923,44 €

Is Vista cheaper than Ubuntu?? I can not imagine.

So my wish: Make Ubuntu-Laptops competitive!

zmjjmz
May 26		 Trialware.
dki
May 29		 Nice to see, that the price is equal today =).
But equal is not enought.

Ubuntu is cheaper than Vista, isn't it??? *irony*
paperpilot
May 29		 Ubuntu has to using more expensive hardware. After all, the software is CHEAPER.
dki
May 29		 Ubuntu Hardware is not more Expensive oO. It uses "normal" Hardware.

You can install Ubuntu on the Vista Notebook without problems.
paperpilot
May 29		 @dki if you are paying more for the Ubuntu machine, its hardware is more expensive to you.
zmjjmz
May 29		 I hate to say it, but Dell subsidizes the Vista notebook with trialware, and they seem not to do it with the Ubuntu one (there _is_ trialware for the Ubuntu ones, but they may want a fresh start/don't want to make their intended crowd mad).
madjr
Jun 15		 hmm, the only way to be "fair" IMO is to push for Ubuntu in the list of OS's when building a PC (exposure is key here)

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/72962
roguent
Jun 16		 The cost to deliver a system with an OS is not just the cost of the OS. As sales of Ubuntu based machines increase the operations to support loading those machines will become more cost effective. The key then is to buy Ubuntu and eventually there will be a tipping point. If reports hold and Dell releases the Dell E and E Slim with Ubuntu the Ultra Thin Laptop Wars (http://www.jackpicks.com/2008/06/ultra-thin-laptop-wars.html) will push the price down and Ubuntu will be a major player (http://www.jackpicks.com/2008/06/sneak-peak-at-very-cool-dell-computer.html)
madjr
Jun 16		 "As sales of Ubuntu based machines increase the operations to support loading those machines will become more cost effective."

roguent : exactly what operations you speaking of ?
paperpilot
Jun 17		 If the DELL E is sold at Best Buy, we will be stuck with the Best Buy warranty which is "in store" only and no good if it breaks down out of the USA. I wouldn't take one to China.
ethana2
Jun 18		 Demoted.

I use Ubuntu because it's better, not because it's cheaper. Take the money. Use it to get on your feet with the full Ubuntu rollout.
....and about that, what's taking so long?
earlra
Jun 18		 I currently run Kubuntu on two old Dell machines, so of course I installed it myself. Dell, it's simple - I will NOT buy DEll/Linux unless you make it cheaper than Windows; I'll buy from a another vendor instead (others have been loading Linux on hardware longer) , to support the community that really believes in FOSS.
lawson23
Jun 20		 This is the funniest topic I have seen. Everyone thinks because the product is free IT HAS TO BE CHEAPER. This is a very common myth it maybe cheaper for Average Joe to do himself but it isn't cheaper for DELL "today". There is a load of cost Dell takes on by offering a different OS on these machines. I would bet everything I own that in the it cost Dell more to provide Linux than what they over charge for it now. They are losing money on every Ubuntu sale compared to every sale of vista already on the box even with the adjusted price.

Here is my solution buy Vista and wipe the machine and install it yourself. You save money and everyone is happy except for those true Open Source fanatics.

Oh and I agree with Roguent's theory 100% except for his recommendation of buying Ubuntu.

Please don't flame me or Roguent it is just the truth. Oh and by the way I use and enjoy Ubuntu so please don't think this is about Windows over Linux. It is just simple economics.
paperpilot
Jun 20		 I don't buy the argument that it costs DELL more to ship Ubuntu machines than Vista ones. DELL machines come preloaded because DELL loads the software, probably a disk image. The cost to load an image is constant. I am sure costs for creating the image in the first place are different and it must take more effort creating the Vista image loaded down with free ware than making the equivalent Ubuntu image.
psadac
Jun 20		 i totally agree with earlra, i will NOT BUY any DELL if it's not cheaper than Windows. If i can't compare the prices because i can't have the same hardware (T9300 processors not availables on XPS 1330 Linux for example) i won't buy either.
ethana2
Jun 21		 You know guys, this is one of those problems that will go away when Dell lets us pick OS just like any other component.

Ubuntu Linux 8 - 4 [included in price]
Windows Vista Home Basic [add $40]
Windows XP SP3 [add $60]

I reccomend we leave them alone and let them get on with that.
voice99
Jun 24		 As a Linux user I have to vote this down.

If you want it 'free' on hardware than Dell should ship it with the hard-drive blank and you can download Ubuntu from the internet yourself... thus no MS licence fee.

What you are paying for is Dell having worked with Canonical (the distributors of Ubuntu) to have produced an image that works in the machine, and the creation and support of processes in maintaining and applying those images. And establishing a support infrastructure. Having installed Ubuntu (8.04) on a Dell laptop, and having spent time on trying to get certain hardware to work, it would be well worth it for me to pay for Dell to ship it pre-installed.

I think there is a mis-guided notion that 'free software' is $free$... if you want it free then download it. Dell - like all *free* software vendors - is selling you a service around installing and supporting that OS. And that service is worth it.

It might be reasonable to ask for it to be the same price from the angle of enabling choice - or with no OS installed if you want to save costs - but Free? It seems unreasonable, and down right selfish (exactly opposite to what FOSS is about).
vercer
Jul 1		 As far as Linux being cheaper for Dell than Windows, jsut the OS alone I'd agree with you. The thing to remember is the advertising money Dell gets from loading their Windows systems with trialware. Dell doesn't add that software for free, the software houses pay Dell quite handsomely to preload trial versions of their software on a machine.

Unfortunately with Linux being open source and by default most, if not all software for it being open source as well I don't see many companies out there being willing to pay that kind of advertising money to Dell to help bring down the costs.
zmjjmz
Jul 1		 Transgamers might be willing, but beyond that...
farizaco
Jul 31		 obviusly, Ubuntu doesn't have to be cheaper than windows, because DELL offers an exellent support, that's why... when you buy with GNU/Linux thats include support also and make the things hardest than windows.
ledward
Aug 2		 The Vista installed notebooks are subsidised by trialware preloaded, as well as the production line installation + low cost of OEM license. I'd imagine the Ubuntu optioned notebooks are taken off the normal production chain and specially loaded with Ubuntu.
zmjjmz
Aug 2		 I don't think putting an OS choice in is any harder than giving us choice on, say, CPU.
comprevolution
Aug 5		 Its most likely do to the fact that on a Windows machine you will receive a lot of Trial software, that will really really lower the price of the machiene. But from what i've seen when i priced my Insparion 1420 Windows VS Linux the Linux was cheaper...
 
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