Is Dell a good choice?

[perpetualcacophany]

Hello,
I'm not sure if this is the right section for this, so please move it if it isn't. Pretty soon I am going to be in the market for a new desktop pc. I currently have Ubuntu installed on my current laptop, so I know some about it. I don't feel like building a system myself, so that is out of the question. So, I am trying to find the best deal for a desktop with Ubuntu pre-installed. I was looking at Dell's website and I like their prices (especially since the price includes the monitor). I was really just wondering if there are better prices to be had elsewhere that I didn't know about, and I wanted to know what everyone thought of the quality of their computers.

[jespdj]

I can't tell you anything about Dell's prices compared to others; it also depends on where in the world you live. Look around on the web or in local stores and compare the prices of similar specced computers to what you get from Dell.

I like Dell computers; I have an XPS M1530 laptop which I really love - it's exterior design is beatiful and it's a very powerful laptop which runs 64-bit Ubuntu very well. I have several friends who have Dell desktop computers. In my opinion, the quality of their computers is very good.

[notwen]

Dell (http://www.dell.com/ubuntu), System76 (http://www.system76.com/) and ZaReason (http://www.zareason.com/) are the 3 that I know build PCs/laptops to work w/ Ubuntu.

I personally own a Inspiron 1420n from Dell, it was in the first N-Series line up Dell offered back during the Feisty days. It is still running great and it works out of the box using either Dell's Custom Ubuntu image or using a vanilla Ubuntu install. I've also recently purchased a Inspiron 530n desktop for my fiance, no problems in the first 6 months. Dell also maintains a Dell Linux Wiki (http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Wiki_Main_Page) and we also have a Dell sub-forum (http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=342) here on UbuntuForums.

System76 is known greatly for their superior customer support and machines that work flawlessly w/ Ubuntu. You can scope out their own sub-forum of UbuntuForums here (http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=341).

ZaReason has been around for quite some time and are also known for machines built around hardware compatibility w/ Ubuntu. I have heard nothing bad about their machines, nor their support.

Hope this helps. =]

[LK_gandalf_]

I have a dell xps 1530 too, it's powerful, very good price, I have Kubuntu 64bit and it works very well.
the machine is solid and very very well designed, I like it, and here (Italy) the assistance is perfect and far more better than the other brands.

[DonaldJ]

Before you decide on a Dell, you might want to run an Internet search for: "Problem installing Ubuntu in a Dell (model X)",
and "Dell (model X) won't boot Ubuntu"...

[beekr]

I, also, have the Dell XPS M1530. I ordered it with Vista and installed Ubuntu 8.1 x86_64 when I got it; works great! If you do order a 1530, do order it with Ubuntu only. Tri-booting Vista, Media Direct and Ubuntu is a pain in the [censored] ^_^ Anyway, I think you'll be happy with it.

Beekr

[gabo.cr]

I have a Dell Inspiron 1525, and it works just fine.
I have a dual boot with Vista en Ubuntu.

[sirebral]

http://linux.dell.com/

I just found that while I was looking for an answer to your question. From what I heard in the Ideastorm section of their page, they are working on supporting Linux 100%. You can get some more information about this on the page I just found.

I think in the future DELL will be choice for a Linux computer, but I don't think it will be the only choice. I know the Linux community won't drop everything to work with DELL, but it sounded like DELL was putting money into supporting Linux.

Asus will be choice too. I thought Acer's desktop was pretty childish looking. I heard HP is getting into the Linux game. MacOS X and Linux are nearly cousins. The list goes on.

[Vorian Grey]

I've always had good luck with Dell and HP products. They both seem to support Linux very well.

[DonaldJ]

I find that HP is prime for Linux.. so is Compaq.. but the old Dells with Linux seems to be a big problem... It makes a lot of sense to do an Internet search on it before buying...

It makes sense to run a search on a new item, using every positive and negative phrase you can think of..

I.E.:
Model X is super good..
Model X is crap bad..
Model X is the best in the world..
Model X is the worst in the world..
Model X doesn't back its warranty..
Model X has a super warranty..
I love model X..
I hate model X..
Model X failed in a month..
Dropping a model X wrecks it...
Model X can take a big drop..
Can't get parts nor service for model X..
Parts and service are easy for model X..
Model X screen fails too fast..
Model X screen lasts and lasts..
Model X keys fall off, stick, wear out too fast, turn yellow, letters wear off too fast, crack...

Thing is, if people are using something they are talking about it.. publishing all the good and the bad of it...

Personally, I would go with HP... I have had to scrap too many older Dells...

Go to a computer recycler, and ask to take a look-see to see for yourself just what the junk-yard reject computer-stuff really is... Like at all the car wreckers, most being so full of late model fords which all look to be in good shape...

[superm1]

Anything that is shipping with Ubuntu preloaded at some point you should be able to purchase with confidence. Older models before Ubuntu started are a mixed bag since there isn't necessarily support in place from the vendors providing those parts.

[geekits]

I have a XPS M1210, and I think is the best laptop I have had.

I used to have an Inspiron 6000 and one Inspiron 1420.

I compared prices every time and I think DELL is the cheapest laptop, you can compare capacity vs price.

Another think I like about DELL computers is that you can customize before buying.

Regards

[cowboy7305]

I am using a dell inspiron 530 just for home use and i was shiped with windows XP
i have put Ubuntu 8.1 on full install and no trouble as yet
the only trouble i have had was my on making and learning

[Sysero]

I got an XPS 410 last year with Vista and dual booted it with PCLinuxOS 2007. Now dual booting it with Ubuntu 4.10 and Vista. It's been working really well so far.

[fromgi]

As long as your not looking for an updated system and desktop.

I noticed they only offer Ubuntu with a laptop (no desktop).

It's hard to imagine they are still offering only 8.04. In less than 2 month 9.04 will be available. How long can it take to test? I wonder what would happen to Dell's future if they were still testing Vista?

[mihai007]

It's hard to imagine they are still offering only 8.04. In less than 2 month 9.04 will be available. How long can it take to test?

Well think about it... pretty much I would say. First you have to ensure all hardware combination are ok (look at the brightness problems on xps, mic & mic volume, etc. on 8.10) Then of course you have to think about possible translations problems of Ubuntu (not only english) and then you have to think about maybe the hardest of all of this and this would be support. You need trained people to be able to detect symptoms on different versions of Ubuntu, etc.

I would say it's not that easy and I don't quite mind if they slip a release or two. The important is that you get it with ubuntu. You can upgrade if you want, but you know.. don't fix if it's working...

[ussndmac]

I have a 1530 with the Intel3945 wireless chipset.

It came with Ubuntu from Dell. Wireless worked out of the box.

But, I wiped it and tried various other Ubuntu distros. Since then I have been unsuccessful getting wireless to work.

At the moment I have Ubuntu Studio 8.04 64bit installed and am very pleased...just no wireless.

[wiebeest]

Now dual booting it with Ubuntu 4.10 and Vista.

Ubuntu 4.10... LOL

[Sysero]

Ubuntu 4.10... LOL

Or maybe it was Ubuntu 0.10 LOL! ;)

[sirebral]

As long as your not looking for an updated system and desktop.

I noticed they only offer Ubuntu with a laptop (no desktop).

It's hard to imagine they are still offering only 8.04. In less than 2 month 9.04 will be available. How long can it take to test? I wonder what would happen to Dell's future if they were still testing Vista?

That is a recent change they are offering Linux on Laptops only now. So whoever wanted to know if the DELL Linux line is shrinking, that is a resounding yes. They had been offering DELL on desktops just a few days ago.

I've been on the line of thinking that DELL was only offering the LTS distros. Now with the Linux line making a cut I think I better retool my line of thinking.

[WatchingThePain]

That's a NO from me anyway.

[superm1]

That is a recent change they are offering Linux on Laptops only now. So whoever wanted to know if the DELL Linux line is shrinking, that is a resounding yes. They had been offering DELL on desktops just a few days ago.

I've been on the line of thinking that DELL was only offering the LTS distros. Now with the Linux line making a cut I think I better retool my line of thinking.
The reasons things are shrinking aren't necessarily due to cutbacks. There is always limited quantities of hardware, and when you are inbetween transitioning to new hardware (and/or software) it's possible that the supply of the original gets pulled back.

[sirebral]

I've been doing some investigating of news articles.
Ubuntu allies with Amazon and Dell (http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=3558)

The article is about Linux 9.10, the Karmic Koala, and how Linux found supporters with DELL and Amazon. There is nothing specifically tying DELL to a Linux commitment in the article, but I am looking.

Dell's profts feel almost 50% in a year: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10172797-92.html One good reason to drop the OS if it is not making money.

Mini tied for best of 6 Netbooks here: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article5838404.ece 4 out of 5 is great! So is Top 2 of 6.

EDIT: Sorry, I pushed post too fast. I am still looking for more news info that might suggest a change in direction or an idea of which path was selected.