Where is our Dell Ubuntu laptops?

[drubin]

Hi guys

I tried to order a nice new shiny dell ubuntu laptop (Mostly because I like the idea of knowing that my OS should work out the box with that hard ware).

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/ubuntu?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&dgc=IR&cid=11973&lid=471885

But they refuse to ship to other countries, Dell SA does not support ubuntu?

Is there any where in South Africa that you can order pre installed laptops/computers with Linux?

[fredre]

I wish we had something like http://efficientpc.co.uk/

[drubin]

I agree.

[drubin]

fredre Welcome to the Ubuntu Forums. I see that was your first post. :)

[stefanor]

Hi guys
Is there any where in South Africa that you can order pre installed laptops/computers with Linux?

Sahara's dirt cheap laptops come with "Linux". It used to be a horrible slackware install (root-login), but apparently is decent these days.

At the price you pay for them, the hardware quality is ok. (What's the difference in quality between brands for a less than R10k laptop anyway...)

Other manufacturers will sell laptops with Linux pre-installed for big orders. If you have a whole office to outfit, then you stand a chance.

Otherwise, you are going to have to pay windows tax.

As to desktops, any reseller that builds their own machines will be able to sell them without windows (and can probably be prodded into trying Linux).

[drubin]

Thanks!

I have access to laptops with NO OS on them. (less the windows tax). My biggest issue is the hard ware support..... Often with laptops Ubuntu/linux drivers are hard to find/configure.

That is where buying a laptop pre installed comes in handy they do all the grunt work for me!

But that is just me, When i get my shiny new laptop (that i have spent the last 4 months wages on) I would like to have it work out the box.. Like a kid in a candy store you cant just tell him to put it away and keep it for like 4 day it is just not going to work!

Also on the point of Sahara I would never buy a laptop from them!! ever. closest thing to a computer part i would get from them is mouse or maybe speakers (but that is pushing it).

[bazzieb]

I have tried Ubuntu on Lenovo Thinkpads and HP's and i have never had a driver problem. Wouldnt it be cheaper to just buy the laptop on Amazon and then get it shipped here? Or get a friend overseas to buy it and send it accros. Waranty should still be covered in SA.

[drubin]

I have tried Ubuntu on Lenovo Thinkpads and HP's and i have never had a driver problem. Wouldnt it be cheaper to just buy the laptop on Amazon and then get it shipped here? Or get a friend overseas to buy it and send it accros. Waranty should still be covered in SA.

It is relativly easy to get the laptop shiped here, the problem is the warranty. They do not cover Ubuntu here in sa as their tech support is not skilled enough to handle it. :)

Thanks for the input about the Lenovo Think Pads might take a look.

Ps welcome back to the forums

[bazzieb]

Thanks man.

[drubin]

Thanks man.

http://wiki.ubuntu-za.org/IRC_HOWTO
http://wiki.ubuntu-za.org

Take a look, Might help you out.

[y@w]

I have tried Ubuntu on Lenovo Thinkpads and HP's and i have never had a driver problem. Wouldnt it be cheaper to just buy the laptop on Amazon and then get it shipped here? Or get a friend overseas to buy it and send it accros. Waranty should still be covered in SA.

Agreed. I've never seen a driver problem installing Linux on a Thinkpad. Plus, they're solid machines.

[mellowd]

Tell them they better start supporting it, and can hire you to be on their linux team.


Unfortunately it depends on the market. SA has always been a relatively small market, and the linux community within is even smaller. (Heck, they are having a hard time justifying support in the UK and US)

[drubin]

Tell them they better start supporting it, and can hire you to be on their linux team.


Unfortunately it depends on the market. SA has always been a relatively small market, and the linux community within is even smaller. (Heck, they are having a hard time justifying support in the UK and US)

/me doesn't know about linux and hardware driver integration to do that.

Ye agreed it is hard, But the only way to create a market for something is to support it.