Discussions about the relative pricing of Ubuntu and Windows Dell offerings

[smartboyathome]

Those were probably plain jane machines then. the expensive ones are with all the upgrades (windows gets them FREE).

[phrostbyte]

Those were probably plain jane machines then. the expensive ones are with all the upgrades (windows gets them FREE).

So what? Dell sends $350 off coupons on their Ubuntu machines if you spend $1299 or more.

[phrostbyte]

And just as I predicted, you can not use the $350 off coupon on the Windows machine.

Windows machine "Special Offer" Free 2GB RAM and 160GB HDD
Ubuntu machine Coupon - $350 Off Purchase of $1299 or More
+ The Ubuntu machine is $50 cheaper = $400 cheaper then Windows machine

$400 for 2GB RAM and 160 HDD? Lol.

[Hex_Mandos]

I'd buy the cheaper option. I don't care if Dell disguises its tactics by calling it "free upgrades", I'm glad I didn't wait for Dell to offer Ubuntu outside the US. My Olivetti laptop rocks.

[maniacmusician]

maniacmusician, if your going to buy a laptop you can still consider system76; maybe not the cheapest but I'd trust them more as a business than Dell.

I've definitely considered it. In fact, I was set on buying a Darter for a while, but it really is simply too expensive. They're good if you're looking for an average laptop, but I'm looking for a slightly higher-end one that will last me a while.

[laxmanb]

a. They're really not serious about Linux.

b. Why don't you just buy it with Windows preinstalled? You can install ubuntu when the computer is shipped to you.

[macogw]

The 1505 laptop is no longer available for Windows, but when it was, it was $948 and Ubuntu was $799. The other laptop is cheaper with Windows, however. As for the desktops:

[putz3000]

Actually it is not surprising at all and probably does cost Dell more money. Here is why: MS throws kick back cash to company’s selling windows based machines. So does Intel which is why for so many years Dell had been locked into Intel only chips. Intel gave them money so long as they never sold an AMD system. This is also why their stock value took a big hit when they added AMD chips to their lineup. They lost money when they were already hurting. They also lost some pricing advantage from Intel.

One of the reasons the Linux community has never been able to purchase Linux laptops and desktops without paying for a copy of windows is the same reason. the profit margin on hardware these days is very, very low and a large percentage of a company’s profits come from MS kickbacks as long as they refuse to sell anything but windows based pc's and laptops. By selling Linux machines, Dell is not going to get some of that MS money that it needs so, the Linux purchaser has to make up the difference. Also, it is a very small percentage of Dells customer base that will request a Linux computer so there is no real volume in selling to the Linux market compared to windows.

If anything, the price of the Linux computer is probably a reflection of the hardware’s true cost. This is partially the reason Apple computers are higher than their windows competitors.

[HarshReality]

I cant help but wonder... Im going to have to call in and see what a system costs with no OS at all......

[macogw]

I cant help but wonder... Im going to have to call in and see what a system costs with no OS at all......

dell.com/open and click on FreeDOS (it's just there for you to test that the hardware isnt boinked)