Ubuntu on Two New Inspirons; Update from the Linux Live Expert Forum

Wed. Jun. 27, 2007

Since yesterday's launches, Direct2Dell readers like Concerned asked what we are doing to offer OS choice on the new products. From a Ubuntu perspective, we're now offering Ubuntu 7.04 to customers in the United States on the Inspiron 1420N notebook and the Inspiron 530N desktop. Both are available for order now at www.dell.com/open. Since these are new systems, it usually takes us a bit of time to ramp production. Because of that, we expect to ship these new systems by the middle of next month.

In terms of how of what to expect, the same technical details that John Hull blogged about before we launched Ubuntu systems apply to these new systems. 

 

Here's the base configuration on the Inspiron 1420N:

  • Core 2 Duo T5250 processor (1.5GHz/ 667MHz FSB)
  • 1GB shared dual-channel DDR2 667MHz RAM
  • 80GB hard drive
  • Ubuntu 7.04

 

And here's the base config for the Inspiron 530N:

  •  Intel dual-core processor E2140 (1.6GHz/ 800MHz FSB)
  • 512MB single channel DDR2 667MHz RAM
  • 160GB hard drive
  • Ubuntu 7.04

In this morning's Linux Live Expert Forum session, John Hull confirmed that we do plan to offer Linux on the client side in additional locations outside the United States. More details to come later this summer. That's something that we continue to see a lot of interest in—the Sell Linux PCs Worldwide from user ergo has been the top idea for a few weeks now, and I've received hundreds of comments on Direct2Dell about the same thing. John also said that Dell is considering bringing Linux to our small business customers as well.

You can take a look at this thread to follow most of the discussion from this morning's session. A couple of new threads were added outside of the live one, like this one where John asked the community what Dell could do to improve our Ubuntu offering.

Update 6/28: Yesterday, Direct2Dell reader Brandon asked about a price increase on the Inspiron E1505N notebook. The issue also came up in last night's Live Linux Chat. That price mistake was due to a website glitch, which we have fixed. The Inspiron 1505N is available for a starting price of $599. My apologies for any inconvenience this has caused.

We've got another Linux Live Expert Forum session again tonight from 8pm - 10pm. Both John Hull and Ben Collins from Ubuntu will be there again tonight. To join it, go to the Linux Community Forum area, and look for the second Live Linux Chat thread.

del.icio.us email this digg digg
Published Wednesday, June 27, 2007 01:30 PM
by Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger
Filed under: , , ,

Comments  Comment RSS Feed

Brandon said:

I welcome the addition of more Ubuntu systems, but the price hike is unwelcome. The price of an e1505n has gone up $200, just as I was about to order one. Disappointing.

Furthermore, it seems that open-source options are no longer offered on the University branch of the site. I'm also disappointed in that.
 

June 27, 2007 5:12 PM
Lionel Menchaca, Chief Blogger said:

Brandon: Sorry for the delay... the price increase was due to a website glitch that we fixed. The E1505N starts at $599.

Apologize for the inconvenience. I'll update the post with this information as well.

June 27, 2007 5:12 PM
C said:

"In this morning's Linux Live Expert Forum session, John Hull confirmed that we do plan to offer Linux on the client side in additional locations outside the United States. More details to come later this summer."

 

Excellent :)  This Canuck will be very pleased to be able to order an Ubuntu lappy.

June 27, 2007 6:06 PM
Dave said:

Excellent news all round!

a) Ubuntu Dells are going to be more widely available (that had better include the UK!). 

b) Ubuntu is available on the new laptops.

c) And you can get bluetooth as an option on the new inspirons (hadn't read the small print).

What does that leave a pom like me to whinge about? (how much "later this summer" ? :o)

The forum session makes interesting reading.  I appreciate that Dell employees can't give exact numbers of Ubuntu sales, but it would be nice to get a vague idea.  Perhaps the forthcoming international rollout is an indication that it's not all bad.

10/10 for customer communications.  To quote b3ta, we love the web!

June 27, 2007 6:07 PM
Lee said:
On worldwide availability, and availability to different customers: why all the confusion? Why not just make the OS an option for all machines, like windows is? You could test it with the main ones, and add a *disclaimer for those platforms not yet tested, and it would still be better (in terms of simplicity, usefulness, choice, price, ethics...) than what you've got now.
June 28, 2007 1:36 AM
Toasty said:

This is terrific news that Ubuntu will be available almost immediately on some of the newly released Inspirons (and soon internationally).

I'm concerned, however, that any mention of Windows XP is absent from any recent blog posts as well as the tech specs tab of the product description pages. My aunt ordered an Inspiron 1501 on my advice once XP Home was made available again (as you'll recall it was not available at the Vista launch).

Lionel, can you officially confirm or deny that XP (Home or Pro) will ever be available on the newly released Inspiron laptop and desktop models?

June 28, 2007 2:03 AM
Zaufe said:
Too bad Dell hasn't even shipped the first orders of linux... I'm begining to feel Dell sucks with Linux!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 28, 2007 6:26 AM
Dbyte said:

    What is Dell doing to offer Linux on the higher end models like the Dell M90?

    I still notice that Dell is limiting the models for Linux to low end processors. Nothing above a 2.16 is being allowed. The open source choices are still limiting the NVDIA graphics cards are to the lower end models when the NVIDIA® Quadro FX 2500M, 512MB (dedicated), OpenGL has more support on Linux then windows.


 

 

June 28, 2007 9:07 AM
Scott Purcell said:

Zaufe,

Not sure what you're referring to... I've had my Ubuntu system from Dell since about May 31st.  It's lovely.  Now there may be delays on certain models, or due to high demand -- but it is untrue and unfair to suggest that Dell hasn't shipped ANY.

 

Scott

June 28, 2007 1:05 PM
nix said:
I guess Linux desktop machines are potentially selling; considering that Dell is going to expand the number of machines that carry Linux.
June 28, 2007 2:12 PM
Concerned said:

Thank you! This quick response with such great information has dispelled my doubts. =)

June 28, 2007 3:47 PM
smith said:
It took DELL 11 months to fix my broken laptop screen. Welcome to DELL-HELL!
June 28, 2007 7:55 PM
Irish said:

Zaufe said:

"Too bad Dell hasn't even shipped the first orders of linux... I'm begining to feel Dell sucks with Linux!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
 
I have had my Ubuntu E1505n for over 2 weeks and I have to say I am really impressed with how well it performs. Load time is sweet and it works great. If you can afford it upgrade to the 1600x1200 resolution lcd your eyes will thank-you.
June 28, 2007 10:47 PM
Michael said:

I noticed on the 1420N that no webcam is offered. Is this because there are no drivers for your webcam? When will a webcam option be offered for the 1420N?

A choice for a more powerful nVidia graphics card would also earn you some brownie points ;)

June 29, 2007 6:42 AM
savaged said:
Same question as usual: when does the rest of the world get such an offer? I'm sure the uptake would be worth the initial investment, there's massive interest in Linux in Europe alone.
June 29, 2007 10:52 AM
Luca said:
Next Linux Laptop with Windows keys :/
June 29, 2007 3:32 PM
Stan said:

I find it a bit worrying that all of DELL's open-source desktops currently being sold (Inspiron 530 N and XPS 410 N) come only with NVIDIA graphics cards. NVIDIA represents the antithesis of open-source/free software ideals. Why don't you offer the Intel graphics cards by default, which are fully supported by 100% Free/Open Source drivers? Whatever happened to DELL's pledge to preferentially use hardware that has FOSS drivers when such hardware exists?

 BTW: I'm not a big fan of Intel CPUs since they include DRM/Treacherous Computing, but in terms of providing open-source graphics hardware, Intel is the best.
 

June 30, 2007 10:35 AM
Sclytrack said:

Could Dell tell customers weither the hardware supports virtualization?

I wouldn't like to purchase something that doesn't support some of the features I want. (And only figure those things out afterwards.)
Help me choose doesn't mention anything about it.
http://www.intel.com/products/processor_number/chart/core2duo.htm
 

July 2, 2007 2:44 AM
Cam said:
Yeah, I'd really like to see an nVidia option on the new laptop. I've been waiting for a lappy with a smaller screen (fits better on a desk at school). If you offered an nVidia option on it all of my requirements would be satisfied ^_^
July 2, 2007 1:00 PM
Shailendra said:

I am from India and I am interested in inspiron 1520

I am really confused thanks to the sales representative .Here' what she has said in the email

Intel processor offered is 32-bit in India.
Processor is the new one i.e. Santa Rosa
No competitor provides 64 bit processor in India.
 
Is it santa rosa 32 bit processor(T5250)???
please tell is she correct or do i need to talk to another sales representative
July 4, 2007 3:25 PM
Michael Vogt said:
I was so excited to see Dell offer Ubuntu on the 1420N, and I couldn't wait any longer and finally bought one. I do hope this is an even bigger success for Dell than anticipated. In the meantime, I'll try to be patient and wait for it to ship.
July 6, 2007 6:57 AM
micke said:
I'm buying a new laptom later this year. If Ubuntu is available on Dell laptops in Sweden I will not even consider another vendor. I have a Dell laptop today (running Ubuntu), and I love it, but I will not buy one with windows on. It doesn't make sense to pay for an OS you're not going to use, right?
July 9, 2007 8:55 AM
don hardaway said:
I am waiting on Ubuntu to be offered on something like a Latitude 820 or 830 but with ssd 64GB flash disk.  Any ideas of when this may be possible?
July 9, 2007 1:16 PM
yman said:

to Shailendra:

santa rosa is, as far as I know, the chipset. what that means, I have no clue. 

July 9, 2007 1:42 PM
Wolfgang from Germany said:
Will you offer Ubuntu on the M90? Thank you!
July 14, 2007 10:20 AM
Antoine said:
Can't wait for ubuntu based dell laptops in Europe!
July 15, 2007 4:27 PM
sander said:
europe for ubuntu!
July 19, 2007 4:50 PM
LinuxBelgium said:

Hello there

I'm planning to buy a laptop at Dell Belgium....When do these laptops come with Ubuntu in the Benelux?

 

Grtz

 


 

August 7, 2007 1:30 PM
AskTheAdmin said:

Any chance we can get these shipped without the windows key on them? I think we would rather it be "Blank" or "Customizable" - Any chance?

 Thanks a bunch,

Karl of http://www.askTheAdmin.com

August 10, 2007 12:45 PM
Joby said:

Got the 1420N.

It is working great.

If only the webcam was included. I am surprised that

dell cannot get a webcam that work with linux to go with the system. I

have bought one and is working great. But would have been nicer to

have one built in. 

August 17, 2007 3:37 PM
alan said:
can someone email what group is playing on the inspirion commercial
August 31, 2007 11:43 AM

Leave a Comment

Compose
Preview
(required ) 
(required , not published) 
(optional )
(required ) 

Note: Conversation is encouraged and expected. However, moderation of comments is necessary to prevent spam, personal attacks, profanity, mentions of legal action or off-topic commentary. Comments related to specific product support or customer service issues will be addressed separately rather than posted here. Please use the links in Contact Us for product and customer service assistance.

 
 
About Direct2Dell  |   Contact Us Creative Commons License Powered by CommunityServer