By Tom Espiner, 5 July 2007 08:27
NEWS
Dell will offer its Linux PCs for $50 less than the equivalent Windows PCs, the company has revealed on one of its websites.
The figure applies to Dell's Inspiron 1420 laptop, which offers the Ubuntu Linux distribution pre-installed. An Ubuntu system will cost $774, while a machine with equivalent specs with Windows will cost $824.
Some visitors to the IdeaStorm website, Dell's user forum, suggested the move would have an effect on sales of Windows. One user said: "Give compelling reasons for people to choose Linux [such as price] and they will. I did."
Dell refuses to say whether, or when, UK users will be able to purchase laptops with Linux pre-installed. Dell currently offers its Linux systems only in the US.
Tom Espiner writes for ZDNet UK
Comments
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1. anonymous
I think once UK users become more aware of Linux and the uability of Distributions like Ubunta it will become much more wide spread.
Its been a long time coming for something that is superior and more flexible in a lot of ways.
I guess its the lack of major commercial backing. Dell is providing the catalyst thats required.
2. Joe Whitehead
There will be Dell to pay! Microsoft is going to threaten ever vendor with all kinds of reasons to not offer even one system like this.
The interesting thing is that if even just one of Microsoft's contracts is ruled to have bad faith/illegal terms, than it makes it very hard for Microsoft to enforce or even just include those terms. They'll be trying VERY hard to not let that happen the first time.