I understand that some Linux zealots are “anti-establishment” and that Dell making a Linux machine available completely deflates their arguments. Don’t worry, you’ll still find tons of anti-Dell people to chat with.

All Dell branded Windows Reinstallation CDs are “full installs” and not imaging software. Most Dell systems include an Image Restore partition, which when used will wipe the C drive and reinstall the Dell factory image, but a “clean” install using the CDs is still possible for anyone that wishes to do so.

The difference between the Dell version of the CD and Microsoft’s is that Dell adds in some Dell specific information and drivers, such as SATA drivers so you won’t need to fight with a floppy drive. The other two disks that all systems should have are the Dell Resource (aka Drivers & Utilities) CD and the Dell Applications CD (Dell branded and trial versions of third party software that does not ship its own CD with the system). In some cases when ordering you may have to make sure to check the “send me a Windows CD” option, but the disks are always available.

Richard is correct that computers have become commodity items, however, Dell’s practice since its founding of using industry standard, off-the-shelf parts is part of the reason for this. The parts may have the Dell name on them, but they no different than the parts you could purchase in any local computer store.

While the warranty for individual parts is 90 days, the computers themselves have at least a one year warranty, with an option for up to five years depending on the system. The different warranty lengths are there so our customers can select the warranty length that best meets their individual needs.

In selling computers with Ubuntu Linux Dell went from a request from our customers on IdeaStorm to a product for sale in about 60 days. Because of how fast things were done there have some teething problems. As with everything else at Dell, however, we are learning from the mistakes and constantly trying to improve things. I am confident that the problems Brandon ran into when setting up the E520 will be addressed, either by Canonical or Dell; most likely both working together.

If any of you have other questions about the system, or any other Dell, I will be more than happy to answer them.

Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

But when you buy at your local white box computer store run by some Chinese guys out of a store front, you’ll likely get: 1) no crapware on the desktop; 2) a full install CD of Windows (for those going with Windows - no “Recovery CD” or “Recovery Partition” nonsense (which is useless if your hard drive goes out); 3) a diskette drive for flashing your BIOS or installing your SATA hard drive drivers in Windows XP - Dell leaves those out to cut their margins, and everybody thinks diskettes are obsolete - WRONG!

And I wouldn’t buy a Dell even if it’s a Linux OS on it. You’re still supporting Dell crapware on everybody else’s machine by buying a Dell.

Desktop PCs are commodities now. Buy them that way. Buy them from a local store that uses standard parts and gives you at least a 30-90 day warranty.

Now if you need a laptop, buy from somebody who has the tech muscle behind them to develop and support a laptop line - like Lenovo or HP or even Dell.

But if you don’t need to move your machine around on foot, in the car, or on a plane, do NOT buy a laptop to make it your primary machine. Buy a desktop - even if it is bigger (and get the biggest case you can afford - that extra room comes in handy when mucking around inside it - and you CAN muck around inside a desktop.)

Some laptops may have the CPU power and RAM and hard drive space to be primary machines, but unless you use external monitors and docking stations, they will never have big enough monitors or expandability. And why spend hundreds more for the laptop than a desktop, then spend another hundred or more for a docking station when you can get everything in one $500 desktop? Makes no sense at all…

It’s nice that Dell is selling Linux machines. Hopefully they will pressure some suppliers to provide certified drivers for Linux, which will help everybody. But in the end, it’s not really likely to help Linux that much as far as market share. That will happen when corporations realize that it’s not profitable or technologically effective to keep making Bill Gates the richest guy in the world with their IT dollars. When THEY switch to Linux, their hardware suppliers will support it, then the peripheral manufacturers will support it, and there will be drivers, and all the supposed Linux “problems” will go away.

Yeah, another system provider is System 76 which is based here in Colorado. I’ll definitely be looking closely at them when I’m ready for my next laptop.

@Sum Yung Gai

I do play games from time to time, so upgrading to the Nvidia card was a no brainer for me. The Nvidia driver is actually provided by Nvidia themselves, so I guess I’m not sure what licensing problem there would be? Then again, I’m not sure what the exact terms of the license are.

I didn’t install Ubuntu on my own with my own CD– I was describing what happened out of the box when I ordered a Ubuntu based Dell system.

The reason that the nVidious driver isn’t included is because it can’t be without getting sued to high Heaven. The license for it is very restrictive, indeed. Besides, why use a video card that requires a binary blob when you don’t have to?

One final question: why did you install Ubuntu at all? Aren’t Dell’s Ubuntu PC’s supposed to have it already preinstalled…or is this not the case?