Comments on: Dell Inspiron Mini Pricing “Scandal”

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:50:44 +0000

When I decided to buy a new computer and go Linux a few months ago, I also did all the price comparisons on the Dell website. My conclusion was that the base models base models were priced to sell, but the boosts–more RAM, larger hard drive–were much more expensive than what you would pay aftermarket. My solution was to buy from the Dell Outlet, where the previously shipped systems had the extra RAM for a lot less (for example, going from 1GB–>2GB was $50 for a new system, but $10 on a previously shipped system).

Unfortunately, as you might guess, there are no Ubuntu systems in the Dell Outlet. So even though I was very seriously considering ordering a Dell system with Ubuntu preinstalled, I ended up ordering a system from the Dell Outlet with Vista preinstalled and then dual-booting Ubuntu.

Since this was my first Linux system, I did also want to be able to fall back on Windows if I didn’t like it. But I’ve been happy with it, and for my next computer, I will again look at preinstalled Ubuntu. I would probably be willing to pay a few more dollars to have the “free” OS preinstalled, because there’s value in other aspects of having it prebuilt. This includes voting with your dollars, as you say in the post, but also things like having all the hardware drivers working–I had a bit of a problem getting Ubuntu to work with the integrated graphics on the Dell motherboard, which (I assume) wouldn’t have been a problem with a prebuilt system.

By: ubuntucat

ubuntucat — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:22:53 +0000

I certainly don’t want people to feel guilty about ordering XP. And wanting it now, as opposed to a month later, depending on your situation, is perfectly fine.

If people want to buy the XP version, they’re entitled to. It’s their money. I can’t stop them.

But I do just want people to understand why the pricing might be what it is and also understand the long-term repercussions of our collective individual choices.

By: gumbo

gumbo — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:09:26 +0000

I purchased the xp mini because it shipped a month earlier than the ubuntu version. Gotta have it now y’know? Hopefully when the ubuntu version catches up with the windows version the mainstream buyers will choose not to pay windows tax (but nobody wants to wait over a month for a laptop)

I will say this, good article, if I’d have read it before ordering I would have thought twice about ordering xp.

By: anjilslaire

anjilslaire — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:25:38 +0000

Very thoughtful insight, aysiu. Even though free, we do need to support them for offering it to us.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:40:40 +0000

i thought it was cool for dell to come out with these. and $50 for 2 more inches of screen size seems about right