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It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News)It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News)Posted Sep 5, 2008 4:33 UTC (Fri) by gervin23 (guest, #13977)Parent article: It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News)
Linux with 1GB/16GB = $449
Windows with 1GB/16GB = $449
Interesting.
I know Asus pulled some tricks with the hardware/pricing matrix to make Windows a more attractive buy but I thought Linux always ended up costing a bit less up front? [We all know it ends up much less in total cost :)]
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It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 4:43 UTC (Fri) by jmorris42 (subscriber, #2203) [Link]
> Linux with 1GB/16GB = $449
Note that the Windows unit comes with a webcam at that price. So you get Windows AND a Webcam for free. They are now paying you to take a Windows license. How long can these games go on before the monopoly is in trouble?
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 5:43 UTC (Fri) by qg6te2 (guest, #52587) [Link] Another fun bit when customising the Mini on Dell's site:
May delay your Inspiron Mini 9 ship date
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 7:18 UTC (Fri) by jamesh (subscriber, #1159) [Link]
That page also says you get 1 year of support on the device. Presumably the support for the Operating System makes up part of the cost.
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 13:11 UTC (Fri) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]
That's probably right.
With the netbook margins are so slim that getting one support phone call from somebody will blow any amount of profitability from the device. So this is what Asus discovered with the EEEPC.
If you think about it, it's pretty painful. And I do expect the Linux version will have more support calls. Despite good advances getting Linux to work with many common devices can be quite challenging.. for example Lexmark or Brothers printers. These things are extremely common things that people will want to use with a netbook.
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All I can say is "Support People who support Linux". I always make sure to buy the Linux version of any hardware if it's available.
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 16:47 UTC (Fri) by salimma (subscriber, #34460) [Link]
Or Canon. Of the major printer manufacturers, Canon is the one that seems to pretend that Linux does not even exist.
Ironic, considering their Mac drivers are basically CUPS drivers.
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 19:40 UTC (Fri) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link]
Lexmark are the same I think.
Avoid Canon like the plague..
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 9, 2008 10:56 UTC (Tue) by ekj (subscriber, #1524) [Link]
In contrast, my Lexmark laserprinter came with a big friendly tux on the packaging, with fine-print saying they support RedHat, Debian and Mandrake, and provide drivers that "should work with any recent cups-based system".
How's that for cluefulness ? I know I voted with -my- dollars. Please do the same.
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 9, 2008 13:29 UTC (Tue) by paulj (subscriber, #341) [Link]
Ooh, so Lexmark have copped on? Great! I'll consider them next time I need a printer so (if correct).
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 8, 2008 13:45 UTC (Mon) by pr1268 (subscriber, #24648) [Link] Canon is the one that seems to pretend that Linux does not even exist. Hehe, based on what the local morning radio show's DJs have to say, Canon apparently pretends that Windows Vista doesn't exist, either.
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 19:19 UTC (Fri) by gervin23 (guest, #13977) [Link]
Good point and speaking of which, a friend of mine recently purchased a Dell Inspiron from Best Buy. It of course ships with Vista Kitchen Sink Edition but interestingly there was no software or drivers pre-loaded to handle the webcam. He, luckily for Dell, knew how and where to get it running. Now I know they're cutting costs here and there but they must be getting tons of calls from regular folk about this particular issue.
It's Official: Dell Enters the Netbook Fray (Internet News) Posted Sep 5, 2008 14:27 UTC (Fri) by andrel (subscriber, #5166) [Link] Ubuntu will continue to cost more, unless ISVs stop subsidizing the monopoly.
This should surprise no one Posted Sep 5, 2008 16:37 UTC (Fri) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330) [Link] In a world where Best Buy can charge $30, and people will pay, to get rid of the crapware that comes on a new Windows PC, we in the Linux camp have to drop the delusion that we should pay less for a machine with Linux on it. The vendor can make more money from the crapware vendors than it has to pay Microsoft for the OEM license, so it's essentially free.Actually, though, the crapware serves a purpose in helping enlist my family in the Linux cause. Our home machines dual-boot, but often Windows isn't booted for months at a time. Then all the crapware fires up, telling us that our 30-day free offer has expired, so we should go here, there, and over there to pay money to buy products we never asked for. My nontechnical wife and daughter are then eager to return ASAP to the OS that doesn't come with popup ads.
This should surprise no one Posted Sep 11, 2008 4:46 UTC (Thu) by lysse (guest, #3190) [Link]
> In a world where Best Buy can charge $30, and people will pay, to get rid of the crapware that comes on a new Windows PC, we in the Linux camp have to drop the delusion that we should pay less for a machine with Linux on it.
And yet, with a bit of persistence it's still possible to get a refund from some companies on an unwanted Windows installation (well, people have done it) - so perhaps we should just be regarding that as a cashback offer?
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