Dell shipping open-source computers sans Operating System
This post was published 2 years 9 months 28 days ago and its content may not be valid anymore.Is it just me? Does anyone else thing that major computer manufacturers should have provided the option for consumers to purchase mechines without an Operating System forced down their throats? Dell is pushing out new n Series Desktops aimed at providing the platform for Open Source customers.
Dell’s new open-source n Series desktop solution provides customers with a DimensionTM E520, E521 or C521 desktop without an installed or included Microsoft® operating system. With the n Series desktop, customers have the flexibility to install an alternative operating system (such as a version of Linux® ), and help reduce the price of this system. In addition, the n Series desktop comes with a non-formatted hard drive ready for your custom installation. Dell’s n Series desktop ships with a copy of FreeDosTM , an open-source operating system that is ready to install.
Personally, I think this move is a great idea. No more Windows tax being tacked on to users computing experience. I’m not too familiar with the greatest deals on individual computer components so maybe one of our knowledgeable readers can fill the rest of us if in the prices on these machines are acceptable.
not really good prices, still a rip. and though the option is still nice, anyone smart enough to run a linux system, its easy, i just mean smart as in a smart person, would build their own for half the price and not be forced to use those “options” they think they are giving.
I always thought the big retailers had contracts with Microsoft that assured that no computer sold leaves the warehouse without their OS…
Seems like the folks at Dell don’t have too much trust in upcoming Vista.
It’s good to see “naked” systems available, to avoid having to pay the “Microsoft tax” and giving people options, but these rigs are still too expensive in my opinion, like the Cynic821 already pointed out.
The cheapest “Open Source” computer Dell offers has no optical drive and it comes with a 3-year warranty plan; I’m sure that’s where the bulk of the price is attributed to. In that case, why not offer a cheaper PC with basic/minimal warranty, tailored for those of us who can fix our own computers and don’t need any hand-holding. If they offered such systems, then I’d seriously consider getting one of their systems.