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OMG! Ubuntu! reports
[January 11,] the company announced the immediate availability of the Dell Precision 3520 mobile workstation (that's "professional laptop" to you and [me]).
Better yet, buyers can save over $100 by choosing Ubuntu 16.04 LTS pre-loaded instead of Windows 10--now that's what you call a deal!
[...] Dell's Barton George says more Ubuntu-powered Precision workstations will go on sale in the coming months, worldwide, including an Ubuntu version of the company's stylish new Precision 5720 All-in-One desktop PC.
Unlike other vendors, Dell [doesn't] ship their Linux option on no-frills reduced-power hardware. All models in the Dell Precision lineup pack powerful 7th generation Intel Core and Intel Xeon processors, support Thunderbolt 3 (ahem, USB-C), and can be kitted out with up to 32GB RAM!
The Dell Precision 3520 is available to buy & configure right now priced from $899 (base specs, with Ubuntu 1604 LTS). It ships worldwide.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Zz9zZ on Saturday January 14 2017, @12:52AM
Because Ubuntu has packaged everything to "just work" and has better support for end users. Pure Debian will leave a lot of users scratching their heads as they try and learn some rudimentary linux admin stuff. Also modding you up because how on earth is your comment off topic??
~Tilting at windmills~
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Saturday January 14 2017, @01:39AM
This!
For every level of derivative distro that stands between you and the base distro you gain levels of polish, bug protection, and ease of use.
True there are some distros that simply repackage the crapload kicked out the door by the distro they are based on, but those don't last long.
Ubuntu isn't my cup of tea, but they have withstood the test of time. I'd rather get a machine with freedos installed, or bare naked drives. But for 100 dollars off I'd take the time to nuke the ubuntu.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 14 2017, @01:42AM
Nitpick: you'd be nuking anything else anyway so no extra effort required :P
(Score: 2) by fubari on Saturday January 14 2017, @11:13PM
r.e. same cost: False, different cost... As much as I dislike Win10, I would not pay $100 more for the pleasure of nuking Win10 vs. Ubuntu. (TFA is about how the laptop Ubuntu costs $100 less).
As an aside, if you do choose Ubuntu be you may want to de-select the Microsfot Office purchase option. :-)
(Score: 3, Interesting) by romlok on Saturday January 14 2017, @01:08PM
The advantage of getting one with Ubuntu pre-installed is that Dell have a legal obligation that the machines they sell are "fit for purpose". That means that the supplied hardware needs to be tested to work with Linux.
If it's shipped bare, then they could legitimately make the argument that it was expected that you were going to be installing Windows (being the monopoly OS), so the hardware only need be supported under that OS.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday January 18 2017, @05:38PM
Go look at the first link.
It links to dell's /us/business/ site. Not the UK site.
Fit for purpose is an extremely difficult thing to prove in the UK, and not even a concept in the US.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by AthanasiusKircher on Saturday January 14 2017, @03:42AM
Just my personal opinion, but unless you really want to push Unity, I think Ubuntu is unfortunately not a great choice. For users who know what they're doing, Debian is probably superior. For Linux beginners, it seems most find Linux Mint to be a lot more intuitive and polished than Ubuntu.
Ubuntu went out on a limb with Unity, and it does have some cool ideas, but most people fleeing Windows are probably trying to get away from Microsoft's continuous shifts in desktop interface, and Unity is likely to be equally confusing. Mint, on the other hand, seems dedicated to serving the new Linux user community and keeping a relatively stable interface over time (while keeping a true "just works" philosophy).
(Score: 2) by bradley13 on Saturday January 14 2017, @09:30AM
Agreed: I don't understand why Ubuntu wanted to develop and push Unity. There are already plenty of great desktops out there - we didn't need yet another one.
That said, one shouldn't forget that Ubuntu is available with other desktops. My preferred solution is Xubuntu (Ubuntu with the XFCE desktop). That provides a "classic" desktop that just stays out of the way and lets you get work done.
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.