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Linux First, Windows Later! Dell Launches Qualcomm NPU Laptop on Linux Before Windows [itsfoss.com]:

Dell [dell.com] has a solid track record with Linux-powered OSes, particularly Ubuntu. The company has been shipping developer-focused laptops with Ubuntu pre-installed for years.

Many of their devices come with compatible drivers working out of the box. Audio, Wi-Fi, Thunderbolt ports, and even fingerprint readers mostly work without hassle. My daily workhorse is a Dell laptop that hasn't had a driver-related issue for quite some time now.

And a recent launch [dell.com] just reinforces their Linux approach.

Dell Pro Max 16 Plus: What's Inside?

Dell just launched the Pro Max 16 Plus. It is being marketed as the first mobile workstation with an enterprise-grade discrete NPU, the Qualcomm AI 100 PC Inference Card. It packs 64GB of dedicated AI memory and dual NPUs on a single card.

Under the hood, you get Intel Core Ultra processors (up to Ultra 9 285HX), memory up to 256GB CAMM2 at 7200MT/s, GPU options up to NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell with 24GB VRAM, and storage topping out at 12TB with RAID support.

Interestingly, Phoronix [phoronix.com] has received word that the Windows 11 version of the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus won't ship until early 2026, while the validated Ubuntu 24.04 LTS [itsfoss.com] version is already available.

With this, Dell is targeting professionals who can't rely on cloud inferencing. It says that the discrete NPU keeps data on-device while eliminating cloud latency, enabling work in air-gapped environments, disconnected locations, and compliance-heavy industries.

📝 Key Specifications

The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus ships with the following components:

• Video: Up to 16″ UHD+, 120Hz, OLED touch display.
• Power: 6-cell, 96 Wh, Li-ion.
• Audio: 1x 3.5 mm combined audio jack, 2x 2 W stereo speakers.
• Camera: 1080p at 30 fps HDR FHD RGB camera, 8MP 30 fps HDR RGB+IR camera.
• USB: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) with PowerShare, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps).
• Thunderbolt: 2x Thunderbolt 5 (80 Gbps), 1x Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps), both with Power Delivery and DisplayPort.
• Networking: 1x RJ45 (2.5 Gbps), Wi-Fi 7 BE200, Bluetooth 5.4, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X72 eSIM.
• Slots: 1x SD card reader, 1x smart card reader.
• Weight: 5.63 lb (2.55 kg)

🛒 Pricing & Availability

The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus starts at $3,329 (excl tax and shipping). You can configure and order it directly from the official website [dell.com].

Dell Pro Max 16 Plus [dell.com]

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