1434933
story
Zed writes
"Showing a distancing of itself from Microsoft, Dell now offers businesses a chance to purchase computers without a Windows operating system. The N-Series computers start at $319 from Dell's website and ship with a FreeDOS CD in the box."
Re:Is this new? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Is this new? (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=1534
This is news? (Score:5, Informative)
FreeDos is a cool project. You should check it out if you haven't yet.
A wake up call for Microsoft? (Score:5, Informative)
Element Computer (Score:5, Informative)
Dell Servers + Linux (Score:1, Informative)
More precisely (Score:5, Informative)
According to their news entries, this is new for US customers, but it's been available to Canadians for a while.
Re:So... (Score:2, Informative)
This doesn't explain why you'd buy it with a brand new Dell though.
When Dell stops this, and... (Score:5, Informative)
When Dell stops this [cypherpunks.ca] bullshit, and offers a windows delete credit across their entire product line (without invalidating warranties), then you will finally know that you aren't paying a full microsoft tax when you order a computer with Linux or some other operating system.
Re:IMO, This is great (Score:4, Informative)
Their website seems pretty light on the details about linux but this page [dell.com] tells you what systems it is available for. Then again, anyone who actually wants linux on a desktop machine probably knows how to obtain and install their favorite distro anyway.
Required to have an OS (Score:2, Informative)
Re:IMO, This is great (Score:2, Informative)
Wal-Mart has had a cheap workstation for sometime that you can purchase without an OS, or get it with Lindows (I think). They aren't available in stores, only on their website, but its good that there are options out there.
It'd make a great little server to play with
Re:FreeDOS (Score:5, Informative)
If you read the fine print carefully, you will discover that the N series systems actually ship with no operating system installed. They include a FreeDOS media kit in the box. This way you don't have to pay any Microsoft tax on the machine. I suppose you could use the FreeDOS to test the machine before you installed the Linux distro of your choice,
Re:FreeDOS? (Score:2, Informative)
Because they're really shipping it with no OS. (Score:5, Informative)
You guys that question the OS keep forgetting (Score:1, Informative)
Business also implies "professionals" though that isnt allways true.
Re:What is the point? (Score:2, Informative)
Price difference (Score:5, Informative)
Re:FreeWindows? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Inquiring minds want to know (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Now how about... (Score:5, Informative)
Yeah that's what I'd like to see. I e-mailed Dell two months ago about getting a laptop without Windows XP on it and this is what they said: (in short they said tough luck)
> Problem Description:
>
------
I tried to purchase the Inspiron 5100 Notebook online but I noticed when I selected the option to customize that I was not able to remove Windows XP from the selection. As a long time "alternative operating system user", I have no desire to pay for an Operating System that I have no intention on using.
-------
Dear Sir,
Thank you for choosing Dell Online Customer Care.
I apologize for any inconvenience this matter may have caused.
Unfortunately, we are unable to assist you with your request.
Online Sales Center at 1-800-915-3355 ext 62032 or via e-mail
at:
DHS_On-Line_Order@Dell.com
BIOS FLASHING! (Score:3, Informative)
Motherboard BIOS. Updates? DOS floppy or DOS onboard generally required. Not always, especially these days, but geeze. FreeDOS, I assume, will work just as well as DOS for this purpose.
I'm a Mac user and I know this! What's your excuse?
Re:justice dept. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:FreeDOS (Score:5, Informative)
Those licenses are not transferable. You can't even blow away a PC and reload it with another copy of the OS you bought with it.
Re:Is this new? (Score:2, Informative)
Maybe I've just gotten lucky, and maybe their desktops aren't as hardy as their laptops.
Re:Is this new? (Score:0, Informative)
I don't know of any computer company that does what you are talking about these days. I do remember 10 years ago Packard Bell (and the like) made proprietary all-in-one sound cards/modems/video cards that plugged into a riser board off the motherboard.
But as far as I know, all of these companies use "standard" motherboards and parts now. Integration is standard. It started with the ATX form factor bringing PS/2 ports, IDE controllers, and Serial Ports onto the motherboard, and continued on with sound cards, video cards, and so on. And no, it's not a "Bad Thing(tm)". It's just like everything else. It has it's place. The difference between the Packard Bells of years past and the integration that you see now is that now you can open up your machine and replace the defective integrated motherboard with any of dozens of different choices. You don't have to call Dell and pay $300 for a proprietary motherboard. And besides, the system comes with a warranty that would replace it for $0 should it break down within the warranty period.
Re:Are they doing this for the pirateers... NO... (Score:3, Informative)
Remember the *double Microsoft Tax*? A large company pays to purchase a system (which has Windows), then they pay again for their special corporate image of windows? If they buy a system like this one, then they've got a single Microsoft tax. It makes sense.
And it makes sense for people who run alternative OSs, of want more of a kiosk, or perhaps have a MAME box they want to get going. For $320 with free shipping, that's one hell of a MAME box.
BTW: I found the URL given in the story a bad choice. I found this one [dell.com] instead.
Re:Is this new? (Score:5, Informative)
"Update: (16 Jan 2004) This may look like a repeat, but it's not. Before, FreeDOS on Dell wasn't available to US customers - it was Canadian customers only."
Re:Why not Knoppix? (Score:4, Informative)
I just downloaded featherlinux (70mb i think) to test it. Its supposed to be the best lightweight utility bootable CD version.
Re:Hmm (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Is this new? (Score:1, Informative)
http://www.angelcomputer.com/
This is dell laptops but without the dell name. U can even save and don't buy windows.
I bought one of these laptops and its vary good, high in performance and inexpensive compared to the "brand named" ones.
I discovered that these are dell clones when I was trouble shooting my mandrake 9.1 -9.2 installations, what confirmed it to me was the shutting down bug in mandrake 9.2. Since then whenever I have any problem I just google for dell inspiration 5xxx series and the problem I have.
Any way, I am not affiliated with this site by any mean or way, its just I thought I'll point out a bout it since people here seems to be kind of interested with this dell deal.
*I am too lazy to create an account.
*w7aggag
NOT TRUE - License ARE transferable (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Is this new? (Score:5, Informative)
Chuck found that US customers can purchase Dell systems with FreeDOS: Perhaps this is old news but browsing on Dell's Small Business site, I noticed that they are now offering select systems bundled with FreeDOS. From the web site: The n series features select popular models from the DimensionTM , OptiPlexTM and Dell PrecisionTM desktop lines sold without a Microsoft(R) operating system. Offered for IT professionals who want control over operating system development and installation, n series desktops are available with a copy of the FreeDOSTM open-source operating system included in the box, ready to install. Update: (16 Jan 2004) This may look like a repeat, but it's not. Before, FreeDOS on Dell wasn't available to US customers - it was Canadian customers only.
Re:FreeDOS (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Is this new? (Score:3, Informative)
2400 with XP is MUCH cheaper than FreeDOS Box (Score:2, Informative)
But, the SB 2400 comes with:
Pentium 2.4 vs Celeron 2.4
Good Keyboard vs crappy keyboard
Optical Mouse vs regular roller ball mouse
80 GB 7200 Hard Drive vs 40 GB 5400 HD
Floppy vs no Floppy
Speakers vs no Speakers
Modem vs no Modem
AND a copy of XP Home you can sell on Ebay.
So even if i'm installing Linux, why would I get the N-Series? Between the Pentium, Optical Mouse, Larger/Faster Hard Drive, (I won't use the rest but others will), I'd rather pay 400 for the better box.
If you price the N-Series with identical specs to this weeks 2400 Deal, the N-Series is 479 with the Celeron (no Pentium upgrade available).
Sometimes, Dell makes no sense.
Re:Is this new? (Score:4, Informative)
That said, it is entirely possible that the company you pointed to uses the same ODM as Dell, in which case it may indeed be easy to get more or less the same laptop for a lower price.
Interested parties may also look at www.powernotebooks.com and www.pctorque.com. These guys sell Eurocom and Sager (=Clevo) laptops at lower prices than many. It is a good way to get the same laptop, POSSIBLY MINUS SUPPORT, for a lower price.
Re:Is this new? (Score:4, Informative)
Usually Intel (modified to use the proprietary Dell power supply)
What's the wattage of the Power Supply?
The wattage of the Dell power supplies is generally sufficient to run the Dell just fine plus a few hard drives and other upgrades. The problem is that they use proprietary power supplies. There is NO TECHNICAL REASON to do this other than to lock customers in. If you charge enough for a replacement unit, customers will probably just buy a new PC instead.
The power supplies are like ATX, and at least a few years ago used an ATX-look alike connector. They may have changed this, because plugging a standard ATX PS into Dell motherboards would let the smoke out of the PS, possibly the Dell itself.
Fun.
What kind of RAM is used? DDR Dual Channel? What brand is the RAM?
Dell usually uses major brand RAM--whatever they can get cheapest in bulk. Not an issue. The RAM generally uses conservative timings, but then, timings really don't matter for most applications beyond 1-5% performance.
What brand is the hard-drive? What is the rotational speed of the hdd? How much cache does the hdd have?
Dell often uses Seagate or, IIRC, Maxtor. Not an issue, really.
Sounds like a decent deal as long as they are using decent hardware.
Decent Dells (i.e. not the super cheap systems with integrated video, etc.) use pretty good hardware. The problem is that the pretty good hardware is also pretty proprietary. Some parts are interchangeable, particularly with their overpriced gaming systems, but you buy Dell for the support (on paper at least) and because they are cheap. If you are a business, you buy them because they are a major OEM and give great support if you are a big buyer. And because they are cheap.
Dells are not meant for geeks that can build their own system from parts. They are meant for the other 95% of people that want a little black box that just works, and if it doesn't, has a toll-free number to call for help.
Re:IMO, This is great (Score:2, Informative)
I'm not sure this qualifies as distancing itself. However, another big PC retailer (at least here in the Netherlands) that does this is NEC. We order PC there without Windows quite often, and they are delivered with freedos. Probably for the same reason.
Using FreeDOS to bootstrap a real OS (Score:2, Informative)
But because FreeDOS, like MSDOS, uses the BIOS, it *can* read files off floppies, so I created a zip file of a minimal Debian installer plus pkunzip, loadlin and a kernel, used split(1) to break it into floppy-sized chunks, and copied it across like that. Ahhhh, swapping disks 20-odd times! That brings back memories!
Anyway, once all the data was on there and on a little DOS partition, I used loadlin to boot a kernel, load a root disk from a disk image, and then pointed the installer at the files I'd extracted from the recombined zip file.
A (slightly) more detailed account should show up on Linux On Laptops [linux-on-laptops.com] soon.
Re:Is this new? (Score:5, Informative)
Actually, last year we bought a bunch of Dell PowerEdge 2650s with RedHat 9 (and then had to purchase RHEL only six months later because of that end of life bullshit...but that's another story).
Anyway, Dell has a really good installer that asks a couple of questions, then installs RedHat with all the right options for the hardware, including Dell's drivers for their gigabit ethernet card and RAID 5 config. It even included a custom hardware PNP lookup file with identifiers for all the components in the server that aren't in the standard distro.
Dell also have their management interface for linux, which does everything the windows version does.
I was quite impressed with Dell (Not so much with RedHat over that end of life thing)
Re:If there's no MS tax, why so pricey? (Score:4, Informative)
No, maybe not. Ya see, Windows Movie Maker is the 'Notepad' of movie editing on Windows.
But you could use Magix video deLuxe PLUS [magix.net], Magix Movie Edit Pro 2004 [magix.net], Sony Screenblast Movie Studio [sonypictures.com], Ulead Videostudio [ulead.com], Pinnacle Studio [pinnaclesys.com], Roxio VideoWave Movie Creator [roxio.com]
Try comparing the iMac to _this_, then (Score:3, Informative)
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional (not the default "Home Edition")
FREE TurboTax(R) Basic for Tax Year 2003
512MB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 333MHz (2x256M)
80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
3.5 in Floppy Drive
Single Drive: 8x DVD+RW Drive
Combo: RecordNow! and MyDVD Deluxe (DVD+RW only)
Dell(R) Quietkey(R) Keyboard
Dell(R) 2-button scroll mouse
Productivity Pack including WordPerfect(R) and Money(R)
17 in E171FPb Flat Panel Display
128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Graphics Card with TV-Out and DVI
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio
Stereo Speakers
Dell Media Experience
Dell Picture Studio, Paint Shop Pro Trial, Photo Album Starter Edition
Integrated Intel(R) PRO 10/100 Ethernet
56K PCI Data Fax Modem
The cost? $1,627
What do we have here? It's a good $272 cheaper than that Mac. Even though it has an 8x DVD burner, as opposed to the Mac's 4x. Also note that the DVD writer software and everything _is_ included in the price.
Even then, the comparison is already skewed. A more exact comparison would be a 2 GHz Celeron machine with el-cheapo SDR RAM. That's still faster than the G4, but not as overkill as the P4.
And still more useful than the Mac. On the PC you can actually play games.
Also note that it involves _no_ assembling stuff on your own.
Do I need to spell it out for you? Yes, the Macs are overpriced. Way overpriced. And for a lot of us, just plain useless either way.
Forget about Dell, buy a Sager with no OS (Score:2, Informative)