7pm EST, 2007 May 24

Dell Prices - Ubuntu vs. Vista

In this document, I compare Dell's Ubuntu offerings against similarly configured Windows Vista offerings with the comparable product code. In order to simplify the comparision, I've chosen the most similar least expensive configuration options available.

This comparison isn't perfect, but I think it does show pretty clearly that Dell is willing to offer lower prices for $0 Ubuntu than for not-$0 OEM Vista.

Dimension E520n vs. E520

Ubuntu 7.04 Price: $409
Windows Vista Home Premium Price: $549

• Intel Core2 Duo Processor E4300
• Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 7.04
  - OR - Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
• 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs
• 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
• 48X CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  - OR - Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000
• Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
• Dell USB Keyboard, Dell 2-button USB mouse
• 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day
• Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet

Notes:
- I couldn't find Windows Vista Home Basic for the E520, or I would have taken the lower price. The E520 also comes with an optional free 56k winmodem.
- The biggest difference here seems to be the graphics adapters. The X3000 is Intel's newest integrated graphics chip. It comes with their new G35 motherboard chipset. It's newer stuff, but it's not $150 worth of newer stuff. On the other hand, Dell might be discounting the old boards to get rid of them.
- Paul McNeely writes: I did my comparison with components that were exactly the same. I upgraded both video cards to the 7300LE so they would match exactly and still came out with the $140 price difference.

Inspiron E1505n vs. E1505

Ubuntu 7.04 Price: $649 (After $50 upgrade to 1 gig RAM)
Windows Vista Home Basic Price: $728 (With ATI Graphics)

• Intel Pentium dual-core proc T2080
• Ubuntu Edition version 7.04
  - OR - Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic
• 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife
• 1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
• 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
• 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  - OR - 256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory
• Integrated Audio
• 53 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
• Intel PRO/Wireless 3945a/g
• 1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service

Notes:
- Windows Vista Home Premium would have cost an additional $29.
- The Ubuntu machine starts with 512 megs of RAM. Upgrading it to a gig to match the Vista system added $50.
- Upgrading the Windows machine to Intel wireless added $29.
- Again, the Windows System comes with a free WinModem.
- Here, the graphics card difference is much larger, although the X1400 is still in the "Very Low End" range for Graphics - this is worth $50 at most, which is still less than the $80 difference. And, of course, the Intel card is better in that it actually works well on Ubuntu.

Dimension XPS410n vs. XPS410

Ubuntu 7.04 Price: $669.
Windows Vista Home Premium Price: $719

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4300
• Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 7.04
  - OR - Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
• 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 DIMMs
• 250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
• 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
• 256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache
• Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
• Dell USB Keyboard, Dell Optical USB Mouse
• 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day

Notes:
- Again, Home Basic is not offered.
- Once again, Windows users get a free Winmodem.
- The two systems are basically the same, with Vista Home Premium costing an extra $50 here.

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Contact

I'm Nat Tuck <chandon@gmail.com>. Feel free to email me with any comments or corrections.