price comparison: Dell XPS M1530 with Ubuntu vs. Windows

Dell announced that a few more models are now available pre-installed with Ubuntu: the XPS 1530n and the Studio 15n.

I configured an XPS 1530n with the following specs, which are available both with Ubuntu and Windows:

SYSTEM COLOR Tuxedo Black
PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5850 (2.16GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
LCD AND CAMERA Full Hi Definition, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD (1920×1200) & 2.0 M
MEMORY 4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
HARD DRIVE Speed: 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
VIDEO CARD 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GS
WIRELESS CARDS Intel® 3945 802.11a/g Mini-card
BLUETOOTH AND WIRELESS USB Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
BATTERY OPTIONS 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0
FINGERPRINT SCANNER Finger Print Reader XPS M1530
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts Labor,24×7 Phone Support

The Ubuntu version comes with:

OPERATING SYSTEM Ubuntu 8.04 with DVD Playback
ENVIRONMENTAL OPTIONS Recycling Kit and Plant a Tree for Me

The Windows version ships with:

OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
PRODUCTIVITY No Microsoft Office

The only other configuration difference was that Windows users need to pay $25 extra for a recycle kit, and are not given the ‘plant a tree for me’ option. I guess it costs extra to dispose of all that proprietary software ;)

There were a few options available on the Windows version that are not yet on the Ubuntu version – presumably because free software drivers are still missing for that hardware.

The verdict? Financially, the Ubuntu machine is a way better deal:

  XPS 1530 with Ubuntu: $1,518
  XPS 1530 with Windows: $1,788

On top of the substantial price difference, the Windows version comes with the cheapest, most basic version of Windows Vista pre-installed, as well as the NO office software option. This is a very basic setup, software-wise. You’ll also need to shell out extra bucks for antivirus software.

Compare that with the Ubuntu version which ships with a very powerful operating system and ton of extra software, including Open Office. And you get a major operating system release every 6 months for free!

Now if only Dell would start selling more of their systems without Windows around the world – they are still not available in large parts of Europe, for instance…

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