Dell Ubuntu computers cost more than Windows equivalent - so what?

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 31 October 2007 17:24

Opinion and Analysis

It's hard to believe that Dell is serious about its well-publicised program to put Linux computers on the global market when there are blatantly obvious instances where the limited range of Ubuntu notebooks and desktops are more expensive than their Windows equivalent. However, is pricing as important as some may think?

The issue of Dell Ubuntu pricing is causing a storm of consternation among visitors to the Dell blog IdeaStorm. As can be seen here and here , for months, posters to the bog have been dredging up examples of price disparities favouring Windows boxes over the Ubuntu equivalent. To date, there has been little or no action on the part of Dell, despite promises.

Without too much trouble I was able to dredge up my own example of a pricing disparity. Similarly configured Inspiron 1420 (Windows) and Inspiron 1420N (ubuntu) notebooks were priced cheaper for the Windows version. Yes, the processors were different but it's still not clear why, the entry level Ubuntu box was priced higher than the equivalent entry level Windows machine

A question that must be raised then is why, if Windows licenses cost Dell money and Ubuntu licenses are free, then why are Ubuntu boxes more expensive?  There are a couple of possible answers.

The most obvious and popular one among open source and anti-Microsoft advocates is that Dell is doing it deliberately, perhaps because somehow it is being pressured by Microsoft. However, this seems unlikely. Why would Dell have started the Ubuntu program in the first place if it was worried about what Microsoft would do.

In addition, Dell has been remarkably open to date in allowing users to publicly vent their spleen on its blog. There does not to be much if any censorship on this or other sensitive issues.

Another and probably the most likely reason that Dell Ubuntu boxes are more expensive is that they cost more to build. Why? Probably because the cost of the Windows operating system to Dell is offset by the 
available resources and skills within Dell to assemble the systems on order. How many Inspiron 1420 notebooks does Dell move compared to 1420N units? Probably orders of magnitude more. How much does it cost 
Dell to assemble and configure a Windows box than the equivalent Ubuntu box? Probably measurably less.

As one poster pointed out, it many instances it would probably be cheaper for users to buy a Windows box and install Ubuntu on it themselves.

However, for most would-be pre-installed Ubuntu users the price of the hardware was never the issue. What they want is to be able to buy a Unbuntu Linux computer that they don't have to fiddle with to get working. In other words, they're prepared to pay not to have to use Windows and have a system with most or all of the applications they need installed and at their fingertips ready to run.

The real questions for Dell should be why are the pre-installed machines on sale still running Ubuntu 7.04 instead of 7.10? And why are these Ubuntu machines still only available in the US?

Meanwhile for the rest of us, there are three options: buy a vanilla box (unavailable from Dell) and install Ubuntu yourself; buy a Dell Windows box and install Ubuntu over Windows; or buy a box and pay a Linux engineer to install Ubuntu for you (and perhaps set up your home network in the process). Whatever, we decide upon, for my money it's better than sticking with Windows and waiting for Dell.