business tactic?

They probably offered Linux to get a lower licensing cost (or bigger incentive) from M$.

Customer complaints about Vista might bring it back. Or they could start offering a different distro.

Cheers,
John

Fraid Not!

They just appear to be upgrading to a newer laptop range or something.

They'll be back - they must've made a ton of cash on this range, they'd be insane to stop now.

So Sad...

Must've been a publicity stunt, or they may be bowing to influence from the Vole.....

My guess its the Vole telling Dell "these aren't the droids you're looking for".

You are wrong (once again).

Go ahead and order, UK ubuntu page is back up. Dell.co.uk/ubuntu.

They've Upgraded!

They've actually upgraded the offerings on Dells carrying the Ubuntu operating system. Now you have more choices including faster CPUs and more memory. Enjoy!

WOrks finE here

I just tried to create a new system and it's not a problem at all for me. I can get it delivered within a week.
Just used the link stated above.

Seems it's already back up.

No problems seen with page. Dell says "Back By Popular Demand". Or something.

I dumped Ubuntu too

I've been running Vista since January and tried Gutsy Gibbon on my PC and laptop for about 24 hours but gave up and wiped it.

When you have built up years of knowledge and a healthy library of Windows software, as I have, I really don't see the point in changing to Linux just for the sake of it and then rooting around trying to find software or workrounds to get you back to where you were in the first place.

If the switch to OS X is anything like the switch to Ubuntu then I'm very happy to stick with Vista (or XP).

ORLY?

I was able to follow the link and configure a system, then add it to my basket.

I did not proceed past this point as I do not have a Dell account.

Perhaps it was a temporary glitch?

Just amazing

You know if there is a single request for it there's a request. Since the research in fleshing out how it worked on those particular models has been paid for already there's no reason to not provide it, even if it is far away from Dell's headquarters.

They should permit him to order it even if it costs them time and money to put one together for him.

Lame laptops offered

Just yesterday I went to the Dell site and tried to find an Ubuntu laptop. They had only one and it has a low resolution display suitable for children's games. I'm not a gamer, but my current laptop is a Latitude D810 with a 1920x1200 display, 2G of RAM ...

I want Ubuntu on that class of machine.

Regards,
Ray

Don't jump the gun on your stories...

Well...the euro link is back up, and clearly shows Ubuntu 7.04 as a selectable configuration option...... no story.....

Looks like it works from here

Hi,

I went to the link posted and was able to configure a system and add it to my cart.

Am I missing something?

--
InspironTM 530n (UBUNTU)
Date & Time: Tuesday 6 November 2007 8:42 PM

Shannon V

Works for me.

The linked page opens fine for me.

corrected - the laptop link doesn't seem to work

My previous comment apparently wasn't entirely true... I was able to configure the desktop machine via the link on your page but the laptop link didn't take me to configure a laptop.

Shannon

New dHelli

Probably all of some of the above. Although I have 5 or six older dells, I am not impressed with quality of the newer dells, the planned equipment retirement, or the support. Besides you can a get clone system equal or better specs for a fraction of the price of a dell. Secondly, If you want to upgrade you have to get a whole new machine. Lastly replacement parts have to come from dell. I do not liked to be locked in.

And they tried so hard!

Yup..thank god we dont have to see thousands of ads of ubuntu linux on Dell anymore.. I mean the Dell web page was nothing else than a linux add for a long time, and it was really easy there to look for the products. Yes! this prooves it, it must be impossible to sell.

Check your facts

Um - I clicked on the Dell links in your story and could order an Ubuntu machine no problem.

Perhaps a correction or retraction is in order.

Ubuntuus not stupid....

Dell horribly overcharged for these machines, was cheaper to strip off windows and install a fresh Linux on one of their weekly specials machines.

Or...

.. it could just be that hardly sold any.

Im not surprised....

You have to remember who buys these machines form Dell, HP, Gateway etc... anyway. It isn't the tech savvy PC user, or IT people, they build their own, and most would never be caught dead ordering a pre-built rig from a huge corporation.

The large majority of people buying these are end the user "Average Joe Blow" consumer. These people aren't familiar with Linux as a whole, and don't want to spend their hard earned money on something they arent sure they will like. Therefore, they end up going with Vizta or XPee, which they are at least somewhat familiar with.

While I was glad to hear Dell was "supposedly" going to offer Linux, I had my doubts whether or not there would be any demand for it in that area of PC sales.

being a Windowz PC man for almost 15 years, I have been trying to make the move to Linux, and have been using Ubuntu as a dual boot on a laptop for some time now. As much as I hate to say it, until the Linux distros get more user friendly, the end user is going to avoid them and go with something easier for them to use and set up, no mater how unstable or how much they get screwed. Linux has come a long way, but one of the big things is people switching to it need to stop "thinking like windows users". its not windows, it doesnt work like windows.

I am happy with it, and intend to fully switch all my systems to at least dual boots in the future. The average home owner wont though, unfortunately. They will keep paying the ridiculous prices and then complaining about it.

*B*

Desktops work, Notebook doesn't

If you go to http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu/ it appears that the Desktop green button works, but the Notebook button doesn't (the latter goes to a "please wait" page that infinitely loops).

I suspect they've been shuffling the pages around somewhat (maybe an update in spec or something?) and perhaps both were broken until just now and they've only just fixed one of the two?

Works for me...

I went to the linked page and obtained Dell's configuration page. 398.99 incl VAT and shipping. SOunds good. I wish I could get those in Canada.

Rubbish!

Rubbish!

While that laptop page isn't working, the desktop page is fine. They're still selling the Inspiron 530n that I bought recently. And, I have to say, it works very nicely - especially with the upgrade to Ubuntu 7.10 ("Gutsy Gibbon")!

When Dell first started doing these Ubuntu pre-installed PCs in the UK, their web pages just didn't work. It was like they were slowly putting the pages up, but in such a way that it just seemed broken for at least several hours. (It's like they've got amateurs running their website, or something.) So I wouldn't be surprised if they're just making some changes, with broken web pages in the meantime.

ohh well to bad

it does not surprise anyone that this has happened, the only surprise was that they actually tried it. I always though that maybe it would be xandros or linspire or maybe suse that would be bundled. Dont get me wrong ubuntu is a great operating system. Unfortunately linux and bsd have almost zero support from the industry. Shame on them, what do you do when you cant use your ATI all in wonder? thats not linux's/bsd's fault, its just a casualty of war.

Squeak Squeak

A loud but small bunch of fanatics screamed for Dell to carry Linux.

Guess what?

The same bunch then turned around and said:

"We don't want to pay for it, we just want it."

Welcome to the world of business, morons.

Another Inq Conspiracy Theory ??

Hey, I just tried to look at the HP website and it didn't work... they must have gone broke or something !!

Maybe its about the hardware

Maybe Dell want to go to ATI based GPU's in the notebooks.
Anyone that has tried to install Linux Based ATI drviers will know How much fun that is!! NOT !

new version

It's only 3weeks since the latest version of Ubuntu came out. Ubuntu releases every 6 months

Please, please, please, please.. keep me away from Linux.

>> When you have built up years of knowledge and a healthy library of Windows software, as I have, I really don't see the point in changing to Linux just for the sake of it and then rooting around trying to find software or workrounds to get you back to where you were in the first place.

Change's a b*tsh isn't it. I never wanted to come out of my momma's womb for fear of the unknown. How could anything out there be any better than in here. It would take time to grow accustomed. What would I gain? I can just continue growing and feeding inside here, I was thinking, as someone shoved me out, ready or not.

I got over it, thank goodness. Couldn't be a happier pup.

Seems to be working now...

I just tried it. Slow, but working. I could select Ubuntu and Ubuntu support options...

Aah...the "conspiracy theorists"

I just tried configuring an Ubuntu Desktop as well as a Notebook from the Dell UK website and it works _just_ fine. Here are the links:

Notebook:
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=N1164015&s=dhs

Desktop:
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=Ubuntu&s=dhs

Conspiracy theory because of a website glitch, nay I ask ?? ;-)

Amazing

How is it.. Every time there is the slightest hiccup with the Dell Ubuntu computers, the usual bunch of comments surface.

It must have been a PR stunt, Microsoft pressured them into getting rid of it, Dell only ever sold Ubuntu installed computers to get a better price on Windows etc. Are you feeling silly yet?

My guess is a mixture of paranoid Microsoft fear and premature smug "I told you so" Windows users.

die-hard Winblows fans and their warez

Well, TD, you lasted only 24 hours with Ubuntu? You have a lot of Winblows warez you invested good money in too? Hundreds of dollars AUD and thousands of hours since the 486 days eh?

Even OS/X felt uncomfortable, though it uses Apple's own flavor of Free/Net/OpenBSD with a branded desktop similar to Next/OpenStep and WM, and thus is Unix-like.

Well, TD, keep your Winblows and save up for Vista, and hundreds of more hours having to point and click OK to those questions, until one day when one question is asked about a mysterious process or web access that KOs VISTA until the service technician fixes it.

Computers is all about adaptability to the OS, not the users getting fixed to one flavor of OS. Though, it is a symptom of the consumer generation these days to be branded to Microsloth for life. It goes good with fast food, brand-name designer clothes, and *Bux lattes like Coke, bangers and mash.

In me case, I luv 7UP, fish and mushy peas. for I prepared for the necessary upgrade to Linux about August 05, 2006 - which took almost 24 minutes on an Intel 440BX mobo with Celeron P3 700MHz CPU with 100MHz FSB, adding updates on January 20, 2006 that took 8 minutes, followed by a 3 minute upgrade on Feb 11, a 1-minute upgrade on Mar. 16 , an 8.5 min. upgrade on Aug. 15, followed by 4 upgrades from Aug. 21 to August 31, only one of which took over 10 minutes for KDE-related upgrades, 5 upgrades in September, none of which took over 5 minutes -- thus proving that Ubuntu is upgraded as often as Winblows is.

Now, my point by getting intense about my personal Ubuntu Linux installation (the Dapper version with update to 6.06.1 and latest i686 kernel - Linux 2.6.15-29-686 #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Sep 24 17:24:47 UTC 2007 i686 GNU/Linux to be exact - is to show you what one needs to grokk Linux.

TD, point and click is fine as long as you can handle the exception errors i.e. the occasional crashes due to script kiddies running spambots and other tools, just because it's there, but actually being deployed to kids through crackers possibly working for Eris, but most likely someone who wants your personal information off your computer, to steal your ID and money.
(Do you have a router between your broadband and your computer?)

Happy holidays!

always,
Sageb1

--- this is a manual sig; if this was an autosig, then i joined the inquirer membership. thankfully though, this ain't the Times Online! ---
pps. take everything i wrote with a grain of salt least you go bonkers and start another flame war, which is only called for if you stopped pointing and clicking, and actually did more productive work under Ubuntu Linux!