What is Digg?72 Comments
- Xyber411, on 09/01/2008, -0/+31Ubuntu is easy enough to install these days that you don't even need to buy it pre-installed... Although the windows tax would be good to get back... Last I heard, someone got back $130 from lenovo... Pretty nice considering you can get a computer and monitor for around 350 incl windows. Always fun to stick it to the man.
- smotpoker, on 09/01/2008, -0/+18Especially when the man is running around trying to patent things like netiquette, pg up/down, emoticons, linked lists, etc so that if they are ever desperate enough they can just screw over a few more companies for another/better chance at world domination
- OfNumbers, on 09/01/2008, -1/+157. Me. I overcharge, and sometimes don't do it right. But man what a bargain.
- BZKyle, on 09/01/2008, -1/+15Going to be ***** indeed...
- tramblings, on 09/01/2008, -1/+14Dugg and favorited for next time I need a new computer.
- UNL1M1T3D, on 09/01/2008, -0/+13No, money isn't all what it is. There is also the ability to run a more secure operating system, void of bloatware, with the freedom to do anything you want to it.
- UNL1M1T3D, on 09/01/2008, -0/+10Ubuntu is easy enough to install, but its nice to have the ability to buy it preinstalled and know for a fact that everything is going to work out of the box with support. With things being still a little sketchy on the laptop side of things regarding Ubuntu/Linux this is a major selling point.
- UNL1M1T3D, on 09/01/2008, -0/+9I do. Have fun with Nero and Norton.
- Vadi0, on 09/01/2008, -1/+9Happy system76 customer here. I got the specs of a macbook pro for $700 cheaper in my serval.
- UNL1M1T3D, on 09/01/2008, -0/+7Thats were having it preinstalled would come in handy.
- strangewill, on 09/01/2008, -0/+7Linked lists?
Does a company really think they can patent a widely used data structure standard? - jgaba24, on 09/01/2008, -0/+7I switched from windows 9 mos ago and have no desire to reinstall windows After fixing 2 friends xp systems last week believe me I dont miss it one bit
- Meatshield, on 09/01/2008, -0/+6You can also check out ZeroConfigComputing.com. They'll put whatever kind of Linux you want on there on any kind of computer you can imagine. I bought a computer from them, and they even offer phone support for Linux if you have any questions about it.
- db113456, on 09/01/2008, -1/+7A good collection of vendors who sell computers with Linux installed. Very useful for small business ( and even bigger businesses for that matter) since they are likely to buy these products + the support that goes with them. For the individual user, yes a good article, sure it is a very easy way to get Linux installed and running on a compatible hardware without any prior knowhow. For me , it is a good resource to reference for clients who want to buy ready made systems. For myself, well i do build my systems from parts according to my specs and install my Linux the way i want it :-) I guess it pays to be a guru ...
- Rudegar, on 09/01/2008, -2/+8just like vista............
- twomeyw23334, on 09/01/2008, -0/+5I was curious about this. Still think I might build a machine but it's nice to see people are starting to sell these. I am just delighted I can finally read something on digg other than 'McCain or Palin sucks.'
- BavarianBuilt, on 09/01/2008, -0/+5Lets not forget about Lenovo either http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/we ...
- efitz11, on 09/01/2008, -0/+5the dell desktop is uber cheap
- Firethorne, on 09/01/2008, -0/+5I'd never buy another Dell, regardless of the OS. Their apparent collusion with the RIAA to intentionally disable features of their soundcards has lost me as their customer. It was a pain getting things back working as they should on my system. Source: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/dell_collude ...
- roebeet, on 09/01/2008, -0/+4I bought a 530N a few weeks ago - I ran the numbers between the Ubuntu version (530N) and the Vista version (530) they were selling at the time, and the 530N was over 100 bucks cheaper.
I'll admit, if the price was the same I probably would have gotten the Vista version, even if I was going to use Ubuntu. Why? Because that Vista license would end up being "free". But, I'm glad to see that the reduced software costs do seem to be making it down to the consumer, at least in this case.
- dougle, on 09/01/2008, -0/+4When i used windows i would format and reinstall, no different for linux, but i will more often than not buy a linux pre installed machine so i know the manufacturer has at least tried it with my hardware.
- kipmartin, on 09/01/2008, -3/+7linux has 4 or 5 games, a dozen device drivers, works well with Comcast if you can get online, and even my mom can recompile a kernel. whats the problem?
- inactive, on 09/01/2008, -0/+4i dugg you up cause i could feel the sarcasm
- Gavagai80, on 09/01/2008, -0/+3Maybe you should give your poor grandma a break and seek psychological help.
- yojiffyskippy, on 09/01/2008, -0/+3My old laptop (Dell Inspiron 1100) has some known hardware problems with Linux. A search of any Linux board also shows that there are no perfect solutions to the problems. So buying a computer with Linux already installed ensures that you're not going to a problem similar to mine. That's why I was interested in this article. However, I found it interesting that there is NO price difference between a Dell 1525 with Linux installed and the same system with Windows installed. What is up with that? So is Dell's profit on a Ubuntu system that much larger? So much for passing savings on to the customer.
- vat0r, on 09/01/2008, -1/+4Linux is closer to it's ultimate goal. They still have a ways to go as far as appealing to the average Joe however. I know a lot of people slam vista but it seems everything I plug into it just works. In linux though (Ubuntu) I'm constantly having to fiddle a little more to get things working correctly. I'm not saying this is a bad thing but it takes awhile to learn and in the beginning can seem quite daunting.
I don't know maybe I'm an idiot, I've been toying with Ubuntu for about a year now off and on and I'm just recently becoming comfortable with it. I will say that I installed it on my old man's computer and for his basic needs it was more then sufficient. Set up was extremely fast as well. But for those with limited knowledge who want to do things other then the basics....not quite there yet. - MtheoryX, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3I just spec'd a System76 Serval Performance with the current base-level MacBook Pro...
The cost of the Serval is: $1342.00
The cost of the MacBook Pro is: $1,999.00
Granted, I would still choose the MacBook Pro for certain applications (can't exactly use the Final Cut Studio suite in Ubuntu), but that Serval seems like a pretty good setup. Excellent shopping there Vadi0. - tonyscha, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3So you work at Geek Squad?
- tetsuo29, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2Humor.
- UNL1M1T3D, on 09/01/2008, -0/+2They should have put six places to buy laptops with Linux preinstalled considering that installing and getting things working 100% on a laptop is a lot harder then a desktop.
- inactive, on 09/01/2008, -2/+4yes because Apple hasn't tried patenting silly stuff like "pinching" for multitouch.
- MJG2007, on 09/01/2008, -0/+2I bought a cheap HP laptop with Windows Me 2 on it (aka VISTA) and other than some playing around to get my wireless card working, it works great and I get to actually use the power of the machine for more than the operating system.
- LongShlong, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2Are you suggesting I don't value my time?
Building a computer only takes about 1 solid hour, then slapping Linux on it perhaps less, depending on the distro. That's not long. - MtheoryX, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2Okay, the software argument MIGHT be valid...but all that other FUD is just ignorant.
Additionally, for the average user, they don't exactly need most of the software that's missing.
I'm not a Linux user (unless you count servers and the occasional dual boot), but even I know that Ubuntu Linux (because it's pretty straightforward and easy) would be more than adequate for the vast majority of desktop computer users. - krisrm, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2OK, I dunno about you, but I'm on a University Campus... and the only people I know that have any inkling of what "Linux" actually is are the CS students. These articles are quite annoying because they only give light to those who can already see. I know what Linux is, and I know how easy it is to install, as do probably 99% of Digg users, and you are fooling yourselves if you think the manufacturers are going to give you a major discount because you bought a computer with Linux pre-installed.
- bootup, on 09/02/2008, -0/+2You totally miss the value of purchasing a system from a supplier supporting GNU/Linux. These guys are locating the peaces that work best. They do what Apple does for the Mac. Both the smaller players and the larger companies aren't making money from side deals with other companies unlike with the MS Windows installations. So what you should be getting and paying as much for- maybe more is a better experience and convenience. You won't get that from purchasing any computer and installing GNU/Linux yourself. You almost certainly won't get the quantity, compatibility, and support if you do. I somehow you doubt you represent the community. You probably represent the crowd that plays with the GNU/Linux- failing to every actually use it. If you used it you'd see the value of libre hardware/software-rather than the price. Price is NOT what makes GNU/Linux valuable-as the lower cost is downstream. Initial costs can be higher-even since you are paying a premium for better hardware/support. That should in fact make it more valuable.
- n0odles, on 09/01/2008, -0/+2What about HP & IBM?
- tortov, on 09/01/2008, -0/+2Remember that Dell gets paid by software companies to include their demos, trials, and crippleware on the Windows systems they sell. They can't do that with Linux systems. Thus, the price of a Dell Linux system doesn't include the cost of Windows but isn't subsidized by crapware either. I don't know if the profit margins even out entirely, but I suspect they're rather similar.
- rollerboy, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1Dell is a scam. Their Linux OS computers end up being more expensive than the Windows ones because they get some parts discounts that Linux computers don't.
- schotty, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1With regards to Me rev2, I actually must confess I argued a good friend with that viewpoint about a year ago. I thought that everyone was overreacting or just haters. A month later I finally got around to installing the copy I ordered on launch. I spent a month dealing with it, and had to apologize to said friend.
He was right - Vista was awful and still is. - MtheoryX, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1It's not just the cost of windows.
The machine is also often subsidized by the bloatware. Remove that and you have to eat the cost.
That said, yes, I think it should be at least somewhat cheaper; however, it's not diggers that will make that happen...it's customers. - schotty, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1I agree to a point, but as a budding self employed fella in this arena, I feel the pain of vendors trying to choose which ones to support and taking heat for not supporting all.
Quite frankly, my systems will be Fedora, CentOS/RHEL, and Ubuntu. Preloads arent that bad, but the drivers can get hairy with nVIDIA/ATI and other hardwares. Now with any custom package(s) that need to be made, its that much less effort by restricting to one RPM and one DEB.
This is precisely why FLOSS drivers are even more important -- simplicity. The more that gets merged into the kernel or Xorg, the better. Cuz then, its just a matter of autmating an install script to blast said image to drive.
Sometimes reality of business sucks for all parties involved. - MtheoryX, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1Wow, that was pointless.
- smotpoker, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1Who knows, maybe they think they can use it as leverage to coerce them into cooperating if they ever need to or something... some companies will try to get out of legal costs by whatever means they can sometimes...
Maybe they just intend to sue smaller companies they know will lose. After a precedence is set they can go after bigger ones.... I really do know though, I'm just guessing. It seems like the fact they even got the patent would count for something on one hand but I have no idea how it could stand up in court if the judge had any notion of the context on the other. I am no IP litigator though... you may find more details on this case specifically from groklaw.org if you want them.
Also, this may be one of the patents that are being reviewed. I think I heard something about a bunch of more recently granted computer patents being reconsidered but I could be mistaken... - bootup, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1What I want to see are brick and mortar stores offering it. Honestly though- we still don't have even an Apple (prior to the Apple store) or Dell MS Windows solutions equivalent. We need a source for GNU/Linux peripherals & accessories- not just computers. We need better support too. We need a one-stop shop for GNU/Linux. Right now too many companies fail to offer support. Be it the educational institutions instating anti-GNU/Linux policies to ISPs excluding support or even mention of compatibility for GNU/Linux users. We need somebody to step up to the plate and sell bother both support and GNU/Linux certified libre hardware / accessories. This should be offered online/offline. It also needs to support more than just that- it needs to support the ISP, etc.
- strangewill, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1How the ***** does that work? You sue every company for royalties that uses the data structure? It's in textbooks for crying out loud.
- MtheoryX, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1Yes, Lenovo, that "friend" to the Linux community...
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Lenovo_won_t_refund_the ...
Let's not forget them at all.
/sarc - db113456, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1I do, so start counting. And I also build for friends, family and clients, so keep counting.
- db113456, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1I agree, a good 45-50 minutes to very nicely build the system, and that can include multiple hard drives and nice cable arrangement and so. Depending on your Linux distribution, count between 30 minutes to an hour on a reasonably fast system. Now for the $100 argument, nope, you do save a lot more. First you pay an avg. of $250-$300 less than an off the shelf similar category. You get to buy exactly what you wanted, not what the vendor saw profitable to bundle, and in general you get better quality and higher spec parts.
- MtheoryX, on 09/02/2008, -0/+1"Are you suggesting I don't value my time?"
Building a laptop as good as, or better than, a MacBook? Yes, I am suggesting that.
Show me some pics of something you've made in 1 solid hour that is as good as, or better than, my MacBook, and I shall give you an internet cookie...
I'm not joking. I want to see how one builds their own laptop from scratch.
As I said, with regards to a desktop, yes, you probably can build one better. But running Linux, you still miss out on some necessary (for some people) software applications. -
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