Dell offers an open-source PC

**Auggie2k** · October 5th, 2005, 12:34 PM

This caught my eye straight away, I know a lot of people will be interested in this!

Dell began offering a new desktop PC on Tuesday with no operating system installed. The machine is designed for people who want to run open-source software such as Linux instead of Windows. The Round Rock, Texas-based company's Dimension E510n PC comes with a blank hard drive and a copy of the FreeDOS operating system, which can be installed by customers. The computer is part of Dell's n-Series of PCs, which first started shipping without an operating system back in September 2002.

The desktop retails for $849 and comes with a Pentium 4 processor; 512MB of advanced DDR computer memory; a 128MB ATI Radeon X300SE HyperMemory video card; an 80GB serial ATA hard drive and a one-year limited warranty.

The computers are designed for customers and companies that want to experiment with Linux and other open-source operating systems. Many large companies that have pre-purchased Windows through licensing programs have to erase all the software that comes on factory-shipped PCs and then install the alternative software they've chosen. Buying a PC without an operating system saves a step and eliminates the cost of the extra software.

Despite its affinity for selling Windows-based computers, Dell is also a staunch supporter of Linux. The company has invested almost $100 million in open-source developer Red Hat and sells PCs and servers based on its operating system, such as its Dell PowerEdge SC430 with a dual-core Pentium.

On the desktop, Dell has been installing Linux on its Precision workstations for a couple years. Dell spokesman Liem Nguyen said the company will continue to do so.

The launch of the new Dimension desktop also marks the beginning of Dell's efforts to streamline its consumer products business, which features Inspiron notebooks and the Dimension desktop PCs.

During its launch of its new XPS series last week, Dell said it will continue to offer Dimension and Inspiron products as they are, for now, but each will eventually split into two increasingly divergent categories.

One of these categories will target audiences for basic systems; the other will aim at markets for entertainment PCs. The entertainment series will come with Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition (WMCE) standard, and the basic series will be loaded with Windows Home Edition.

Although the entertainment systems will offer WMCE both with and without a TV tuner and related hardware, Dell expects most of these computers to go out the door without the media hardware, since the company is counting on its media-savvy customers to trade up to the new XPS series.

**The Hunter** · October 5th, 2005, 12:47 PM

As I really need a new pc jorge should try getting one of these for me to do a long term test on.

crash4419 · October 5th, 2005, 01:12 PM

i need a new PC

my 2.53ghz 1GB 280GB HDD w/ a X800 XL isn't the king of PC gaming as it used to be 2 1/2 years ago

**The Hunter** · October 5th, 2005, 01:15 PM

Shit thats new compared to what Im running. 950 celleron here.

**shawners** · October 5th, 2005, 02:36 PM

actually we can download windows or anything and install.. saves them money and lets them charge less for it.

**ducttapeBigSexy** · October 6th, 2005, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by crash4419

i need a new PC

my 2.53ghz 1GB 280GB HDD w/ a X800 XL isn't the king of PC gaming as it used to be 2 1/2 years ago

I hear that - that's pretty my computer - man, I cry myself to sleep every night knowing that I'm a few fps behind everyone else! Anyway I'm surprised any other companies haven't done this yet - actually, this is one of the main reasons why I liked building my own computer - I didn't end up paying for junk I didn't use / want (like Windows :P )

**notbob** · October 6th, 2005, 02:02 PM

it's a great idea really

call it an "open source" pc, don't put on an os, and charge the same as you do with the windows os

what's the benefit of this over buying one with windows and just taking it off, if they both cost the same anyway?

**Andrew110** · October 6th, 2005, 02:36 PM

Actually Dell has had computers without windows before, just not this beefed up. They were called N-series desktops.

**origin** · October 6th, 2005, 02:48 PM

i still dont like dell sorry! customized pc's own leaves all the options open to do whatever you want with it from mobo to hdd sound cards gfx cards etc. its nice that they are trying but not good enough yet keep trying!

l8

**zpman** · October 6th, 2005, 03:16 PM

For the money, I will just build my own clone, exactly to my liking. If they want to sell just hardware, why not make it less expensive? Dell customers are usually not Linux users anyway. I've read that HP will be shipping PCs with the new OEM version of Ubuntu.

**shawners** · October 6th, 2005, 04:30 PM

I rather they leave nothing on it rather then putting vista on it later on.

**mountain_rage** · October 6th, 2005, 05:24 PM

To some degree I dont think dells customers are ready to run linux and this will probably be for buisnesses rather then home users. I can see it now some lady calls dell customer support. I dont understand wheres internet explorer and why wont word install?

On a side note this can only be good for the linux cause. Any new platforms and users is good. Anything open source is even better.

Personally I like to build my own pc's and if you know how to do it thats what I sujest to people. Right now my machine is running appleosx86 and windowsxp every now and then il run a knoppix boot cd but I dont have the time to fiddle with linux at the moment. I have enough with trying to get appleosx86 running on my comp.