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Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

dell.com

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Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#3
Surprised Dell is so enthusiastic as some of the claims aren't quite the whole truth... Like stating that openoffice is not available in windows, or that MS Office formats are fully supported.

Regardless, I get more and more respect for Dell as they continue to embrace MS alternatives.

Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#4
post #3

Surprised Dell is so enthusiastic as some of the claims aren't quite the whole truth... Like stating that openoffice is not available in windows, or that MS Office formats are fully supported. Regardless, I get more and more respect for Dell as they continue to embrace MS alternatives.

Yeah, I noticed that too... apparently, Dell's not counting on their Windows customers being able to find OpenOffice or GIMP on their own.

If I were them, I would have also mentioned "easy, automatic updates of your installed programs".

Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#5
post #2

Hmm, arguing GNU/Linux is better than Windows on security is passé. Torvalds too often dismisses security bugs.

It is true in my experience. I have been running Ubuntu for years and have had no problems. I did have issues when running Windows without an AV and firewall, and when I started running it with an AV and firewall, I also had some issues caused by the AV and firewall.

Anyways, the actual statement that Dell made (i.e., that there are much fewer viruses and exploits that get written for Linux than for Windows) is obviously true.

Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#6
post #2

Hmm, arguing GNU/Linux is better than Windows on security is passé. Torvalds too often dismisses security bugs.

Any os that has a software repository(with sources) is going to be inherently more secure. If novice users only get their software from APT then they will be eliminating a whole slew of exploits that could infect their computer.

In this regard, Ubuntu is lightyears more secure than Windows.

Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#7
post #2

Hmm, arguing GNU/Linux is better than Windows on security is passé. Torvalds too often dismisses security bugs.

He doesn't dismiss security bugs, he avoids publicizing security fixes.

Anyway, this is irrelevant. The article stated that Linux on the desktop is less frequently a target than Windows. This is objectively true.

Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#8
post #2

Hmm, arguing GNU/Linux is better than Windows on security is passé. Torvalds too often dismisses security bugs.

Not an expert on windows security, but the traditional answer is the fundamental user handling in Unix solves a lot of problems. I admit ignorance to the validity of the claim, a detailed comparison would be appreciated.

Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#9
Is Microsoft still subsidizing windows to meet linux system price points?

I bought an Ubuntu loaded HPMini9 and saved about one hundred dollars over the windows version. That's the real value in my opinion. Not just at the sale but the investment in linux familiarity means a free(as in beer) alternative becomes usable going into the future.

My main PC has seen 2 windows versions so far, both paid for.

Re: Dell's list of why to buy one with Ubuntu

#10
The Games checkbox was a little misleading. The vast majority of the types of games a typical Windows PC "Joe Blow" kind of user expects to play are Windows-only and/or don't run (or run well anyway) on Linux. Some games, yes. And Flash or browser-based games, sure.
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