[ubuntu-uk] Dells with Ubuntu

[Mark Harrison]

Alec Wright wrote:
> On Wed, 2007-05-30 at 08:50 +0100, Mark Harrison wrote:
>   
>> It may not be about price to YOU.
>>
>> It certainly is about price for a lot of people.
>>
>> M.
>>     
> Well, to me, £30 extra or whatever it is is worth it if you're getting
> compatible hardware, and not having to go through the hassle of
> installing ubuntu etc.
>   
Agreed - I'd be very tempted by this PC for exactly the reasons you state.

However, having Ubuntu appear as the "expensive option" is going to make 
it harder for us all to go on about "you're paying a Microsoft tax" with 
any credibility.

The counter argument, of course, is that you ARE paying a Microsoft tax, 
but that this tax is subsidised by the suppliers of subscription-based 
software who pre-install a "trial version" and pay Dell enough for the 
privilege that Dell can ship the box with MS software plus $$$ software 
for LESS than the cost of the Linux alternative.

Perhaps, therefore, the next piece in the jigsaw is for us to find an 
ISP who is willing to pony up the kind of sums that AOL are for having 
"Linux-friendly ISP setup - just click here" icons pre-installed.


M.