Dell to sell Ubuntu Linux-loaded computers

Ignoring the significance of Linux is not something that an intelligent PC maker wishes to do. Dell is going the same way, having been pushed aside by HP last year as the world's largest PC maker. Dell has launched three modes which comes loaded with Ubuntu Linux, the Insprion E1505n, which is a 15inch notebook, the XPS 410n, which is a desktop with almost the same specifications as that of the Dimension and the Dimension E520n, which fits well into a middle-of-the-line desktop.

Now Dell has three varieties of models with different types of operating systems. One model comes with the hugely popular Microsoft Windows, the second model features no operating system, thus allowing the users to install the operating system of their choice, while the third model comes preloaded with the Ubuntu Linux operating system.

Dell has announced that the new models which comes preloaded with the Ubuntu Linux, will have the hardware support through Dell's normal support channels, while the software support will include a variety of dedicated sites and Linux forms.

The move by Dell to include the most popular version of Linux in its computers is an important landmark for Linux and is hoped to boost the popularity of the open source based software.

But a free OS does not mean a cheaper computer, as can be clearly seen from the price tags of the Ubuntu Linux loaded Dell PCs. The laptop starts at USD 599, while the desktops, the Dimension E520 and XPS 410n, start from 599 dollars and 849 dollars each, respectively.