Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

[andybleaden]

Hi all

Getting close to buying a new pc and would love to try getting one pre installed with ubuntu as opposed to windows ( put my money where my mouth is etc etc) I have been using kubuntu since dapper drake so I am not necesarily new to kubuntu nor do I want to have to spend ages configuring it

Have been looking in the UK at the Dell Inspiron 530 ...anyone had any joy with the ubuntu model or with the pc itself...did it work...could you easily move to kubuntu?

Any help appreciated

[The Liquidator]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

I think in the main Dells run quite well with ubuntu. I don't know the 530 but can't imagine that they would ship it with ubuntu with crippled hardware.

Getting kubuntu from ubuntu is actually easy. Simply install the kubuntu desktop package and you will have a kde desktop.

Ian

[MoonRise]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

As you can see, I do have a Dell similar to what you are asking about. It runs great! I did beef up on the RAM some. It came with Vista. Removed it completely and installed Kubuntu as a fresh install. No issues with the install or how it runs.

[andybleaden]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

thanks for the advice so far.

Any issues with getting 4gb ram?

oh yes (and for those who have bought one direct) and does it come ready to run out of the box or do i have to do a fresh install?

I assume that I will also be able to plug in my wireless usb with it and other usb devices HDD's ...I guess the answer is yes...ok I am getting a little nervous...not bought a new pc ever...always stuck new bits on mine

[andybleaden]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

This was what I was looking at getting...do not know what all the dell stuff means but the


Components
N-Series Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E8400 processor (3.00GHz, 1333MHz, 6MB cache)
Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 8.04
1 Year Limited Warranty - Collect & Return
4096MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [4x1024]
Display Not Included
500GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive
128MB ATI® Radeon™ HD 2400 Pro graphics card
DVD +/- RW Drive (read/write CD & DVD)
Dell™ Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)
Dell 2 Button USB Scroll Optical Mouse - Black
Accessories
Integrated 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio
No Speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
No Floppy Drive
No Modem
Services & Software
No Ubuntu Support
No Accidental Damage Support
Also Includes
D105N01
N-Series Resource DVD - contains Diagnostics and Drivers
English Documentation with UK/Irish Power Cord
Inspiron Desktop Order Uk
1Yr Limited Warranty - Collect & Return
Dell Internet Order

[MoonRise]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

Seems t be a good setup to me. It should be set to run out of the box. It may ask for some user setup information, but that's about it. I'm not really sure what the Memory max is. I think most 32bit systems have a 3GB cap. At least I know XP does.

[The Liquidator]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

Looks fine to me too

I've not seen any bad feedback about dells shipping with ubuntu so would imagine everything on that list will work from the box.

[andybleaden]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

Well after nervous twitching ..I settled for the Dell and ordered ...got £50 off too so added another £10 dvd writer ( I did not realise they were so cheap!)

Any way when it all goes tits up after I set it up I can come back here and cry!

[MoonRise]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

I don't think you'll be crying....I hope

[andybleaden]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

yeh and it will all be your fault!!!

[MoonRise]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

[andybleaden]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy



actually....on a serious note I really appreciate the advice people have given regarding this as I needed people with direct experience of Dell Pcs and with ubuntu too!

So thanks 

It is a big decision...not just ££ wise as I wanted to put my money where my mouth was and support a producer (for whatever reasons they do it) who was prepared to put this stuff out. I have never bought a new pc and have managed ( quite well) with botched repairs and new add ons for years.

...and if it goes wrong I have all of your names to pass forward to my huge legal claims team 

[MoonRise]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

Over the years I really have loved all the Dells I've owned personally. They were/are easy to upgrade if need be and generally are well put together. Where I work, I deal with even more Dells. I really can't say anything to bad about their product, I just hope they don't prove us all wrong. Please keep us up to date on this endeavour. I like to hear successes for systems and OSes.

Cheers!

[andybleaden]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

You will be the first person to know/blame/sue

Actually I am dead excited..I want to get it running kubuntu first and take a little time testing all that woomph!

The next big decision will be should I then stick on KDE4 which never got working 100% on my old pc so I took it off assuming the old faithful was not up to it

I will report back when it is on and working ..should be here in a couple of weeks I think. New monitor came today already ...only ordered yesterday afternoon too

[MoonRise]

Re: Dell Inspiron 530 with ubuntu...should I buy

New monitor came today already ...only ordered yesterday afternoon too

That is quite fast. What kind of monitor did you get?

Yes, I know the excitement of a new system. My Dell 530 I've only had for about 6 to 7 Months.