Humour: Ubuntu is Costlier than Microsoft Windows XP

Kulbir Saini — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:11:30 +0000

Dell started selling their new Dell Inspiron Mini 9 series yesterday as informed by slashdot article. Lately I have been looking for a mobile solution which should be easy to carry and have enough computing power to meet my expectation. I liked the SSD concept replacing the mechanical hard disk. I just moved over to Dell website and tried configuring one for myself (go here to configure them yourself). I am an open source addict but I am not an Ubuntu fan but still going with ubuntu sounds better than going with M$ stuff. So, started configuring the Ubuntu machine and pushed everything (main memory, hard disk and other components) to maximum. A few minutes later I realized that the Ubuntu model’s price is more than the equivalent config with M$ Windows.

Below is a table comparing Windows XP and Ubuntu model of Dell Inspiron Mini 9 series. The differences are highlighted in red color.

Ubuntu 8.04	Microsoft Windows XP Home Premium
$494	$479
My Components
Obsidian Black	Obsidian Black
Mini OS powered by Ubuntu 8.04	Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
1GB DDR2 at 533MHz	1GB DDR2 at 533MHz
16GB Solid State Drive	16GB Solid State Drive
Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 capability	Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 capability
Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam	Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam

My Service
1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service	1Yr Ltd Warranty and Mail-In Service

Also Includes
Intel® Atom Processor® N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)	Intel® Atom Processor® N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)	Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
Wireless 802.11g Mini Card	Wireless 802.11g Mini Card
32WHr Battery (4 cell)	32WHr Battery (4 cell)
Base LCD Assembly	Base LCD Assembly
Base LCD Assembly in Black	Base LCD Assembly in Black
No Installation	No Installation
	Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1, English
	McAfee SecurityCenter 30-day Trial
	Microsoft Works 9 DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD
	No ISP requested

According to the above table Ubuntu alone is costlier than Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Home Premium + Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.1 English + McAfee SecurityCenter 30-day Trial + Microsoft Works 9 (MS Word Excluded). I am not sure if Dell is trying to promote Microsoft by selling Windows XP model at a lower price or they are generating more revenues for Ubuntu by selling it at a higher price or they are just fooling the customers. Below are the picture proofs if Dell changes the prices.

XP – Tech Stuff

Humour: Ubuntu is Costlier than Microsoft Windows XP