Well, I was searching for a notebook, not a netbook, so it was even more
difficult. At the end I've bought an inspiron 17, "the second on that page",
and it will arrive in 15 days.

And, you betcha, it has Windows installed.



On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 3:46 PM, lelamal <email address hidden> wrote:

> I'm Italian, and wanted to buy a netbook for my mother. At first, I
> browsed Dell US Website (don't ask me why), for I thought I could buy it
> from there and have it shipped. I chose an Inspiron Mini 10, which came
> nicely with Ubuntu pre-installed (although it was an outdated copy which
> I had to wipe out anyway). I felt so stupid when, after placing my
> order, I found out it wasn't possible. So, I set out to see if I could
> find the same deal on the Italian Website. I searched for the word
> Ubuntu, and a couple of results came out, among which I could see the
> netbook I was looking for. But when I clicked on it, I saw that any
> reference to Ubuntu had disappeared. You could only get it with Windows
> XP installed, and with no way to customise it. So, even though Dell
> advertises Ubuntu on their machines, they don't actually keep their
> word, and their offers force you to pay the Window$ tax nonetheless!
>
> You can tell they don't actually care at all about Linux for the way the
> User Manual is written, too. There's only one mention about Ubuntu
> regarding the installation of the OS: whilst Windows gets half of the
> page with detailed guidelines, Ubuntu gets two (!) lines where they
> suggest to refer to the documents delivered with the computer (are they
> referring to this manual, or talking to the lucky ones that get Ubuntu
> pre-installed overseas?). Throughout the rest of the Manual, Ubuntu is
> not targeted at all, while clear explanations are given about Windows,
> with graphics and detailed descriptions both for XP and 7. Moreover, all
> references to diagnostics, troubleshooting, drivers, and various
> applications that come with the machine imply the installation of a
> Windows OS, and never take into consideration the possibility that users
> are really on a a Linux OS (let alone Ubuntu).
>
> Last but not least, of course, the hideous Windows sticker and the
> button on the keyboard: how ugly and useless is that for a Linux user? I
> read yesterday (can't remember where) a nice comment that said something
> along the lines of: "the Windows meta key says a lot about producers'
> attention and care for Linux customers".
>
> Alex, you don't say which machine you picked in the end, but if it's an
> Inspiron Mini all I can tell you is Ubuntu Netbook Edition (Lucid Lynx)
> works flawlessly on it. The first thing I did, out of revenge, was to
> wipe out the HD and erase every trace of the OS whose license I was
> forced to buy. However, my only problem was with the wireless
> connection, because Ubuntu doesn't ship with pre-installed proprietary
> drivers, and it's an issue when they're for the Broadcom for you will
> have to use a wired connection in order to download and activate them.
> Apart from that, no problem at all compatibility-wise.
>
> I do agree with you, though: it's a pity in 2010 we still have to go
> through Window$ and all these shenanigans to run a Linux distribution.
> If in order to run Ubuntu my mother has to buy WIndows XP, then the
> present bug will take decades to be fixed...
>
> --
> Microsoft has a majority market share
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in Club Distro: Invalid
> Status in Computer Science Ubuntu: Invalid
> Status in EasyPeasy Overview: Invalid
> Status in Ichthux - Linux for Christians: Invalid
> Status in JAK LINUX: Invalid
> Status in The OpenOffice.org Suite: Invalid
> Status in Tabuntu: Invalid
> Status in A simple player to online TV streaming: Invalid
> Status in Tv-Player: New
> Status in Ubuntu: In Progress
> Status in “ubuntu-express” package in Ubuntu: Invalid
> Status in The Jaunty Jackalope: Invalid
> Status in “ubuntu-express” source package in Jaunty: In Progress
> Status in Baltix GNU/Linux: Invalid
> Status in “linux” package in Debian: Confirmed
> Status in Fluxbuntu: The Lightweight, Productive, Agile OS: Confirmed
> Status in openSUSE: New
> Status in Tilix Linux: New
>
> Bug description:
> Microsoft has a majority market share in the new desktop PC marketplace.
> This is a bug, which Ubuntu is designed to fix.
>
> Non-free software is holding back innovation in the IT industry,
> restricting access to IT to a small part of the world's population and
> limiting the ability of software developers to reach their full potential,
> globally. This bug is widely evident in the PC industry.
>
> Steps to repeat:
>
> 1. Visit a local PC store.
>
> What happens:
> 2. Observe that a majority of PCs for sale have non-free software
> pre-installed.
> 3. Observe very few PCs with Ubuntu and free software pre-installed.
>
> What should happen:
> 1. A majority of the PCs for sale should include only free software like
> Ubuntu.
> 2. Ubuntu should be marketed in a way such that its amazing features and
> benefits would be apparent and known by all.
> 3. The system shall become more and more user friendly as time passes.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/clubdistro/+bug/1/+subscribe
>