Dell Sells Open Source Computers

Lo5 writes with the excellent news that Dell is selling desktop computers without Windows preinstalled. They are called "n Series"; you can choose from Dimension E520, E521, or C521 desktops. The hard drive comes unformatted.

Re:This isn't "open source" computers...

[Dorceon]

Well, if your computer has no compiled code on it, then it's vacuously true to say that you have all the source code too.

only 3 models?

[Alien Being]

Does a company the size of Dell really lack the expertise to port this "unformatted disk" technology to the entire line?

But...

[juiceg]

Anyone notice that, during the configuration, all the banner ads, logos and "recommendations" all mention Vista? High-larious.

Wait, I think I have that lying around somewhere..

[Anonymous Coward]

found it! [tinypic.com]

Re:This isn't "open source" computers...

[chrylis]

If you can demonstrate that you wrote a work independently of someone else, that person's copyright doesn't apply to you. I think you could rather easily demonstrate independent creation of an empty file. ;-)

Re:This isn't "open source" computers...

[UbuntuDupe]

Well, for the computer to be open source, you'd have to be able to access all the documents necessary to build all of its subcomponents. (And for the computer to be free as in speech, nothing in it could be patented.) The story shouldn't have called the computers open source, just the OS. ... or non-OS.

Re:Old news

[mshiltonj]

This is at least 1.5 years old, probably more.

Yes. More like 1.57 years old. Maybe even 1.6!

Re:This is not news.

[PopeRatzo]

If I buy one of these, and add a wireless network adapter, does Dell help me get it configured? I'd pay $500 just for that.

The time I wasted trying to get Linux to connect to the Internet w/ my Dell laptops, I could have built one from scratch, including fabricating the case from petroleum products. Every time I replace my laptop, I decide I'm going to put Linux on the old one so I can get to know it better and bond with my Slashdot brothers. I always fail when I get to the wireless. I even decide I don't really mind buying a second wifi adapter because the one built-in doesn't have Linux drivers (or, I'm just not smart enough to find them, which is more probable). I spend about a half hour trying to find one, I start to read about some kind of "wrapper" thing, and I start drinking heavily.

When this new Media Ubuntu comes out, I'm going to try again. It's a bi-annual tradition for me.

stupid automation..

[mrzaph0d]

finishing up a custom system build on their site, i get this error:

Errors:
        Windows® Vista does not support Optical Drive selected.
Warnings:
        Congratulations! You have chosen all of the required hardware for a Vista Premium experience!

guess i'm outta luck...