July 2007
Dell Inspiron E1505 N: First Look
We preview Dell's Linux-based laptop. Is it right for you?
Windows is no longer your only choice of operating system if you’re a home user buying a Dell PC. The company now offers several
consumer laptops and desktops loaded with Ubuntu 7.04, a popular version of the Linux operating system. Linux is a free operating
system with source code that can be modified by anyone. It’s most appropriate for users who aren’t intimidated by technology.
We looked at the Inspiron E1505 N laptop. It has a dual-core processor, integrated graphics, a memory-card reader, and a 15.4 inch display. The laptop provides a wireless connection, and it can share files over a Windows network, as well as import files from peripherals like USB flash drives and digital cameras.
If you're shopping for a computer for back-to-school, check out our latest computer report and Ratings of desktops and laptops (both available to ) including models featuring Intel's latest Centrino Duo battery-saving microprocessor.
Here's what our testers have seen so far with Dell's Linux-based laptop:
HIGHS
Bundled applications. The default Ubuntu package includes several useful programs. OpenOffice.org 2.0 is an office-productivity suite bundling e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation programs. GIMP Image Editor is a full-bodied photo editor comparable to stand-alone applications. Additional programs let you burn and copy data and audio discs, chat online, and browse the Internet. You can search for other free software not bundled with Ubuntu using the included package installer, which automatically downloads and installs programs you select. Except for sophisticated 3D games, there is a wide range of applications available, including utilities for system maintenance, applications for editing videos, and education games.
Strong security. Ubuntu provides a notification area on the desktop for security fixes or version upgrades that are available for your operating system and installed programs. Simply click to choose your updates and download. Like the Mac OS, Linux is less vulnerable to viruses and spyware than Windows. While a firewall is not installed by default, there is a free firewall program available if you choose to monitor network traffic.
No “filler” programs. The hard disk isn’t cluttered with the trial and starter software commonly found on Windows configurations.
LOWS
Limited software compatibility. Although the Linux platform offers many programs similar to well-known software packages, they might not be fully compatible with equivalent Windows and Mac software. As a result, some things could be lost in translation, such as changes in fonts and formatting, margins, and photos when using OpenOffice.org. Photo designers might find that GIMP won’t support certain formatted images without downloading additional updates. That poses a problem when transitioning between home and work or school, where more common platforms might be used.
Due to legal restrictions, Ubuntu supports only open-source music and video formats out of the box. For example, music files ripped from audio CDs are saved by default in ogg format, a file type not readable in music players like Windows Media Player and iTunes. Other common music formats--such as MP3 and AAC (used by iTunes), and video formats such as MPEG, MOV, and encoded DVD--will not play on applications as installed. You’ll need additional software to access those formats, but at least Ubuntu provides links pointing you to sites from which you can download the software.
Limited hardware compatibility. Many hardware vendors do not supply Linux drivers, so the peripherals you can use with those systems are limited. Drivers that are available aren’t always reliable, and they might not be up to date or provide full support. One printer we tried to install, the Samsung ML-1210, worked immediately, but we had to search for the proper drivers and commands for the Epson Stylus Photo R380. You can find links on Ubuntu’s Web site pointing to lists of compatible printers and scanners. The Inspiron E1505 N uses an older Intel graphics driver, so you can’t set the display to its native resolution. Resolving that issue required installing a third-party package, which we found only by searching through documentation. (You could also call tech support if you pay for that service.)
Limited support options. Technical support for hardware, as usual, is offered under warranty through Dell, but software support for the Ubuntu platform and installed programs carries an additional charge. That ranges from $65 at the most basic level to $275 for a year of troubleshooting, which potentially offsets the savings of a free OS. Once your tech support expires, keep in mind that not all shops provide Linux service. Online documentation and user forums can provide help if necessary.
BOTTOM LINE
These Dell configurations are more suited to current Linux users than to the average Windows or Mac user, though the fact that Linux is preinstalled could appeal to newcomers interested in moving to an open-source platform. Keep in mind that you need to have more than just a casual knowledge of operating systems in order to run commands, because system tools might lack a graphical interface.
Other Linux options are opening up for consumers. Zonbu recently launched a simple $99 PC that it’s promoting as a “green” choice because, the company says, it uses so little energy. It uses a different version of Linux, called Gentoo. In addition to the basic $99 price, users will pay a $12.95 monthly fee for 25GB of storage, automatic backup, and a free replacement device for three years if the original breaks.
We looked at the Inspiron E1505 N laptop. It has a dual-core processor, integrated graphics, a memory-card reader, and a 15.4 inch display. The laptop provides a wireless connection, and it can share files over a Windows network, as well as import files from peripherals like USB flash drives and digital cameras.
If you're shopping for a computer for back-to-school, check out our latest computer report and Ratings of desktops and laptops (both available to ) including models featuring Intel's latest Centrino Duo battery-saving microprocessor.
Here's what our testers have seen so far with Dell's Linux-based laptop:
HIGHS
Bundled applications. The default Ubuntu package includes several useful programs. OpenOffice.org 2.0 is an office-productivity suite bundling e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation programs. GIMP Image Editor is a full-bodied photo editor comparable to stand-alone applications. Additional programs let you burn and copy data and audio discs, chat online, and browse the Internet. You can search for other free software not bundled with Ubuntu using the included package installer, which automatically downloads and installs programs you select. Except for sophisticated 3D games, there is a wide range of applications available, including utilities for system maintenance, applications for editing videos, and education games.
Strong security. Ubuntu provides a notification area on the desktop for security fixes or version upgrades that are available for your operating system and installed programs. Simply click to choose your updates and download. Like the Mac OS, Linux is less vulnerable to viruses and spyware than Windows. While a firewall is not installed by default, there is a free firewall program available if you choose to monitor network traffic.
No “filler” programs. The hard disk isn’t cluttered with the trial and starter software commonly found on Windows configurations.
LOWS
Limited software compatibility. Although the Linux platform offers many programs similar to well-known software packages, they might not be fully compatible with equivalent Windows and Mac software. As a result, some things could be lost in translation, such as changes in fonts and formatting, margins, and photos when using OpenOffice.org. Photo designers might find that GIMP won’t support certain formatted images without downloading additional updates. That poses a problem when transitioning between home and work or school, where more common platforms might be used.
Due to legal restrictions, Ubuntu supports only open-source music and video formats out of the box. For example, music files ripped from audio CDs are saved by default in ogg format, a file type not readable in music players like Windows Media Player and iTunes. Other common music formats--such as MP3 and AAC (used by iTunes), and video formats such as MPEG, MOV, and encoded DVD--will not play on applications as installed. You’ll need additional software to access those formats, but at least Ubuntu provides links pointing you to sites from which you can download the software.
Limited hardware compatibility. Many hardware vendors do not supply Linux drivers, so the peripherals you can use with those systems are limited. Drivers that are available aren’t always reliable, and they might not be up to date or provide full support. One printer we tried to install, the Samsung ML-1210, worked immediately, but we had to search for the proper drivers and commands for the Epson Stylus Photo R380. You can find links on Ubuntu’s Web site pointing to lists of compatible printers and scanners. The Inspiron E1505 N uses an older Intel graphics driver, so you can’t set the display to its native resolution. Resolving that issue required installing a third-party package, which we found only by searching through documentation. (You could also call tech support if you pay for that service.)
Limited support options. Technical support for hardware, as usual, is offered under warranty through Dell, but software support for the Ubuntu platform and installed programs carries an additional charge. That ranges from $65 at the most basic level to $275 for a year of troubleshooting, which potentially offsets the savings of a free OS. Once your tech support expires, keep in mind that not all shops provide Linux service. Online documentation and user forums can provide help if necessary.
BOTTOM LINE
These Dell configurations are more suited to current Linux users than to the average Windows or Mac user, though the fact that Linux is preinstalled could appeal to newcomers interested in moving to an open-source platform. Keep in mind that you need to have more than just a casual knowledge of operating systems in order to run commands, because system tools might lack a graphical interface.
Other Linux options are opening up for consumers. Zonbu recently launched a simple $99 PC that it’s promoting as a “green” choice because, the company says, it uses so little energy. It uses a different version of Linux, called Gentoo. In addition to the basic $99 price, users will pay a $12.95 monthly fee for 25GB of storage, automatic backup, and a free replacement device for three years if the original breaks.
