Dell’s EEEPC Killer
August 19th, 2008
Dell’s much-anticipated subnotebook product, which could be available to consumers by the end of the week, will be offered with Ubuntu 8.04 preinstalled. The little laptop is called the Inspiron 910 and it could displace the venerable Asus Eee PC as the dominant Linux-based notebook.
The diminutive Dell was first spotted at the All Things D event in May. There has been much speculation about what software platform will ship with the device when it finally hits the market. Our sources told us that Linux would be available as an option, and this was confirmed this morning when Gizmodo published detailed specifications which show that buyers will be able to choose between Ubuntu 8.04 and Windows XP.The specifications also show that the device includes an 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, up to 1GB of RAM, and an 8.9″ screen with support for a resolution of 1024×600. It will also include a built-in camera, solid-state drives ranging between 4GB and 16GB, a VGA port, a media card reader, WiFi, and 3 USB ports. Rumors indicate that the base model could be priced as low as $299.
Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Linux distribution, has high hopes for platform in the subnotebook market. When we met with Pete Goodall of Canonical’s OEM services group during OSCON last month, he indicated that some exciting products would be hitting the market soon. Dell’s Inspiron 910 is a pretty good starting point for Ubuntu’s subnotebook debut.
Although we do not yet have official confirmation, we suspect that Dell will be using the Ubuntu Netbook Remix, a special flavor of Ubuntu that is designed specifically for Atom-based mobile devices. We took a close look at the Netbook Remix in June when some of the earliest pieces were made available by Canonical through a package archive. In addition to numerous hardware optimizations aimed at reducing power consumption, the Netbook Remix also includes some unique user interface customizations that will allow for more efficient use of screen space.
The availability of Ubuntu on an intriguing new Dell product will help increase the visibility of the Linux platform in the general consumer market, but it could also have a positive impact on Linux hardware compatibility. Canonical has been aggressively encouraging its partners to open their drivers and work with the Linux kernel community.
Assuming that the rumored August 22 launch date is accurate, the timing of the Inspiron 910 release is ideal. The Xandros-based Linux distribution that is used by Asus is starting to feel outdated and some users are compensating by installing lightweight Ubuntu derivatives on the Eee. For users who want Ubuntu right out of the box, the Inspiron 910 is going to look like a very compelling choice.
