Dell’s 12th-generation PowerEdge server line now supports the use of Ubuntu 12.04 across the board, thanks to a new agreement between the hardware maker and developer Canonical that provides Ubuntu Advantage services to Dell’s customers.

Our very first keypress after turning on the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition (running Ubuntu 12.04) drew no response from the Unity desktop. And with that we thought our test of Dell’s Ubuntu Ultrabook for developers was set to go the way of most Linux laptop tests – Linux kind of works, but not really.

According to Dell, the Ubuntu build of its Alienware X51 gaming rig has a starting price of $599 and spans across four base configurations, each featuring a third-generation Intel Core CPU and Nvidia GeForce graphics. The system comes with supported Ubuntu drivers from Nvidia right out of the box, Dell said.

Although it’s oriented primarily towards developers, Dell’s “Project Sputnik” Ubuntu Linux ultrabook has attracted considerable interest from Linux fans. When I spoke with Barton George, a Dell director, upon the North American launch last fall of the XPS 13 Developer Edition, he noted two common requests that came up during the testing process: a “big [...]

In this article, I’ll examine what Dell diving back into the Ubuntu space means for Ubuntu adoption as a whole, whether other Ubuntu PC providers have cause for concern and whether or not Microsoft should be worried about Dell’s latest position.

Ubuntu fans on the lookout for desktops or laptops bundled with their favorite OS have had a rough time – there’s been selection, but it’s been painfully limited. Helping that just a wee bit is Dell, with its Vostro 2420 and 2520 notebooks, which each offer a singular Ubuntu option.

First, some specs: Dubbed the XPS 13, Developer Edition, the new device sports an i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB memory. Pricing is $1,549, which includes a year of professional support. International availability will be extended early next year, Dell says

Dell has announced that it’s planning to bring Ubuntu to the masses. In the fall of 2012, Dell’s XPS 13 will be available with an install of Ubuntu direct from the company. But who’s going to buy one?

This official developer laptop is based on the Dell XPS 13 with Ubuntu 12.04 Long Term Support (LTS) This PC will offer developers a complete client-to-cloud solution. The Sputnik will allow developers to create “microclouds” on their laptops, simulating a proper, at-scale environment, and then deploy that environment seamlessly to the cloud. George explained it [...]

Fans of Ubuntu Linux may recall a project launched by Dell back in May to create an Ubuntu-loaded laptop specifically for developers. Dubbed Project Sputnik, the effort back then had already resulted in a prototype open source laptop based on Ubuntu Linux 12.04 “Precise Pangolin” and Dell’s XPS 13 hardware.

Dell has a skunks works project underway to offer a Linux-based laptop made for developers. Dubbed “Project Sputnik,” the effort has started to gain some traction. As part of its development, Dell has launched a beta program called the Sputnik Beta Cosmonaut program. Selected participants will receive the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook with Ubuntu 12.04LTS [...]

Dell is elbowing its way into India by pushing Dell laptops wih Ubuntu Linux under the bonnet. Canonical and Dell have announced that Dell laptops preloaded with Ubuntu will be sold in 850 retail outlets in India.

Dell has launched an experimental project called Sputnik to produce a Linux laptop that is tailored to meet the needs of software developers. The first stage of the project is a six-month exploratory effort that will pair Dell’s XPS13 Ultrabook with Ubuntu 12.04.

Through its Project Sputnik, Dell has been working on a prototype open source laptop aimed at developers, based on Ubuntu Linux 12.04 “Precise Pangolin” and Dell’s XPS 13 hardware.

Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS (long-term support) is being built with the latest Linux kernel and OpenStack IT and is currently undergoing integration and quality assurance testing with Dell’s version of OpenStack.

Canonical and Dell have announced the launch of a retail programme in which Dell machines with Ubuntu pre-loaded on them will be sold in Chinese retail stores

Canonical and Dell are teaming up to sell computers with Ubuntu preinstalled at stores in China. The program, which could help improve the mainstream visibility of the Linux-based operating system, will span 220 retail locations.

You probably didn’t notice, but a mini-war has been brewing on the Linux desktop. While Apple, Google, Microsoft and others earn billions claiming ground in the mobile computing gold rush, lesser-known open-source organizations like Canonical, Banshee, and Gnome are fighting over sums as small as $3,000 and which desktop UI will win out on Ubuntu.

Canonical today announced the availability of Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) running on Dell PowerEdge C2100 and C6100 servers in an integrated solution enabling Dell’s U.S.-based customers to easily deploy Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

Dell has released two servers for the U.S. market that have been customized to run Ubuntu-based cloud services, the company announced Wednesday.

Mark Shuttleworth has been wining and dining tin man Michael Dell over his plans to put the Ubuntu Linux operating system onto the cloud. Dubbed the Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC), it will be available from Dell this week as the Dell Canonical UEC Solution

Today I installed Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat (10.10) Amd64 on a Dell Latitude E4310. The laptop itself is very nice, brushed metal type exterior.

Dell technical support was wrong when they first told her that “Ubuntu Light is the software for setting up themes on the system.” Ah, no, it’s not. Dell is now shipping Ubuntu Light as an instant-on operating system on some of its Dell laptops.

You’re in luck today, as Ubuntu Developers put together a handy-dandy video of the Ubuntu 10.10 interface running on their very own Dell Latitude XT2′s dual-digitizer touchscreen.

Dell is rumoured to have plans to preload Canonical’s Ubuntu 10.10 Netbook Edition on netbooks.

A new report pegs the new Canonical distro of Ubuntu Light for netbooks to begin appearing on shipping Dell netbooks within the next month. Dell is considered the most likely to be the first vendor to launch netbooks featuring the OS, as it currently sells more PCs with Ubuntu than any other manufacturer.

I decided to purchase a Dell Vostro 3300 recently. I took the decision based on the cost, spec and the fact that it is Ubuntu certified (list of certified hardware for each release). I was interested on checking out 10.4 so I looked at what was available with Dell.

As it now stands the page has remained in that form but is one of just a few examples of how Dell is increasingly pushing Ubuntu Linux on its PCs.

Know this: Ubuntu is still for sale on Dell’s website. In fact, a new desktop is available via Dell’s Ubuntu sales site, loaded with Ubuntu 10.04.

“It’s nice that Dell is expanding their offerings, but this is still a slap since it’s not likely they would drop MS Windows from their website while they reorganize,” said Montreal consultant Gerhard Mack. “Also, I wonder if they will quit playing games and offer Linux and Windows on identical hardware so we can finally [...]