Buying Dell Alienware with Ubuntu Linux (2014 version)

Update 2013-Jan-16: As Jeff H. pointed out below, Dell is no longer selling Alienware X51 with Ubuntu. I just checked and it seems to be. However, I found out that Dell provides a lot more Ubuntu options in Premier business section. The Dell chat agent whom I talked with just didn't tell me that. At least I solved the problem for my lab. Read here: http://forrestbao.blogspot.com/2014/01/lots-of-ubuntu-linux-laptops-and.html

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I am now purchasing computers for my lab. Of course, there is no space for Micro$oft Windows. I've narrowed my search to System76 and Dell, the two well-known Linux PC vendors in the US. In terms of desktop systems, my favor goes to Dell Alienware X51.

However, the landing page of "Alienware X51 with Ubuntu Linux" is quite out-of-date. The "Build Yours" button leads me to Page-Does-Not-Exist. I couldn't find any Linux-based system from current Alienware page either - all Windows boxes.

In despair, I chatted with a Dell agent and she gave me two links (which worked) below

• For i3-based system (base price $599): http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x51-r2/pd?oc=dpcwxy01hu&model_id=alienware-x51-r2
• For i5- based system (base price $749): http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x51-r2/pd?oc=dpcwxy33hu&model_id=alienware-x51-r2

She also told me that Dell is not selling other Linux-based desktop or workstations. (Bye Bye, n-series or open-source series.)

Last but not least, this is why you should use Linux: money talks. For Alienware X51 systems of the exact same hardware configuration, a Linux one is $100-200 cheaper than its Windows counterpart. The two systems about are sold for $699 and $949, respectively, if with Windows 7.