Round 2: Dellbuntu versus MBP

Here's the second in my series of slugfests: A Dellbuntu Inspiron laptop versus a Macbook Pro.

Firstly, I decided that I *MUST* pay a bit extra to get a nice colour on my Dellbuntu. Apple charges extra for black on the ordinary Macbooks - the Dellbuntu comes with black as standard, and you'd have to pay more for white. However, there's heaps of other colours to choose from. I decided to go for Ruby Red; I was surprised that, since this is a Linux laptop, that it wasn't called "Beryl Red"!

Anyway, an extra $50 US for that. Here's the specs of my Dell, in comparison to the Macbook:

• Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)

• Ubuntu 7.04 (no support this time) compared to a possibly-soon-to-be-obseleted-OS-X-version

• Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 14.1 inch display (1280x800) (a little smaller than the 15 inch screen with the MBP). The glossy screen was a free upgrade, or rather a free crossgrade that was also available with the MBP.
• Intel graphics (the MBP comes with Nvidia)
• 2 gigabytes DDR2 at 667 megahertz
• 160 gig SATA hard drive at 5400rpm
• Dual-layer DVD burner
• Intel wireless card (G standard, not this soon-to-be-nightmarishly-incompatible-N-draft)
• Bluetooth 2
• 6-cell LION battery (no idea what comes with the MBP)

I didn't splurge this time. Both laptops could be configured with 4 gigabytes of RAM. The Macbook might need it, but I know Ubuntu wouldn't need it as I don't edit video. Both laptops could get a faster 160 gigabyte hard drive, but the MBP could also be configured with a slower 200 gigabyte disk. The MBP could be configured with a 2.4 gigahertz Core 2 Duo processor as well. The MBP featured Nvidia graphics and draft N wireless.

The grand total: The Dell comes in at $US 1,129. The Macbook Pro comes in at $US 2,074.  Oh, I think the Macbook Pro may come with a better battery, faster wireless (draft N! Eeek!), and faster system bus; but I know that those things won't justify the price difference. And we *are* comparing a lower-end Dellbuntu with a Macbook Pro; let's hope Dell's Ubuntu product range increases soon like they've been promising.

Just for fun, I might try outfitting an ordinary Macbook:

$1,549

That's for the white one with a 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo, 160 gig HD, 13.3 inch glossy screen, and Intel graphics. Here Apple gets a little closer, but a slower processor and a smaller screen make this one a write-off.

If you want a computer to run something that's an alternative to Windows, then you can't go past the Dellbuntus. Sure, people with more demanding requirements will still want to look at System76 or the Macbook Pros due to their potentially bigger specs, but with the Macs I have shown that you pay a large premium for the name.

System76's offering: $1,171

Pangolin Value - same as Dellbuntu except:

• 15.4 inch monitor
• Firewire

So, a bigger screen and a Firewire port, and it's about $US 50 more. Very competitive stuff. System76 is a fairly small company, no huge volume discounts on parts, and yet they can be competitive with Dell, and value-wise they absolutely piss all over Apple (a multi-billion dollar company with worldwide resources).

If you live in the US, you should seriously look at System76 as a vendor for a computer with a non-Microsoft OS. If you live in another country, either investigate your local alternatives (there often are some) or wait until the Dellbuntus arrive.