System76 Prepares Ubuntu 9.10 PCs, Notebooks
As major PC makers prepare to introduce Windows 7 systems on Oct. 22, upstarts like System76 are maintaining their focus on the Ubuntu market and preparing to preload Ubuntu 9.10 on a range of PCs starting Oct. 29. Here’s a preview of what’s to come.
I traded email on Oct. 13 with Carl Richell, president of System76 — which offers Ubuntu on servers, desktops, laptops and netbooks. Richell offered these thoughts…
On how Ubuntu 9.10 is coming along:
“We’ve been testing Ubuntu 9.10 in earnest for two weeks. This is our 9th Ubuntu release — our first computers shipped with Ubuntu 5.10. I think Ubuntu 9.10 is the most progress I’ve seen in a single release cycle. Bootup time is fast and beautiful with a smooth transition from login to the desktop. The theme is slightly darker and desktop effects were carefully chosen. Performance is improved — particularly with Intel based graphics. Overall Ubuntu 9.10 is a very tight release. I’m looking forward to the October showdown.”
On System76’s plans to offer Ubuntu 9.10 on systems:
“System76 will offer 9.10 pre-loaded on release day (Oct. 29th) with shipments starting the following week.”
On Ubuntu 9.10’s potential benefits to customers:
“I like the goals of the Ubuntu Software Store. Although the benefits won’t be fully realized in this release, simplifying software selection and installation is fundamental to easing a new users transition. Our largest asset is this enormous pool of excellent software freely available to everyone.”
On Ubuntu One, Canonical’s new file sharing and online backup service:
“Ubuntu One is a smart new service. Online backup and desktop synchronization are valuable — particularly with netbooks in the mix.”
On potential challenges facing the Ubuntu 9.10 launch:
“Release months are always a fun challenge. 15 products to test and launch with Ubuntu 9.10. Another 40 or so legacy products to test. Fortunately, Ubuntu’s steady improvement make each release easier.”
Thoughts From ZaReason
I’ve sent a similar email to ZaReason, another PC maker that focuses aggressively on the Ubuntu market. As soon as I hear back from ZaReason, I’ll share their thoughts and plans for Ubuntu 9.10.
Over the next few weeks, the Windows 7 noise could become overwhelming. I’m curious to see and hear how the Ubuntu community holds up against the noise.
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They should ship their products to europe, then we would have someone too, who is reliable in supporting Ubuntu!
Looks as if Zareason have updated their info relating to 9:10 as well
http://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16216&cat=0&page=1
Where they say
“Are you ready for 9.10? We are. We have stayed in sync with the development cycle so that on the day of the release, your system ships with 9.10.
After every release there is a flood of orders. But, there are always a percentage of smart customers who order now to get their systems right after the release without delay. Choose 9.10 now and get it your fully updated system shipped to you fast.”
I still constantly use (and love) my Starling netbook from System76 running 9.04 NBR. They make good stuff. I have no vested interest – just a happy (and future repeat) customer.
I want a netbook with a usable keyboard (similar to Aspire One) with a resolution higher than 1024×600. Primarily concerned with the vertical. I also want it to have 8+ hr battery life. I think an ARM-based netbook using the display technology from PixelQi could get us there… I keep watching System76 and ZAReason hoping they’ll have one soon…
“Win7 noise”?
Win7 is just XP on steroids and with a lot of eye candy, rushed to market to replace the VISTA failure and stem the tide of consumer movement to Apple and Linux.
There will be a lot of hype and noise during the first 3 to 6 months following the official release, but after that we’ll start hearing about the large Win7 bot farms, the loss of personal information leading to unauthorized bank withdrawals, credit card abuses, etc… Just like the London Stock Exchange fiasco, Microsoft will put its PR and spin department into high gear, but people, just like the LSE, will move to Linux for relief.
I’ve been loving my System76 PanP5 which is about 2 months old now, and I’ll probably upgrade to 9.10 when it comes out next week. The S76 guys I heard will also have updated drivers available for 9.10 when it comes out, so bonus!
I can’t wait!
Holds up against the noise? How is the W7 noise going to affect the Ubuntu community? Personally, I couldn’t care less about any aspect of W7.
I know it’s a tangent, but this Win7 noise strikes me as ironic. Look how many MS fanboys will comment, “It’s just an OS, not a religion!!” However, they are the first to jump on the release party bandwagon.
If it’s just an OS, why do you need to celebrate a stinking OS release??? (pun definitely intended)
I so wish System76 would start selling PCs in the UK.
MK@6: Remember, major PC makers like Dell are shipping Ubuntu, and major IT companies like IBM are backing Ubuntu. If the majority of customers sitting on the fence overwhelmingly push for more Windows 7 support, it could distract vendor resources away from Ubuntu.
I’m not worried about the Ubuntu loyalists. But I am curious to see if Microsoft wins back disenchanted Windows Vista users…
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@Joe:
How exactly do you plan to measure a Windows 7 “win back?” Or for that matter Ubuntu impact?
Dell doesn’t release enough granular unit sales data to give an accurate picture of operating system sales. Nor does IBM release any hard numbers on how many of the Virtual Bridges/Ubuntu solution bundles its selling. I’ll also note that system76 nor ZaReason release hard numbers on unit sales either.
But if you want a bell-weather sign of where things are really headed… watch to see which products Dell is pushing in its print media and mailbox catalog advertisements. You want to make any bets on which variant of linux Dell puts into its direct marketing sales catelogs in the next year?
You know the ones that arrive in home or work mailboxes across the US to existing customers? Have you ever seen an Ubuntu system advertised in one of these sales catalogs?
I wonder… for the Christmas purchasing season that is coming up which “linux” based offering will Dell put in its print ads. If I were a betting man I’d wager it be their Suse linux based “Latitude On” sub-operating system running on an ARM chip which comes as part of their new Z laptop.
-jef
[...] System76 Prepares Ubuntu 9.10 PCs, Notebooks As major PC makers prepare to introduce Windows 7 systems on Oct. 22, upstarts like System76 are maintaining their focus on the Ubuntu market and preparing to preload Ubuntu 9.10 on a range of PCs starting Oct. 29. Here’s a preview of what’s to come. [...]
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I am waiting to see if the Serval Professional line of notebooks comes with core i7, DDR3 @ 1330 MHz, and the same or better Nvidia 1GB video card.
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