black-Friday notebook deal -- Linux!

[D. Hugh Redelmeier]

Dell is offering a 14" notebook with Linux at a good price: $297
  <http://forums.redflagdeals.com/dell-13-v131-laptop-w-dual-core-celeron-847-2gb-320gb-hd-backlit-kb-ubuntu-297-a-1109474/3/>
Note: you need to use a coupon from the redflagdeals thread to get
that price.

Things I find interesting about this:

+ Ubuntu 11.04 (somewhat odd choice -- neither current nor LTS)

+ as cheap as a netbook, but mostly better (but larger and heavier)

- the processor (Celeron 847) is one of those value-reduced (crippled)
  Intel specials.  Here's a comparision with some other relevant Intel
  processors:

  <http://ark.intel.com/compare/56056,53422,55448,55627>

  Notice that this does have VT-x, unlike the otherwise-more-beefy Pentium 
  B950 (found in a current Walmart special).

  I wonder if the difference in TDP (nominal top power consumption)
  differences between these chips is mostly due to different top clock
  rates.  In other words, would the B850 use as little power as the
  Celron 847 if you clocked it identically?

- no optical drive.  Probably a good choice these days.

- long running time on battery, according to reviews

- solidly made chasis, aimed at a higher price point.

- HDMI-out, 2 x USB 3, eSata connector, 1366 x 768 display

If I needed a new notebook, and price mattered, I'd consider jumping on
this deal.  There are a lot of other good deals with different
trade-offs.
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