[GTALUG] configuring a Dell Precision 7520 notebook to be shipped with Ubuntu

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Wed, Jun 06, 2018 at 12:27:53PM -0400, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk wrote:
> Dell has a sequence of specials for the next few (7?) days.  I'm kind of 
> interested in a notebook with an UltraHD display, so I thought I'd look.
> 
> This is what I discovered.  This is likely uninteresting to most people -- 
> feel free to stop reading now, before I waste your time!
> 
> <http://www.dell.com/en-ca/work/shop/deals/laptop-deals>
> 
> Most of the laptop pages come with preconfigured display, and none is UHD.  
> But the Precision 7520 Mobile Workstation lets you configure a lot of 
> things, including selecting Ubuntu and selecting a UHD screen.
> 
> Interesting things about selecting Ubuntu (replacing Win 10 pro):
> 
> - clicking on Ubuntu saves $200
> 
> - it's still Ubuntu 16.04
> 
>   + why not 18.04?  I assume that would work.
> 
>   + but the heading is "Ubuntu 12.04 Long term Support" (surely a typo)
> 
> - it won't work with the default wireless card, so you have to change 
>   from Dell to Intel.  There's no charge so I guess that they think that 
>   the Dell is better in some way (not obvious to me).  The Intel is marked 
>   "vPro" so it is potentially vulnerable to Outside Agents.
> 
> - it warns me that Ubuntu isn't compatible with Productivity Software.
>   Just select "none" instead of "free 30-day trial of Microsoft Office".
>   That sounds like a good idea even for Windows users.
> 
> 
> Interesting things about selecting the UltraHD display
> 
> - adds $220 over the IPS FullHD display, which itself adds $280 or
>   $260 over TN FullHD display options.  Ouch on both those numbers.

Well a Thinkpad T580 with an 8th gen i5 and the IPS UHD display
appears to be cheaper and they don't demand buying their expensive ram.
Intel graphics unless you go to a higher CPU and get nvidia graphics.

-- 
Len Sorensen