Dell offers discount on Linux PCs

Dell will offer its Linux PCs for $50 (£24) less than the equivalent Windows PCs, the company has revealed on one of its websites.

The figure applies to Dell's Inspiron 1420 notebook, which offers th Ubuntu Linux distribution pre-installed. An Ubuntu system will cost $774 (£384), while a machine with equivalent specs with Windows will cost $824 (£408).

Some visitors to the IdeaStorm website, Dell's user forum, suggested that the move would have an effect on sales of Windows. "Give compelling reasons for people to choose Linux [such as price] and they will. I did," said one user.

Dell refuses to say whether, or when, UK users will be able to purchase notebooks with Linux pre-installed. Dell currently offers its Linux systems only in the US.