How Dell and System76’s Ubuntu Machines Stack Up to Their Mac Counterparts

By Andrew Min

Open source operating systems obviously give more bang for the buck than any other operating system in the world. After all, they’re free, and you can’t get lower than free (unless you’re Kaspersky). However, what about pre-installed Ubuntu machines? Do they beat their Windows and OS X competitors in the bang for the buck category? Dell got rid of the so-called Windows tax, so it’s obvious that pre-installed Ubuntu on Dells give more power than pre-installed Windows on Dells. But what about Macs?

First of all, it’s impossible to do a 1:1 comparison between any PC and Mac. Duh. However, I attempted to make it as accurate as possible by customizing parts on the Ubuntu side to match up as close as possible to the Mac. Second, I realize there are a ton of manufacturers out there that make pre-installed Linux computers. I couldn’t compare them all, so I just went with Dell and System76, the two most popular and best-known. Third, it’s impossible to be non-biased. I won’t pretend that this isn’t, because it’s impossible. I tried my best to be fair, however.

Also, this is not a comparison between Ubuntu and OS X. That is, I believe, impossible to do. This is a comparison of tech specs. And note that these are only tech specs. Often, a computer may seem faster, whether for psychological reasons or some magic Steve-sauce that Michael Dell hasn’t yet learned.

Mini Machines: Mac Mini 1.83GHz vs. System76 Koala Mini

Since Dell doesn’t make a mini computer with Ubuntu on it, I only compared Apple and System76’s products. The Mac Mini is one of Apple’s most popular products, especially for PC users who want to switch but already have a mouse and keyboard and monitor. However, one complaint is that it has always been overpriced for the power it gives (which isn’t much). So I matched it up against the Koala Mini, a System76 desktop that looks similar to it, albeit much uglier.

The Mac Mini that I chose to compare the Koala to was the 1.83GHz model. I left everything at its defaults except that I bumped up the hard drive to 120GB (the Koala didn’t have an option for 80GB). That meant that the Mini had a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, and a CD-RW/DVD drive along with the hard drive. There were also 4 USB ports, a FireWire port, integrated graphics, and 802.11b/g wifi. Total cost was $649.99 plus shipping.

The Koala was much more customizable. I opted to give it a Celeron 540 processor, an inferior chip to the Mini’s Core 2 Duo but with a 1.86GHz speed. I added on 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, a CD-RW/DVD drive, and the standard 1 year warranty that also came with the Mini. The Koala also comes with 4 USB ports, a FireWire port, integrated graphics, and 802.11b/g wifi. Total cost was around the same as the mini, at $625.00 plus shipping. So far, it didn’t seem like the Ubuntu-based PCs were that much cheaper.

Low-end Laptops: Dell Inspiron 1420N vs MacBook vs. System76 Gazelle

The laptop market is an important arena for Apple. Many students use laptops, and much of Apple’s advertising targets students. I therefore compared the MacBook with Dell’s Inspiron 1420N, a fairly popular laptop even outside of the Ubuntu scene, and the System76 Gazelle.

The MacBook’s biggest advantage was it’s screen size. It weighed with a 13.3″ screen, perfect for students who need an ultraportable. Besides the screen, the one I tested comes with a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, a CD/DVD±RW drive, integrated graphics, two USB ports, a FireWire port, wifi, Bluetooth, and a webcam. The final cost was $1099 plus shipping.

The Dell was about the as the MacBook when all was said and done. It came with a 14.1″ screen (small, but not quite as small as the MacBook’s), a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, a CD/DVD±RW drive, integrated graphics, four USB ports, a FireWire port, wifi, Bluetooth, and a webcam. I also upgraded the screen to a glossy display, similar to that of the MacBook’s. The final cost was $919 plus shipping. It was cheaper, but not by that much.

The System76 was about the same. It too had a 14.1″ screen, which was slightly disappointing because I had wanted to see how a 13.1″ laptop would have stacked up. I also gave it integrated graphics, a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB hard drive, a CD/DVD-RW drive, wifi, Bluetooth, four USB ports, and a FireWire jack. Final cost was $948 plus shipping. Also, there was no webcam, so if you wanted one the price would be much steeper. Again, the PCs were fairly similar in price to the Mac.

High-end Laptops: Dell XPS M1330 vs MacBook Pro vs System76 Serval

The MacBook Pro is one of the nicest professional laptops around. However, Dell has long been a champion of high-end notebooks, and the XPS M1330 is no exception.

The MacBook Pro is a real beauty. I went for the default options with the white 15″ 2.4GHz model. That’s a 15″ screen, a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, a 200GB hard drive, a CD/DVD±RW drive, a beautiful Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT, two USB ports, two FireWire jacks, Bluetooth, and a webcam. But the cost was definitely high end: $1999 plus shipping.

The XPS was a painfully obviously inferior model. The 2GB of RAM, 200GB hard drive, CD/DVD±RW drive, two USB ports, FireWire port, Bluetooth, and webcam were fine, but the screen size was only 13.3″, the processor only 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo, and the graphics card was only a Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS. The price wasn’t that much lower either: $1573 plus shipping was the final cost.

The System76 was much more up to par. It had a 15.4″ screen, a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, a 200GB hard drive, a CD/DVD±RW drive, four USB ports, a FireWire port, Bluetooth, and a webcam. And surprisingly, it was even cheaper than the Dell, at $1342 plus shipping. All-in-all, the System76 carried this category easily.

Desktops: Dell Inspiron 530N vs 20″ iMac vs System76 Sable

I then went to the desktop arena, comparing the 20″ iMac to the only Dell desktop and the System76 Sable. The iMac is arguably the most popular product that Apple sells, since it’s the only full-blown desktop around. Because of this, it’s very interesting to look at the results.

I left the iMac specification as it was. That is, a 20″ screen (with built-in speakers, microphone, and webcam) with a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a CD/DVD±RW drive, an ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics card, four USB ports and a FireWire port, built-in wifi, and a mouse and keyboard. Final cost: $1199 plus shipping.

The Dell was astoundingly cheaper. I upgraded it to a 20″ screen, a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a CD/DVD±RW drive, an ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO video card, 10 (yes, 10) USB ports, a FireWire port, and a mouse and keyboard. It didn’t have wifi, but you can easily get an adapter for that. Final cost? $689 plus shipping. Almost half as much as the iMac.

The difference between the Mac and the System76 isn’t quite as marked. I added a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a CD/DVD-RW drive, a 19″ monitor (about an inch smaller than the iMac or Dell), 5.1 surround sound speakers, 6 USB ports, a FireWire jack, and a keyboard and mouse to get $1023. That also didn’t include a microphone, webcam, or wifi adapter, so the price is much more closer to the iMac when all is said and done.

Conclusion

So is the idea that Ubuntu machines give more bang for the buck than Mac machines a myth? It depends, but for the most part, no. The mini machines and the low-end laptops were about the same price, especially when you add in the $129 operating system. However, the Inspiron blew the iMac out of the water while the Serval destroyed the MacBook Pro. Now, these are just tech specs. It’s certainly possible that in the real world, the Mac actually performs better because of some secret Steve-sauce. But that’s a test for another day.