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Recreating Dell's first Linux PC (Patreon)

Published:

2025-04-11 22:00:49

Imported:

2026-06

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We picked up a 2007 Dell XPS 410 at an auction last year, and paid it absolutely no mind for months. Little did we know, but it held a secret... it was Dell's first Linux PC!

This was a fun project with just the right number of challenges.. it took a little work, but nothing too difficult to overcome.

And the channel is almost at 100k subscribers! Thanks to everyone for the continuing support, and let us know how we should celebrate hitting the milestone. Quake free-for-all on the Proliant? Seeing how many simultaneous dialup connections we can get up to on the Total Control??

We've got several more projects already underway, so more content will be out soon!

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Recreating Dell's first Linux PC

In 2007, Dell started an experiment in direct customer feedback, and ended up creating their first desktop PC with Linux. Follow along as we recreate this model and try to relive the Dell-Ubuntu experience. Want more content like this? Support our mission! Send us a Super Thanks and check out our Patreon + Discord community: https://www.patreon.com/serialport Got some retro gear you want to donate? Get in touch with us at serialport.org. #linux #dell #2000s Our second channel: @TheParallelPort 00:00 — The Year of the Linux Desktop 01:07 — IdeaStorm 05:11 — The XPS 410 09:25 — Installing Ubuntu (over PXE!) 16:00 — Automating the install 19:14 — Fixing some issues 22:26 — Quake 4 24:25 — Was Dell successful? 26:10 — Almost to 100k! References: dhart. (2007). Pre-Installed Linux | Ubuntu | Fedora | OpenSUSE | Multi-Boot. https://web.archive.org/web/20070221024951/http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/61771 Menchaca, L. (2007). Dell Offers Three Consumer Systems With Ubuntu 7.04. https://web.archive.org/web/20070602054632/http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/05/24/15994.aspx Microsoft Windows Vista Launch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pApfluGN4rI WindowsBlueyFan. (2024). Windows Vista Ultimate Review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS_Jr6P_dU0 benanzo. (2007). Review of Dell XPS 410n with Ubuntu Feisty preinstalled. https://web.archive.org/web/20100818184048/http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=2764621 Poseidon Laboratories. Network book environments. https://matchbox.psdn.io/network-booting/ Hamish. (2018). Playing Quake 4 on Linux in 2018. https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2018/01/playing-quake-4-on-linux-in-2018/