I have heard that Linux boxes cost the same, or possibly more than identical hardware preloaded with Windows, because the Linux boxes ship completely clean aside from the apps that come with Ubuntu like OpenOffice and Firefox, while Windows boxes ship with all kinds of lame AOL ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- and stuff like that preinstalled, which Dell gets paid for. If that's true, it's too bad and takes away a little bit of the appeal of having a free OS for the general consumer.