Ubuntu-based Developer and Engineering systems (project Sputnik)

Ubuntu-based Developer and Engineering systems (project Sputnik)

The Dell XPS 13 laptop, developer edition began life as “Project Sputnik” a scrappy skunkworks project to pilot a developer-focused system. Thanks to the amazing feedback and support we received from the community it became an official product. Four years later, we are on the sixth generation of the XPS 13 developer edition.  Additionally, due to continuing interest in an officially supported, beefier system, an Ubuntu-based Dell Precision mobile workstation, was launched.  With the latest launch the Precision line has been expanded from one to four systems.

Project Sputnik News & Reviews

Solution overview:

XPS 13 laptop developer edition

• Preloaded with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
• Augmented with the necessary hardware drivers (drivers are upstreamed to allow a variety of distros to work)
• 7^th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors
• InfinityEdge™ display, FHD and QHD+ versions available
• Availability: United States and  Europe  

Dell™ Precision 55105520, mobile workstation

• PreloadedwithUbuntu14.04LTS
• Nextgenerationoftheworld

  World’s thinnest and lightest true 15” mobile workstation

• PremierColor™ 4KInfinityEdge™ display
• Startingweightofjust3.93lbs(1.78kg)

  • Keyfeatures

    •PreloadedwithUbuntu16.04LTS

    •7thgenerationIntel®Core™ and aformfactorthatislessthan0.44Intel®Xeon™processors

    •15.6” UltraSharp™FHD (11.1mm)thick1920×1080)orUltraSharp™UHD(3840×2160)

    • Up to :6^th generationIntelXeonmobilequad-coreprocessor,professionalgradeNVIDIAQuadroM1000Mgraphics,and 32GB of memory and2TBofstorage

    • Thunderbolt 3

    •NVIDIAQuadrographics

    • Availability: worldwide

  Dell™ Precision 3510, mobile workstation

  • Preloaded with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
  • Affordable, fully configurable 15” mobile workstation
  • Up to: 6^th generation Intel Xeon mobile quad-core processor, professional grade graphics, and up to 32GB of memory
  • FullHD (1920×1080) anti-glare matte screen option plus optional touchscreen
  • Availability: worldwide

  Dell™ Precision 7510, mobile workstation  

  • Preloaded with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
  • World’s most powerful 15” mobile workstation
  • Up to: 6^th generation Intel Xeon mobile quad-core processor, professional grade graphics, 3TB of storage and 64GB of memory
  • PremierColor™ UltraSharp™ 4K UltraHD (3840×2160) screen option
  • Availability: worldwide

  Dell™ Precision 7710, mobile workstation  

  • Preloaded with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
  • World’s most powerful 17” mobile workstation
  • Up to: 6^th generation Intel Xeon mobile quad-core processor, professional grade graphics, 4TB of storage and 64GB of memory
  • PremierColor™ UltraSharp™ 4K UltraHD (3840×2160) anti-glare screen option
  • Availability: worldwide

  Standard Service:

  • All of the above systems come with 1 year Dell ProSupport and onsite service after remote diagnostics

  Additional Info:

  • Coverage: What they are saying about the Ubuntu-based Developer and engineering systems
  • Forums: Ubuntu-based XPS 13 and Precision systems

  How did we get here?

  As I mentioned at the beginning, project Sputnik began as a skunk works effort.  It was made possible by an internal incubation fund designed to bring wacky ideas from around the company to life in order to tap innovation that might be locked up in people’s heads. 

  Just weeks after the basic concept was green-lighted by the innovation team, it was publically announced as a pilot project at the Ubuntu developer summit.  The big focus of our efforts, particularly in the beginning, has been to work with Canonical to make sure that we had the appropriate drivers for all functionality including the touchpad.

  From the start, the idea was to conduct project Sputnik out in the open, soliciting and leveraging direct input from developers via our Project Sputnik StormSession, comments on this blog, threads on the Sputnik tech center forum as well as the project Sputnik beta program.  In fact it was the tremendous interest in the beta program that convinced us to take Project Sputnik from pilot to product.

  I would like to give a special shout out to the beta cosmonauts who signed on.  They were an intrepid lot who were patient and diligent working through issues to help make sure that when we went to production we had a product that developers would want.