If you are new to linux, and not particularly computer savvy, you may want to get a pre installed as there will be no set up trials. I did manage to set up my inspiron with kubuntu, but it took a few days to figure it all out. "drivers" can be a challenge to get some times. With a pre-installed, you KNOW you got a working machine, and can focus your energy on learning how to do work on the new OS, not how to get it up and running.

I was wondering this as well. Specifically, I've heard something about a recovery partition and would like more info on that. What exactly does it contain, the Feisty Alternate CD data, some Dell homebrew scripts, etc? Also is there a separate /home partition setup by default?

You are wondering about SPECIFIC hardware in two different PCs. One advertised with Dell as a Windows PC and one advertised as a Ubuntu PC. Could you give the PC and Parts model numbers that your are specifically comparing.

Linux and AMD usually work together pretty good. There is a web site that lists compatible hardware... I just seem to have misplaced it. Most "generic" hardware will work just fin in ubuntu (CPUs, Keyboards, Mice, Monitors etc) Specialized hardware (touch pads, graphics cards, Cameras, etc.) takes more work, or is waiting on a kernel.