Dell is bringing its love of Linux to the Dell XPS 13 Plus. The Developer Edition laptop has passed Ubuntu 22.04 LTS certification, Canonical announced today. This means the laptop will ship with the latest version of Ubuntu from August, and XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition owners can download Ubuntu 22.04 LTS today (even if they bought it with Windows 11) for guaranteed performance.
The XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition is the first 22.04 LTS Certified laptop to join the certification of select Raspberry Pi devices only. However, Dell has been certifying some of its XPS laptops for generations, as well as other machines for Ubuntu. HP and Lenovo also have systems certified for Ubuntu.
Of course, Ubuntu certification means all components will “work as expected,”according to Canonical’s statement today. In addition, Ubuntu LTS certification means that the device will be supported for at least 10 years. The Ubuntu release cycle page states that LTS (Long Term Support) releases include 10 years of “base package”maintenance and security updates.
» Certified devices also include special software or drivers that deviate from the default distribution where appropriate. They are defined in a metapackage that automatically [sets] the optimal configuration of packages , drivers, and kernel to provide the best experience on that device.,” Canonical said in a statement.
“These changes make up the factory images used by partners like Dell, but are also pushed to the mainstream Ubuntu distribution so that certified devices receive the appropriate metapackage even if users install Ubuntu themselves .”
Ubuntu 22.04, announced in April, is a new version of the Gnome 42 Linux desktop environment that promises “improved triple-buffered desktop performance, more control over…power management settings,”Canonical said in a statement. Other changes include new workspace layouts and touchpad gestures, as well as additional customization options such as a dark style for different desktops.
Since 2013, Dell Developer Edition laptops have been aimed at programmers, and the XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition represents the 10th generation.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus typically includes a noticeably redesigned computer, including a MacBook-like capacitive touch strip replacing the function bar, and other tweaks to enable a 28W rather than a 15W processor. The XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition is equipped with an Intel Core i7-1280P processor with six high-performance cores (1.8-4.8GHz), eight efficient cores (1.3-3.6GHz) and 20 threads.