Update: Dell OptiPlex 755

December 3rd, 2007

Dell currently offers its new OptiPlex 755 desktops with a choice of Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista. While there were no known issues with shipments of systems configured with Windows XP Professional, Dell was unable to ship the OptiPlex 755 with the combination of any version of Windows Vista and a discrete video card until late in November 2007. A discrete video card is required to meet the current Performance PC specification, whether with Windows Vista or Windows XP.

Despite this inability to ship, the discrete video cards were still orderable with Windows Vista on Dell's Premier Page configurator for the OptiPlex 755 prior to their actully being available. In the future, Dell intends to fix this issue of configurability not matching deliverability on the Premier Page.

Dell has also introduced two new OptiPlex 755 configurations recently. The first, which Dell calls the Flex or FLX, is a configuration with some BIOS modifications designed to work with Citrix's recently-announced Presentation Server application delivery system. It is available in both disk-based and diskless load-outs.

The second newly available configuration is the OptiPlex 755 N series. As has been usual with Dell's nomenclature, N indicates a system designed to be used with a Linux distro that ships with FreeDOS as it's only operating system. A 755 N series is approximately $85 less expensive than a 755 shipping with Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista Business.

--John Mulhern III, Senior Project Leader, ISC Technology Support Services (December 3rd, 2007)