Dell has been working on an updated version of its Precision M3800 workstation notebook. First unveiled back in 2013, this laptop was supposed to mark a new standard as the thinnest and lightest workstation, and it did. Now, the company just announced the Dell Precision M3800 Developer Edition running Ubuntu Linux, as part of its Project Sputnik.

Running Ubuntu is a big deal. Most laptops, unless they’re Macs, run the Windows operating system, so having the option of Ubuntu will be great for developers looking to create their software on a good platform (Ubergizmo). It's open sourced, perfect for higher-end applications, and is generally tailored for programmers. Offering this new device is part of Dell's 2012 Project Sputnik, “an initiative to create Ubuntu-powered laptops and additional software tools designed for developers”, which has been a bit quiet since it first released on Dell's XPS 13 (The Var Guy).

Big hardware upgrades in the Precision M3800 Ubuntu laptop include an Intel 4th gen i7 CPU, along with Nvidia Quadro K1100M graphics. It also sports a 15.6-inch UltraSharp IGZO UHD Touch display with 3840 x 2160 resolution, comes with 8 GB of memory, and 500GB of 7200rpm storage (both of which are upgradable). For users who need speedy file transfer, it also comes packed with a Thunderbolt 2 port that can handle editing 4K video (Ubergizmo).

So, if you're an interested developer, programmer, or Ubuntu lover, the M3800 Developer Edition will run $1,533.50, but only goes up from there depending on what type of upgrade options you want. It will be interesting to read the reviews once the laptop has been in the hands of consumers, but general expectations are that the M3800 will hold up similarly to its predecessor, which is good news.