Linux on Dell? Good luck finding it on the higher-end hardware!

I recently bought a Dell laptop but there was no Ubuntu option available for the hardware I wanted. I've ended up paying extra for a Windows I'll never use*.

OK, I had a Linux CD ready and never even booted into Windows, but if the only laptop they ship with Ubuntu is the crappy netbook, it's not exactly a commitment to open-source, is it?

* Yes I've heard that technically I could send the Windows disks back for a refund, but I've also heard that pigs might fly.