Michael's Got a New Notebook...

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

ExDell — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:39:11 GMT

Bob Collins, I am not sure if we read the same post. Please refrain from getting off topic.

It is nice to see Dell join the "counter culture" of the PC world. I sure other companies will now follow which will hopefully force companies like nvidia to update there linux drivers or even allow them to be open sourced.

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

Cesar Diaz — Sun, 06 May 2007 15:02:25 GMT

Ok since Dell and the rest of his company seems to be waking up, would now be a good time to re-present an idea they deeemed too expensive. If you do the math the market value of this concept is worth $ 540 M. Alot of money in a market huh? I really hope someone can listen this time around. This concept was presented almost 4 years ago. Dell could really use the concept now giving it's constant trouble. I call em setbacks because that's all they are.

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

Rob — Sat, 05 May 2007 19:22:20 GMT

I guess he's still waiting on his free vista upgrade like so many others.

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

Lionel_Menchaca — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:42:26 GMT

Lee and A Buyer: Hang in there... we'll share more details soon.

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

A Buyer — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:56:57 GMT

Ditto - an ETA please! How long do we have to wait to buy? :)

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

Matthew — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 03:21:11 GMT

I've used Kubuntu, Ubuntu, and Fedora, and personally I've been most pleased with Fedora. I think that among the big names in distros, these are probably three good directions that Dell could offer; Kubuntu for KDE fans, Ubuntu for Gnome and Debian packages, and then Fedora Core for RPM fans like myself. Perhaps Dell could offer these three, or offer to put the CD for one of them in the box? Really, we can all install the operating system. It isn't that hard. We just need hardware support...

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

mysurface — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:19:13 GMT

Did Michael have any feedbacks after using it for awhile?

My friend work in Dell as a technical support, when I told him, Dell laptop is going to have an option of install with Linux, he couldn't imagine that will happen.

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

Lee Sharp — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:17:30 GMT

I am glad to see some movement here. I was starting to wonder if anything was going to happen. Since the initial post 40 days ago, I have had to make a few purchasing decisions. One was a Dell SC440 server with no OS. (It will run Ubuntu Server) A few others were non-Dell. Without Linux, you are still just providing commodity PCs. With Linux support that all changes. I really do want to buy PCs from you, but I still need to operate my business. I can't just wait for you to come out with something "someday." Care to give a date?

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

Richard — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:59:01 GMT

This is awesome! If Dell starts supporting Linux more will follow suit...meaning major software third parties! I am currently running Ubuntu Edgy Eft 6.10 Ultimate Gamers Edition....and it is FAR superior to any windows product. The only thing i had to configure was the Video card and I had to install TCSH to run a specific app i need. To the person that asked about wireless support, it is honestly as easy as one could ever hope for. The wifi card was perfectly recognized and installed (within the LIVE CD!!!) and you have to do nothing more than click on the network icon and select the wireless connection you want to link to. Oh yeah, and not being windows it doesn't nag you when you come in contact with a wifi link. You click it and see if there are any available. If you are plugged in it automatically connects you to wired lan....if you select a wireless connection it disconnects the wired connection and reconnects to the wireless portal...thats it.

Then of course being Linux all the applications you need are both available and free. Want your OS to look pretty like Vista, and be functional like Mac.......Beryl takes care of both, offering an entourage style nav system with hotpoints and hotkeys. And all the cool window dressing available in Vista, like frosted glass windows and all the other useless eye candy.

Then of course there are the useful features. For one, the distro I chose came pre-installed with Wine, and NTFS read/write support.....so no need to worry about losing files from your inferior windows install and with wine, most of your favorite windows apps are supported and will run just fine (of course i cant see why you would need them...since Open Office is better than M$ Office...and its FREE!)...but there are some apps that Wine is a great thing to have. Like Picasa for instance....runs perfectly.

The only thing that really disappoints me about linux (and its not really about linux) is the lack of mainstream support. I am a Multimedia Artist, and there is NO adobe support at all! Sure Photoshop works (not sure is CS is compatible tho), but Premiere does not....and that is the ONLY app I need to dual boot to windows for!!! Oh yeah, BTW, for those of you, like myself that are still chained to windows for a single application or two. Dual booting is as easy as partitioning the hard drive 2 ways (well 3 if you count the linux swap drive) install windows. Install Linux with grub boot loader....log into linux and change the boot list. If you are using Ubuntu just gedit the menu.lst file (it even has the command in a comment in the file!!!) It couldnt be easier....no additional software required (Ubuntu Ultimate Edition includes all the partition tools you need including QTpart)

So, like i said, if there was just some support from some major video editing apps Linux would be all i would ever look at. Final Cut Pro is Unix Based........why not port that for us APPLE! Would be nice....heres hoping.....of course if Apple did make a Unix distro it would cost 10x as much as the Mac version and not be supported...as is there MO (*AHEM* Shake!!)

Anyways, rant over. Love Linux......keep it up Michael....You can be the PIONEER that brings linux and open source to the main stream!!! I have faith, you have always been a visionary ready to change the way people see comuters....please make this a reality!

re: Michael's Got a New Notebook...

linuxiac — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:03:09 GMT

I run lots of Dells, Optiplex from 1999 up through 2005, many of which are curbside donation desktops.

All Dells run remarkably well on http://pclinuxos.com which is NOT listed in the surveys. Why not???

Since 1997, I've advocated FOSS, in businesses, schools, charities, and homes. FREE, so, average is only 3 to 5 conversions from Microsoft to GNU/Linux, each week. I know there are millions like me, in the world.

Some are Dentists, Doctors, and elders, who influence their network of extended family. My next project: set up computer kiosks in Nursing homes, for our elders, using Linux Terminal Server Project for 3 to 8 seats!

They "show 'N tell" their family/friends, and so, I seem to speak for hundreds of potential users, who are not just asking for a concept they might never purchase.

Yes, I 've seen that comment that FOSS users don't purchase new Dell systems. Total bunk.

Sooner or later, everyone buys a new machine! If Dell can put the excitement (PCLOS with Beryl 3D!), back into the computer User's experience, HP/Compaq will again take second place in the market!

I am part of that 'unexpected market influence' that has come out of left field, that Steve Balmer has warned Bill Gates about, for so long, using so many chairs , to demonstrate.