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Dell offering Linux

Discussion in 'Other PC Software' started by charlesvar, 2007/02/27.

  1. 2007/02/27
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    Dell is offering the N series of desktop and notebook.
    http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/alliances/en/linux?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=anavml

    It would be nice if MS got a good swift kick in the rear end on the OS front the way 3rd party browsers did IE. MS would be a better company for it.

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
    #1
  2. 2007/02/27
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    I don't know what distribution Dell is using but if you haven't tried it yet, you should - Ubuntu 6.10 - can download an ISO at their (Ubuntu) site and burn it to a CD. Put it on a spare box - pretty good stuff. Very easy setup. Rookie friendly.

    ;)
     
    Rockster2U,
    #2


  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2007/02/27
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Dell is using RedHat or Novel Suse.
    They've been doing this for years, you config the hardware and the system comes w/ freedos op sys and windows driver cd and you install your own os or install your own linux, or they charge to install & setup on site.
     
    Last edited: 2007/02/27
    TonyT,
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  5. 2007/02/27
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    I didn't realize they've been doing this for quite some time.

    Also an alternative to perloaded crapware that comes with Windows.

    The latest sorry example:http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=62631

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
    #4
  6. 2007/02/28
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    If we are suggesting Linux distros, my favourite at the moment is SimplyMepis. Uses a lot of the Ubuntu libraries, but also works well with my NetGear wireless card (which Ubuntu doesn't out of the box). It also gives me read/write access to my NTFS partitions.
     
    ReggieB,
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  7. 2007/02/28
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    I prefer Debian, currently using Etch. Wifi & any linux distro is medium at best. I just build my wifi drivers from source for best results. What chipset is your netgear card? Here's a handy link to id wifi card chipsets & respective drivers:
    http://linux-wless.passys.nl/
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2007/02/28
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    I don't know the chipset. Its a Netgear WG511T. That explains why I'm pleased to find a distro that supports it without me having to work at it.:D

    Thanks for the link to the wireless drivers. Though saying that, I hope that by the time I change to another distro, getting a wireless card to work won't be hard work.
     
    ReggieB,
    #7
  9. 2007/02/28
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    That's an easy card to get to work in any distro, it has an Atheros chipset, which means that in linux it uses the mad-wifi drivers. Your adapter will show up in linux as athX.

    Atheros cards also work in Ubuntu if boot from the live cd. However, a Ubuntu hd install does not install any non-free software or drivers but makes them available in what they dub linux-restricted-modules. To install these in Ubuntu you need to enable the Ubuntu multi-universe repositories, update apt and then apt-get the restricted modules built for the kernel version being used. Can be done using Synaptic package manager too.

    I have 2 atheros chipset cards. In Debian or Debian based systems like Mepis, one need only do:
    # apt-get install module-assistant
    and then do:
    # apt-get install madwifi-source
    # apt-get install madwifi-tools
    # m-a prepare
    # m-a a-i madwifi

    Bookmark this for future reference:
    http://madwifi.org/wiki/UserDocs/Distro/Debian

    btw, your card will work well w/ Kismet! If interested and need the kismet configs, PM me.
     
    TonyT,
    #8
  10. 2007/02/28
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    Meanwhile, back at the ranch :D

    Dell Backpedals on Preloading Linux
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20070228/tc_nf/50379;_ylt=Au9ZGxznha4OmsYv0yDu1vAjtBAF

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
    #9
  11. 2007/03/01
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Yes, but one can still order a "no op sys' system, one w/ free dos. This reduces the cost if already have your own op sys to install.

    My laptop is 3 yrs old and I have been considering getting a new one. But the better new systems are all mostly core duo and in the 2.0 GHz range. My existing laptop is a 3.02 w/ HT and performs better than these 2 GHz core duos so I'll stick with what I have until they start putting faster core duos in laptops.
     
    TonyT,
    #10
  12. 2007/03/01
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    People will start think you don't like us hijacking the thread to chat about Linux problems. :D
     
    ReggieB,
    #11
  13. 2007/03/01
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    Hi Reg :D

    Not at all - the more info about Linux the better.

    Just wanted to remind people that this is a "political" problem/issue as well as technical.

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
    #12
  14. 2007/03/12
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    It's not just Linux that had trouble with my Netgear card. I've just installed Vista and that didn't pick it up either! I had to connect via cable and download a driver before I got the card work. The process was very easy, but it did make me smile when Vista initially gave me the same problems I've had with Linux distros.
     
    ReggieB,
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  15. 2007/03/13
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    this is why vista service pack 2 will be so enthusiastically welcomed!
     
    TonyT,
    #14
  16. 2007/03/14
    ReggieB

    ReggieB Inactive Alumni

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    Service pack 2!!!!! I'm looking forward to service pack 1.

    So far, I have to say my experience with Vista is that it has brought to Windows some of the linux features I really like. Such as being able to run as a basic user and call up Admin rights as I need them. I read complaints about this feature in a number of forums, but it works just fine for me.

    The simpler file structure is good too. Much more like Linux's user folder, than previous versions of Windows. The madness of having both an "Applications Data" and "Local Settings" folders is gone.

    However, I miss being able to tweak settings (file associations and right click options for example). In that, Vista is further away from Linux.

    So the choice of OS gets more difficult again :D
     
    ReggieB,
    #15
  17. 2007/04/02
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    Here come the Dell Linux desktops, laptops

    http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8436091466.html

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
    #16
  18. 2007/04/02
    Bmoore1129

    Bmoore1129 Geek Member

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    TonyT

    I've been looking...Where??:)
     
    Bmoore1129,
    #17
  19. 2007/04/02
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/nseries_nb?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
    http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/nseries?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&redirect=1
     
    TonyT,
    #18

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