Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've got a Dell Vostro V5510 (i7, 32GB RAM) that's been rock-solid running Ubuntu and only cost ~ $1000.
Preinstalled or you had to install Linux?
I installed it.
Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops
111–117 of 117 posts
Re: Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
My cam doesn't work on my 5 year old Inspiron either. It's one of the reasons I'm not buying the Inspiron 16 plus in this moment.
Whichever distro you use, there will be a selection of kernels to choose from. Even Arch has an elderly LTS option. Gentoo obviously offers all kernels since 0.97 (dig out egcs) including several that haven't been released and a couple that will never exist outside of a parallel reality! I've owned several Inspirons and have no issues but then I use Arch (actually). Have a look into what kernels are on offer and cons…
I've been using different kernels since 4.x up to 6.5.4 and many distros.
There are no drivers for the webcam.
Re: Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops
#113Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just talked with a Sales person yesterday. Indeed, from the new models, only the XPS 13 runs Ubuntu, but the keyboard looks like a nightmare. The sales person did send a link to a Precision with Ubuntu option, but it was 2022 model (Precision 5570). Will probably get XPS 15 and put Ubuntu on myself. Annoying to fork money over to Microsoft for nothing.
Be careful, and do your research when buying Windows XPS's. I had to send my last one (2019 I think) back because the fingerprint readers weren't supported and the Developer editions with Linux just omitted the fingerprint reader. No interest from Dell to get drivers made for them. I have no idea if there are bits on the 2023 Windows edition that aren't supported. It might all be fine.
Good point. I'm fine just doing with fingerprint reader, did you send it back because you wanted that feature, or was it causing some deeper issue?
I was thinking to go for the XPS 15 since it's rated as the best overall Linux laptop in 2023 by Zdnet[1] and xda-developers[2].
[1] https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-linux-laptop/ [2] https://www.xda-developers.com/best-laptops-linux/
Re: Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
Be careful, and do your research when buying Windows XPS's. I had to send my last one (2019 I think) back because the fingerprint readers weren't supported and the Developer editions with Linux just omitted the fingerprint reader. No interest from Dell to get drivers made for them. I have no idea if there are bits on the 2023 Windows edition that aren't supported. It might all be fine.
Good point. I'm fine just doing with fingerprint reader, did you send it back because you wanted that feature, or was it causing some deeper issue? I was thinking to go for the XPS 15 since it's rated as the best overall Linux laptop in 2023 by Zdnet[1] and xda-developers[2]. [1] https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-linux-laptop/ [2] https://www.xda-developers.com/best-laptops-linux/
I sent it back because I wanted the fingerprint reader, and I also found the keyboard didn't have enough travel.
I went back to Lenovo and their fingerprint reader worked fine, including being mainlined by Lenovo.
If you don't care about that, then go for it.
Re: Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops
#115Writing this from a Dell XPS 9343 from 2015 running Fedora. It still works, still does what I need it to do. Only real downside is that the battery life is about 4 hours, but I've basically had it in permanently docked desktop replacement mode for 11/12 months of the year, so, not really an issue.
Honestly, my biggest concern is that I only reboot it about once a month to do updates, so, I do worry that, like an old server that has been kept on for 10+ years, it will be one of those reboots that finally kills it.
Re: Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops
#116The camera doesn't work on the current XPS13 if you upgrade to a 6.X kernel (which, to be fair, means moving outside of Dell's packaging.) Technically this is Intel's fault, as they haven't released firmware for it yet. Still, hopefully the Dell team avoid similar issues in future configs by ensuring better driver support. It's a nice laptop otherwise.
Huh. I wondered why there was an extra 20 second boot time after last restarting my XPS 13 for updates. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.
[ 39.112819] Freezing user space processes
[ 43.053644] usb 1-5: Found UVC 1.00 device Integrated_Webcam_HD (0bda:5682)
[ 48.173464] usb 1-5: Failed to query (GET_INFO) UVC control 2 on unit 2: -110 (exp. 1).
[ 53.293290] usb 1-5: Failed to query (GET_INFO) UVC control 3 on unit 2: -110 (exp. 1).
[ 58.413471] usb 1-5: Failed to query (GET_INFO) UVC control 6 on unit 2: -110 (exp. 1).
[ 59.114437] Freezing user space processes failed after 20.001 seconds (1 tasks refusing to freeze, wq_busy=0):Re: Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops
#117Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also, having looked at their lineup recently, the number of Ubuntu laptops they offer really seems to have gone down
Just talked with a Sales person yesterday. Indeed, from the new models, only the XPS 13 runs Ubuntu, but the keyboard looks like a nightmare. The sales person did send a link to a Precision with Ubuntu option, but it was 2022 model (Precision 5570). Will probably get XPS 15 and put Ubuntu on myself. Annoying to fork money over to Microsoft for nothing.
Talked with Sales:
- first salesperson said: "We are anticipating the Newer XPS 15 laptops to be launched by Dec last week or by Mid Jan that comes with 14th Gen Processors and preinstalled Ubuntu OS on them".
- Second salesperson said they don't have an ETA yet.
- Third salesperson said "The product development is working on these 2 models, we are soon expecting them to launch in next 3 to 4 weeks [Nov 13-20] but the exact date of launch has not be shared with us ... the Precision models will have these options [Ubuntu] ... the XPS 15 will not have the Ubuntu options".
- Fourth salesperson said "by early 2025".
- Fifth salesperson said "we don't have a date"
- Sixth salesperson said "we dont have eccurate date, you may see it XPS laptop with 14th gen chip in the end of December ... and it may not come with unibuntu option ... You will see Precision laptops with Ubuntu option"
Oh and they do have a Precision from 2023 pre-installed with Ubuntu[1], somehow wasn't visible before.
Dell sales and support is pretty, so have to ask multiple times.
[1] https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/precision-3581-...