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Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

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Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#121

Post by truncate »

acabal wrote: post #3

This is a good idea in theory but potentially bad in execution. What I'd like (and I suspect many other developers would too) is a nice laptop that I can install Linux on, and have it Just Work. What it looks like Dell is providing is a nice laptop, but with a custom build of Ubuntu installed. If Dell's Windows installs are any indication, that means it's going to be loaded with crapware or custom non-OSS drivers. Th…

Though most laptops I tried worked out of box with Ubuntu, I still agree that there are lot of work that can be done for drivers. I recently got my sister a laptop. She is non-tech but is perfectly comfortable with Ubuntu. The only problem she faced was with driver for the 3G USB data card she had. I'm hopeful if laptop vendors push Linux, it will solve such little issues with time too.

One thing that always bothered me is that its has always been hard to get a decent laptop without Windows. I hate paying for Windows which I had no use of, and got that removed as soon as I bought laptops. Even if I may not use Dell's install of Ubuntu and replace it with my own choice of distribution, I wouldn't mind them shipping Ubuntu, as overall I'm hopeful this would push hardware vendors to get more serious about Linux drivers overall.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#122

Post by mistercow »

porter wrote: post #86

I just got my system76 laptop today with Ubuntu pre-loaded. Nothing like opening the box, turning on your new laptop, and just having it all work. Can't beat the prices either.

I've been pretty happy with mine too, although it does freeze and require restarting a bit more often than my old MacBook. Then again, the reboot process takes less than 20 seconds, so I can't complain all that much.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#123

Post by jamespcole2 »

joezydeco wrote: post #50
user49598 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The majority of new laptops work out of the box with ubuntu 12.04. The driver complaint, while still fair in many cases, is not nearly as relevant as it used to be. Peripherals can be tough, but built-in hardware has come a long way. Also, IMHO, weather dell is doing exactly what you want or not, they are continuing to support freedom of choice, freedom of software, and the hacker community in general. I commend them…

So, and I'm honestly curious here because I'm in the market, what is the best Linux laptop out there? I hear people swoon over a particular Lenovo/Thinkpad model, but have no idea which one it is.

I have a System76 Lemur UltraThin it came with 11.04 pre-installed(I'm now running 12.04) and it runs like a dream

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#124

Post by ekianjo »

joezydeco wrote: post #50
user49598 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The majority of new laptops work out of the box with ubuntu 12.04. The driver complaint, while still fair in many cases, is not nearly as relevant as it used to be. Peripherals can be tough, but built-in hardware has come a long way. Also, IMHO, weather dell is doing exactly what you want or not, they are continuing to support freedom of choice, freedom of software, and the hacker community in general. I commend them…

So, and I'm honestly curious here because I'm in the market, what is the best Linux laptop out there? I hear people swoon over a particular Lenovo/Thinkpad model, but have no idea which one it is.

HP Touchsmart tm2 here, and not everything works well. It has hybrid graphics (Intel chip for low power, and ATI for more graphically hungry applications) and Ubuntu 12.04 still cannot make any use of the ATI card. Worse, the ATI card is powered together with the Intel GPU at start, making the battery run out very fast and the laptop overheat.

This can be fixed with vga switcheroo, but it's really not an optimal solution. Net, avoid hybrid graphics laptops, usually they don't work well with Linux.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#125

Post by slowpoke »

user49598 wrote: post #41
dfrey wrote: post #33

When Dell sold Linux laptops before, the problem was always that they treated the Linux version and the Windows version as a separate SKU. So you were buying the Dell Latitude 4100 Linux version or the Dell Latitude 4100 Windows version. You couldn't just go to the Dell Latitude 4100 web page and select Windows or Linux from the Operating System drop-down menu. The regular price of the Windows version would be $1000…

Bummer, but not a problem. They are different products targeting different markets. You don't want users being able to switch between windows or linux pre-installed via a simple interface. You want them to know exactly what they're doing. (Or in case they don't know what they're doing, you want them to buy windows) Dell also needs to be able to promote their laptops using features of the OS, or software that comes wi…

>Plus, if you're a linux guy, and the windows version is cheaper, just buy that and get the ubuntu image or drivers from dell support.

This is not an option if you are opposed to the Windows Tax on principle. I am extremely uncomfortable with artificially boosting Windows sales and indirectly supporting a monopoly.

And no, this by no means not a monopoly. Windows comes preinstalled on the overwhelming majority of computers today, and most of the time, there is no way around that. Most manufacturers even deny refunds, even when they are required to do so by law ("whatcha gonna do, sue us?").

For the record, I've been having "fun" with Lenovo trying to get my rightly deserved refund. I'm actually not adverse to taking this to court, but I'm a student and not exactly rich, so I don't know if I could afford that.

It's my firm opinion that forced bundling should be outright illegal, and it somewhat already is. There's a consumer protection directive from the EU that forbids "agressive or unfair practices", which this most certainly falls under.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#126

Post by pjmlp »

Ralith wrote: post #92
pjmlp wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why can't I just get any computer with no operating system installed whatsoever. This is illegal in many countries, as a computer isn't bootable in that situation.

Citation? I buy all sorts of things that don't do anything until you configure/assemble/connect them.

I heard already several times that if you sell a full PC, then it was to be working when it is bought.

Computer parts are not full PCs.

I'll check if I can find any example.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#127

Post by pjmlp »

rosstafarian wrote: post #111
Ralith wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Citation? I buy all sorts of things that don't do anything until you configure/assemble/connect them.

yeah what about something like the raspberry pi that doesnt even have built in storage?

Those are not full PCs you buy in a consumer shop.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#129

Post by sigkill »

Ralith wrote: post #96
sigkill wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then the Zenbook Prime is definitely for you sir.

He's a programmer. I think he wants his keyboard to be not completely crap, too.

The reviews say that the Prime has a pretty good keyboard.

I'm so tempted to buy this one, but I decided to skip this and wait for Haswell instead. I'm reasonably sure I can pull my Core 2 Duo/Penryn for another year.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#130

Post by SeppoErviala »

scarmig wrote: post #54
joezydeco wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, and I'm honestly curious here because I'm in the market, what is the best Linux laptop out there? I hear people swoon over a particular Lenovo/Thinkpad model, but have no idea which one it is.

Right now I'm on an x220. IIR I had some acpi driver issue--in fact, had to manually white list my model in it--and power management is mediocre, even with powertop. But it gets the job done decently enough.

I have x220i and I needed to fix mic mute button [1] and add a power management script [2] for saving power while on battery. I still get some graphics corruption with gpu accelerated chrome but it's not too common and I can live with it.

It would be nice if Lenovo or Dell would check how well their laptops (or even some model) worked with linux and tried to get this kind of stuff as default on major distros.

[1] http://askubuntu.com/questions/125367/enabling-mic-mute-butt... [2] http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic/11954

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