Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops • Hacker News Board

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#91

Post by Ralith » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 10:45 PM UTC

fbuilesv wrote: post #14

dkhenry wrote: post #5

Why can't I just get any computer with no operating system installed whatsoever. This isn't rocket science here, just format the hard drive and give me the computer. Then subtract the money you pay Microsoft for the windows license. If there is some contractual obligation Dell has with Microsoft to not do this then we need to start considering another round of antitrust proceedings.

I don't know what the current situation is for Dell, but a couple of years ago I worked at a company that sold laptops like this, mostly targeted towards businesses but ocasionally catering to regular users. The moment they saw a cheaper option of the same laptop (no OS pre-installed) they went for that and then came bitching the same day that their computer wouldn't boot. I imagine Dell must suffer from the same pro…

So put it behind a big scary warning, maybe even in a different section of the site.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#92

Post by Ralith » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 10:47 PM UTC

pjmlp wrote: post #73

dkhenry wrote: post #5

Why can't I just get any computer with no operating system installed whatsoever. This isn't rocket science here, just format the hard drive and give me the computer. Then subtract the money you pay Microsoft for the windows license. If there is some contractual obligation Dell has with Microsoft to not do this then we need to start considering another round of antitrust proceedings.

> 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.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#93

Post by Ralith » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 10:49 PM UTC

cdmckay wrote: post #87

tikhonj wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the mbp pretty annoying for Linux? That's what I've heard, at the very least, and some of my friends have had trouble (at least on slightly older mbps--certainly not the new high-res versions).

Right, but I think OS X is unix-y enough for most people.

Why do you think that? It lacks most of the killer features.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#94

Post by Ralith » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 10:51 PM UTC

sbi wrote: post #36

What is the battery life going to be like? I grudgingly installed Windows 7 on my (Lenovo) laptop after using Unix exclusively for 15 years simply because the battery lasts twice as long on Windows. For what it's worth, I bought a Dell Inspiron Mini 10v with Ubuntu Hardy preinstalled 2.5 years ago. It didn't suspend/resume properly and video out was flaky. It died after two years of use (with strange electrical probl…

I run Arch on my 9-cell-equipped T430 and get ~8 hours with wifi, reasonable screen brightness, and light load. That's very close to the advertised life.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#95

Post by Ralith » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 10:53 PM UTC

Kjeldahl wrote: post #25

Good luck with that Dell. 1366x768 resolution and Sandy Bridge chipset (Intel HD3000), launching soon? It doesn't become a developer laptop just because you've decided to call it that. You need a high DPI screen, and today it also needs Ivy Bridge with Intel HD4000 (or better).

You expect it to have the absolute latest class of CPU, launched only a month ago, or better? Just what do you have in mind?

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#96

Post by Ralith » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 10:53 PM UTC

sigkill wrote: post #68

nubela wrote: post #46

1080p screen on a 13" lcd and you got me. god. i'm a programmer and i like my fonts crisp.

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.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#97

Post by Tichy » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 11:00 PM UTC

tikhonj wrote: post #53

andrewvc wrote: post #2

The problem I have here is price. This just doesn't undercut an mbp, and it would have to to get me to buy it

Isn't the mbp pretty annoying for Linux? That's what I've heard, at the very least, and some of my friends have had trouble (at least on slightly older mbps--certainly not the new high-res versions).

Used to be the trackpad didn't work properly, but I think in the latest version of Ubuntu it might be fixed. Haven't tried it yet, though, only saw things in the "what's new" text that made me think they probably fixed it.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#98

Post by tikhonj » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 11:14 PM UTC

rch wrote: post #85

tikhonj wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Sony Vaio Z-series. I really like it, but it's rather expensive. Also, it comes with a weird dock thing that has an external graphics card. Ideally, you would plug this in and have better graphics processing when you're at home. I haven't been able to get this to work on Linux. However, I haven't been able to get it to work on Windows 8 either :/. So for me, the whole dock thing is just an overpriced externa…

The X1 does look nice, and it would be great to ditch the aluminum without settling for cheap-feeling plastic. My old Sharp MM10 had a magnesium alloy case... I still miss that one.

The Vaio Z-series is also made partially from carbon fiber. Mine also has the same resolution (1600x900) in a 13" screen.

That said, if the X1 carbon was out when I was buying my laptop, I'd probably have gone for it. The low resolution of the old X1 was what really turned me off. Also, I think a 14" screen is a better compromise than 13" between portability and convenience.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#99

Post by trucmuche » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 11:50 PM UTC

Tichy wrote: post #97

tikhonj wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the mbp pretty annoying for Linux? That's what I've heard, at the very least, and some of my friends have had trouble (at least on slightly older mbps--certainly not the new high-res versions).

Used to be the trackpad didn't work properly, but I think in the latest version of Ubuntu it might be fixed. Haven't tried it yet, though, only saw things in the "what's new" text that made me think they probably fixed it.

I installed Ubuntu 12.04 without problems on my 2010 Macbook Air (with an external DVD drive). It works well and I am happy with it.

There is a minor problem where the trackpad sometimes thinks I'm double-clicking after the laptop comes out of sleep, but that's being worked on. It rarely happens, and when it does, logout+login fixes the problem. That's pretty much the only quibble I have.

Re: Ubuntu is coming back to Dell Laptops

#100

Post by jlarocco » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 11:52 PM UTC

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…

That's been possible for a long time on Dell laptops.

I've had 3 Dell laptops running Linux and I've never had a problem. Recently I've been using Mint, but before that I used Debian and before that Slackware. The biggest problem I ever had is that some of the wireless drivers had to be installed via module-assistant, which is annoying. Also, I couldn't get accelerated OpenGL on one of them, but that was due to an ancient video card that was unsupported even on Windows at that point.

I will admit they were second hand laptops, so maybe the bugs were worked out in the time between their being released and my buying them.