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Dell - Technical details of Ubuntu offerings

direct2dell.com — "Before we announce the availability of Ubuntu 7.04 on select Dell client systems, I'd like to give an overview of what customers can expect from our initial Ubuntu offering."

Who dugg this? Made popular May 22, 2007

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  • Vinvin, on 10/11/2007, -0/+62"For hardware options not offered with this release, we are working with the vendors of those devices to improve the maturity and stability of their associated Linux drivers. While this may not happen overnight, we do expect to have a broader range of hardware support with Linux over time."

    That is really awesome and one of the main reason I'm so enthusiastic about this deal.

    "At this time, we are not including any support for proprietary audio or video codecs that are not already distributed with Ubuntu 7.04. These include MPEG 1/2/3/4, WMA, WMV, DVD, Quicktime, etc. We are evaluating options for providing this support in the future."

    That doesn't matter that much as they use Ubuntu Feisty which makes their installation way easier, but if they would be providing this support in the future that would be even better!
  • marnaq, on 10/11/2007, -3/+46Most important point left out: Price compared to Windows version.
  • GMorgan, on 10/11/2007, -0/+40That was always the obvious main benefit. If Dell sticks it out 99% of hardware will work well with Linux.
  • Dhalgren, on 10/11/2007, -0/+39Maybe they can put a fire under ATI's butt...
  • arbulus, on 10/11/2007, -1/+34@josh1413
    Automatix will never come with Ubuntu because it does screwy things to the system. Ubuntu would probably be all about Automatix if it integrated with the system well, but it doesn't. If it doesn't break your system, just wait till you decide to upgrade to the next Ubuntu version, then it will.

    There is nothing in Automatix that Ubuntu can't already do by default. Especially with Feisty, all of the codec and driver assistance that Automatix gives you is built right into Feisty and easly used. Add/Remove Programs, Synaptic Package Manager, Restricted Driver Manager, automatic codec downloads: Feisty has all of these tools built right in, you don't need another third part app that's just going to rip your system in half.
  • Cbeck527, on 10/11/2007, -0/+32I didn't reall care about the deal until now... better drivers for everyone!
    Yay Dell!!
  • coredump0x01, on 10/11/2007, -0/+28And Broadcom. I'm dreaming of the day when I can say bu-bye to ndiswrapper forever.
  • thcobbs, on 10/11/2007, -0/+25So, they are basically following the ubuntu playbook... Use open source where you can, but don't add anything like MPEG/WMV/MP3
  • Spr0k3t, on 10/11/2007, -2/+24Automatix + Feisty == Redundant
  • Spr0k3t, on 10/11/2007, -1/+23@brundlfly76
    "The thing that frustrates me about Ubuntu is that it only installs the KDE graphical package manager by default, but anyone who uses Ubuntu will be completely clueless about how to install most software unless they understand apt-get, install Synaptic, and even then they need AutomatiX for some important stuff and yes it can ***** up your system."

    I'm sure I'm not the first to say this: what the hell are you smoking? Ubuntu = Gnome, Kubuntu = KDE. To install software for most new-to-linux users... go to the menu "Applications"... Oh look, "Add/Remove..." duh. For Kubuntu, click on that thing that looks like it might be the "start menu"... and holy crap "Add/Remove Programs" Thank you once again Dr. Obvious. I suppose next time you may want to at least look up a few screen shots on TCS before sounding like an idiot.
  • idonthack, on 10/11/2007, -0/+19apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
  • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -1/+19All this is well and good... but I want to know if the keyboards they ship are still going to have that damn MS Windows logo key on them :) I had to sand mine off and write "Meta" on it with a white-out pen!
  • underthelinux, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16Doesn't installing VLC fix all codec issues (expcet RM files)? I've always had 0 problem with codec installs, that i can remember. But that's cause VLC is something i generally install first.
  • TheTankengine, on 10/11/2007, -0/+16sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
    After you restart X (either alt-ctrl-backspace or just logout) choose KDE session and set it to default.

    Just to clarify, GNOME and KDE are desktop environments (DEs), not window managers.
  • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15"Are they going to preinstall Firefox or not?"

    Unless I'm sorely mistaken, Ubuntu ships with Firefox. Which means Dell would have to specifically uninstall the browser if they didn't want to ship it.
  • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15I'm incredibly happy Dell decided to do this, but I can't even *imagine* how the guys who started the Ubuntu project are feeling right now. If they were nearby, I'd grab a couple six-packs and head over! Way to go, Ubuntu team.
  • kazamx, on 10/11/2007, -2/+16They can watch DVD's

    First time you try to open an unsupported piece of media (mp3, AVI etc) a pop up says "Need codec, want me to get it? yes/no. Hit yes
    3 choices of codec package come up, take all 3
    Now everything works
    with 4 clicks its all done (or just get VLC)
  • inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13I agree with the above about the Broadcom drivers. Those ***** will have to make some linux drivers for their wireless cards if they expect dell to keep them. And if not, im sure dell can go with someone else FTW!
  • mscman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12@idonthack:
    you forgot "sudo" ;) while you probably know this, there are many others (i.e. people who may choose this option from Dell b/c it's cheaper) that do not.
  • GMorgan, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11Ubuntu 6??

    Do you mean 6.06 or 6.10. They are different releases. There are some major architectural changes between them, specifically 6.10 was the first to use upstart.
  • Phocion55, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11It's not my favorite distro either. But the community and turn-key solution aspects of Ubuntu dragged me in and convinced me to take another look. And I'm glad I did.

    Now I'm 50/50 Gentoo/Ubuntu at home, and looking to participate in some Ubuntu initatives between work and grad school. If I find the time.
  • MadOgre, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9More Linux drivers... stable ones at that... Digg.
  • bigfatdummy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9So many slam Dell but I have nearly 100 Dell computers at my office and in the 5 years I have been using Dell I have had problems with 3 systems. (2 notebooks, 1 desktop) If Dell totally embraces this, it will allow more people to move to Linux.
  • arbulus, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10I don't get it.
  • chrisc262, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8if dell sells computers with linux, then they will eventually force their hardware vendors to make linux compatible drivers
  • arbulus, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11@kazamx. Something about your comment felt like playing in a mudd:

    You are in a room with 4 walls and a box. The box gives you 3 choices.
    What do you choose?

    >take gstreamer

    You take gstreamer. A large goblin has appeared. What will you do?

    >use ClamAV

    ClamAV is useless. Goblins kicks you.

    >sudo rm -R /troll

    Goblin is dead.
  • Numfar28, on 10/11/2007, -4/+12It will? Don't most people watch DVDs on their TVs with DVD players nowadays? I don't really think it's that big a deal...
  • ronin691, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8Note how Microsoft is secretly seeding the media outlets that they advertise on with disinformation about Linux ( from http://slated.org/node/31 ):

    "Open source is not a movement; it's a religion. It is a set of principles and practices that let everyone share non-existent or semi-existent intellectual property. Remember the Communist Manifesto: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." It is this generation's Woodstock."

    [ The above was ] written by Howard Anderson Framingham, who is: "the senior managing director of Yankeetek, a Cambridge, Mass., venture incubator. He is also founder of The Yankee Group and the William Porter Distinguished Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."

    source: http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2007/051007anderson.html

  • williamtl, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7"For hardware options not offered with this release, we are working with the vendors of those devices to improve the maturity and stability of their associated Linux drivers. While this may not happen overnight, we do expect to have a broader range of hardware support with Linux over time."

    Halliluja :o)
  • underthelinux, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7... and bcm43xx-fwcutter. I was glad to see that ndiswrapper recognized my card w/ Feisty, but i still had to use bcm43xx-fwcutter to get it to work.
  • astrotrain, on 10/11/2007, -3/+10"We recommend Linux users buy Dell printers that have PostScript engines in them."

    Oh here we go.. simply put, don't buy Dell printers unless you are ready to rely on them specifically for your
    ink and want to pay for shipping and handling of your ink. Not to mention their printers break about 90 days
    out of the box (they are Dellified HPs and Lexmark printers).

    Dellified - Dells way of taking an already on the market product, making adjustments to it, and then ruininng it
    just to have its name on it to sell to the consumer.
  • filefly, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6But does it run Linux?
  • Schpariel, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7"gafasiesornivek"

    I see what you did there....
  • saturn5, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6"If Dell sticks it out 99% of hardware will work well with Linux"

    That's pretty funny. Read the comments on any of the Windows bashing stories in the Linux/Unix section. Everyone says Linux has better hardware support than Vista or even XP - "Vista didn't have drivers for my XYZ device, but Ubutnu did!". Now Dell and Ubutnu will rule the world because Linux will finally have drivers. WTF?
  • TheTankengine, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6"The default software from the Ubuntu media will be installed on the system, including kernel and applications."

    You can download the same .iso from http://www.ubuntu.com as you will get from Dell.
  • bigtomrodney, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6The main point was that they were post script. That means supporting them is straighforward and not dependent on them using a custom driver. Any good printer should have a post script engine anyway.
  • zmigliozzi, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5I use to hate DELL and their ways, but now since they are doing ubuntu, with support... Clutch, Dell is my new favorite computer company. I don't see why they just use canonical, they are the support and funding group for the ubuntu project.
  • VinceNoir, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6Hard to say if there will be much of a price difference. But that's not the only reason to run Linux now, is it? The main reason most folks would be interested in Linux, if they are actually aware of what it is, would be an acceptable alternative to the really shoddy products that Microsoft and the Windows based software industry release. The quality is considerably higher on most Linux distros, but Ubuntu has excelled in this arena. They are about as close as you can get to Mac OS on the non-Apple hardware platform. Vista is somewhat of an improvement but brings with it, it's own set of headaches. Ubuntu is just easier to use out of the box and comes with nearly every application that the average user would need. Note, that when I say application, I'm not talking specific "brand name" software, I'm talking in the generic sense: word processor, spreadsheet, mail client, etc...

    I've been a Linux user for ten years now and I can say it's saved me a TON of money. Mainly because every application I've needed is available for Linux and it's free. Add to that the fact that I enjoy working with computers and it's time well spent. Not to mention that after the first four years of using it, everything got much easier and I can actually do far more in Linux than I ever could in Windows. One of the greatest things about Linux is that it can allow non-programmers (like me) to actually build custom solutions by simply using scripts and existing tools. Windows doesn't have anything like that. Maybe after another half a decade, Power Shell for Vista will eventually allow that sort of thing. But there's also a difference in cultures. People who use Windows want fast, out of the box solutions. People who use Linux don't want to be boxed in. Even among Linux distros, this is true. If you peruse the Gentoo forums vs. the RedHat forums, you'll find that the Gentoo folks are far more knowledgeable. The Ubuntu forums tend to be filled with people who don't understand much more than Joe Windows User. Which is OK... There SHOULD be options for each segment of the user population with the understanding that the easier something is to use, the more restrictive it will be when you want to customize. And the harder something is to use, the more flexible it will be when you want to customize. Along those lines, MS would do itself a great service if it made a Windows distro for hardcore gearheads who aren't programmers.
  • Theli, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5"For hardware options not offered with this release, we are working with the vendors of those devices to improve the maturity and stability of their associated Linux drivers. While this may not happen overnight, we do expect to have a broader range of hardware support with Linux over time."

    Please, please, please, please... let it be Creative Labs and X-Fi.
  • drewskyjones, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Does anyone know if Kubuntu will be an option? If not, could you just install the KDE packages and set KDE as the default window manager? Would that be problematic in any way? I've used both Gnome and KDE, but I've never changed the window manager after install.
  • GMorgan, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Suspect that long term Dell will look at CnR for codec options. Ubuntu can use the codec installer because they are not American based. Long term Dell cannot get away with including it (since it would enable IP infringement). At some point they will likely use a modified Ubuntu that replaces that functionality with CnR and Fluendo.
  • thtroyer, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Really, just download the Ubuntu liveCD and give it a try. Dell isn't going to do anything 'special' with Ubuntu to make it work on previous models, they are tweaking their models to be more compliant to Linux (and they are supporting driver development that will benefit the entire Linux community).

    Ubuntu works great on my (~6 month) Dell e1505. I have to download and install the Nvidia driver, but that's all. Really, pop in the cd, reboot, and see what works and what doesn't (wifi is my only concern), and if/when you're ready, you can use the same cd to partition and install it to your hard drive.
  • cactuswhack, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Will I be able to download an ISO off their website which will just work on my 12-month old e1505 Centrino Duo? I've seen the howto's for my model, but I'd like something that just works with the hardware, no hunting down anything.
  • VinceNoir, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I've said it before and I'll say it again. Pricing should not be the prime consideration for considering a move to a Linux distro. It's a factor, sure. But it's not the most important reason. I'd say the more important reasons are to avoid the crap software that exists in the Windows world. It's more about choice.
  • ThreeDee912, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Duh.
  • eteepell, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5"So, they are basically following the ubuntu playbook... Use open source where you can, but don't add anything like MPEG/WMV/MP3"

    Just the way it should be. If marketshare increased WMV and RA might be preempted by OGG (dare to dream).
  • coredump0x01, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3"bcm43xx-fwcutter"
    I didn't even have that luxury, I have one of those stupid BCM4318 "Airforce One" cards :(
  • oobuntu, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3i'd like to see support for scanners for a start
  • cojerk, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3@arbulus

    Reverse his name
  • daradib, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4@brundlefly76

    Ubuntu ships with Firefox and Synaptic by default. Kubuntu is another story, it ships with Konqueror and Adept.
    You have a point when you say there is a limited list of software (I don't know your definition of limited, but I don't consider it limited) since only the main (Canonical-supported open source software) and restricted (proprietary drivers for devices) repositories are enabled by default. To enable the "universe" (community-maintained open source software) and "multiverse" (software restricted by copyright or legal issues) repositories, you can check off two boxes next to Community-maintained open source software and Software restricted by copyright or legal issues in software sources or uncomment two lines in sources.list. Firefox, Synaptic, Konqueror, and Adept are all in the main repository (duh).
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