What is Digg?235 Comments
- jake6730, on 12/19/2007, -12/+102This makes Ubuntu sound like it has no features, if they are advertising a PC with DVD playback capabilities in this day and age. This probably makes Ubuntu look bad, even though it's cool they have DVD playback.
- wiifm69, on 12/19/2007, -2/+52pffft legal ways
- loganm10, on 12/19/2007, -2/+41just look for and install libdvdcss2
look here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu
its not hard to enable dvd playback in ubuntu - chrisjs169, on 12/19/2007, -2/+40***** THE MPAA
- Myztry, on 12/19/2007, -3/+41Why? It's not like the Windows users can play DVD's without obtaining 3rd party codecs which anyone interested in doing so would have already discovered.
- Crath, on 12/19/2007, -4/+33Dvd playback? i'll take 5
- inotocracy, on 12/19/2007, -8/+36For your average consumer it is.
- bwolfson, on 12/19/2007, -5/+32"For graphics, it uses an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 on the motherboard. The X3100 takes its RAM from the main system memory."
::shudders:: - helloyamadotcom, on 12/19/2007, -7/+32Bravo dell! Welcome to 200-almost-8!
- sixtymhz, on 12/19/2007, -5/+28I can see this announcement being good because people will question the DVD playback (why is it a big deal?), get educated about the Open Source community, the struggles we face with patents and hopefully we will continue to recruit people in the community that have a voice.
- loganm10, on 12/19/2007, -1/+24if you want to play divx videos you have to go get the codec for that, even on Windows, I dont see how this is any different
- inactive, on 12/19/2007, -1/+21Finally.
- chicken101, on 12/19/2007, -2/+22It's because of the legality of the thing. It does not mean linux is not capable of playing dvd movies, it's just that most distros do not include the libdvdcss libraries needed to decrypt them. Linux is just as capable as any other modern operation system,
- Kr4t05, on 12/19/2007, -0/+18Disregarding all the haters who play up the fact that "most" computers would have built-in DVD playback, I think this is a good step forward for OEM-installed Linux. Even if the customer pays the licensing fees for the various media formats that are protected (IE. inhibited), it's likely to be a sight less expensive then paying for Windows.
Oh the other hand, there are still other aspects of Linux that would possibly give Joe Sixpack some trouble.
Kudos, Dell -- at least your giving customers a choice. - nouse66, on 12/19/2007, -0/+16luckily you can upgrade to a an nvidia 8400gs with 128 megs. not great but better at least...
- andycr512, on 12/19/2007, -0/+15They haven't ported their PC-strangling crapware to Linux yet. Give them time, you'll be able to enjoy your 30 free days of AOL on Linux soon enough.
- Myztry, on 12/19/2007, -0/+15The Ubuntu software repositories and the debian apt software package manager. Install from 20,000+ applications is as simple as ticking a box. And you get an alert when an update is available for any of the software. Not just the operating system stuff.
- Zoness1, on 12/19/2007, -0/+15At least someone is doing it so least people are hearing about linux.
- SQLserver, on 12/19/2007, -2/+16What's better about Ubuntu?
>>Practically no viruses versus the thousands for Windows.
>>Ubuntu is super stable and rarely crashes- crashes almost never require a reboot, but a quick right click and click 'force quit' which works every time
>>Workspaces- Ubuntu has smooth workspaces that make handling a ton of windows very easy.
>>Add/Remove Programs- There are hundreds of free Open Source and non-Open Source programs that are at your finger tips in Add/Remove Programs
>>More Control over programs- you no longer have to worry about Crapware, all programs are easy to control and remove in Ubuntu(Like it takes 5 clicks to remove any program
>>Speed- If you can copy 1 GB files, Install/Remove Programs, and browse the web all faster then in Windows at the SAME TIME you have a great combination of speed and stability
>>Security- On the whole, windows is a lot easier to hack then Linux
Installed Programs- Ubuntu comes installed with almost any program you could need, like OpenOffice, Rhythymbox, GIMP, and Pidgin.
>>Compiz Fusion- definitely the best, and most customizable graphics on any OS. Many say it looks childish, but it is extremely customizable to any preferences.
see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5OzNQ
>>More works out of the box- In Ubuntu 7.10, printers are configured automatically, wireless mouse and keyboard work better, and even some wireless cards(infamous lack of support in Linux) work completely out of the box. You don't need bogus like 'Motherboard Drivers' and you don't have to install iTunes or Creative Software or any software to connect to multimedia devices, which work almost automatically with Rhythymbox
>>Customization- You have so much more control over almost everything in Ubuntu, such as your Themes and GUI, your taskbars and stuff on them, your menus, and more.
>>Power- For the power user, linux comes with perl and python automatically installed. The Linux Command Line(bash) is far more powerful and easier to use then the Windows CMD. You have more control in general in ubuntu.
The list goes on... Great Community, updates for all the software on your system, low CPU usage, access to PC's on the Network and your partitions, etc.
All in all, Ubuntu is a REALLY great OS. The only problem desktop linux seems to have is a lack of innovative programs. I know it's not really Ubuntu's part, but We really need to see innovation combined with ease of use like 'Time Machine' or iLife' or something really spectacular. - wbeavis, on 12/19/2007, -0/+14While adding DVD playback is nice, people miss one key technical point. This feature is also missing from vanilla Windows too. Try installing XP and play a DVD through Media Player without installing your DVD software. Just vanilla Windows, vanilla dvd drivers, and vanilla Media Player. You have the exact same issue that Linux has, just the DVD manufacturer provided you with a quick solution for Windows.
- penguincentral, on 12/19/2007, -3/+16Excellent! Now I can watch all my favourite movies on a Dell Ubuntu Laptop.
I only wished that they start selling them in australia, because then i'd be all for it. Why do I and my fellow aussies have to miss out on the action? - DrDabbles, on 12/19/2007, -2/+15Yes, it would stand to reason that XP and Vista MEDIA CENTER have come with DVD codecs. Windows has not historically come with a DVD codec built in. That is the point here. So, it's not really a "Welcome to the party" thing. Thanks for playing, though.
- ShogunWarPig, on 12/19/2007, -0/+13Dugg down because thats inaccurate and your being a pompous dick.
- whappo, on 12/19/2007, -1/+13Why is it cheaper to get an Inspiron 1520 with Vista and basically the same specs as a 1420N with Linux?
- Disease, on 12/19/2007, -1/+13You can never have enough USB Ports. How else will you have an arsenal of USB Missle Launchers?
- MackPrime, on 12/19/2007, -0/+11because the "real countries" think we're still convicts.
- CondoleezzaRice, on 12/19/2007, -0/+11preinstalled trial software
- andycr512, on 12/19/2007, -0/+11You can on Linux as well. You try to play DivX, it tells you you need a codec and gives you a nice wizard to install it, though you obviously have to put your password in since you're modifying the system. Well, -almost- no keyboard use. :)
- chrisjs169, on 12/19/2007, -1/+12It's not that it can't read DVDs, it's that in the US, it's illegal to install libdvdcss on Linux. It's the movie form of music DRM
- Myztry, on 12/19/2007, -0/+10By adding a third party products like PowerDVD. Windows isn't capable of native DVD playback, except maybe the Media Center Edition.
Playing DVD's on Linux isn't new. Just the commercialization of it is. - inactive, on 12/19/2007, -0/+10How bout offering this and the N series outside the US?
:@ - muniak, on 12/19/2007, -0/+9It's linux but easy to use, and by easy to use I mean almost no terminal use for the average user; something that scares them for some reason. Their slogan is or used to be "Linux for human beings."
- jcummings1974, on 12/19/2007, -4/+13I agree inotocracy. This is part of the reason why, though Ubuntu is a great OS, I don't ever see it posing a serious threat to Windows in the consumer market. When Aunt Sally buys here laptop, she just "expects" it'll be able to play DVDs out of the box. Telling her "go to help.ubuntu.com and install package x so that you can have that functionality" is never going to be a good answer. That doesn't mean Dell shouldn't sell machines pre-loaded w/Linux - it just means that they need to know their market. I expect their target market for these systems already knew how to enable DVD playback - so this really isn't going to be that exciting for them.
- loganm10, on 12/19/2007, -0/+9I dont know where people still think this. I have installed Ubuntu on multiple computers, everything works perfect, and I dont need to use the command propmt AT ALL, as in 0% of the time
- inactive, on 12/19/2007, -1/+10Windows can't play DVDs "out of the box". Vista deliberately tries to PREVENT users playing DVDs because they might fileshare them!
MS assume that EVERY Windows user is a criminal. - Blurple, on 12/19/2007, -1/+10I never needed any command prompt. windows installs with the Blue screen then you get the gui.. ubuntu has gui 100% of the time and its easier than windows because 99.99% of all the drivers are provided . Moocow1452 you have no idea what you are talking about. if you knew ubuntu you would never say anything about slaving on a "terminal" command prompt is for windows dummy
- Megatog615, on 12/19/2007, -0/+9loganm10: Doing so is technically illegal in the United States, at the moment. Funny thing is, it's extremely hard to enforce.
- renegadeafk, on 12/19/2007, -3/+12I'd rather use the intel with linux. Yay for open source drivers!
- turbodiesel, on 12/19/2007, -0/+8Linux is becoming a bigger threat to Macs all the time.
For the " I'm fed up with Windows/Microsoft/VIsta. bugs, crashes , viruses" crowd. They can choose an $1100 laptop or an ugly $1200 all in one Mac, that they will need to learn how to use, or a $250 Walmart desktop, or a $400 subnotebook, with free software? If you want more, Dell will sell you a desktop for $600 or a laptop for $750.
For half the price, Linux competes pretty well against Macs. - LeeSoong, on 12/19/2007, -1/+9To quote the newly updated dictionary: ' w00t! '
- sirhomer, on 12/19/2007, -0/+8You could play DVDs in Linux in 1999. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogle_DVD_Player
Stop spreading FUD - CondoleezzaRice, on 12/19/2007, -0/+8for legal reasons
- andycr512, on 12/19/2007, -0/+8Exactly. Which instruction is easier?
"To install firefox, click System->Administration->Synaptic, enter your password, scroll down to firefox, click the checkbox next to it, choose install, click apply changes, confirm, wait, click done, close Synaptic."
"Copy and paste this into a terminal: sudo apt-get install firefox"
Both do the same thing. one is easier for people used to Windows, the other is easier to instruct people to do. Sadly, when you try to make things easier on people random jerks will yell "Ah-HA! YOU TOUCHED A TERMINAL!!!" -_- - KLowD9x, on 12/19/2007, -0/+8WTF are you doing on DIGG!?
- byrdgang, on 12/19/2007, -1/+9If they are adding DVD playback capabilities, doesn't that tell us they are at least making good enough of a revenue to invest more into their Ubuntu line? Sounds to me that the greater message here is that things are moving in the right direction.
- RoboDonut, on 12/19/2007, -0/+7They think this because Linux gurus give all instructions in the command line because it's convenient.
The Desktop Environment can vary between distros, but the CLI remains fairly consistent. - inactive, on 12/19/2007, -0/+7As long as you have a dvd rom, or burner, you can have dvd playback in linux/ubuntu. But, "legally" certian channels have to be followed, but if your like me you don't care, and install all restricted stuff.
- InfeImmo, on 12/19/2007, -0/+7I don't.
- PabloEscobar666, on 12/19/2007, -0/+7This in good news because in the country of the freedom it is illegal to play DVDs (even your own legal DVDs) in non-licensed machines. Dell found a way to do it legally (or probably is paying licenses for it).
- geminitojanus, on 12/19/2007, -0/+6Your average consumer can install a program (say, a video game). Thusly, your average consumer can install any software package, provided they're given some explanation of how to do it.
There are literally a million tutorials on how to install $SOFTWARE on Linux because it's perceived to be such a hard thing, when really it's not. Moreover, when you pop in a DVD or double click an MP3 in a modern version of Ubuntu, it asks you if you want to install the software required to play it (since they can't ship with it legally). Three clicks later the media player restarts and you've got full playback.
This is as easy as it can possibly get while remaining legal and sane. If that's too hard for your "average consumer" model, then you're model is of amoebas. -
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