What is Digg?86 Comments
- TheWindBlows, on 05/09/2008, -7/+28They removed restricted items out of ubuntu meaning good luck doing everyday task easily...
Though this is a good step forward but it may be a bit too radical to work nicely.
Pretty much Ubuntu without Media abilities. - FreeDeb, on 05/09/2008, -6/+19Finally! I think pre-installed is pretty clutch for the uninitiated. Not that it's actually so hard, but I think it's a mental barrier.
- Hellman109, on 05/09/2008, -7/+20Yes by putting on Windows you add heaps of cost to making a laptop...
Now all you need to do is put your head in the sand and believe that Dell/Sony/HP/etc. put on trial versions from Symantec/Microsoft/trend etc. because they think you might like them, not because they are PAID to put them there.
Most Pcs sold the OS cost is offset by the 'bundle our software and we'll pay you' revenue. - SealandRes1, on 05/09/2008, -2/+14I thought ubuntu (through Dell) was already free?
- et3rnalnigh7, on 05/09/2008, -2/+14Anyone else think the title implied that Microsoft was committing tax invasion?
- shanesemler, on 05/09/2008, -4/+15I'm all for Linux getting wider acceptance but who is going to buy a computer with a pointless distro like gNewSense pre-installed? Three maybe 4 people?
- mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -1/+12The Intel Graphics driver provided has a completely open source driver, unlike the wireless adapter they provide.
- mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -1/+11The intel wireless adapter wont work without propietary firmware, ie Los Alamos are providing it themselves, using gNewSense is a marketing tactic to make it appear more free than a dell, when infact the Dell M1330 is pretty much all the same hardware, see my post further down the page.
- mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -3/+13This laptop uses the Intel 4965AGN minipci wifi adapter, which although has an open source driver, the driver will not work without a non free binary firmware blob, which gNewSense doesn't provide. Therefore Los Alamos are providing this binary blob themselves negating the point in using gNewSense in the first place. You could safely load ubuntu onto this knowing that it is no more free than gNewSense.
Basically this is a sham which uses gNewSense as a gimmick to make it appear as if its the first completely free laptop (excluding bios) when infact it is no more free than a Dell M1330 with ubuntu installed.
Shenanigans! - JQP123, on 05/09/2008, -0/+8Perhaps true but it side steps the point that cost may not be a valid reason for switching.
- DickBreath, on 05/09/2008, -0/+8@scbysnx
> the operating system is free... thats what it said.. what are you talking about you nutter?
He's talking about Free. As in Freedom. Not "free" as in free pizza. gNewSense is Free as in Freedom. If they put in binary firmware without source code to that firmware, then it is no longer Free as you don't have 100% of the source code. - mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -2/+10The whole point of using gNewSense is that it doesn't provide non free firmware, therefore using gNewSense implies it is. Which is in my mind misinformation.
- inactive, on 05/09/2008, -2/+9If you wanted to do that, why buy it from Los Alamos Computers in the first place?
- lightningjim, on 05/09/2008, -1/+8Right...
- EricG, on 05/09/2008, -4/+11don't forget no restricted drivers either .. so you can probably kiss compiz 3d desktop goodbye too..
- inactive, on 05/09/2008, -1/+8Lenovo on the other hand rocks. Thinkpad T61 pre loaded with Linux is the perfect machine for me.
- SealandRes1, on 05/09/2008, -2/+9If more people switch to linux, I am sure many trial version software pre-loaded on windows computers will also make the switch to linux.
- mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -2/+8If you don't understand the concepts there is no point in explaining, anyway the specification which I was referring to has now been updated and corrected due to my comments, so I must have had a point.
- mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -4/+10If you're gonna digg me down prove me wrong
- MMaster23, on 05/09/2008, -5/+11Yay! The 1 billionth Linux distro on the planet .. Tell me .. how is this different from the 999,999,999 other distro's ?
And why is this frontpage news? Pick one distro and stay with it ffs. - mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -0/+5The specification page has now been updated to state that they wont be including the Intel 4965AGN and will provide an unspecified PCMCIA alternative, It seems that it was just a mistake on their specification page. Although they do not specify that PCMCIA card I have faith that it will have a completely free driver for whichever chipset it uses.
- pyrates, on 05/09/2008, -0/+5and in doing price checks, the same laptop costs more to not come with windows then if it just came with windows.
http://laclinux.com/gnu/Laptop
http://www.superwarehouse.com/Lenovo_ThinkPad_T61_ ...
Why should I buy this again? I can easily just install Ubuntu on there. - calcnerd256, on 05/09/2008, -12/+17When Joshua Gay asks you to Digg something, you do it.
- Megatog615, on 05/09/2008, -4/+8Who said you can't just install Ubuntu and remove gNewSense?
- CarzorStelatis, on 05/09/2008, -0/+4I wouldn't have expected a respected organisation like the FSF to make such a basic mistake as to confuse evasion and avoidance.
Evasion: illegally concealing the fact that one has not paid a tax one is liable to pay. Avoidance: taking steps to ensure that one does not become liable for a particular tax, or minimising one's liability.
What they're talking about (buying a system with Linux preinstalled to avoid paying for a Microsoft OS you aren't going to use) is the latter, and again I'm astounded that the FSF would make such a basic mistake. - mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -10/+14Beware No-one buy one of these!
Using gNewSense is a marketing tactic to make it appear as if all the hardware is completely free with no proprietary firmware needed, when infact the Intel 4965AGN minipci wifi adapter will not work without proprietary firmware. So if it works out of the box then Los Alamos provides the firmware the guys at gNewSense strip out. This is infact almost entirely the same hardware as a Dell M1330 with Ubuntu, except this uses the dirty tactic of pretending its completely free, when it isn't! - mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -0/+4That page has been updated as a result of my comment. Notice the ambiguity of which PCMCIA they provide.
- reginaldino, on 05/09/2008, -3/+6gNewSense? Oh dear. They could have chosen something a lot more appropriate.
- Kratos76, on 05/10/2008, -0/+3pcmcia replacement though?!! Seriously, who wants one of those old things sticking out of the side, to break off... This is less than ideal. I see the point of free, but seriously.
- djbon2112, on 05/09/2008, -1/+4Not really. I'm personally interested in seeing Linux as an alternative to Windows on mainstream PCs. I'm not obsessed with making it 100% FOSS. I like what Dell is doing better, if only they'd give it more of a push!
- makosharkattack, on 05/09/2008, -7/+10Awesome news!
- crownedgriffin, on 05/09/2008, -4/+7gNewSense? Oh good. The distro built on dreams instead of reality. The dream is nice and all, but I like my computers with working video drivers, music and video playback support, and flash.
- johnsu01, on 05/09/2008, -6/+8Almost. The kernel that Ubuntu distributes has proprietary firmware in it, to make certain hardware drivers work. There are some other issues as well but that's the main one.
- freaktech, on 05/09/2008, -2/+4If you will read actually it says that the intel 4985AGN NIC is removed from the gNewSense systems and a PCMIA replaces it.
Networking
* Networking: Network adapter
* Wireless LAN Supported: Yes
(by PCMCIA card only in gNewSense systems)
* Wireless NIC: Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
(removed from gNewSense systems) - mickstephenson, on 05/09/2008, -3/+5this isn't free as in freedom either see my other posts, this is worse because it is a scam
- kiput, on 05/09/2008, -2/+4Free as in price, but not completely free as in freedom.
- daradib, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2But if some people did not compromise for a mix of proprietary and free software, we would never have a GNU/Linux system. It is thanks to the GNU Project and the Linux kernel that we can have a free operating system (though I should not leave out the BSD's and OpenSolaris).
- inactive, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2wrong reply
- ninetimes, on 05/09/2008, -3/+5My first thought. What kind of marketing genius came up with that name? "New sense" sounds like "nuisance", when said out loud, so how is that a good name for a product (Linux) that has gotten a bad reputation for being difficult to deal with?
(Note that I'm not saying it's difficult to deal with. I'm saying that, because of historical difficulties, it has gotten a reputation for being difficult.) - PueSi, on 05/10/2008, -0/+2Yeah i don't see what the big deal is, you'll end up needing Windows for something eventually (most users)
- inactive, on 05/09/2008, -1/+3Buy it from Dell, better hardware and support.
- KayIslandDrunk, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2And find someone dumb enough to buy your windows license.... even cheaper.
- BuryIt, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2The pricing on this site is a joke. The computers listed cost more than a superior Dell computer, with Windows AND an LCD monitor included. You're better off buying from Dell then donating directly to FSF.org.
- KayIslandDrunk, on 05/09/2008, -0/+2loss?
- ethana2, on 05/10/2008, -1/+2I'm going with Dell, sorry. But hey, the more choice the better. Choice is what it's all about.
I see people complaining about binary drivers here. Oh the horror! You don't get to use drivers your hardware is certified not to need! Whatever shall you do?! You can wipe this for Ubuntu or something anyway, so it's a grand way to avoid wasting your money on an OS you won't use and supporting a company like microsoft. - saftaplan, on 05/11/2008, -0/+1I asked Dell Benelux for a refund of my copy of Windows Vista Home Premium that I got with my laptop because I did not agree with the EULA and didn't plan to use Windows, and instantly got it. € 123 in my pocket. That is a heap compared to the total cost of my laptop and yes, I do think that that is worth it.
Most non-gamers will be satisfied with just Wine if they aren't satisfied with an open source or GNU/linux compatible app, I think. - Megatog615, on 05/09/2008, -2/+3Because you'd be saving money?
- CarzorStelatis, on 05/10/2008, -0/+2They don't mean that every copy of Windows is a "Microsoft tax", that refers to people who have no intention of using WIndows and yet are forced to pay for a copy of it by most computer manufacturers.
- bluearyus, on 05/09/2008, -1/+2haha you're getting dugg down by all the gNewSense fanboys XD....wait a sec they exist! All 6 of them?!?!
- newwatch51, on 05/10/2008, -0/+1Not quite...
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