What is Digg?44 Comments
- hroo772, on 10/11/2007, -0/+28Because of the new things Dell supports, I was able to flash my bios from linux, something i didn't think i could do. Keep up the good work Dell!
- dsn0wman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+25Very Cool! Now I just have to figure out what the heck I am going to do with a modem.
- cgomez, on 10/11/2007, -0/+23On a related note, what's with Dell doing things right nowadays?
First the semi-mainstream support for Linux, but now they're making computers (Vostro) without any sort of craplets pre-installed. I kind of like Dell *shudder*. - mlblac02, on 10/11/2007, -1/+14While this article does raise a good point, these benefits only help those who use Debian based distributions. Releases like the one the author points to will not help the broader Linux community unless they are released as source. Open source does not work unless the source is made available.
- MikeCerm, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12HP's been coming on really strong, and so Dell's been trying anything they can to regain their street cred. That, and Michael Dell's back in charge of things again.
- z00k, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12I know its 2007, but...
BBS. - praisethelard, on 06/06/2008, -0/+10You can download all kinds of ASCII porn with a modem!
- Giga, on 10/11/2007, -0/+8I would consider their enthusiasm to be slightly misplaced, whereas your comment verges much closer to pathetic.
- weizbox, on 10/11/2007, -2/+9Hype it up more why don't you...
This will not be 'the year of the linux desktop' by any means.. not to mention how would you even go about measuring such a thing? It's just a buzz phrase... and a premature, annoyingly overplayed one at that.
Dell really will not have much to do with it... they've been selling computers with Linux for years. The people buying Dell's with Ubuntu are the same people who has already installed Ubuntu or some linux distro on they're previous computer anyways... so it's not like the majority of Windows users would be deciding to go ahead and get a computer with Ubuntu on it during the order process just for kicks. As well, a lot of Windows users use programs that only work well(and easy to get working) in Windows such as games, photoshop, etc.
Linux is making progress, and if you don't mind checking out forums for answers and maybe dipping on the command line every now again, you can get a lot of hardware working as well as Windows applications and games... but keep in mind that the majority of people still use Windows.. and even Windows confuses a lot of people and gives them problems. I'm sure Linux will keep getting popular as the development continues, but I think it's a little early to say it's ready for most. - scrambled, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7Better driver/device support = easy interface = non-geek users = games = mainstream?
- dragonmantank, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6(stupid comment box wouldn't let me edit)
Besides, the issue with the Conexant driver isn't about Dell supplying it, but with the fact that the Conexant drivers have always been a binary blob and therefore unusable under *nix. Just because Dell puts it on their support page means that they struck a deal with Conexant to release the driver (and probably didn't intend to give a free 56kbps-enabled version away). The regular OSS version only lets you connect at a whopping 14.4kbps.
Now, if Dell actually crafted this driver on their own, they managed to do something that the open source community has never been able to do which seems a bit odd to me and they should release the source code. - dragonmantank, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6I haven't tried it, but doesn't alien support both .rpm->.deb and vice versa?
- Giga, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Probably because since you only went from F to S, you missed Debian and Ubuntu, amongst others.
- trogdoor, on 10/11/2007, -0/+51: I think the "Dell" cards are Broadcom so try the native drivers, undo whatever crap you did with NDISwrapper ( in case you can't tell I am not to fond of it ) and then install the package bcm43xx-fwcutter, if your card is supported then you should now have working wireless ( can't be included in the default distribution because Broadcom refuses to give them distribution rights so the package actually downloads the driver from broadcom's site and extracts the firmware from it to /lib/firmware )
2: Dell also offers intel chipsets which are supported beautifully in Linux and it is the only option when buying a Dellbuntu. - trogdoor, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4No Windows users still get 'support' from people who get lost if your question isn't on their script, Ubuntu customers get commercial support from Canonical ( they speak English and actually know what they are talking about ). For people who don't opt into the paid support plan you get support from the community @ ubuntuforums.org and #ubuntu on IRC.
- somegeologist, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Does this mean the Dell helpdesk is relocating to Africa. Damn, I was just getting used to the Indian accents.
- trogdoor, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4I found an interesting post here http://www.linux-geek.org/index.php/2007/04/22/dell-1390-native-linux-driver-how-to-updated
So I would first simply try installing bcm43xx-fwcutter ( sudo apt-get install bcm43xx-fwcutter ) in case the driver packaged with Ubuntu has changed since this person's post ( remember that this won't work if you still have ndiswrapper installed or bcm43xx blacklisted which many guides say to do when you install ndiswrapper ) if that doesn't work either try the instructions from the above link or wait for Gutsy to be releases as it will most likely include whatever patch this person made to get support for Dell 1390 cards with the native bcm43xx driver. - dorkusmalorkus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Actually, bluetooth toilet support could be very handy with a laptop.
- hartley, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Yeah, I know its a broadcom chip. But from every site Ive read (including the official boards), there are no drivers, or the drivers dont work with Ubuntu. *Dell 1390 wifi card in an e1505*
Seems the Intel card does work great right out of the box, but again, I want to run linux for free, and not have to buy new hardware to properly support it. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3What the ***** does "year of the linux desktop" even mean?
The year it takes over and destroys everything? The year it gains significant market share?
Not gonna happen anytime soon. It's a slow process, just like we saw with firefox, and even THEN they're not even 25% yet.
As long as microsoft and computer illiterate people exist, it will never be "year of the linux desktop" unless the distros can pull together some crazy method to lure and KEEP new users with. - KloroFormd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3You can always make a very expensive dual-core answering machine.
- mlblac02, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Most broadcom cards are supported natively in the kernel. You just need to run bcm43xx-fwcutter to extract some information from the installation material Dell provides. There is a deb for Ubuntu, its in the portage tree, and it takes less than 30 seconds to install yourself from source. Run it, then modprobe bcm43xx.
- UlicBelouve, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1A good theory I heard: Microsoft is putting all their ducks in order, and cleaning house, to become like Apple and Dell and start selling their own sealed systems. (They tried to compete with Apple with the Zune, a flop, yes, but it indicates their direction) Dell edged itself out so it won't be dominated by M$. What, with some reorg of M$, the warranty items, etc, I'd think M$ is planning something. Right for Dell to get ahead in this area, and rebuild their 'street cred'.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1 Well,it's been over a year since I got Linux and I have no desire to go back to MS.
- mlblac02, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Trogdoor is correct. There is a bcm433xx driver in the kernel. modprobe bcm4xx after you run the cutter program. I'm typing this on a Dell laptop, and my wireless card works perfectly without the need for ndiswrapper. I've never had a problem connecting to any wireless network since the driver was included in the kernel.
- CyberC1, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I think that the Dell support for Linux systems might be lagging simply because there's very little uniformity in terms of each person's boxes. I honestly don't think that the average user is going to jump on and purchase a Dell-Ubuntu box just because he/she can. It's going to be much harder for their tech support department to accurate diagnose problems and help the average user out.
- JonForTheWin, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3If only you had the source code to get it to work PROPERLY.
Drivers are near worthless unless they are open.
How many open source drivers are there for windows?
That's what I thought. Shut the ***** up and get the ***** out. - BHSPitMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Nice tip; /me hurriedly sees if this will do the trick on an i6000, and, if so, uninstalls Windows finally!
- neowolfwitch, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Great- maybe some time this century they will release a native driver for their damn WiFi cards... That is a much bigger issue than a modem driver for a LOT of people. It is hit-and-miss at best trying to get it to get them to work with ndiswrapper.
- flibblesan, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Great. Now, Dell, can you please fix your BIOS to include AHCI on supported boards such as the ICH7-M boards in Inspiron laptops...
- BHSPitMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2And it does.
- CaptNemo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Sooo, Dell releases two drivers for chips that no one (I know) uses and this is something to crow about? wooo!
In my opinion, Linuxant deserves many more accolades for their work. - mheath, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Now if only we could get good docking station station support for Dell Laptops running Linux.
- mlblac02, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I'd rather have Linux remain second or even third to Windows than see it completely overrun with software whose source code cannot be monitored or modified by any user. I quit using Windows three years ago because I got tired of installing programs that installed other programs hidden within them without my knowledge. You could argue that someone could just as easily do the same in Linux, but if the source code is freely available, hidden spyware and malware can be removed from programs you want to install.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I know you're being Dugg down, but I agree with you.
- digitalelite, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1No as if linux is so easy to switch to. A middle eastern guy who speaks English horribly just does not sound good.
- tech42er, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Web 2.0 FTW!
- LucidComms, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1From the license included in the 'example'
Copyright (c) 2003-2004 Linuxant inc.
Copyright (c) 2001-2004 Conexant Systems, Inc.
From the included ChangeLog
* Built debian package.
-- Linuxant Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:05:12 -0400
These 'examples' had nothing to do with Dell
Regards - panzergeist, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3Unusable? Binary blobs are quite usable. Most of the world runs on binary blobs. It's the unreasonable requirement that everything be open source that makes the possibility of Linux ever overtaking Windows, stillborn.
- BHSPitMonkey, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1#ubuntu is a nightmare.
- hartley, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1I've come back to Windows every time because ndiswrapper keeps breaking on me. If they would add support for their own crappy wifi cards, then I would be on Ubuntu in a heartbeat.
- telovoyagarcar, on 10/11/2007, -12/+4OHHH... im so happy that NOW Linux has such a great support for most of the hardware and external devices that the people NEED to use....
WINMODEM is such an important piece of technology these days... i guess the world now is ready to dump Microsoft and MAC for good, cuz Linux is here to support even your bluetooth toilet..
PATHETIC...... - krnldmp, on 10/11/2007, -9/+0Enough with all the ungabunga linux. I've tried them from fedora to suse and I don't see why every day there's 30 posts about ungabunga linux.
- donkz, on 10/11/2007, -12/+1here's a kicker for linux fanboys: Windows users don't need any support because ***** already works. Worst case you can do chkdsk or system repair. DZZZZZINGGGG
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