Get GNU/Linux Machines in Retail Stores

How IdeaStorm Works:

Linux Comments | Linux Ideas

6470

Get GNU/Linux Machines in Retail Stores

6470 points posted to Linux by dpic Feb 14

Imagine how successful Dell's Ubuntu offering could be if just one Dell Ubuntu machine was put in retail stores. If people knew of an alternative to Windows, they would go for it! So what do you say, Dell? Why don't you try to put at least one of your Ubuntu machines offered in retail stores?

« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next »

winoffice Feb 14	I think that I know why Dell does not offer Ubuntu PCs in retail stores. With its ugly brown interface, people would at once want to go to another PC. And most people do not know how to use Ubuntu either.
ceagan Feb 14	I think that putting Ubuntu in retail locations would give potential buyers without prior exposure to Ubuntu the opportunity to see the ease of use and make a more educated decision about what operating system they want on their new computer.
piratehead Feb 14	If Dell were worried about the "ugly brown interface", it could certainly come up with a new default desktop background and theme for its Ubuntu PCs. It would be nothing new for OEMs. :-)
brokencrystal Feb 14	With DVD support built in Dell's Ubuntu PCs, I am sure that it would be a hit.
lugo02 Feb 14	I think most people know of an alternative to Windows... it's called the MAC, yet the mac is still languishing in sales compared to Windows, and the MAC is supposed to be easy to use. Imagine how a GNU/Linux system would do... I think not very well considering you need to be a uber geek just to figure out how to set up your wireless network card.
lugo02 Feb 14	Then again if more people in advertently buy the GNU/Linux system, the more money I'll make install Windows for them.
dpic Feb 14	> you need to be a uber geek just to figure out how to set up your wireless network card. I've installed Ubuntu on 2 of my PC's and a notebook of mine with no problems with compatibility. Everything worked out of the box. I've also installed it on other people's computers for them and everything has worked by itself as well. > Then again if more people in advertently buy the GNU/Linux system, the more money I'll make install Windows for them. Nobody i know who i have switched to Ubuntu has wanted to go back to windows. Yes, even the nontechnical ones. Actually, nontechnical people have been coming to me just as fed up with windows as us foss people are. -- What really confuses me is why there are people here posting against linux...are they being paid? It's not like selling linux machines is going to affect them. It only helps the people who would want to buy it. They seem to oppose the idea for some strange grudge they hold against free software. lugo02 , jericho, winoffice, care to enlighten me?
sq377 Feb 14	winoffice: as piratehead said, wallpapers can be changed, dell could completely create their own theme. As long as they keep the name ubuntu visible and don't pull and eee-pc by making it look like a cheap windows xp ripoff, most people would probably be ok with it. lugo02: The mac is really expensive. Ubuntu is free. See the difference? "I think not very well considering you need to be a uber geek just to figure out how to set up your wireless network card. " Do your research next time. On the first boot of an Ubuntu installation, the restricted manager pops up and asks if the user wants to install drivers for their cards. The 3 I've tried are the Intel 3945, Intel 4965, and several Broadcom chipsets. They worked flawlessly with 3 clicks and my password. I really would like to see this idea happen.
wedderburn Feb 14	gotta say ubuntu theme defaults are not friendly on the eyes, average person would look in a store and most probably dismiss it and go look at the pretty vista wallpaper/theme, this is not a jab at ubuntu i my self use it 100% of the time now on my laptop but really if it doesn't make people take a second glance then its probably not gonna sell, most average people buy laptops for looks first then they ask what its got in it.
piratehead Feb 15	I find it intriguing that the Windows camp assumes automatically that people will choose computers solely based on how pretty the desktop looks. Perhaps it says something about the way their brains work. :-) That being said, one of the comments that is frequently tossed around the Ubuntu community is that "even 'pretty' is a feature", I think that the default Ubuntu desktops usually look very nice, and I look forward to future visual refreshes that will make the "first-glance" match-up more favorable with Vista machines.
phubert Feb 15	Since most of the sysadmins at our site insist on the Windows Classic Start menu and desktop, I think 'pretty' isn't necessarily the preference for those in the industry... "uncluttered" might be more likely to win out in our group. Although, I'm one who never uses ANY application full-screen, preferring, instead, to have multiple windows open concurrently (the more desktop the better (dual, large, hi-res setting monitors!)...
jmxz Feb 15	One more reason for this: My Parents are considering switching to Ubuntu. (and probably from Dell) They'd like to try it first. Yes, I can walk them through a Live CD - but it'd be so much easier if they could walk into their local store and try it.
sebzzz Feb 15	The first thing for Dell would be to offer Ubuntu computers in Canada, but after that having them in stores would be wonderful
nizzy1115 Feb 15	I registered just to vote for this. Dell is doing great with their linux installation, now they just need to poke it into the mass market more. I'm a Windows user, but i know many people that would love to walk into best buy and buy a linux based dell.
lugo02 Feb 15	@dpic..."What really confuses me is why there are people here posting against linux...are they being paid? It's not like selling linux machines is going to affect them. It only helps the people who would want to buy it. They seem to oppose the idea for some strange grudge they hold against free software. lugo02 , jericho, winoffice, care to enlighten me? " because without Windows I won't have all the repeat customers... Windows not only makes money for Microsoft, they make money for a lot of or companies and corporations, like Dell and the IT guys who does independent work on the side, or as a full time gig, even you Linux guys., but you probably do the work for free... @sq377: Ubuntu might "free", but as many other pointed out on here, the machine still cost about as much as the machines with Windows on them, and I suppose that the support/Warranty may cost more as well.
phubert Feb 15	glad you registered to vote for this, nizzy1115 ... now just stay around and participate!
obvio.capitao Feb 15	This is a very nice idea. I would like to see an offer similar to Asus' Eee PC, using cheap, low-end hardware, and Linux. If Dell can sell it for less than $300, it will become an instant best seller. (I'd buy one. Or two. :D) People are buying Asus Eee PC because they couldn't care less about the operating system: they want something that works -- and Linux is a perfect fit for low-end hardware.
dpic Feb 15	@lugo02 "because without Windows I won't have all the repeat customers... Windows not only makes money for Microsoft, they make money for a lot of or companies and corporations, like Dell and the IT guys who does independent work on the side, or as a full time gig, even you Linux guys., but you probably do the work for free..." I see... so you are not interested in the customers' potential interest in Linux, you just want people to continue using windows so that you can maker money helping them use it? Shouldn't we not be holding customers hostage like that?
phubert Feb 15	especially not, I think, if Microsoft is your only talent... :-(
prospitrage Feb 15	I think this is a great idea, but Dell legally cannot break contract without consequences. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Dell contractually obligated to only allow Microsoft installed machines be displayed in retail stores?
mrashley Feb 15	I've observed that people who assume everyone else's tastes match their own, probably have made the wrong assumption and usually have boring taste.
phubert Feb 15	I don't think Dell is so constrained, prospitrage . And, mrashley , you have a point there, but I think most of us are susceptible to that behavior... at least initially...
jmxz Feb 15	@prospitrage. Unlikely since such a contract would probably be of great interest to the antitrust guys that keep looking into microsoft. And even if there was such a clause it's certainly in Dell's power to renegotiate it.
obvio.capitao Feb 15	It's wrong to think that Linux is better just because it is cheaper. Dell pays an almost flat fee for selling a larger number of Windows boxes. Thus, it won't save much money from selling Linux instead of Windows. But Dell executives should think of it as an investment in the long term: it may cost a little now, but will help people (and companies) to save money in the long run. And, if people spend less in software, they'll be able to buy more hardware from Dell. (Think of a company saving $50K/year in software licenses because they moved from Microsoft to Open Source -- where would they invest this additional money? Hiring more people? That would require new computers. Renewing their desktops? Bingo!) Thus, the adoption of Free/Open Source Software shouldn't be seen as a tactical move to save a few bucks now: it's a strategic decision, which will bring benefits in a couple of years.
phubert Feb 15	THIS one has gone up quickly... and rightfully so! Good show, guys!!
jmxz Feb 15	@phubert: it made the digg homepage.
jestin Feb 15	I was surprised that selling Dells with Ubuntu preloaded was successful at all selling over the internet. I had assumed that it was something you had to see to believe for most users. Putting the machines in stores is likely to improve sales by a significant factor. As for the argument that people will be angered when their store bought software doesn't work, people already know and understand that there is Mac software and there is Windows software, so I don't see how a third option would confuse them so much. Let's take the worst-case scenario example where a new computer user is buying their first computer. Is it better for them to buy a windows machine that will work with shrink-wrapped software but will undoubtedly become riddled with malware, or a Linux machine that has 99% of everything they will ever need already installed and allows the new user to never worry about malware?
ubuntu_guy386 Feb 15	Holy crap people, this is a no brainer! Just do it. The more choice people have the better! Why should we be tied to a crappy OS which is barely fit for the desktop (i.e. Vista?). It hogs 700MB of RAM while idle, it's full of security holes and it randomly patches itself in the background without your permission. What consumers need is an option to HAVE AN OS WHICH ISN'T WINDOWS. Because if we're constantly tied to one OS then the company selling it (Microsoft) just lets the quality slip and starts making crap products like Vista, and they can get away with it because there are no alternatives. TO THE PATHETIC WHINERS IN THIS THREAD: Use your brains. I've already found two intellectually barron posts on this page. Firstly, winoffice's argument that people won't move to Ubuntu because "It has a brown color-scheme which differs from Windows" (Oh noes, I'm too retarded to change my desktop background!!!!1 AGGHHHH!). People may be stupid, but they're not stupid enough to pick an OS based on its color scheme. And also, it doesn't matter if people "don't know how to use Ubuntu" because they can learn. Duh. lugo02 also made a pretty stupid post and said that Ubuntu won't be popular, because other Windows "alternatives" such as Mac haven't succeeded, which means that Ubuntu won't succeed - despite being much cheaper and totally different to Mac. I also love the part where he says that "you have to be an uber geek" to use Ubuntu. Oh yeah, we're talking about pre-installations here where everything works out of the box. Please don't comment if you have no idea what you're talking about, it doesn't work that way. Sorry to rant, but people here seem to have no idea what they're talking about. Once again - this isn't about whether Dell should promote Ubuntu more. It's about whether we should provide a cheaper, secure and much more flexible OS so that we can give consumers choice and create a competitive market. It's a no brainer.
sanbhai Feb 15	I joined just so that I could post a comment. To those who say being pretty is the main thing, Dell can just install and enable both compiz and emerald. Problem solved. I like the idea. When I bought a new laptop from Circuit City, they told me I had to buy Vista separately as the one pre-installed is a 30 day trail only. Are you kidding me??? It was a Acer laptop and it was cheapened to almost half the price of other laptops simply because it had only a trial OS. If I were to buy a Vista DVD separately, I would be paying the same price almost. So am I saving money by buying the comptuer on sale but doesn't have a full OS? NO!!! Lucky for me my company could legally give me a copy of Vista because I use it as work as well. If not then there was no way I was going to install Vista in it. Pretty obvious, I would install Linux in it. Maybe I had to get a few driver working with some extra effort, but its worth the extra work instead of paying $500 for a buggy OS. If the laptop had come with linux preinstalled I wouldn't be complaining so much here, would I???
winoffice Feb 15	piratehead, sq377: Vote for this then.
skutsdead Feb 15	I too, like others in this thread, registered an account specifically to be able to post on this. I think creating a viable market for open source OSes and software can only lead to good things. I think the idea of a large community of developers, testers, marketers, etc coming together to create new ideas to work with today's technology can really allow for the best of ideas to be implemented into user-friendly desktop environments without having to cause people to break their bank accounts doing so. And this is coming from someone who, until installing Ubuntu only a couple months ago after using a Live CD for a couple weeks, swore by Windows and MS for years and years. Now, I've completely wiped MS from my machines and installed Ubuntu, and I completely love it. I find it a far more reliable, faster, more secure and versatile OS than any version of Windows, period. And for those users who are more familiar with Mac OS, there are also similarities to be found to make those users comfortable with an Ubuntu installation as well. Really, I just think Ubuntu takes the best of today's OS technology, bundles it together, and all without costing you an arm and a leg on hardware or software. So, naturally, I'd love to see PCs in stores with Ubuntu preinstalled; we're not talking about replacing Windows or Mac on the shelves.
maccam94 Feb 15	winoffice, seriously, I think you must vote down every Linux story.
jrg Feb 15	I also created an account just to vote on this issue. I feel that this issue is the one thing separating Linux from the mass market-- its inability to compete with street vendors. The fact that you can only get it online prevents many inexperienced computer users to not be able to get to it at all.
lugo02 Feb 15	Obviously you GNU/Linux folks are very passionate about free software. I just came from one of my client, a Physician, spent 3 hours installing Windows Update and removing crapware from his computer. Ths doctor is a Psychiatrist who works alone, so he had one computer. Am I to recommend that he install Ubuntu? What is going to happen to his some of the software that he purchase for a couple thousand dollars that only works with Windows? GNU/Linux as far as i am concern it is something that you set up and put in a data center or some dark /cold room, to process stuff on teh backend. it's not ready for prime time. Anyone tried playing Crysis on Ubuntu?
krycheq Feb 15	lugo02: I just came from one of my client, a Physician, spent 3 hours installing Windows Update and removing crapware from his computer. Well... I'd say that speaks for itself.
lugo02 Feb 15	@Keycheq... Yes it does speak for itself... I got paid for doing it. Unless Ubuntu or any GNU/Linux OS proves to be profitable for Dell and the retail stores you're not going to see it displayed next to that MAC OS or Vista OS in the consumer section. Like I implied before, Dell/Retail Stores/Some Windows technicia (like me) in this capitalist society are motivated by profits. Now if GNU/Linux was profitable for me, I'll be suggeting it to everyone I know and work with and strangers who I meet on the street
winoffice Feb 15	dpic, "If people knew of an alternative to Windows, they would go for it!" Not necessarily. For example, Macintosh OS is an alternative to Windows, but many people do not "go for it". Likewise I know that Ubuntu is an alternative to Windows, yet I am certainly not going for it.
ihateolivegarden Feb 15	The reason why this will never work is because someone will go into the store and be like ohhh, where is Internet Explorer? Maybe and maybe they will find Firefox on there and figure out that they can use it for browsing. What happens when they take a printer home and there are no drivers for it? Well than they are done. They dont' know that a generic driver will work. Or even better what if they get a printer that has a scanner too? I am sorry to say that Windows is here to stay. I personally have made the switch to a Mac after the release of Vista and will not go back anytime soon. We are talking about gettting something done and not being frustrated while we do it (Mac). When I am using my work windows machine I feel like I am dirty all the sudden. When I am on Linux I feel 10 times worst. Linux is not for the masses it's for the geeks that understand that you can't double click on exe files and think that you can install something. Or if you want to install something you have to open up termainal and 'make' an installer and after that you should do make install. It's not there yet and will probably never be there. Also Ubuntu and any open source OS out there have to fix their security holes before companies like Dell will start considering them. What I think should happen is for Mac OS to be available on hardware other than Apple's. This will bring the prices down and people will start to use it more. This will get Microsoft off of their lazy sofas and force them to make better software. They have been on a monopoly for so long that they didn't have to worry and didn't have to be inovative. Well now with the crapy release of Vista they have seen a few of their customers switch to Mac OS. And that will continue to happen. Mac OS has major major releases every month. Windows? I don't even know anymore. I know I will be flamed for posting this so I am ready to take it. And by the way I work for Microsoft and don't use Windows. Figure that.
sanbhai Feb 15	@lugo02: Your physician spent thousands of dollars to get his program running in Windows. Then he paid you hundreds of dollars to have his computer cleaned up. If he was to use linux, he could have paid the same thousands of dollars to developers to make a linux version, and save that hundreds of dollars that he invested in you. You would have lost your money but he would have saved his. Is that fair in your capitalist society? @winoffice: OSX is an alternative to Windows but many people don't go for it. Agree. But the problem is not just that. The problem is they are so used to what they already know, they don't want to learn new things. When my company started switching to IE7 after it was released, a lot of people still kept using IE6 just because they don't like the layout of IE7 (they said its too trendy and they need to readjust to a new product which they hate). Only after the company network guys ran an update that upgraded every computer's browser to IE7, they started using it. What does it mean? People aren't ready for change until they are pushed. They are ready to use the same buggy thing with a lot of problem rather than learn new thing that is better. Same thing is going right now if my office over the decision of upgrading all Office to Office 2007. Best of luck to the PC support guys with that. I'm not saying putting linux comptuers in retail stores is similar to pushing those guys at my office, but just that people will be aware of different options available. Like if nobody had told those guys resisting to switch to IE7, they would never even have heard of IE7. Since linux computers are cheaper, some might want to give it a shot (just like in the 80s when PC came up with cheaper alternative to Apple). True it needs adjusting period for users to get used to a new system, but the same thing happens in Windows as well. People are irritated with the way Vista operates. People have always been using Windows all their life, Why do they complain so much now? Because they know something or other is wrong with it. Mac is an option but its more expensive. Linux is another option and it will be cheaper, but currently its not readily available for average users. This is the main theme of this idea. Make it readily available for average users. People like lugo02 might lose some money but apart from that, it will do more good than bad.
lugo02 Feb 15	@sanbha, This Physician works solo so he did not pay to have a developer create the custom applications for him. These are software that he purchased... A couple of them are subscription based. The main software that he uses to record patient data, billing, insurance and schedule patients is only available on Windows and MAC, no support of GNU/Linux, all his other important software are currently Windows only. The fact is the companies that create these boxed medical software have no incentive to port their applications to an Open Source OS, not when a single user box version for Windows/MAC sells for $1000 and support cost $129/hour. This Doctor do use an Apple as his personal computer that he uses to write his books etc, but not even the MAC has grown up enough to take to work , unless if you work in the graphics department. (Note, I work at one of the largest financial companies in the country and there is only 1 MAC (a colored IMAC) in the graphics department, all the other machines are Windows) Honestly I think GNU/Linux need to make inroads on the desktop in workplaces (not in cold rooms) and in the computer labs (Not those special labs for Computer Science an Engineering Majors) at Educational Institutions and Libraries before they even have a chance to make it in retail, because as some one pointed out, no one is going into bestbuy to buy a GNU/Linux machine unless they are familiar with it and know how to use it, and most people learn to use new stuff in schools and at work.
toggi3 Feb 15	@lugo02, So you dont reccomend linux because it doesnt make money for you? are you under the assumption that commercial software cant be made for linux or what? several hospitals have moved to linux based systems, also, if this doctor is willing to pay several thousand dollars for software he could get something written as a web application thats very cross portable and would suit his needs better than any crap your selling him. Your arguments are also really stupid, you argue for the sake of your customer, who is a doctor, then you say linux isnt good because it wont run crisis?.... Have any idea how little sense that makes? wireless network cards are now configured practically on-the-fly in ubuntu through a tray icon. More cards are supported out of box than windows ever did, not like that says alot, because vista supports almost no wifi devices out of box at all, you need drivers for 90% of them, and this is taking vista into consideration, XP has none at all. Something tells me you havent even used Ubuntu, probably never even used linux, and if you did you probably didnt even bother to learn it and hated it just because it was different from what you were used to. Dont get me wrong, there are valid reasons to not use linux, just none of your points are any of them unless your a zealous microsoft fanboy. You can get repeat customers easy if your service didnt suck anyways. Keeping a buggy system working and recommending it to customers is hardly something to brag about as your choice of career. Perhaps if you actually knew anything about computers beyond the scope of an 8 year old boy you might be able to make use of a decent operating system platform that doesn't screw over your customers every week or so. on a finishing note I view your business practice as unethical and I am glad our entire office runs Ubuntu where I work so we dont need to pay people like you to do nothing for large sums of time and money. Our office runs better than ever since our move away from windows, no regrets whatsoever. 20 or so office terminals running strong, running the absolute latest packages, daily updated, regularly synchronized, no viruses, no windows voodoo issues, no random reboots because of memory leaks. Oh well though, I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinions, even if they are insane or unethically driven ones.
sanbhai Feb 16	@lugo02: My company uses all Windows PCs. Your company actually beats mine because you have one iMac. Mine doesn't have anything besides Dells with Windows. But that's not the point. The point is selling GNU/Linux machines in retail stores. Do you know how Eee PC swept the market when stores started selling them? I don't think it was because people who were buying them were all stupid, or were they? And once people use Ubuntu, they'll realize its actually even easier to use than Windows or OSX. Installing a new application is easier in Ubuntu than Windows or OSX. You don't even need to search the net to search for applications, then goto the download page, and then go throught the tiresome process of clicking endless 'Next' to install a program, and somewhere in between you'll miss to unselect the checkbox that says 'Give Me More Ad/Spyware'. You can just goto synaptic, enter the search term, select one from the list and hit install. Two clicks and you have the application. Unlike Windows, Ubuntu is almost virus free. The only way you can install virus in Ubunt is if you install it yourself manually. Love your favourite Windows application? Use Wine. Now Google has spent so much in the development of Wine, we can only hope it will have more support everytime a new version rolls out. Lugo02's doctor might want to try running his app under wine if he wants to. The only downside is there's no support for Ubuntu. But ubuntuforums.org is a great place to ask any questions and you'll get the answer almost instantly. Also, if you really need support, there are other flavours of linux like Red Hat and Suse which charge just a fraction of the cost MS charges for support.
mihai11 Feb 16	This would be a great move ! Don't disappoint us, DELL !
howlingmadhowie Feb 16	sambhai: a root exploit was found for the linux kernel recently. ubuntu had patched the hole within a day. you can get support for ubuntu from hundreds of companies too.
jasorn Feb 16	It's funny that people are complaining about the ugly brown. Did anyone notice the color scheme on this very page? Looks like Ubuntu Brown to me :)
jdelidc Feb 16	i change my color scheme at least once a month. it don't have to stay any color. december, my machine was turquise, january was brighht blue, february is black (kinda like wm11), march will probably be green
malcarada Feb 16	I don't like Ubunugh, let's just name it Linux
jdelidc Feb 16	i'm with you. i use fedora eidt: then again, i don't like knoppix. i want that to be linux
sanbhai Feb 16	@howlingmadhowie: what I meant to say by no support is that when you buy Windows and have a problem, you can just call the support desk and they'll help you out. That part is not available for linux users other than those who buy Red Hat or Suse. Even though MS will give you free support, most often than not it turns out you'll be talking to someone in a foreign country who has absolutely no clue what you are talking about and vice versa. You'll end up searching the internet and finding the answer yourself or calling your geeky friend/brother/sister/etc to fix it for you. Even with support, support is in itself so limited that if your computer gets infected with virus, for example, its not MS who's going to help you out. You'll have to pay money to get it removed. Or if driver doesn't work, you can't call MS, you'll have to call your hardware manufacturer, who'll have even a worse customer service than MS.
yaknowwat Feb 16	It would be in best Dell best interest to do this as people will have an extra $100-300 to spend on other things such as hardware improvements which can help make more profit. Doing this will also get more support for linux which will cause more things to be made for it which is all it has been missing at the moment.
lugo02 Feb 16	@toggi3 I would like to add, that I did not sell or recommend the software that the Physician uses to conduct his business. He was already using the software when he became my client. This software is made by a company who cater speciafically to medical professionals. This doctor happens to be a Psychiatirist with a single room office and 1 computer in his office that only he has access to, there is not reason for him to put all of his confidential patient information in the cloud. The software that he uses is made especially for the medical profession and the data is store locally, with regular backups to an external hard drive. I don't consider what I am doing un-ethical or even misleading, about 4 times/year I go this doctors office to check that his data is being backed up correctly and to clean his computer of any unwanted software, removed rogue startup items and general house keeping, in between my visits I touble other stuff for him on the phone (at no charge). When he wanted a new computer last year, I recommended a Dell then I migrated his settings data and software from the old computer to the new Dell. I see nothing unethical in any of those services I provide to him, but then I guess some people feel working for a living as unethical. I suppose I could invest more time into fully learning GNU/Linux then steering people towards it, but then I won't do that for free either I know commercial software is made for GNU/Linux but currently I suppose most commercial applications are currently back-office software, because most of the desktop software that I've heard about are open source, general applications. Can anyone show me a list of commercial applictions for use on GNU/Linux desktop, that is not Open Source/Free? I know Red Hat/Novell/IBM has businesses based on GNU/Linux but I they are all back-office/server related... I have nothing against free software, I take whatever I can get for free, but at some point the developers who creates all these free stuff needs to make a living. I admit that I have not used Ubuntu, but I have dabled with Federa Core, Debain and Suse in the past and as I have implied my wireless card did not work with either of them. I went to the forums and message board but could not get any support, and of course the manufacturer did not support GNU/Linux so there was no help there either. My Crysis comment had nothing to do with the Doctor, it's just my way of introducting another major road block to GNU/Linux adoption, Gaming, but that horse has been beaten to death already.
lugo02 Feb 16	FYI: I just download Ubuntu, ia m going to blowup my Vista Business Partition to install it tomorrow. Let's hope my wireless card works, or i'll be pissed off. BTW: How is bluetooth support in Ubuntu? I hae an epson photo printer that is shared via a wireless print server for my other computers, will it be fully functional? I also have a faily old Visoneer Scanner I hope it works, because I acutally use it fairly frequently How about my old Logitech Wingman game controller?
lugo02 Feb 16	Ignore my comment about the game controller, I am not going to need it when I boot to Ubuntu
calebcal Feb 16	the default interface, fonts and wallpaper for ubuntu gutsy isnt particularly appealing. however tweaking compiz-fusion, changing window borders ect to something more attractive and professional looking is very easy to do. moreover this could be applied easily across the Dell ubuntu range by simply customising then creating a customised Dell/Ubuntu CD. I think it's correct to say it's a lack of awareness from consumers that are holding linux from having a market presence. If Dell could install a good default selection of free softwares with this package, I think it could be a very attractive alternative. I applaud Dell for being the first to offer Linux in a mainstream way. Nothing wrong with more choice and competition is there? a vista, apple, ubuntu desktop side by side. I say go for it!
ubuntu_guy386 Feb 16	@lugo02 It depends whether the device manufacturers provide Linux-drivers doesn't it? If they don't, then that's their fault (Not Ubuntu's)
toggi3 Feb 16	sorry lugo02 for perhaps being much more critical than necessary, my interpretation was in many ways different from what you now say you implied. Support for linux is getting better in drivers, wireless being one of the things getting better all the time, thanks to greater linux friendliness and alot of vendors using the same specs and wireless chips, the less expensive X brand cards and devices might have less than optimal support, but this situation is unavoidable, they wont provide drivers, developers in the open wifi community are unabloe to produce drivers without ofcourse at least first owning the device to test it on, and often the X brand companies arent any help at all in providing necessary info. Most, almost all, notebook wifi adapters work in Ubuntu flawlessly and a number of linksys cards work great now. Bluetooth support is excellent from a technical standpoint however I am hoping to see more development on easier to use graphical frontends, truly only a matter of time now that general support is phenomenally better for all sorts of devices. I have used bluetooth mice, heatsets, and transferred things from my bluetooth phone. as far as printing the CUPS project has gotten alot better these days, apple uses it for their OS X if I am not mistaken (can anyone verify that)? I know apple recently bought the funding corporation for the CUPS project and is now the main financial contributor, so I've heard. Things like printer sharing and windows network sharing and printer sharing implementation are better done than ever before in ubuntu and will only get better as the samba *nix project now has microsoft's cooperation as MS has released specs free for the team to implement more tightly compatible functionality. Just give it a try and actually try to learn it, you might find you enjoy it, and dont throw your hands in the air when program X isnt available for linux, perhaps try an alternative. I understand that if you ABSOLUTELY need program X then its out of your hands, but there are VERY few situations where anyone is really in that position. IMHO, switching to something that will always work on your OS no matter how many times it updates is far better than depending on a software package which is locked into a specific technology, say windows, then having microsoft roll out an update breaking your software package that you paid millions for or causing you headaches where your software isnt reliable merely because of what it runs on, imagine the headache you would face moving your client over to vista with his entire software solution.
epic4life Feb 16	I can see it now.... A family shopping for a computer in the mall and they approach the Dell booth and ask what is the best comptuer for my kid that is about to go to college.....and as the rep goes through all the laptops, all the desktops, the XPS series and he goes, Oh here is something cool, its called Ubuntu and it is a free OS. The family asks, "Can it run MS Office?" - Rep "no, but it can run openoffice!" The Kid asks " Can I play my favorite games on it?" - Rep "No, but it has a couple of open source games" the family asks "How do you navigate through the file system? - Rep - "I dont know command line, but it seems easy once you learn it" The kids asks " Can I use my internet camra to talk to my girlfrined while I am away?" Rep- "No, it wont work with Linux" The family asks " I get a free copy of nortan corporate from my work, can I use it with ubuntu?" Rep- "No, it won't work" Yeah, I see this going places. Linux is for certain people and definitely not for most people lol. If you like tinkering with code, compatibility, and trying to get stuff to work all the time, then linux is for you, but if you want a working product that is going to deliver a term paper with any printer on the market with MS word, and have any device you want compatible, then people are going to choose MS. How about you fanbois, go to the nearest best buy, set up a "I love Linux" booth and try to sell your free OS lol. I am sure Ubunut stock can run the ATI card they have on sale in the computer section....then you can explain to the people how MS is evil and has made the world the way it is and that is why the ATI card can't work :( Seriously, some of you guys from reading your posts need to be lobbysts lol, or sales people, I am almost convinced that ubuntu is better, and if I didnt have a ubuntu pc to compare to my windows, I might of believe you, but my windows setup is far better than my ubuntu. Xbox - Vista - WHS > Ubuntu - Ubunut server - PS3
jdelidc Feb 17	"How do you navigate through the file system? -- actually, in gnome it's like win95 & osx combined and in kde it's like xp "I get a free copy of nortan corporate from my work, can I use it with ubuntu?" -- also, you don't need it. linux has a built in firewall and not many viruses have yet been written for it. i bet that will change as linux gets more marketshare but still.
jdelidc Feb 17	and lately i've also been using xfce when i'm using old machines. it's like xp except that the start menu is a right click anywhere on the desktop
howlingmadhowie Feb 17	jdelic: there are already more computers running linux in the world than computers running windows. there are also many at more critical points in the infrastructure. the reason why there aren't any viruses for linux is not because the operating system is unknown.
dmery Feb 17	Excellent idea. User has rigth to know this alternativa, when they are buying a computer.
bogdanbiv Feb 17	1) Could someone explain why do they bash Linux, especially Ubuntu? Ok, say it has its problems and it does not work for them. Why do they bother if other people have the option to choose an alternative OS? People do not have same needs so maybe what does not work for those people works for me! The idea is to be able to opt-in for Ubuntu! 2) Do Dell laptops that are sold with Ubuntu as a preinstalled OS work badly with wireless networks? If so post a message stating your laptop and access point model numbers so that others can verify the problem and solve it. Hardware model numbers appear on stickers on the back of the products and on your bill. Otherwise, if problems come from Ubuntu not having drivers for wireless cards that came with a laptop preinstalled with Vista/XP, then buying a laptop that is certified to work with Ubuntu ( http://www.ubuntu.com/dell ) is the best solution you can get.
jdelidc Feb 17	it goes both ways. vista gets bashed, and ubuntu gets bashed. it ain't one sided. and i've been on both sides
jdelidc Feb 17	@howlingmadhowie: it's different when it's sitting in people's bedrooms and you get smart people that get board. when linux becomes a popular desktop, it's gonna get attacked a whole lot more edit: and in my experience, the easiest way to drive someone nuts in linux is to write a program that crashes x
howlingmadhowie Feb 17	jdelidc: no it won't. linux is already the number one target for virus and worm writers. it's just safer than windows.
epic4life Feb 17	definitely not safer lol. I don't see everyday on my job the best hackers in the world targeting grandma and windows xp, They target and penetrate the backbone linux server of a bank. Most viruses that affect windows are ones that just do damage to the machine. Destruction Viruses are more likely to occur with a windows OS, but control and penetration with linux. I rather have to do a reformat if I am a dumb person, then lose all my money in my bank account. @jdelidc - The questions youujust asked in repsonse to my rant would not be understood by the common user lol. The world is dumb, windows is made for dumb people and it does its dumb job great. EpIC
toggi3 Feb 17	@epic4life my notebook webcam works fine in ubuntu... ? also, who needs MS office anyways? open office does just as much. also, who needs norton when there are no worms for linux and all the problems with code that are found are patched by repositories instantaneously as opposed to being forced to wair for the end of month windows update, assuming it gets on that update, does anyone else here remember being infected with certain worms microsoft knew about but refused to fix unless you bought live onecare? Like the metafile exploit and nasty worm associated with it going aroound? Also, linux has Clam AntiVirus if you need it so bad, but guaranteed the only viruses out there are for windows, if you want to scan your linux box for windows exploiting code thats up to you, if you werent running windows in the first place you would have no need for it though. Prove me wrong. I'd like to see so much as an exploit that affected a package in Ubuntu that wasnt fixed for a month, so far theres only one company I can think of that lets that happen, I dont even need to say who at this point.
sandeep_k_ram Feb 17	I beg to differ - and I am not a newbie on Linux . I have bee working on all sorts of Distro's for almost 9 years now and I really appreciate Ubuntu . But let me be frank ...I think its inaccurate when you say " everything worked out of the box" . I have installed Ubuntu on at least 10 different types of systems some zillion times by now and each system installations had its own share of problems in getting simple things done ..and the most common problem was wireless network setup . All the 3 laptops I work with have always given me trouble with Ubuntu and Wireless network setup ... of course I figured it all out the second time I tried but for the average person who just wants it all to "work" without all this malarkey .... linux is not the answer ...
winoffice Feb 17	@toggi3 "also, who needs MS office anyways? open office does just as much." Some people do need Microsoft Office. OpenOffice does not do as much. There are many things that are included in Microsoft Office that are not available in OpenOffice. "also, who needs norton when there are no worms for linux" There are worms and even viruses for Linux - it is not fully secure; no operating system can be. In fact, you can find a full list of Linux viruses and worms on Wikipedia.
ubuntu_guy386 Feb 17	@winoffice The extra features of MS-Office are nothing - you only need them if your workplace/college/school requires you to have it. And who cares about the security of Ubuntu? Anyone with the slightest intelligence will know to make their day-to-day account a non-admin (Meaning that they don't even have access to sudo). Why are there so many people here who are bent on hijacking the conversation? We've already established that: - Choice is good. - A competitive market works the best. - Ubuntu can work out-of-the-box if it comes pre-installed. - The only way Ubuntu will get better is if more people use it. ... please stop hijacking and going off-topic everyone. Selling Ubuntu systems in stores is a great idea, even if it is just a few models. No-one is forcing people to buy them, so what's the problem? There is a huge amount of merit in this idea. Why the heck are there people like epic4life, winoffice and lugo02 who want to stall Dell's progress? Dell has already begun selling Ubuntu computers, so why should they turn back now?
winoffice Feb 17	@ubuntu_guy386 "The extra features of MS-Office are nothing" The "extra" features of MS-Office are not "extra" and they are not "nothing" - they are something. "And who cares about the security of Ubuntu?" If you ever did encounter a security problem in Ubuntu (from your writing, I determine that you have not encountered any), then you would definitely care about it. Further, to ask "Who cares?" is just an attempt to ignore the fact that Ubuntu does have security problems ("Who cares? I can make my account a non-admin, so why worry?"). "A competitive market works the best" I have never seen that "established" here. Please expain why you think so. "The only way Ubuntu will get better is if more people use it" I have never seen that "established" here. Please expain why you think so. And I am not a hijacker. And I am not going off topic as I was not the one who started this MS Office discussion on this page. "Selling Ubuntu systems in stores is a great idea" I disagree with that - hence the reason for my demote. "Why the heck are there people like epic4life, winoffice and lugo02 who want to stall Dell's progress?" So you want me to be thrown out of the site just because I object to selling Linux PCs in retail stores? I do not "stall Dell's progress" - I just object to selling Linux PCs in retail stores. Further, why are you attacking me just because I object to selling Ubuntu PCs at retail stores? I have my opinion, and I do not see that as a reason for attacking me (like you did with me just now).
epic4life Feb 17	The problem is that everyone, or most people, that feel ubuntu should be sold in stores are bashing dell's bread and butter (windows) while doing it. I can go to fryes right now and build a linux box from scratch. Linux is not a product, it is an alternative to a product. What do myself and all of dell have to gain by wasteing marketing money for ubuntu? Absolutely nothing. @toggi3 - Seriously, there are plenty of hacks out for linux. You don't here about them b/c they usually involve muli-million dollar financial institutions and 100,000's of people's bank accounts compromised lol. Why do you think worms and trojan necissarily will target you lol? you are one of a million pc owners, and i am sure you won't see the brunt of a linux designed trojan lol, that means that trojan will be exposed to the population instead of sitting on a banks backbone server unnoticed..... If I want, I can show you how easy it is to break into your box, shoot me your IP address ;). A Windows virus, as I stated before are destructive, meaning that they are designed to take out the pc, whereas linux trojans are designed to take out servers, create backdoors and be totally silent in a machine. Bacially, any noob Comp Sci major can make a loud windows virus, whereas a team of professionals make linux stuff. Your safe as a linux user not b/c of your OS, but b/c the people attacking linux have more to gain from specific target attacks then sending out huge volumes of trojans... my 2 cents EpiC
starks Feb 17	I also find it hilarious that the detractors of this idea refuse to acknowledge the existence of Wine, CrossOver, and virtual machines.
ethana2 Feb 18	There is no modification Dell cannot make to Ubuntu to turn it into whatever they want. As many others have stated, companies do this windows all the time. If you don't like the Human theme, use Nodoko or the one from linux mint or ubuntu studio. I would love to see Ubuntu at Wal-Mart, with compiz and everything, you know? You linux haters are funny. It's the only operating system with a market share limit of one hundred percent. You'll have to deal with it one of these days. Apple is evil, they thrive on control, and they can go away. Ubuntu is better than Leapord, period. Windows, well, we're all trying to recover from that. To that end, this would be a great step in the right direction.
starks Feb 18	People like epic fear Linux because it has the potential to become mainstream.
ethana2 Feb 18	..and goodness knows when Linux is offered beside windows on every model in existence, Microsoft may consider making a decent operating system (hard to imagine, isn't it?), so even if you actually /like/ Microsoft, this will be nothing but good for you. Real choice? I mustn't start drooling now... Dell, if you need help with this, feel free to ask Google. They've been using and improving linux based operating systems for some time now. ..maybe they'll port sketchup soon. For all of us out there too timid to really dive into Blender, this would be great. By replacing Windows with Ubuntu and WINE, you stand to ultimately shave $30 of expenses off every machine sold. People can only afford so much... why not let them give the money to you instead of microsoft?
lugo02 Feb 18	What's the point of saving a couple bucks of expenses only to have inventory pile up on store shelves and in warehouse not selling. Eventually you'll have to start selling at a lost and that's not good for business. I am sure Dell would sell GNU/Linux based machine in retail stores if it has the potential to be profiable, but first they will need test it out somewhere. However I think you GNU/Linux retail advocates are reaching to far. I didn't even know Dell offered GNU/Linux machines until I saw it on this board, and I've been on the Dell website very frequently in the last year. A better goal for you GNU/Linux advocates to push, is for Dell to feature those GNU/Linux machines on their website, so that people won't have to accidentally stumble upon them. If that is successful then you can talk about retail stores, but for now I just do not see it as being a wise business decision for Dell to put these machine in retail stores.
howlingmadhowie Feb 18	lugo02: believe me, we've been shouting at dell to put the ubuntu machines where they can be found ever since they were launched. obviously microsoft won't allow it. i sent a friend of mine (who is a quite intelligent guy, though not a geek) to the dell site recently to try to find the ubuntu computers. after ten minutes he gave up.
jdelidc Feb 18	imo (at least for the next half hour), whats gonna happen in the next few years is basically what happened to intel when amd came out. linux will go mainstream, people will see how much better it is, then just like intel, microsoft (if they are smart) will work on improving windows and especially improving efficiency. sorry but there is no excuse to need 1G of ram JUST TO TYPE! my 9 year old machine can handle word processing in it's sleep (which is another idea but proves a point)
howlingmadhowie Feb 18	epic4life: i don't know of a single bank that uses linux as a backbone server. the banks i know tend to use ibm solutions. as it is, there is a reason why e.g. spam in european countries is so much lower than in other countries. it's because almost nobody here uses microsoft server products.
starks Feb 18	Why do you anti-Linux people care if Linux is profitable or not to Dell? Dell has already adopted a ton of Ideastorm ideas, some Linux some not, that weren't in their best interests or expressly profitable. This site is Dell's method of answering consumer demand, even if it's not representative of the industry. They want to make their customers happy,
starks Feb 18	Epic, why do you not understand that Linux needs the blessing of retail in order to gain marketshare?
epic4life Feb 18	it doesnt lol, that is the point I am trying to make starks, since it is free and can be download by anyone with internet, linux's marketshare is directly affected by how many people actually want to use it. for some reason, most people on these boards think that linux's marketshare will increase if DELL offers it on their computers. 10 years ago, there was a huge gap in techi's versus consumers. Todays, consumers are techi's and most people that have a computer know about linux. Just b/c someone doesn't use linux, doesn't mean they are idiots for using apple or windows, they just perfer it, like all of you prefer linux. If you wish to educate me and all my friends about how you think linux is better than windows, please stop and don't insult my intelligence b/c linux is not better than windows for the home, or at least mine and my friends home. To me, this is just like ranting that dell should pre-installed winrar on all of their comptuers lol. IF you can download it and obtain it for free, why should dell be pushed to pre-install it? my 2 cents EpiC
starks Feb 18	Epic, just out of curiosity, how often, if ever, have you used Linux? Contrary to what you claim, the Linux kernel (and popular distros) have been extremely stable for the past year and a half.
step69 Feb 18	I am coming from a Windows user perceptive, I bought a magazine w/5 cds for OpenSuse 10.0 about 2 years ago.It installed fine but it didn't recognize my internet connection/modem-Westell 6100 supplied by Bellsouth/Att.I would have been a linux user had I been able to go online.The magazine just glossed over the internet aspect, as though there should be no problem-but I couldn't get online.last year, I bought an old laptop that was having a problems w/Windows, so I install Kubuntu & used a Linksys wireless adapter to get online.It took me 2 days to get the OS to recognize my network/modem & go online! I recently installed Mandriva One 2008 to test if the connection would work & it didn't recognize my modem/network.I am sure someone would say I need to enter info on the command line. But that's the problem, people who are used to using Windows expect things to work out of the box & don't want to have to configure thru a command line like in the old DOS days to get things to work. Linux seems to offer great things, but still isn't user friendly enough for the common Windows user to make the switch.
lugo02 Feb 18	MY experience with GNU/Linux was similar to step69 when I tried to use it for the first time a couple years ago. Netgear did not make GNU?Linux drivers for my PCI wireless card and I did not get sufficient help from the GNU/linux newsgroup, all the solutions that was offer requied using the command line, and compiling code, none of which worked for me. BTW: I just downloaded Ubuntu over the weekend to install on a old gateway laptop for me Cousin. It's a gateway laptop with 64 MB of memory and a 5GB hard drive. Windows XP Professional installed just fine on it and was even running relatively smoothly, and it recongized and install all the hardware in the laptop, the only additonal drivers I had to install was for a old wireless PCMIA card. Of course after 30 days windows required activation, so that was the end of the road for my cousin, I didn't want to have to re-install windows every 30 dayys for him so I decided to install Ubuntu. Ubuntu did not even install, the worst part is that I did not even get a legible error message, all I got was a blank screen and the CD kept spinning. At least windows produces easier to understand error messages, besides I though Linux was suppose to fly on old hardware, I checked out the Ubuntu website and it requires 384 MB of memory to install. I tried running a Knoppix live CD, it said there wasn't enough memory to load the GUI so all I got was a command box. tried running a live Knoppix CD, it did't work said there wasn't enough memory to load the GUI so it gave me a command line. Eventually I am probably just going to install WIndows 98 on the machine just to get my cousin off my back, but before I do that I am going to try windows Vista Business on it. UPDATE: Vista didn't install, but it did not gave any false hope the way Ubentu did, Ubuntu actually had me thinking that it was doing something, guess my cousin willhave to make do with Windows 98, because he is too "frugal" to buy a new Dell with Windows Vista
step69 Feb 18	I am all for linux desktops being in retail chains,as long as the version of linux being extremely user friendly. As I mentioned, I personally had a major issue getting online.I think the computers should be much cheaper than their Windows counterparts though.When you can freely download an Linux OS as opposed to paying a premium for Vista or XP, it doesn't make sense that the linux machines would cost the same $.I know Microsoft would be very upset by this & probably file some kind of lawsuit. I think eric4life is wrong about this topic, selling Dell Desktops w/Linux would definitely help Linux.Windows & Apple are commercial OS companies, so they have financial backing & incentive for advertising.Linux is an online community that relies on donations & as such it is not feasible to advertise(with few exceptions such as Red Hat,Novell,etc.).Because of this most the general public has never heard of Linux.So Dell selling desktops with Linux can only help-again as long as the distro is extremely user friendly.
lugo02 Feb 18	Dell is also a commercial company and probably have little to gain by selling and advertising GNU/Linux. Chances are that they share an advertising budget with MS/Intel/AMD when they advertise machines with those products installed, with GNU/Linux all the expense will be on Dell and the consumer will have to pay for it. In the end the price of the GNU/Linux machines and the Windows machines will be about the same and the average consumer will almost always pick the more familiar, easier use Windows machine.
jackie_c Feb 18	No need to fuss and call each other names. Discussing the idea is fine and it is fine to disagree and have opinions, but no need to call each other names. Those comments will be deleted. Thanks!
howlingmadhowie Feb 18	step69: if you have hardware which is not supported, linux will have difficulties with it. the answer is simple: check before you buy the hardware that it works with linux. i do this, with the result that with a vanilla install of any linux distribution absolutely everything works perfectly. i have never had hardware problems. lugo02: for 64MB of memory you should try a light-weight linux distribution like dsl or puppy. btw, a lot of large companies spend a lot of money advertising linux for servers (like ibm, sgi, dell, hp and sun). This is because they save a lot of money and benefit greatly from being able to offer linux. at the moment the market for linux on the desktop is small because of microsoft's monopoly and proprietary formats. with the continuing adoption of odf this will change.
phubert Feb 19	Thanks for the comment, jackie! Exactlly... when my opponents are well-spoken, I respect them... then again, should I even consider any "opponents"? We may differ or take opposite sides on an issue, but that doesn't really mean we need to be opposed to EACH OTHER.
sanbhai Feb 19	To those who had problems with installing wireless drivers in linux: Install ndisgtk. If you don't have internet connection, you'll have to use command line for it. But if you have ethernet connection, use it for a minute to install it from the repository so no need to use command line. When it is installed, just load up the windows driver (yes, windows driver for the wireless device in linux) and it works perfectly in any linux distro. Bingo! There you have wireless problem gone even if your hardware manufacturer doesn't have any linux driver available. It is a GUI version of ndiswrapper and is stable. People talking about usability: have you even tried using linux? Last week, I installed a virtual XP in my machine. It was easier than installing Windows Live Messenger in my Vista machine. It was in a .deb format so I could double click it like a .exe file to isntall and when done installing, all I needed to do was define the amount of RAM and storage to assign for the virtual OS and boom, it was done. While installing messenger, I had to go through about 7 different steps unchecking all the checkboxes that wanted to install other applications besides the messgenger which I was never going to use. Someone said Dell gets to split ad costs when it says stuffs like 'Dell recommends Windows XXX' or whatever but not when it comes with Linux installed. True, that is a valid point. But the thing we are talking about is putting Linux machines in retail stores. I have been to Best Buy and Circuit City. Even if there are signs like Windows XXX preinstalled or whatever in every computer, a large number of customers still take a lot of time to talk about each machines with the store employee and then judge their choices. So if the stores have knowledgeable employees hired then there's no need to advertise at all. These employees can talk about linux when customers ask them about it. If the customers don't ask, then no need to talk about it. Those who don't take time in stores talking with the employees are the ones who look through the inventory on the internet and then come to the store to pick them up. For these guys, listing information in the tech spec section of the product is enough. So comes out Dell doesn't need to advertise anything about linux machines. Also btw, we are not talking about selling linux installed machines in bulks. We are just talking about putting a few in the racks so that customers have choice and see how it goes. If good, carry on, if not, don't bother too much. Giving choice is not a bad thing in the competitive market, is it?
phubert Feb 19	"So if the stores have knowledgeable employees hired then there's no need to advertise at all. " Have you FOUND such 'knowledgeable employees" in stores? So far, I haven't.
yaknowwat Feb 19	Also consider if Linux gets more recognition more companies will port to linux thus Dell will have companies to partner with same goes for just about everything else.
step69 Feb 19	Most of my friends are typical computer users(Windows users) & when I have brought up the information that there are other operating systems such as Linux, they don't know/understand what I am talking about.The average computer user doesn't even know what an operating system is, let alone the difference between Mac,MS,or Linux.This is the problem that confronts Linux as being a viable option. I have looked at computers at different retail stores & have never been told by an employee or seen an ad selling computers w/anything other than Windows.That includes Mac. I have never been to a Circuit City ,for example & seen a Mac computer for sale in my area.Add the problem that basically all software in retail chains is Windows only & it is hard to convince someone to switch from Windows.Someone said earlier as far my problem goes,if I buy the right hardware that is compatible w/Linux I wouldn't have had the problem.That defeats the purpose. I didn't go out looking to switch from Windows, but I saw a magazine advertising OpenSuse 10.0 w/5 CD's, it looked interesting so I thought I would try it. I already had a desktop & was already online w/Bellsouth using a Westell 6100 modem (windows XP).The end user shouldn't have to do something special to make sure something is compatible.Open source is supposed to have Universal Plug & Play & this is what most people are used from using Windows.
sanbhai Feb 19	@phubert: Actually, you might are right in a sense a lot of them are not as knowledgeable are they need to be but some are really good. However that is the retailer's fault, isn't it? @step69: When I installed linux, all I had to do was install my graphics card and wireless driver. Everything else was ready to use out of the box. The problem with graphics card was solved when ubuntu itself popped up a message saying 'Proprietary Driver Available. Do You Want to Install it?' I said yes and that was well taken care of. With wireless, I use Belkin wireless driver and they don't make drivers for linux by themselves. So I'm assuming its Belkin's fault rather than linux's. Anyway I made it work using ndiswrapper with Windows driver, but like I already said a graphical tool called ndisgtk is available as well for the same purpose.
sanbhai Feb 19	Btw I forgot to add, when I formatted my pc with XP last year, I had to download each of the hardware's driver (wireless, usb, graphics, sound card, etc) and then install it to make everything work. As you see, it was easier installing Ubuntu than XP.
step69 Feb 19	sanbhai-You are right, I forgot about the compatibility issues w/printers & scanners on XP. I never had these types of problems B4 XP came out.The reason I became interested in Linux is I was getting a new virus/spyware issue every week w/Windows & I was gettng sick of having to pay a premium for their upgrade.Avast antivirus & moving to Firefox helped eliminate my problems without switching to Linux.
sanbhai Feb 19	Like I already said, the problem with printers and scanners not being linux compatible is not linux's fault, its the hardware manufacturer's problem who ignore to make a linux driver. Not only not making linux driver, manufacturers don't often make drivers for discontinued products, so the printer/scanner that was working with XP might not work when you upgrade to Vista. So when this happens, will you tell me it's Vista's fault? Also, putting linux machines on the shelves will encourage manufacturers to make necessary drivers for linux, which is a good thing. We won't have people not opting linux simply based on lack of hardware support for linux.
babbage Feb 19	I agree get those Ubuntu systems into the stores, plus explain why using an operating system that is free is a good idea! Dell now that you are selling systems with GNU/Linux operating systems please consider becoming a corporate patron of the Free Software Foundation, the originator of GNU/Linux, at http://www.fsf.org/donate/patron They need and deserve your financial support.

« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next »

Please log in to post a comment

recently demoted by: