Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware

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81367

Provide Linux Drivers for all your Hardware

81367 points posted to Linux by gergnz 02/19/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I don't care whether the OS is pre-installed or not, I want all the hardware to be totally supported in the Linux kernel without in mucking around. I currently have a Dell M1210 and I wish the modem would work, just in case I need it. The web cam would work, just in case I need it. At least the Intel wireless card is totally supported. Thanks Intel!!
Drivers are available for Linux to make some but not all hardware work. We continue to work with our partners to provide for better hardware support. See more specifics from john_h.

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nothernoob 02/19/07	Exactly.. Just using Linux-supported hardware and providing a link to a Linux driver (for any major distro) would make your wannabe-geek customers SO happy.
d23 02/20/07	even if there was no option to preinstall a Linux distro, it would be nice at the very least to have models that are certified linux friendly. I am tired of buying machines from Dell that are purchased to run linux and having that one item that doesn't work.
liar 02/21/07	That's shit! I don't want dell's proprietary drivers under linux or any other free OS! I want a free driver. DELL, please give us the specs and let the community write good drivers, thanx
arvindkst 02/21/07	Conexant modem drivers for Linux cost $15 - just use some other hardware manufacturer.
lesleyb 02/21/07	I agree with this idea. I have yet to try SuSE on my laptop and I am hoping I don't get any problems - I can still remember the nightmare that was winmodems - closely followed by the speedtouch modem work. If I knew there were Linux drivers available for Dell hardware then I would mostly buy Dell rather than build my own. That way at least I get a warranty/repair if they blow up instead of having to rebuild every four to five years as hardware flakes out!
manimal347 02/21/07	I agree. Dell should strive to ship hardware components that are natively supported in the Linux kernel or have a Linux binary/source code whenever possible.
wimo 02/22/07	AIO printer need drivers for Linux too.
gman 02/22/07	No need for preloaded Linux. I agree with others, use hardware supported in the kernel or use hardware with Linux driver support.
random 02/22/07	Providing Linux hardware support, either with Linux drivers or source code, would be a very good idea, and would seem logical from a business standpoint. The more compatible your products are, the larger your potential customer base.
drahnreb 02/22/07	very good idea!! i have a Insiron 9200 and 6000 Laptop from DELL. Mr. DELL develop Linux drivers for my hardware thx.
stefano 02/22/07	This is the foundation of a preloaded linux. Dell SHOULD NOT use binary drivers !!!!
hplinux 02/22/07	I think it works the other way round. Dell should choose hardware with native kernel support for their systems. Providing or developing linux drivers might be asked too much with the outlook (hahaha) on decreasing M$-provisions. Did I mention that I support the No-Windows-Option :-). Intel centrinos apparently work pretty well with linux :-).
coolest 02/23/07	Running cheap Linux machines is pretty much the only reason for buying Dell hardware anyway.
iphtashufitz 02/23/07	The linux kernel developers have issued an open offer to all hardware vendors to provide services for free to help in writing linux drivers. (See http://kerneltrap.org/node/7636) Hardware vendors would be foolish not to take advantage of this offer. Dell could make use of this offer to help ensure the linux kernel supports a wide range of Dell hardware. By getting the help of the linux kernel developers Dell could ensure support across virtually all linux distros and not just the one or two that they choose.
jyoungxxxx 02/23/07	No proprietary drivers, I agree. Open Source is the future. Intel is coming out with a new graphics chip that will have open source drivers so that could be a start. IT ISN'T ALL DELL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE DRIVERS!!! Drivers come with the chips that are built into the systemboard and adapters that have nothing to do with Dell. I have no problems running Linux on my Dell Dimension 8300. It is compatible enough already anyways. The problem is with the vendors that make the adapter cards and accessories that come with it.
brokencrystal 02/23/07	Linux Wireless Drivers and Linux Video Drivers are a must!!! Open Source or proprietary, we need drivers! Drivers that just work.
brokencrystal 02/23/07	My Dell Inspiron 1501 needs Linux drivers for ATI video and Wireless!
guyjohnston 02/24/07	I'd like it if Dell provided drivers for GNU/Linux for all of its hardware, provided that they were all free as in freedom (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/)
knivesout 02/24/07	This is VASTLY underrated right now, vote this up!
valeryan_24 02/25/07	Dell should support Linux as well as Windows, more and more users ask / want it, we want a real choice ! So please make an effort for providing hardware drivers for Linux.
lizardman 02/25/07	Dell could build itself a reputation which goes far beyond the realm of "Windows only" users by using hardware that is supported in Linux, and /or providing good Linux drivers. Free.. as in choice! Or thought...
tbox 02/25/07	When a company uses Dell machines they expect some form of flexibility on their application choice. Hence Linux OS is installed but Dell needs to provide the drivers that can be built (compiled) for that OS. Please provide Linux (distro wide) drivers along with basic documentation on its use.
hackamore 02/26/07	linux is OPEN SOURCE... if you need a driver write it and give it away after you've debuged it .
marx2k 02/26/07	The linux kernel community offers free linux driver development for any hardware vendor interested! : http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers.html http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers_faq.html
caywood 02/26/07	Just this one issue would go a long way to breaking the log jamb bottling up Linux from really taking off. I converted my office machine to OpenSuse almost a year ago and my home machine a few days ago. I am glad I switched at the office and will probably feel the same way at home. Drivers are not as fully developed for some of the hardware as they should be though.
ken_li 02/26/07	Put the driver lists under Dell website not just tell us where you can find out of Dell website. and I agree Dell should make one laptop model that all the hardware be certificated by suse or Redhat ( maybe one specific version like oracle have his own linux version to support his software).
estiedi 02/27/07	I don't care whether Dell would provide binary or source drivers or allow the community to write drivers (by giving the specs), although I'd prefer the latter for the simple fact that open source software is mostly of better quality. Currently I have a MaxData laptop. Because it's of superior quality? No! Because support is better? No! Just because I could buy it without Windows and other useless software preinstalled! I won't pay for software that I don't need or use (even if the cost is hidden). I will, without any doubt, buy my next laptop from the company that supports Linux as described above, if such would exist. If not, I'll continue to buy laptops that come without software at all. Oh yes ... and I can not believe/imagine that it would be a significant effort to do so for any laptop manufacturer. At the bottom line I think the only they're afraid of is losing some partnership with M$ (can't blame them for that).
hoodamanny 02/27/07	Would be awesome if they included osx drivers for their printers too...
exzen 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/18/07 Linux Driver CD/Download With the increase in integrated peripherals, it would be nice to see Dell provide some linux drivers, especially for their integrated webcams. It would make installing Linux much more painless, and would a good show of support for the linux community (and maybe woo some of the linux crowd over.) Moreover, it would make sure that the Dell systems remain fully functional apart from Windows.
brjones 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 I agree, I wish Dell would offer driver support more than just RedHat / Fedora. How about Ubuntu and OpenSUSE? I have 2 $$$ Dell desktops and a laptop. I like Dell PCs but when they are pre-loaded with MS Software they come with so much bloatware, I never used most of it and it just takes up space. Offer new Dells with no O/S at a discount! Billy in Sugar Land
iphtashufitz 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 Good point. I think ANY PC vendor that can demonstrate support for the top (5, 10?) linux distros would suddenly find themselves getting tons of favorable praise from the linux community. And favorable praise in a high-tech community can certianly equate to more sales. The linux kernel developers have issued an open offer to all hardware vendors to provide services for free to help in writing linux drivers. (See http://kerneltrap.org/node/7636) Hardware vendors would be foolish not to take advantage of this offer. Dell could make use of this offer to help ensure the linux kernel supports a wide range of Dell hardware. By getting the help of the linux kernel developers Dell could ensure support across virtually all linux distros and not just the one or two that they choose.
anshuman 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 ya, Dell should really go forward and take the kerneltrap (developer's) offer and make a FULLY SUPPORTED Linux laptop .
guyjohnston 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 I'd like Dell to provide GNU/Linux drivers for all of its hardware (particularly for GNewSense), provided that they're all free as in freedom software (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/)
valeryan_24 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/25/07 I'm a satisfied user of Ubuntu, and this is right the biggest problem we have with Linux is that a lot of official drivers are missing. It would be great if Dell could add this support with Linux pre-installed laptops.
loisl 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 Linux drivers for all hardware components should be available in source code and they should compile and install for all recent (>2.6.16) Linux kernels, independently of a given distribution. In order to prove this Dell should provide all the drivers as ebuilds for the Gentoo portage tree.
marx2k 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 The linux kernel community offers free linux driver development for any hardware vendor interested! : http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers.html http://www.kroah.com/log/linux/free_drivers_faq.html
jonathanorlev 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 Just to say I support this.
conejoi 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 agree
benunderscore 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/19/07 Better, Freer hardware support for Linux I recently purchased an HP Pavilion dv2000 and installed Ubuntu Linux on it. It is genrally a great machine, but the "nice to have" peripherals such as the USB camera and microphone don't work under Linux yet as the drivers are Windows only. In addition HP do not support Linux on consumer devices at all, nor do they offer Linux versions of their device drivers. If Dell really want to be progressive they should make all of their hardware highly compatible with Linux by implementing the following steps (a) Providing a pre-installed Linux distribution option for all of the hardware model options, complete with all the useful software features and products that Linux offers, for example, Open Office, Firefox, Thunderbird, etc. People could even make a choice of one of the major distributions, ie: Ubuntu, Mandrake, Suse. (b) Ensure that all of their hardware drivers are available for Linux, preferable under an OSI compatible licence (c) Provide paid support for Linux for the hardware and Linux distribution of their choice. People WILL make use of this (d) Perhaps partner with a major consumer Linux distribution such as Mandriva, Canonical or Novell to co-brand such things as training, certification, conferences, etc etc. If you undertake a strategy of this nature, Dell will become recognised as the major hardware vendor for the Linux operating system.
limerat 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 I agree..Freespire or Linspire also works as possible distros. More choice than just Microsoft is what we want. And the general public,I'm sure would appreciate more options once they knew they were there.
stephen55 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 Outside of the USA , Linux is growing very strong. Governments , Corporations and individuals are moving to Linux for a variety of good reasons.The time is ripe for some company to grab the larger market share of this movement. Some company will , if not in the United States then outside of the USA. Why not Dell based in the USA?
guyjohnston 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 I'd like to see all Dell hardware support GNU/Linux (particularly GNewSense) with free as in freedom drivers (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/)
mily 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/27/07 3rd paragraph -> Mandrake doesn't exist anymore : it's Mandriva now !
mahei 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/19/07 Make Linux run on any dell laptop without any driver problems Why is Dell selling products with devices which are not fully supported by the mayor linux distributions ? Surely Dell has enough market power to make any supplier support it's devices for linux and force them to intergrate the driver directly into the linux kernel. No more linux drivers which have to be downloaded from so third-party web site - they must be integrated into the linux kernel!
sid1950 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/19/07 There are more than enough hardware suppliers with products with either native or reverse engineered drivers for Linux, so this should not be an issue. There is a huge list of compatible hardware.
mahei 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/19/07 Hey sid1950, if you buy a laptop with technology >6months old, then what you say is true. But buy something with a new chipset, or a new chip for network/wireless/graphics/sound/modem/sd slot reader etc then you usually have a device which you cannot use :( What about all those fancy extra keys or wireless on/off, sound etc. Did they work out of the box for you ?
weisen 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/19/07 I think "without any driver problems" is a lofty goal that no operating system has achieved, however it would be nice to see Dell treat Linux as a first-class citizen and work with their hardware suppliers to develop drivers for their chips. The last laptop that I had for which this was "not an issue" was an old Latitude CPx. I think that 'sid1950's point is: buy another product if you want Linux support, but this forum is not for "other products" but for improving Dells. I'm typing this on a MacBook Pro running OS/X because I tired of working in order to get Linux to work on laptops. And I'm someone who, when my first Pentium-M laptop arrived wrote Linux kernel patches so that DMA disk access would work with the ICH4M(?). Minor accomplishment changing PCI ID's and such, but it should give you an indication of my level of commitment to Linux two years ago.
mahei 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 By "without any driver problems" i meant that Dell should: - use components that are already supported directly by the current linux kernel WITHOUT patching or getting a driver from somewhere on the net - because drivers from third parties usually just work for a few kernel revisions - and after that they are unuseable again. - Only use such components which are fully and openly documented - so that drivers can be written. Dell's hardware designers have the choice and the marktet power to push that through - which not make good use of it ?
kdean06 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 This may be a duplicate, but I'd like Dell to see my opinion on every relevant thread, so I'll post here. I urge Dell to sell computers with Free Operating systems! I do not use computers that run restrictive software on them, and as such, I'd never buy one. If, however, Dell shipped AND supported GNU/Linux (for instance) running drivers that were Free Software (none of those non-Free, binary only drivers!) I would drop the money on Dell products. For users who are allergic to the mention of the ethical issues, Dell supporting Free Software would be them also supporting Open Source. EVERYONE running GNU/Linux benefits from that. But DELL know that for some, supporting "Open" software alone is locking out customers, just as Windows only is.
arclight 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/23/07 Rather then picking an existing distro, have a Dell managed Delinux distro that also integrates in dell versions of other major projects. idea
balle-larsen 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 I have a Dell Precision M90 with a BCM wireless card. No Linux (usable) driver available. Dell should tell Broadcom to supply the technical specs of the card for the community to write a GPL driver. I don't want to use the NDISWRAPPER option.
guyjohnston 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 I'd like it if Dell provided drivers for GNU/Linux (particularly for GNewSense) for all of its hardware, provided they were all free as in freedom (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/)
thirty2bit 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/25/07 sid, mahei: The problem with this is that there are a lot of hardware vendors out there pushing products that are not Linux compatible and (from their mouths) will never be.. but the hardware is so cheap to implement, and ubiquitous in the Windows market, that it's hard not to choose it. Take Broadcomm wireless. They're one of the vendors that won't open up drivers for Linux and have said it's for "intellectual property" reasons. Actual reasons aside, Broadcomm chipsets are cheap and being used everywhere. Dell would have to learn to "suck it"-- lose a few nickles or bucks-- and choose more expensive Linux compatible hardware. I would personally rather see Atheros or Ralink used over Broadcom anyway, but that's me. Dell would have to become a leader by doing this. Now that Michael is stepping back in, maybe this could happen.
mentallyprovoked 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/26/07 Why is it everyone thinks this is such a simple process, like Dell can just walk around and bully the hardware vendors around? You cant just walk up to intel and say hey....we demand you to make drivers for "XYZ". We don't care if you have your source code locked for protecting your intellectual property, or whatever reason you have. Do it now cause we say so. Come on now....that's rediculous. It won't happen. Dell doesn't have control over the vendors....if they want to do it...they will. If you want someone to complain to...go to the vendor. If Dell were to just swap out partnerships and switch over to other vendors that have Linux support but yield a higher price tag to include, the system prices will reflect that and go up. Pop in that scenario with other parts here and there which may require that as well, and youre back at square one which nulifies the arguement of a cheaper PC with Linux on it as a possible ending. Bottom line is this. Majority of computer users, do not use Linux or OS X, or any alternative. They use Windows. Most people don't want to learn a new OS either. And let's say if it did happen, they want to know that if they buy something for their computer afterwards, that they won't be limited on what they can or can not buy. Some of you know as well as I do, going through the shelf of video cameras or whatever else to find something showing it supports your OS isn't fun. I say this as someone who obviously owns a Windows based system, but also owns a G4.
dalton 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/20/07 Linux Drivers for ALL Dell Products Even if you do not intend to pre-install linux, ensure that the equipment you sell is supported. I have a brand new paperweight called a "Dell Photo All In One Printer 966". I purchased the product, it works under vista, but is not supported under cups or sane. There are groups who will write your drivers for you, for free, so there is no excuse for not supporting your users. regards Dalton Calford
james_paige 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/20/07 Yes. You don't have to do any work to accomplish this one! Just publish the specifications for your hardware, and there is already an army of Linux volunteers waiting to eagerly to write drivers for you. (BSD too!)
saivann 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 Oh yeah, I want to make my Dell 922 all in one printer under Linux and Dell didn't give me any specs or informations about how I could do this myself. I bought a printer but can't use it on my own computer just because of this!
dalton 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/21/07 When your wife buys a computer, complete with printer, and finds out that vista does NOT support the software she uses, or the mp3 player she bought, or the digital camera she has, or the numerous other media cards. We promptly put on a OS that works - Xandros, a very nice home version of linux that she and the kids love. I would have kept Windows if XP was a choice, but, they do not even give a choice to purchase XP. Now, I am waiting to see if Dell is going to support their products, or if I sell this paperweight and buy a new printer from another company. This is the families first time buying from Dell, and I will soon see if it is the last.
guyjohnston 02/27/07	Merged Comment originally posted 02/24/07 I'd like Dell to provide GNU/Linux drivers for all of its hardware (particularly for GNewSense), provided that they're all free as in freedom software (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/)
gforce145 02/27/07	In RPM format would be nice also!
sfryer 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/27/07 drivers please! Instead of simply black boxing a linux distro onto a Dell pc or notebook, it would be much much more strategically intelligent to work with hardware vendors to get the specs out into the open so that fully functional oss drivers can be written, not only for linux, but also bsd and other os's aswell. After all, oss is not simply another commodity, it's also about the collective ethics and aspirations of a vibrant human community. Even from a commercial standpoint, it's silly to overlook that, or underutilize it's enourmous potential. If Dell were to support the oss community on this frontier, it's a no-brainer that it would earn the steadfast support of millions of hackers (who comprise the most influencial technology consumers) the world over.
ethan 02/27/07	This is a must. Linux use is widespread enough that all manufacturers should be considering this a priority in their upcoming products. This has my promote.
reb 02/27/07	Merged Idea originally posted 02/23/07 Just a little tiny help RE: mic in on M1210 under linux I have managed to gather everythihg I need to make my M1210 usable under RHEL4 with the single exception of - the mic jack doesn't work. Is it too much to ask to get a patch to a recent linux kernel or a bios update to fix this?
whitestar 02/27/07	Loud amen to that. I still don't know where to get a driver for my printer; I don't think there is one in existence.
houron 02/28/07	As soon as you provide Linux drivers I'll buy some Dell Hardware, mostly big printers.
paddy2k 02/28/07	It's not up to Dell to provide the drivers, it's up to the hardware manufacturers. However if Dell are going to sell GNU/Linux boxes then they MUST put pressure on their suppliers to supply the most up to date drivers for their devices under GNU/Linux. If Dell sell a unit under a certain platform then they should support all the components fully, currently they don't so they don't have to.
kravkali 02/28/07	I think dell should use components that cooperate with the open source community. I'm particularly concerned with the wireless cards in dell laptops. Broadcom has refused to cooperate. I say, never use broadcom. Send them a message that their revenue comes from consumers, and consumers won't buy a product that doesn't meet their needs.
lizardman 02/28/07	So, the way things are, if I were to buy a DELL laptop and printer, I currently would not be able to put Linux on it and use it? Didn't know that.
felipe 02/28/07	Well said sfryer!
cyber_rigger 02/28/07	Companies selling preinstalled Linux (unlike http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/23168/ http://lxer.com/module/db/index.php?dbn=14
markir 03/01/07	I think rather than providing drivers, which tend to rapidly become out of date - it would be better to work with the Linux community to ensure that your HW is supported in the kernel tree. A number of successful vendors do this now (e.g AMC/3ware with their RAID controllers work with the Linux and BSD communities). This would generate a great deal of goodwill (which will translate into recommendations to 'buy dell' on various open source mailing lists)
sgt.pepper.1967 03/02/07	While I'd love for this to happen, I don't think that this is even possible for Dell to do until other hardware suppliers (e.g. Broadcom) start supporting Linux with proprietary drivers or open source equivalents; it's not solely Dell's fault. On the other hand, they should apply pressure within the market so that this can become a possibility or a reality (especially since they're going to 'certify' some of their lines for Linux). I'll promote this.
xipmix 03/02/07	I think this is a terrific idea that should be promoted strongly. It's definitely better to work on Linux compatibility at the kernel level, rather than just certifying particular distributions. For one thing it removes duplicated costs associated with certifying multiple distros. (It would be interesting to know who bears most of that cost - Dell or the distro). As other posters have noted, it's not going to be all that easy bringing the hardware suppliers into line, but I think Dell should look seriously at building a line of machines which incorporate only devices that have in-tree kernel support, and/or take up the kernel developers' offer to add support for new models in the works. The latter is likely to be an essential component of doing this, because of the rate at which hardware changes. As there will be some costs associated with this, probably it is best to start with the Optiplex or Latitude lines. This is because you can promote the out-of-the box support as a major cost saver for business; for a premium of tens to a coule hundreds dollar companies get their install times down from hours or days ... to minutes. Currently it is very difficult to determine ahead of time if buying the next Dell model is going to result in all kinds of driver support hell. Most businesses would make the price premium back easily through reducing the amount of technical support labour spent on geting new machines running correctly. It might even reduce Dell's tech support call load. From the outside it looks as though Dell could, with moderate effort, make installation of linux on their systems a no-brainer. Support is pretty close at the moment; there is not that much further to go. They would then be in a strong position to catch the growing number of Linux adopters. HP is already doing this to some extent, but Dell is arguably in a better position to execute such a strategy much faster and more completely.
job62 03/02/07	It might indeed not be up to Dell to provide the drivers, but up to the hardware manufacturers. HOWEVER, with the staggering quantities of hardware used by Dell from those other manufacturers, Dell could (and should) use itś muscle and "influence" the hardware manufacturers into working together with the Linux community and have good drivers developed for the hardware. I really like some of the PC's that Dell is offering, what is keeping me from buying them is that I can not succesfully run Linux on them and I most certainly DON'T want to pay for a Windows license that I am not going to use. Kind regards from Aachen, Germany.
budi 03/03/07	I agree. My Dell Inspiron 6400 with ubuntu 6.06 has a serious problem with the Wifi. It keeps blinking. Dell should have a driver for its Wifi card. Budi, from Gresik. Indonesia.
billrobo 03/05/07	Our organisation runs a mixed environment of Linux & Windows desktops. Our problem is locating a "tier 1" supplier (we are specifically after national support infrastructure) of PC hardware who will certify their computers for Linux and provide Linux drivers for their hardware. Note that we care little whether its IBM, HP or Dell who eventually provides effective support for running Linux desktops. Whoever it is will gain all our national business for both Windows & Linux desktops (single suppliers simplify purchasing & support arrangements).
jejones3141 03/06/07	mentallyprovoked: What Dell CAN do is say "Either provide Linux drivers that have feature and speed parity with your Windows drivers, provide the information necessary to let someone else do so, OR WE WILL TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE FOR ALL OUR SYSTEMS, LINUX OR WINDOWS." That's what it's going to take.
ethan 03/06/07	paddy2k, You're right that it isn't up to Dell to create the drivers, but Dell is who we buy computers from (hypothetically), so it is Dell that we go to to request Linux drivers for their computers. No, they cannot create the drivers themselves, but they can respond to our requests and pressure their suppliers to provide the drivers. Dell needs to coordinate this if it is what Dell's customers want. But I agree that we should put equal pressure on the component manufacturers themselves.
gembla 03/08/07	That's a good idea, but you should also chose what os you want.
maverickcruise 03/08/07	If one were to peek in Dell's website, they have options for Linux drivers as well and for most of the hardware. The only drivers that do not seem to be available are for Intel Wireless and Intel Video graphics card. So, one actually needs to post this in a ideastorm created by Intel, if one's created........
balle-larsen 03/09/07	maverickcruise My Dell M90 has a broadcom wireless card. The request is that the hardware Dell put in their computers should be supported and not that we as customers should contact any possible Vendor and model Dell decide to use. When I purchase a Dell I don't want to worry about if all hardware in the computer (or printer) has Linux drivers. In the wifi (and Graphics) area Intel are actually nicer than Broadcom, as I see it.
madjuju 03/09/07	yes
oneeyedelf1 03/12/07	I don't expect Linux to be preinstalled. I would prefer drivers so companies like RedHat, Novell, Linspire, Canonical or insert X could be able to claim some sort of support for Dell machines. Because of Dell's market share I wouldn't be surprised if support came from the comunity once they had access to free opensource drivers. I know I will help. I recently bought a thinkpad laptop because I knew that Novell supported it.
arcriley 03/13/07	This has been said, but it should be repeatedly stressed: As long as every device in the system (laptop's are biggest priority IMHO) is supported by a vanilla Linux kernel and Xorg - this means NO PROPRIETARY DRIVERS - any distro we choose will work on it. nVidia is out. ATI Radeon 9800 (x300). Certain wifi drivers are out, use one of the chipsets that are already supported. Offer a xorg display config w/ acceleration working, wifi working, sound working, if there's a modem and ethernet they should be working, and anyone can grab a free Linux CD and install it on their own with no issue. There is also the open offer regarding free Linux driver development. This should be exploited as needed.
lsc 03/13/07	OPEN-source drivers, please. propritary modules usually stop working when I upgrade to a newer version of linux; and often they don't work at all unless I use a specific distro and kernel version.
purranki 03/14/07	I take this for granted. If Dell wants to take linux users seriously in any way, it must start from this. And also make it "open source" drivers as much as possible. Now there is an excellent opportunity to develop free linux drivers for any hardware. So there is no excuse.
matknny 03/14/07	Drivers for linux is sticky at its best but if the drivers are there then Dell could put them on its website rather then using generic drivers or looking forever for them. Matthew
gwagnon 03/14/07	This is a really, really good idea for Dell. One of the most commonly asked questions in Linux forums is for recommendations for hardware that is "compatible" with Linux. Generally, this means, are there drivers to support its hardware. If Dell would offer online, or on a CD a library of drivers for the hardware devices in its systems, "get a Dell" would become a standard reply to this question. Unlike some, I really don't care if these drivers are "open-source" or not, I just want a driver and I want it to work. Offering the downloads or the CD would be a very low cost way to capture these customers.
lerentier 03/15/07	Installing linux is easy but it seems that hardware drivers for a number of wifi modem routers are either non existant or nearly impossible to find. Whoever proposes a complete package ( PC plus wireless modem router ) which allows both Linux and Windows PC's to just run when plugged in, wins.
erikdebruijn 03/15/07	My brother and I have dell laptops and also sell hardware. Broadcom drivers under linux were aweful and the NDISWRAPPED windows driver even failed very often. This really limits you when you're strapped to a wire.
fishor 03/15/07	Most of hardware working out of the box.... but wifi, modem and acpi don't have any chance to work if they do not have open specification. If you don't wont to make drivers by your self, please use hardware what working with current kernel or make specification open. Do not make closed source drivers, they will newer work for linux!
goldie 03/17/07	please no proprietary drivers, PLEASE! give us specs or open drivers!
des 03/19/07	I agree, Dell should insist that it's suppliers provide Linux drivers.
goofy_2 03/22/07	Only better hardware Linux-support would be big progress. With open source or closed source drivers (like nvidia), choice (and responsibility) for the use of it up to the customer, OK. Pre-installed Linux? Hmmm... A 'clean install' with your favorite Linux flavor is not very difficult anymore isn't it...
phubert 03/22/07	Or, as I suggested: Dell should require drivers for Windows and Linux FROM THEIR SUPPLIERS ... period! Here: http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/65217< shouldn't have to worry about this... their SUPPLIERS should simply be required to PROVIDE them.
kuovsk.anekask 03/28/07	Preinstalled Linux probably isn't very practical, but open-source Linux drivers are. If there is the option to buy a PC without an Operating System pre-installed, and open-source drivers available for the hardware inside, I'll love you and so will many other Linux geeks.
moriarty 03/29/07	I have a Latitude D810 laptop and I managed to make most of the devices to work. But driver quality and functionality for most of the devices is pretty far from that of the Windows drivers. And I really would like to be able to use the integrated SmartCard reader of the laptop for SSH logins and mail signing and encryption... everything is available, there is a company in Germany offering freely programmable SmartCards for use with GnuPG, SSH support and so on... except the drivers. All I could find out that it has a TI chip, and no support for it.
mdeweerd 03/29/07	It would be nice to know all the hardware in at least one particular product line is Linux 2.6 certified. Make sure you install only components from hardware vendors who also provide Linux drivers (like nVidia) or vendors who make specs freely available to the Open Source Community so the community can create valid (kernel) drivers.
taman0shima 04/10/07	No voting possible in this site It would be quite helpfull to know before hand the availability of drivers for each Dell computers hardware or better-yet to have LINUX pre-installed. I would settle for a computer with no OS but the assurance that LINUX will work in that hardware environment.
jegianop 04/10/07	Drivers are important to the best impression put forward by manufacturer. We recently received several Dell 410 laptops. We have installed Mandriva 2007 on these laptops. The current issues are: the wireless cards (Broadcomm) are partially running; the display goes out when the cover is closed and cannot be restarted without rebooting the laptop; and most of the buttons/function keys do not function. Generic Linux drivers would help to overcome these problems. If nothing else use components that support Linux as well as that other operating system.

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