Linux Hardware Compatibility List

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Linux Hardware Compatibility List

24730 points posted to Dell Web Site, Linux by s3indiana 02/20/07 **IN PROGRESS**

Create a listing of Dell hardware that's compatible with the major Linux distributions (Fedora, OpenSuse, ubuntu, Freespire) providing compatibility with not just systems (desktops and laptops) but include peripherals (printers, camera's, flash drives, compatible routers, etc.). Include levels of compatibility so the reviewer can make an educated choice. This would provide the greatest assistance for those looking at alternatives...

We're working to add something like this to our linux.dell.com wiki. Click here to see what john_h has to say.

dreazer 02/20/07	Good idea I think that the real probleme is the obligation to buys windows, but a list for make a unix computer can be interesting.
cranston3 02/21/07	Great idea.
guyjohnston 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/)
s3indiana 02/26/07	To be fair Dell doesn't write drivers (or create hardware for that matter) they just use what's available, so the hardware vendors need to step up to the plate...
siriusfox 02/27/07	This is a must have. While I can get over having to reconfigure the system, it is nice to know ahead of time that the hardware can be configured the way I want.
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
s3indiana 03/01/07	cyber_rigger posted: Companies selling preinstalled Linux (unlike Dell). There are hundreds of OEM's pre-installing Linux, but unfortunately the footprint is insignificant. First step is having Tier 1 OEM's create a Hardware Compatibility list of systems they provide that will work (and to what extent) on different versions of Linux...
lvictor 03/02/07	I would like to add something to the post made by cyber_rigger. I indeed happened to browse through the link to lxer.com to notice that the so called linux-certified laptop is actually a fujitsu-siemens I offered to my nephew some time ago... It is just more expensive than the original ! what a trap... indeed, having a list of compatible hardware would prevent some of us to get caught by those companies.
gschoep 03/06/07	This goes with http://www.dellideastorm.com/article/show/62079/Become_the_open_source_OEM
gwagnon 03/14/07	I agree with s3indiana, Dell doesn't write drivers, nor do they design and manufacture many of the components inside their systems. BUT, they could make it easier for their customers to be able to choose the Dell systems that will satisfy their needs. A few years ago, as Microsoft tried to transition the public from Windows 9X systems to NT and 2000, they published a guide of what hardware was supported by the new systems. Dell sales and support could tell customers what legacy Dell hardware would not be supported if they upgraded. Helping customers to select the Dell systems and options that are supported by Linux could result in fewer unhappy customers and fewer returned systems. This is a very inexpensive way to achieve these goals.
jimibond 04/26/07	Especially wireless cards on laptops
jack.ripoff 05/30/07	The OEMs are the only ones with enough power to pressure the chip vendors to release their documentation! Vendors: we don't want your source code and we don't want NDAs. All we want is the complete documentation of your hardware so we can create our own stable and maintainable opensource drivers! If Dell wants to let its customers satisfied with its new Linux PCs offering, it MUST make vendors provide full and free (both in the sense of freedom - i.e. not under NDA - and in the sense of price) documentation. The rest (hardware support and opensource drivers) will come along. Cast your vote for free hardware documentation! Dell's Linux PCs offering will be completely useless without proper hardware support... http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/64498
s3indiana 07/29/07	Status on this recommendation???
s3indiana 12/20/07	Similar Idea here: Easy identification of Linux-compatible hardware (http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/74498)
john_h Mar 14	We're working to add something like this to our linux.dell.com wiki. Much of this information exists today on Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, Mandriva, etc. forums. We're hoping to make a central place where this information exists, where customers can post much of this information themselves.
kara_k Mar 19	Changed status to IN PROGRESS.
sedmic Apr 16	Merged Idea originally posted 10/18/07 Easy identification of Linux-compatible hardware Before buying a new computer, I find myself spending hours searching Google for the particular model and making sure the hardware works at all. Sometimes, all I can find is a snippet of an email where the hardware may have worked, depending on the distro/configuration. There should be a link from the www.dell.com/open page to hardware that just works in Linux. Similar to the service manuals pages, the page would list the model of the laptop or desktop and what base hardware is known to work with Linux. There doesn't have to be extensive documentation or even instructions for the early phase. Even linking the common hardware found in the Linux laptops and desktops with what's used in other computers would be a great start. I'm looking for the base hardware. Some things, like the graphics cards or Intel chipsets are well-known and would require minimal work to list. Other products, like the webcam or modem, are harder to find and identify compatibility.
jorge Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 10/18/07 Good luck with the idea but they'll never do it, you are best to look at the distro sites for that info, people actually test things out and report it there, way way way before any Dell employee will ever even consider that, just look at where thy offer it, on the lowly hardware models which no one who really uses Unix would even buy (if they really want to do something with it other than browse). If they do do it, it will be after Microsoft crumbles and they have no choice.
undead999 Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 10/18/07 I previously suggested a matrix within another post to addreess this concern http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/74424/Give_users_the_option_to_have_ope...
john_h Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 10/25/07 We have been discussing this and are investigating how this might be done. This is certainly done for the systems on which we sell Ubuntu and Red Hat, but not for ones on which we don't support Linux.Ideally I would think a wiki where Dell engineers as well as customers could post and consolidate their findings.
sedmic Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 11/03/07 A wiki would be fantastic. I feel much more comfortable about buying a laptop when I know ahead of time what might or might not work. Certainly, it's one more way to differentiate Dell from its competitors and draw more of the Linux crowd.
ubondell Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 11/05/07 I have found these sites to be valuable in determining which laptops are linux-friendly and what issues that people have had with any of the component pieces http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/ ** http://hardware4linux.info/ http://gentoo-wiki.com/Index:Hardware https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LaptopTestingTeam/ http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Gutsy ** The Gentoo site is good for the details of how to solve an issue with problem on your current PC and the ubuntuguide.org site is a good coverall Ubuntu how-to guide.
iwo Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 11/13/07 I think it's good idea. I propose also to use sickers on hardware, and on boxes, like for example in my laptop "Designed for Windows XP" just (also) "designed for Linux", or "linux 2.6 ready", or "Linux friendly".
xivulon Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 11/30/07 Ubuntu does have a hardware certification program, I am sure you are aware of that, as I am sure they will be quite receptive and helpful. http://www.ubuntu.com/partners/hardwareprogramme
bugmenot Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 12/19/07 https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupport
s3indiana Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted 12/20/07 Linux Hardware Compatibility List (http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/62702) has been a request since February...
sedmic Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted Jan 3 ubondell and bugmenot: This is exactly my point. Websites like this (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LaptopTestingTeam/Dell) are great and will always have a place in the world. However, the computers tested may not represent the configuration you've chosen. Also, you don't always know the name/identification of the hardware before purchasing, making it hard to look up on compatibility lists. The best solution would be for Dell to simply tell us what components a certain laptop model has and then link to a page describing if they've had any linux luck with it. Again, lots of this stuff (i.e. Intel (R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG is probably found in many laptops) will be repeated.
limerat Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted Jan 24 Yes, either Linux friendly".or perhaps just a picture of Tux,so we Linux users will know what works with out OS.
capnskyler Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted Feb 13 most linux is backward compatible.so whatever is in use and whatever vendor is supplying hardware,very likey you will have compatibility and it will work. i know some printing and other issues will arise,but we can also put pressure to the printer driver makes to open up the code so the developers can make the drivers work in linux. and lets face it,most linux has a huge amount of hardware support.the linux online community is THE source to get issues resolved--there are some BRILLIANT people out there who are very good at problem resolution..
fredl Apr 16	Merged Comment originally posted Mar 16 Why don't you publish the info about your systems on http://hardware4linux.info/ ? You have already lists that have been generated automatically from users: http://hardware4linux.info/manufacturer/876/160/ and http://hardware4linux.info/manufacturer/2285/160/ but having exhausting lists would be better.

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