Ubuntu on all models where it works

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Ubuntu on all models where it works

11330 points posted to Linux, Operating Systems, Small Business by jonsmirl 08/01/07 **IN PROGRESS**

I'm still throwing away copies of Windows. Recently I have ordered some Dimension 9200s from Small Business. All of these machines are running Ubuntu today without problem. They're being used to replace some PE400SCs that are starting to die. A 2GB quad core for $649 was too good a deal to pass up. It makes a great small server.

Please offer Ubuntu as a choice on all configurations where it works. I would have still paid $649 for the box and you could have kept the money you're sending to Microsoft.
We continue to explore different Linux opportunities on our systems. Check out daniel_j's comment below.

jmxz 08/06/07	@jonsmirl: I hope you got Dell to refund those unused Windows licenses. They have been known to issue such refunds in the past. For more info you can see the links under this Idea: http://ideastorm.com/article/show/66143
winoffice 08/07/07	Duplicate of dhart's idea "Preinstalled Linux \| Ubuntu \| Fedora \| OpenSUSE \| Multi-Boot (the link to that idea is here: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/61771/PreInstalled_Linux__Ubuntu__Fedor...)
jmxz 08/07/07	@winoffice: It's not a duplicate because the latter idea is a much more far-reaching Idea asking for Multi-Boot, Fedora, etc. that involves 2 OS's Dell never tried and contract issues for getting permission for Multi-Boot. This Idea's a much more manageable one - install an OS Dell's already selling on more models.
xivulon 08/09/07	See also: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/72884/No_need_for_special_Ubuntu_machines
jonsmirl 08/11/07	I've had these boxes a week now. There are a couple of minor Linux issues. To make the quad core CPU temp sensor work you need a very recent kernel and lm_sensors from svn. I've looked all over for other temp/fan sensors and I don't believe the board has any that are accessible. The SATA DVD does not work with Fedora 7 64b, the kernel is too old, it works in Fedora 8 beta and the Ubuntu 7.04 64b. You also need recent Nvidia drivers since the 8300 card is fairly new. Everything worked out the box with 32b. I put 4GB RAM into it so I want to run 64b. If you add an extra drive to a Dim9200 you have to have a right angle SATA cable. Ignore the RAID support in the BIOS, it is fake software RAID. Use the software RAID support inside Linux. If you go dual boot and want to use the BIOS RAID Linux can use it but I never figured out how to set it up. I booted Windows on one of the boxes. It spent about three hours downloading updates for various packages from the web and it needed to be rebooted 14 times. I had Ubuntu installed on five other boxes plus a disk/mem upgrade in each before the Windows box was ready. All I wanted to do was look at Aero and now I see that Aero isn't even included in Visita Basic.
murrquan 08/11/07	I don't think this would be a good idea. Giving people the option to get Ubuntu preloaded without knowing what they're getting into might be a good way to get angry tech support calls. It's simple and easy to use, yes, but it's also different. A lot of people don't like different, and this might be a way to turn them against Linux. On the other hand, they're probably getting a lot of tech support calls about Vista as it is. ^.^ I say if Dell can promote Linux, provide documentation and support and make it clear what people are getting into, then go for it. But just offering Ubuntu without explaining what it is (except for saying it's not Windows) might not be a good idea.
izach 08/11/07	jonsmirl: I don't like the idea of committing to a single open source solution. why not Novell's, or Red Hat? I'd leave the decision to Dell's tech team based on the right solution for the right platform. /IZ
jonsmirl 08/11/07	izach, it is pretty trivial to switch an Ubuntu machine to RH, Suse, etc. Just stick their live CD in an overwrite the Ubuntu install. As long as the kernels are new enough everything will work no matter which distro you install. Of course you'll have to mess with proprietary drivers that won't join the open source world like Nvidia . Dell is probably picking Ubuntu as a standard so that they have a chance at training some phone support people. Even if the box came with Ubuntu installed I still would have over written it with 64b Ubuntu. I immediately upgraded them to dual 500GB drives and 4GB RAM. The main point here is that I am continuously buying copies of Windows that end up in the trash can. If Dell doesn't want to ship Ubuntu on the box I'm just as happy with a bare machine. The PE400SCs I originally bought were all bare machines, but Dell stopped doing that. I just checked and 64b Vista wasn't even an option on this box. 64b Ubuntu worked out of the box and was free, You can still buy these for $649, just search for Dimension 9200.
fgilley 08/19/07	You can get a FreeDOS machine on some models, i dont think the Dimensions can as they are consumer side systems, not relationship.. but anyway most "techies" install whatever OS they want when they get the machine, the advantage here is if we can drive customer sales due to saved time for the customer because the system they want already comes with the OS they would want to install.
jmxz 08/19/07	@fgilley: 'but anyway most "techies" install whatever OS they want when they get the machine,' I think most techies _can_, but most don't want to. I think I'm at least reasonably technical (used unixes since the mid 80s; linux since mid 90s; and dealt with slackware back when drivers were hard to track down). But I don't want to. While, sure, I could track down most drivers (and even attempt to debug some) it stopped being fun years ago and I much prefer letting whomever I buy it from do it for me. Yes, some hardcore windows users like to install Retail Vista over an OEM Vista - but the bulk of them don't. And the same goes for Linux techies as well. Yeah, we can do it - but we don't want to.
wayfarer 08/22/07	I feel like this is a great idea. It is near impossible to know that you can get another operating system for your computer. Where applicable I think that Ubuntu should definitely be an option. This would promote open source and allow potential customers to easily get a computer with Linux.
bk 08/22/07	While saying "support preinstalled Ubuntu wherever it works" sound charming and while I have initially promoted this idea, I would want to add this" ... where it works "with free software drivers" While NVIDIA graphics generally work with the NVIDIA proprietary driver and ATI cards (if you are lucky and you do not hit a bug) also tend to work (except for common known long-standing bugs like suspend not working) some extend, I'd strongly advise to not not sell models for which you need proprietary drivers for 3D support because the burden which comes with them is (in most cases) not feasible and it's most of the time better to use an Intel GPU because those are supported by open-source drivers which are also integrated into the GNU/Linux open-source architecture. Actually, I sould better say "free software" whenever I say "open source" here. Intel's latest GPUs have greatly improved 3D performance over previous models because they now perform T&L on the GPU and also support pixel and vertex shaders in the X3100 GPUs. NVIDIA's and ATI's drivers are proprietary and closed source, which means that you can run into severe trouble under GNU/Linux with them, including being sued for copyright infringement when you distribute them. This is the summary of the reasons why Ubuntu does not support closed-source drivers like those from NVIDIA and ATI. There are reverse-engineered drivers for NVIDIA cards which are clean from a legal viewpoint (e.g. the nouveau driver is now even part of Fedora Linux) but 3D support in them is experimental at best. Nouveau and the reverse-engineered ATI driver would need to be tested on Dell-shipped systems, they crash on the attempt to use any cool Linux eyecatchers such as XGL with Compiz or Beryl. They work fine with the free software Intel drivers. Thius, I think that Canonical and Dell are well-advised to not supply NVIDIA and ATI systems with those infringing closed-source drivers. See my comment in this idea on examples of the issues in which you can run with closed-source NVIDIA drivers: http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/72607
jdelidc 08/22/07	add the drivers. we're paying for the system anyway
davmcn 08/22/07	Why Did I Promote this....Demoted....
della 09/06/07	Things are chainging: http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=827&num=1 AMD/ATI will support community from now on. The new two release of closed source fglrx driver will bring ATI user experience at the same level that nVidia users have. Support will allow the community to develop a Open Source driver withoiut the need to reverse engeneer chipsets. So, in a couple of months we will have complete ATI support so Dell should really consider to include ATI cards in Ubuntu laptop/desktop series.
bucky Mar 18	Merged Idea originally posted 12/18/07 Offer Ubuntu on more hardware In late October 2007 I wanted to purchase a Core 2 Duo desktop to run Ubuntu and had decided on the Dell XPS 410n. When I went to purchase the machine I discovered that not only had it been pulled from the scarce three machine lineup that Dell had offered with Ubuntu but that I could find no news or information when a replacement (e.g. XPS 420n) would be offered. I emailed Lionel Menchaca regarding how Direct2Dell would be the ideal place to announce changes of this nature, and subscribed to the Dell Linux-Desktops mailing list to watch for announcements. Nearly two months have passed and yet Dell’s Ubuntu lineup hasn’t changed. If Dell’s marketing is to be believed and Ubuntu has arrived by popular demand I suspect Dell would be more successful if they offered it on more than just two pieces of hardware (currently the Inspiron Desktop 530N and Inspiron Notebook 1420N).
winoffice Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted 12/18/07 Definite Duplicate.
winoffice Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted 12/18/07 Also, did you think about what categories you placed this idea in - IdeaStorm and Linux? I see no reason why this idea has anything to do with IdeaStorm.
bucky Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted 12/18/07 Categorization seems a bit odd on this site. As this was my first (and will likely be my only) suggestion I decided to categorize under Linux (of which Ubuntu is a distribution of) and IdeaStorm (as that seems to be a catch-all). I apologize if my novice understanding of Dell IdeaStorm posting etiquette offended. I did a search and found requests to have Ubuntu offered as an OS choice on all Dells. I don’t see that as immediately feasible, but do feel increasing the hardware selection would be a positive step towards supporting Linux.
jdelidc Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted 12/18/07 it definitely would
ubondell Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted 12/19/07 I would suggest doing what I did. Buy the PC with the HW features you want and then insist on getting it with the absolutely cheapest Windows version: Home, HomeBasic, whatever. When you get it, on first power-up hit F2 and change the boot sequence look at the CD/DVD before the HDD and put the Gutsy LiveCD in the drive. When it finishes booting, click the install icon and follow the steps. You will end up with a much more functional Ubuntu install than the one that Dell provides.
jdelidc Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted 12/28/07 agreed to a point. i use fedora, but even if dell did offer fedora, i'm still wiping it on impact because i want it running off a flash drive. however, i do not want to give microsoft a donation. if i'm going to buy something from them (or from anyone for that matter), i want to use it, not just donate money to a company that has too much money and power already.
carlosponti Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted Jan 28 i would like to see dell offer the 1525 in an ubuntu flavor. i want a cheap browse the internet in the living room machine my current dell installed with ubuntu is an old machine that was wiped of windows and had xubuntu on it and its getting long in the tooth.
jorge Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted Jan 30 Wow, winoffice said duplicate!
angrykeyboarder Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted Jan 31 Two things keep me from buying a Dell PC. 1). All the really nice models are Windows only. 2) If I (as a customer in the United States) call Dell Support, I won't be talking to someone in the United States. Dell, if you fix this, you'll gain more business. In the meantime, my next PC willl be custom built for me with no Operating System, but with the Hard Drive, Optical Drive, Video Card, Sound Card, RAM, Media Card readers and other options I want that Dell can't even begin to offer (and we're not talking Gaming Box" either)..
zanlok Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted Jan 31 drivers drivers drivers If the drivers came with whatever Linux flavor, then it would be more common for average users to buy this OS. Of course, it wouldn't hurt if Dell didn't try to scare them away with the whole warning thing.
mseashor Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted Feb 2 All I want is a laptop that has a 15+ inch screen and runs Linux...is that so much to ask?
kambikutta Mar 18	Merged Comment originally posted Mar 2 I want to see Dell Ubuntu XPS Laptops with AMD Turion X2 processors
daniel_j Mar 18	We continue to explore different Linux opportunities on our systems for both our consumer and business customers. Stay tuned here and on Direct2Dell for updates. Daniel Dell OS Strategic Planning
kara_k Mar 18	Changed status to IN PROGRESS.
winoffice Mar 18	@jmxz: "It's not a duplicate because the latter idea is a much more far-reaching Idea asking for Multi-Boot, Fedora, etc. that involves 2 OS's Dell never tried and contract issues for getting permission for Multi-Boot. It is a duplicate. Once three distributions and multi-boots have already been asked for on all models, there is certainly no need to ask for one of them on a smaller subset.
jmxz Mar 18	@daniel_j, kara_k! Thanks for the feedback! This sound very exciting.
bsmmoney Mar 19	next time you throw out a copy of windows, can you send it my way?
jmxz Mar 19	@bsmmoney: That's an interesting that should probably be posted. If I buy a system where Dell bundles Windows but don't want it; perhaps they should let me donate it to someone who does want it.
yesmathew Apr 3	daniel_j and kara_k, I am badly looking for this options in Switzerland and in India. Many thanks in advance. Excited.
winoffice Apr 3	yesmathew, So you are living in both Switzerland and in India? Very funny, LOL.
yesmathew Apr 4	Want to gift Ubuntu Linux to my loved once in India.
goombadoolies37 Apr 16	daniel_j, what about Australia? I have purchased some desktops recently because XP was an option (and because of the free advertising you got from offering ubuntu). Now I want a new ubuntu laptop. The old AMD 1.8ghz has served my wife well and now I want to get her a coloured inspiron. Pioneer computers in Australia offer an Ubuntu laptop option. Why can't Dell?
sbrunner Apr 25	and what about Switzerland ?
phubert Apr 25	...and make it work on all models!

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