Pre-installed Linux must play commercial DVDs

May 3, 2007

Posted By:  jonmca

504 Votes

Status: Partially Implemented

Promote

You probably know this, but a "show stopper" requirement for most consumers and many educators and business road warriers is having laptops and desktops that can play commmercial DVDs. I have a hunch that preinstalled Linux on Dell machines will be a terrific success if Dell Linux desktops and laptops have this capability. I've been told that http://www.videolan.org/ has one possible approach.

Having Linux playing commercial DVDs may also catapult Dell into the complex Digital Rights Management contoversy so it would be wise to get Dell's legal staff involved ASAP and also have this discussed this at the highest strategic management levels at Dell (if this is not already being done).


DELL/ Status Update
Check out the Ideas in Action post from Daniel Judd. And you can also check out this follow-up post from John Hull who leads our engineering efforts behind Linux on consumer systems.

504 Votes | 34 Comments | Report Abuse

Comments Page (1 of 4)

1 2 3 4 Next

Please login to IdeaStorm to post a comment.

    Comments :
     

  • Sep 7, 2010     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: tahrey

    Well, as VLC is a free download, you could always just let them know about it somehow - and the legal aspects - and let them decide for themselves?
    •  

  • Apr 25, 2010     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: patmag

    in usa u can buy cyberlink powerdvd or write to congress, universal studios, and explain if they cannot allow a simple dvd player for your os than to not whine and excommunicate their supporters.
    •  

  • Jun 25, 2008     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: aikiwolfie

    I don't know if it's on the download ISO. But it's on the ISO that came with my M1330n. no harm in taking a look.
    •  

  • Jun 25, 2008     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: jmxz

    Ah. So I (who got my Ubuntu Dell with 7.04 before they bundled LinDVD) can download the ISO with it? Cool!
    •  

  • Jun 25, 2008     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: aikiwolfie

    The update should probably be "IMPLEMENTED". LinDVD is on the installation ISO.
    •  

  • Jun 24, 2008     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: jmxz

    This idea seems to be a dup of the earlier idea here : http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/65462 Also, last year Lionel wrote " Know that some of you who have already purchased a Dell Linux system with 7.04 are wanting to know how to get LinDVD. We're working on that.. stay tuned." Any updates on that?
    •  

  • Dec 19, 2007     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: jmxz

    @lionel: THANKS!!!
    •  

  • Dec 19, 2007     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: aikiwolfie

    Lionel I'll give Dell credit where it's due. You did good with LinDVD.
    •  

  • Dec 19, 2007     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: lionel

    Changed status to **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**. Check out the Ideas in Action post from Daniel Judd. And you can also check out this follow-up post from John Hull who leads our engineering efforts behind Linux on consumer systems. The stellar vlog camera work was done by your truly. :) The posts mention that we've added LinDVD to the 7.10 distribution. Know that some of you who have already purchased a Dell Linux system with 7.04 are wanting to know how to get LinDVD. We're working on that.. stay tuned.
    •  

  • Sep 26, 2007     Comment Link

    Report Abuse

    Posted By: aikiwolfie

    Personally I think the whole issue of patent protection for software needs to be looked at. Especially the whole practice of hoarding patents purely to push competitors out of the market. Perhaps a similar principle to Arctic territory claims should be implemented. Use it or lose it! I also think that when a technology becomes as wide spread and as crucial as DVD technology then it should automatically enter international public ownership. Either that or patent and copyright owners shouldn't be allowed to charge prohibitive prices for licences and also shouldn't be allowed to with hold licences from paying applicants.

1 2 3 4 Next