[Ham-Linux] Dell Linux Laptop & Servers

Thu Apr 20 12:34:00 EDT 2006

I have a Dell inspiron 8600 that I used to have to use the drivers that
you are talking about. On updating the kernel you would simply have to
go back and do an automatic install. Now I am running SuSE 10 and no
longer need the pay for driver. SuSE 10 finds the built-in wireless and
it just works. I have seen other built-in wireless in a HP laptop that
were not as lucky.. But the Dell stuff works on my laptop.

Mike

On Thu, 2006-04-20 at 12:14 -0400, Bill Cotter wrote:
> Leo,
> 
> I have used RH/Fedora linux on several Dell laptops (C-800, D-600, 
> Inspiron) with mixed results. The older Inspiron I gave up on after 
> days of kernel builds, patches, hacks, etc.
> 
> The C-800 accepted RH9 with a simple video hack (I think I had to 
> tell X to use the display as super-VGA) and I used an external 
> cisco wireless card with no issues. These are commonly available 
> (accessories, too) on e-Bay for great prices.
> 
> A couple of years ago I got one of the newer D-600 models with the 
> built-in Broadcom wireless card. I installed the Fedora core and it 
> puked on the wireless card. I ended up having to install ndis to 
> emulate windows, to use a windows XP wireless driver. Every time I 
> did a yum update where there was a kernel change, I had to go back 
> and reinstall the ndis shim. What a pain.
> 
> I finally installed Win XP and VMware to run linux with no problems 
> (yet)! The next rebuild cycle, I will place FC-5 on the box and use 
> the cisco wireless card. Then use Windows XP under linux-VMware.
> 
> A good way to buy Dell laptops WITHOUT an OS is to go to the 
> www.dellauctions.com site and bid on their refurbished units. I 
> have picked up a couple of GS-260's and laptops for my kids and 
> they come without an OS or any software. Plus they are well priced.
> 
> All the servers I use for security services here at UofK come from 
> Dell without operating systems and we promptly install the latest 
> Fedora package.
> 
> 73 bill n4alg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> At 11:57 PM 4/19/2006, you wrote:
> > > On Tue, 2006-04-18 at 21:12 -0700, Leo B. Whiteway wrote:
> > > > This message has had no response and I wonder if we will have 
> > to look
> > > > for a different supplier.
> > > > Posting this to these groups may not be polite but I am 
> > getting angry
> > > > with the lack of response from Dell.
> >
> >It's not only Dell - email response from major retailers just plain
> >sucks.
> >
> >
> > > > I want to buy notebook/laptop computer/s and I want to know 
> > if you will
> > > > sell any without any operating system as we do not allow any 
> > computers
> > > > in our place of business with any Microsoft software installed.
> >
> >Dell will actually put linux on some of their servers, but I don't
> >believe it's offered to the public - only their corporate customers.
> >The website should tell you.
> >
> >Your best bet for any answer at all would be to call them.  While I
> >can't state you'll get anybody with a clue, it's probably better than
> >you will get via email.
> >
> >Not that I don't sympathize, but will your business be negatively
> >impacted by a laptop with Windows sitting in the building?
> >
> >
> >
> >I am a corporate Dell customer.  When they got into the printer 
> >business
> >(by which I mean they slapped a DELL emblem on a Lexmark), I had to
> >rattle a lot of chains to get a linux driver.  The Somebody that
> >eventually called me apologized for the delay and emailed me the 
> >driver.
> >I suggested that perhaps they consider actually putting the driver on
> >the website, allowing them to avoid calls like mine.
> >
> >If you go to the site, pick a day when you won't be in a hurry.  Even
> >their customer site crawls sometimes.
> >
> >
> > > > Do you sell computers without Microsoft or do you only force 
> > buyers to
> > > > pay the Microsoft penalty and thus have us clear the drive 
> > and reinstall
> > > > proper software?
> >
> >You might be able to get a server with no OS.
> >
> >Generally the larger companies won't sell computers w/o Winblows.
> >There's some sort of legal hitch, but I'm not 100% sure what it is.
> >
> >
> > > HP (but probably not Compaq) is pushing Linux, might even ship with
> > > Linux if you ask.
> >
> >I'm pretty sure that Dell only uses Red Hat for linux servers.
> >
> >
> >
> >Overall, I'm pretty happy with Dell.
> >This does not mean there haven't been a lot of frustrating 
> >episodes, but
> >they're pretty good.  Right off the bat, their warranty will have 
> >either
> >a new part shipped to you overnight or a part and a tech to 
> >install it.
> >Their phone lines are 24x7x365.
> >
> >Of course you still have to call their support lines first, which is
> >another story entirely......
> >
> >
> >I'll close with fair warning on a related topic:
> >AVOID CHEYENNE/ARCSERVE/BRIGHTSTOR backup products.  If they are your
> >only choice, use Windows Backup or command line copy commands.
> >
> >I spent forty-two days with the dedicated, polite,
> >somewhat-knowledgeable folks who provide tech support for their
> >products.  I went from the bottom to the top techies and after 42 
> >days,
> >NOTHING GOT FIXED.  They finally recommended not using their OWN agent
> >for backup.
> >
> >The only person I talked to from my country was the operator who 
> >routed
> >my calls to India.  There is NO support in the US, including the 
> >VPs.  I
> >got so frustrated with the lack of a fix that my only 
> >entertainment was
> >trying to figure out how to make them laugh.  Rest assured that Bob,
> >Maria, and Frank were NOT their real names (well-spoken though they
> >were).
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Ham-Linux at mailman.qth.net
> >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/ham-linux
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Cotter, N4ALG             E-mail: n4alg at qx.net
> 173 Carolyn Lane               Home: (859) 887-5563
> Nicholasville, KY 40356-9340   Work: (859) 323-6474
> 
> ARRL   ARCI #9878   QRPl #1646   QCWA #29393   FISTS #4535
> ---------------------------------------------------------- 
> 
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