[Ham-Linux] Dell Linux Laptop & Servers

Thu Apr 20 13:17:50 EDT 2006

Which wireless card do you have in the 8600?  I have a D600 which I 
specifically ordered the Intel Pro Wireless internal card instead of the 
Broadcom just for Linux compatibility.  SuSE runs great out of the box with 
it.

Mike, W1NR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Schmitt" <mschmitt1 at adelphia.net>
To: <ham-linux at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Linux] Dell Linux Laptop & Servers

>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).
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >Ham-Linux mailing list
>> >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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