[Ham-Linux] Dell Linux Laptop & Servers
Bill Cotter
n4alg at qx.net
Thu Apr 20 14:01:42 EDT 2006
Mike, I didn't have an 8600, I think it was a 5200 if memory serves
me. Our staff ordered the D600's and I ended up with whatever they
used as a default........Broadcom. Next order I will be very
selective! bill
At 01:17 PM 4/20/2006, Mike McCarthy, W1NR wrote:
>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
>>>----------------------------------------------------------
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Ham-Linux mailing list
>>>Ham-Linux at mailman.qth.net
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>>
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----------------------------------------------------------
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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