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and Now the Good News

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Submitted by Endervidual on Tue, 2007-05-01 18:43. | |

I don't own a laptop/notebook computer, but have wanted one for a while. In the future I plan on building other types of computers myself from parts, but I've heard putting a notebook together that way presents more of a challenge than I want for my first attempt. So I've been looking for other options that don't involve paying Microsoft for Windows.

Today PC World offers an article with this headline:
Dell to Offer Ubuntu Linux on PCs, Laptops.

For consumers who have heard of Linux, they'll see that Dell is offering it on machines and is backing it, and that may encourage them to seriously consider using the operating system for the first time, Donham said. "It can only be good for Ubuntu. Maybe people will want to try it out with the big hand of Dell behind their backs."

I suspect Dell's offerings will include a model I like preloaded with an operating system I want. That can only help both Dell and Canonical. It may also constitute an early milestone in the break-up of Windows complete domination of the mass computer market.

Read the PC World article

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If it's Linux you're after...

Submitted by Happy Curmudgeon on Wed, 2007-05-02 09:34.

Emperor Linux also sells laptops pre-loaded with different flavors of linux. FWIW, there has been a buzz on one of the IT listservs that I read about how current Dell laptops aren't up to snuff. One suggestion a friend gave was to take a copy of a live linux CD (like Mepis, Ubuntu, or SuSE) into a store and see if it works with the store's display models, especially the wireless detection.

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Dell qualifies as a Major American PC seller

Submitted by Endervidual on Wed, 2007-05-02 11:49.

I consider Dell's status as a major vendor an important part of that news item. Wireless support often does pose problems, but Dell might actually bring some hardware support to that issue, too.

Thanks for the heads-up about Emperor Linux. (It appears that Dell manufactures their "Rhino" featured system.) Their site seems to be having some problems today.

I've been 'drooling' over a Linux certified laptop for a while, but I'm always glad to hear about more vendors. More vendors bring down prices. I consider Dell entering the market a very good thing for that reason, even if they did not qualify as a top seller.

I'm also pleased that Dell picked Ubuntu (adding KDE shouldn't be a problem). I like Ubuntu's philosophy and their identification of Bug #1.

In any case, I seek a slick laptop/notebook preloaded with Ubuntu more than Linux itself. I have Kubuntu 6.10 running on one of my two regular desktop machines. The other still has XP, but not for that much longer.

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Loved the bit about Bug # 1.

Submitted by Happy Curmudgeon on Thu, 2007-05-03 07:18.

Loved the bit about Bug # 1. And you're right about getting KDE on Ubuntu - I just added the Kubuntu packages to my Ubuntu partition (back at version 6.04) and had my choice of GNOME or KDE desktops at sign-in. And you might get a chuckle out of Michael Dell's personal laptop setup - the one he uses at home.

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