jdwilliam

Don't waste time on Linux or any other Open Source software

Linux, Operating Systems, Software submitted by aiac13 03/05/07

Disregard all calls from these Open Source fanatics to offer Linux or any other OSS. Focus your attention on improving service and support to your existing lines of business. Any efforts to provide and support Linux or other OSS will most likely cause support and service to your existing lines of business to suffer. Don't legitimize Linux or other OSS, these are softwares and technologies only for the hobbyist, ignore them and soon they'll fade back into the woodwork, where they belong. 19 Comments »

LINUX on VMware included with Windows.

Linux, Operating Systems, Software submitted by labtroll 03/13/07

In the real world, you cannot expect people to just jump ship and move over to linux. IT'S A TRY BEFORE YOU BUY WORLD. Linux might be free.. but time is not. People need to feel that they will not waste time and resource.

I would like to suggest including Linux distro(s) (with all the extras that Ubunto install includes) on a VMware image. Since VMplayer is free. Linux is free.

People Can still use the windows that they are so accustomed to. They can try Linux and play inside a safe virtual environment, and in full screen (which greatly enhances the "virtual" experience)

1)Risk free trying of Linux
2)Virtual environment to surf web and other stuff. Virus and Malware all contained.
3)Hardware independent. No need to worry about drivers.
4)Can try any Linux distros anytime.
5)With VMplayer, you can boot up any other virtual environment out there.. including MacOSX.

Note:
Dell already install tons of software that slows the system down, and many are pretty useless and just advertisement bloated. Letting people see that there are other Operating systems out there will open the eyes of consumers. It will also generate a demand for alternative operating systems. In the end pushing large OS developers to also develop more refined products.

The biggest challenge isn't making Linux better, but it's getting Hardware manufactures to support drivers. Applications are abundant. Skills of coding are abundant. But not every coder has access to hardware.

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Linux Printing Solutions

Linux, Printers and Ink, Service and Support submitted by jfelisky 02/21/07

I have a Dell 3100cn laser printer, which was a nice purchase until I dropped Windows XP and moved to OpenSuSE on my home computer.

I've tried a lot of different message boards looking for a way to keep that printer, but I'm so frustrated with Dell's lack of Linux support that I have to consider HP, since the LaserJet family is more broadly supported. 53 Comments »

Provide Drivers For Linux/Unix Involving All Hardware Used - With Source Code

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by longjohn254 04/18/07

Providing a set of binary drivers for linux distributions is all well and good but, if there are major changes in the Operating System it can break the operation of the drivers on the computer.

However if the community had access to the source code for all the drivers then they can provide support for this hardware out of the box and keep it in line with the current core component updates. It can include TV tuner cards such as "Avermedia Hybrid TV+FM PCI (A16AR)".

In addition these drivers need to be able to be downloaded and installed with ease as some people may not be used to messing around with setting up linux drivers. Especially important with both binary versions & source code versions. 3 Comments »

Please gently persuade Alienware for an Alienware-loaded Suse Open-Linux

Linux submitted by isg91xf 05/02/07

Dear Dell,

Please persuade Alienware, the new bleeding-edge performance wing of Dell (and indepedently run by its founders), to ALSO include Linux (my preference is Suse Open Linux, which comes also as a boxed set; an advantage, for it gives extra "tinkering" room ).

I require (badly need) to do Magnetic Resonance Imaging software development. For THAT task, Linux, X-11/Motif, and the GNU arsenal are of paramount importance.

The needed laptop would, ideally, be a Windows Vista (Ultimate) dual boot.

What Parallels.com offers is attractive, but that is limited by the fact of being a simulation, a virtual (not direct execution) of another operating system.

Thanks,

Ivan Salazar (isg91xf) Comment »

See only Linux compatible components when building your own system

Dell Web Site, Linux submitted by frozenfire 05/03/07

It would be nice when building you own system on the Dell site, you can tick a box and then it doesn't show the components that aren't Linux compatible. 3 Comments »

Pre-installed Linux must play commercial DVDs

Education, Linux submitted by jonmca 05/03/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

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).


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.
32 Comments »

bundle preconfigured hardware peripheral's

Accessories (Keyboards, etc.), Linux, Desktops and Laptops submitted by cooltunes 05/06/07

When I buy a linux computer from dell I would like the option to include or later buy hardware peripheral's that would come preconfigured or certified compatible with my dell linux system. I and I 'm sure many other users would be interested in things like wireless for the desktop, mp3 players, printers, scanners, bluetooth, tv tuner cards, and just about anything else that I can plug into my computer. If dell does not want to sell these items on their website then a hardware compatibility list with dell certified hardware would be great too. 1 Comment »

No Novell EVER

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by jaswax 05/07/07

There is no way I or anyone else in the Linux community will ever buy a Dell computer with Novell Linux on it. If you want to stay in the computer manufactuing business you will reassert your comitment to Ubuntu or some other Linux distribution that is not Novell or RedHat.

You are currently the #2 computer manufacturer. You know this. Your WERE #1. I see you taking another dip to #3 and then #4 if you keep going back on your promises to your customers and potential customers. Come on. Who helped you build your empire, your customers or Microsoft?

I was the guy that sent the email to Michael Dell warning him of the impending fall from the #1 position over the poor tech support about a year and a half ago. My warning was not heeded.

Don't make the same mistake again. This may make me sound like some arrogant idiot but I was a customer and you almost had me back with the whole Ubuntu Linux thing. I am sure a lot of others feel the same way. I will never buy a Dell with Novell or Microsoft on it. 13 Comments »

Stay away from SUSE Linux (Novell/Microsoft)

Linux submitted by sirro 05/08/07

Please don't make us have to pay dollars to Microsoft to use Linux on our servers! That is just so wrong. 5 Comments »

Install both KDE and Gnome with the Ubuntu pre-install

Linux submitted by lordshipmayhem 05/14/07

Some people prefer Gnome, others KDE. There should be enough room on the hard drive for both. 8 Comments »

Offer Beryl (or Compiz) preinstalled on Ubuntu computers

Linux, Software submitted by zhinker 05/16/07

The 3D eye-candy from those computers is something that's getting a lot of my non-linux friends wanting to try out Ubuntu. It makes a great selling point (look at how big a deal MS tried to make of it's simple little side view thing) and any new linux buyers expecting to already have that sort of thing working will be extremly dissapointed when the realize they still have some work to do. 5 Comments »

Ship Linux (or Windows) Live-CDs for Data Recovery & Internet Access

Linux, Operating Systems, Service and Support submitted by mistern 05/18/07

MultiMedia availability on Dell linux systems

Linux, Operating Systems, Software submitted by lucianotolfo 05/24/07

include the necessary codecs in the linux distro to allow users play all the media they already can in windows.

You can make deals with some companies (like Fluendo) to solve that, and be sure you don't increase the pc cost because of including the codecs 6 Comments »

Provide OPEN Linux drivers for all DELL products!

Linux submitted by lucianotolfo 05/27/07 **REVIEWED**

I think it's important for DELL to provide OPEN and FREE Linux drivers for all their products (notboocks, desktops, printers, etc.) to mark the way for other manufacturers, to develop linux drivers too (or they can work together with the linux community to do that)

Also the Linux users can get an easy way to configure their DELL products on Linux. Because linux users also take into account which hardware will be compatible on their Linux systems
We have open Linux drivers on our server products today and are driving our desktop and notebook vendors to do the same.






8 Comments »

Open SuSe Package Repositories Drivers

Linux submitted by ruvenss 05/28/07

As ATI and Nvidia, Dell could create a package repostory for each DELL series and publish it on the official Open SuSE Website. Comment »

Dell + Opensource = Win!

Linux, Operating Systems, Software submitted by jpe2000 05/30/07

I'm not really into pre-built but when my grandma got her $400 Dell I was impressed.

I am a user of Ubuntu and PCLinuxOS.

Anyway, I think that Dell needs to start making ads about their new Linux and FreeDOS systems. I think that Dell should look into more than just one Linux distro and at least look at two or more.

First (what I started out with) was PCLinuxOS. I was amazed at the difference it was between Windows. It was, however, one of the easest distros I've ever used (easer than Ubuntu). I think that Dell should offer PCs with Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, and Gentoo.

Sure, maybe Gentoo is taking it a bit extream for the average user but the user could learn from the ground up from using Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS (or even BOTH!).

As for Dell's Windows PCs, I believe that Dell should enforce opensource software for Windows. For example, new Dell computers should come with Firefox (along with Internet Explorer), OpenOffice, and many more. 1 Comment »

Have Ubuntu loaded machines on display at Dell Direct Stores

Linux, Sales Strategies submitted by joeevil5000 05/31/07

If Dell is pushing for alternitve OS's to get in the mainstream, they should show them to thier customers in action. There should be at least one machine running Ubuntu at every Dell Direct Store kiosk. That way, dell sales reps can show it to customers, and compare it to Windows as to what it can do. Dell gets customers from computer savvy geeks, to the computer illiterate grandma, but thier core consumer is the computer illiterate. They are more than likely going to want to go with a Windows system, because it's what they have heard of, and known about for so many years, but, it will let them know that Windos is'nt the ONLY OS there is. Simply put, by displaying Ubuntu, people will get to know that it exists, and what it is, and spread the word. 4 Comments »

Dell with Opensuse (not only Ubuntu )

Linux, Operating Systems submitted by xhen 06/01/07

I have read recently about this new idea of DELL which is perfect, but in my opinion (working as IT manager On Veolia environment for 8 years) I think dell should try opensuse instead of ubuntu, I think is more easy for the Final User who need to change from windows to Linux.
With opensuse you needn´t run any sudo command (ok sometimes yes but are less) to install things like ubuntu.
In my personal opinion and after my own experience,recently (i´m not very familiarize with linux) I have spent 5 days trying to install ubuntu in one computer and finally I have decided to give it up and install again Opensuse 10.2 which is more efficient for the final user and more friendly.

I hope Dell give us more options not only ubuntu, especially nowadays when Microsoft and Novell have made a deal to get a better relationship between Opensuse and Windows (actually a better relation of windows with Linux-Opensuse not on the contrary), I think this would be one of the most important distribution of Linux for companies which want to change windows for Linux.

Best Regards ;)

Go ahead with more Points!!! 12 Comments »

linux hardware support

Dell, Linux, Monitors and Displays, Operating Systems submitted by xiandrow 06/06/07

There has been a lot of headway in the Linux support area of computer technology in the last few years. It would be awesome to see Dell lead the pack in general Linux driver support. I would be a more regular customer! The hardware on my Dell Inspiron 1501doesn't fully support Linux. Graphics and Wireless drivers are badly needed. This is a good machine, but Vista just isn't up to par yet. 2 Comments »