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Finally A Major-Brand Desktop With Linux, Not Windows
Fugwidzard writes "Sounds like an okay box from HP at an okay price, the NewsForge review says, but no modem, and even optional modems are Winmodems although they say they have Linux drivers for them. Plus it's not a true Linux preload - they give you a couple of Mandrake CDs and you're on your own, no support. Better than paying Microsoft tax, anyway, and a step in the right direction for HP. Supposedly they're going to have all their PCs 'Linux certified' in the near future. I hope other big PC mills do the same."
Looking at the spec's to this PC, it sounds like a typical corporate desktop box. The only thing I see out of the ordinary is it sells without windows. Whats the friggin point? Granted its nice to be able to purchase a PC without the MS tax, but frankly, you have been able to do that for years with WhiteBox's anyways. The type of company that would roll linux across the desktop seems to be the "roll your own" type company as it is. You would figure they would see the appeal in buying no-name pc aswells.
I would have a different view of this, if it shipped with support, and properly pre-configured... but nope.Neither HP nor Mandrake provides any free support for Linux. You can, however, purchase Mandrake email or telephone support as an option when you buy or from MandrakeSoft directly. I dont see a single advantage for a company that is going to buy a linux desktop to go with this PC. Perhaps im missing something here? But, if you are going to forgo support... why not save money, and cut HP out completely.
As to servers... well, this machine is powerful enough. At least at my work, we for space reasons will only buy rack mountables at this point in time anyways. I think thats pretty standard the world over... so that kinda ruins out using this machine for say... DNS.
As to the home user market... well... the article says it best.Since the d220 is aimed at business users instead of home users, I didn't think it important enough to comment on This machine isnt aimed at the home market... and you can buy alot more, for alot less.
Had HP offered support, I could see the value here... but in the end, its just a overpriced Windows PC, without windows... with a copy of Mandrake chucked in... YAWN!
The point of this article is that a MAJOR vendor was shipping with Linux. Who the fuck is "Evesham"?? Besides, lots of little guys will sell a Linux box.