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Dell Linux Details
jon_anderson_ca writes "Dell, through their direct2dell website, has released some details of their soon-to-be-available Linux machines. Among the highlights: Only hardware that works with Linux is offered; open-source drivers are used where possible; binary drivers for Intel wireless cards, etc.; and no support for proprietary media codecs. Seems reasonable, but it's too bad that Click2Run isn't in Ubuntu 7.04 for the sake of those wanting to (legally) play DVDs, use AVI files, etc." The direct2dell site divulges no details on what models will be offered with Linux. For those we turn to linuxquestions.org, where proprietor Jeremy published a scoop last week: "We will be launching a Linux based OS (Ubuntu) on the E520, 1505 and XPS 410 starting next Thursday, 5/24."
You may mod me as down, but I am really frustrated this news. While there is a Novell with great solutions, support they can provide and completed advanced desktop which lacks nothing what is needed for average Windows user (mp3, codecs and so on), they choose Ubuntu, where apt-get is the only good thing... Does not sounds serious to me. :-( Of course we say: "Go install $foo yourself", but this is ain't a point, because average users never treat PC as a potential LEGO constructor, but simply a device, which they can turn on and start to work or have fun with NO worry to post-install things. Hope Dell's Ubuntu will be different Ubuntu, but I am not sure... Also I am not sure how do they handle unstable repos, where is the only place to get actually nice software. Do they think that average user will vim apt sources and follow numbers of HOWTO's?.. Yes, *I* can do that easily, maybe everybody on /. are familiar, but yet not average Windows user. :-(