It's not a big deal, and it's not packaged with Ubuntu 7.04 (current) as standard.
Its not as if Ubuntu don't have a large user base of people to help each other out already. Someone can ask "How do I install MS Office" or "How do I install Counterstrike" and they'll be pointed in the right direction.
In case you aren't convinced. I'm on a Dell laptop running Ubuntu now. You think they'd suddenly restrict you from accessing the repositories, compiling source codes or executing scripts/packages.
You're confusing Ubuntu with Kunbuntu. Ubuntu comes with Gnome, not KDE, and doesnt have a K menu by default.
If you opt to add shortcuts to desktop, then there isn't really a problem running Windows apps. Also, in the drop down menu there is a WINE sub-menu, with a list of installed Windows applications. Or certainly there is with the most recent version of WINE.
It's the same process as installing MS Office on an XP machine if you use the GUI, which is what most people migrating to Ubuntu would feel most comfortable doing anyway.
...as it's easier to open a tin of beans than to cook beans on toast.
Neither process is hard.
For the most part, installing applications in WINE involves double clicking on the install/setup.exe (with exceptions obviously, for MS applications you may have to download Internet Explorer or Net Framework 2.0 and install it.)
There are a couple other exceptions, but generally using WINE is a simple process, after the initial "sudo apt-get install wine" command it's all 'OK' or 'cancel' buttons to set it up; and after you've done that, installing a Windows application in WINE is pretty much the same as, well, installing a Windows app in Windows.
Regardless of all that, whether Dell decide to ship Ubuntu with or without WINE has nothing to do with how easy it is to use.
If it works the same way as currently purchasing a sstem does - i.e. choice of hardware, then surely youll still have the option to purchase systems with Intel based graphics, keeping inline with the free mentality.
There are always going to be people using programs like Skype and other non-free pieces of software on linux, because they choose to. The people that care wont, and would probably purchase the intel based systems.
What'd be nice is if Dell labelled the 'free' builds clearly if they go down that route. I don't imagine they will though as it may confuse people new to the concept of free software.
I'm running Ubuntu Feisty Fawn at the moment on a Dell Inspiron 6400 with an ATi x1300 graphics card, and it works (almost) perfectly. The only thing no working is the card reader, I imagine Dell will use a different brand of card reader, or the company will eventually make drivers for it on linux.
Fair enough, it took a bit of configuring to get the wireless card and the 3D graphics functioning correctly, but Dell will do that at the factory as part of their automated install proccess. I'm sure they'll have looked into it; once it's done once all that's needed is a script slipstreamed into the install proccess.
It's no big deal for me at the moment. On Vista, my scroll bars on the touch pad didn't work, at all, which was far more annoying.
If Dell are building laptops with Ati graphics cards in them, Ati will probably be working to develop their drivers further anyway.
>> Step 2: Install 80+ updates. Reboot at least 4 times, probably one crash at least.
> Not actually that bad --and nothing like this with a slipstreamed install. Where are you getting these ancient install disks?
As Windows XP costs money people who bought it pre SP1 or pre SP2 aren't going to have a new copy of the disk each time a service pack comes out. So the 'ancient disks' will be what the customers had when they initially purchased the OS.
You can't guarentee that everyone has immediate access to service pack disks all the time.
I thought it was pretty poorly written too, if I'm being honest.
It's got the feel of one of those 'America's most wanted' trash TV shows.
"This guy got more than he bargained for when he borrowed his neighbour's car"
It comes across as that sort of level of drivvel...
Slashdot Mirror
"U.S.A!! U.S.A! U.S.A!"
It's not a big deal, and it's not packaged with Ubuntu 7.04 (current) as standard.
Its not as if Ubuntu don't have a large user base of people to help each other out already. Someone can ask "How do I install MS Office" or "How do I install Counterstrike" and they'll be pointed in the right direction.
Of course you can install additional software.
In case you aren't convinced. I'm on a Dell laptop running Ubuntu now. You think they'd suddenly restrict you from accessing the repositories, compiling source codes or executing scripts/packages.
That wouldn't be Linux. Are you mental?
You're confusing Ubuntu with Kunbuntu. Ubuntu comes with Gnome, not KDE, and doesnt have a K menu by default.
If you opt to add shortcuts to desktop, then there isn't really a problem running Windows apps. Also, in the drop down menu there is a WINE sub-menu, with a list of installed Windows applications. Or certainly there is with the most recent version of WINE.
It's the same process as installing MS Office on an XP machine if you use the GUI, which is what most people migrating to Ubuntu would feel most comfortable doing anyway.
...as it's easier to open a tin of beans than to cook beans on toast.
Neither process is hard. For the most part, installing applications in WINE involves double clicking on the install/setup.exe (with exceptions obviously, for MS applications you may have to download Internet Explorer or Net Framework 2.0 and install it.)
There are a couple other exceptions, but generally using WINE is a simple process, after the initial "sudo apt-get install wine" command it's all 'OK' or 'cancel' buttons to set it up; and after you've done that, installing a Windows application in WINE is pretty much the same as, well, installing a Windows app in Windows.
Regardless of all that, whether Dell decide to ship Ubuntu with or without WINE has nothing to do with how easy it is to use.
If it works the same way as currently purchasing a sstem does - i.e. choice of hardware, then surely youll still have the option to purchase systems with Intel based graphics, keeping inline with the free mentality.
There are always going to be people using programs like Skype and other non-free pieces of software on linux, because they choose to. The people that care wont, and would probably purchase the intel based systems.
What'd be nice is if Dell labelled the 'free' builds clearly if they go down that route. I don't imagine they will though as it may confuse people new to the concept of free software.
> yeah, silly me to buy what was on the market :(
That's what I thought after paying the upgrade fee for Vista.
I'm running Ubuntu Feisty Fawn at the moment on a Dell Inspiron 6400 with an ATi x1300 graphics card, and it works (almost) perfectly. The only thing no working is the card reader, I imagine Dell will use a different brand of card reader, or the company will eventually make drivers for it on linux.
Fair enough, it took a bit of configuring to get the wireless card and the 3D graphics functioning correctly, but Dell will do that at the factory as part of their automated install proccess. I'm sure they'll have looked into it; once it's done once all that's needed is a script slipstreamed into the install proccess.
It's no big deal for me at the moment. On Vista, my scroll bars on the touch pad didn't work, at all, which was far more annoying.
If Dell are building laptops with Ati graphics cards in them, Ati will probably be working to develop their drivers further anyway.
>> Step 2: Install 80+ updates. Reboot at least 4 times, probably one crash at least.
> Not actually that bad --and nothing like this with a slipstreamed install. Where are you getting these ancient install disks?
As Windows XP costs money people who bought it pre SP1 or pre SP2 aren't going to have a new copy of the disk each time a service pack comes out. So the 'ancient disks' will be what the customers had when they initially purchased the OS.
You can't guarentee that everyone has immediate access to service pack disks all the time.
I thought it was pretty poorly written too, if I'm being honest. It's got the feel of one of those 'America's most wanted' trash TV shows. "This guy got more than he bargained for when he borrowed his neighbour's car" It comes across as that sort of level of drivvel...
But he actually said: "If nobody can make money from it, there will be no development"
Which is complete nonsense.