Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 12:11 +0100, Rowan Berkeley wrote: > On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Bruno Girin > wrote: > > If I am to buy a ?1000+ laptop (top of the range as I said), I > > don't particularly want to find myself with a doorstop until I hunt > > down all the right drivers. > > Bruno, have you really looked at all the machines Linux Emporium do? > They supplied my machine and they really know their onions. They have > three top-end Lenovo machines: > Lenovo ThinkPad X200si 7466 - Core 2 Duo SU7300 £ 1,174.88 > Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet 7450 - Core 2 Duo £ 1,888.08 > Lenovo ThinkPad X301 2776 - Core 2 Duo SU9600 £ 1,867.08 > http://shop.linuxemporium.co.uk/hardware/hardware-laptops.html > Yes I had a look. I might go for something like the X301 in the end. I like the ThinkPads (I'm typing on one right now). The only downside about Linux Emporium is that their models are older models that Lenovo don't sell through their web site anymore. But considering that my current ThinkPad is 6 years old and works like a charm with Ubuntu, that's a minor niggle. Then again, if Lenovo came up with an update to the X301 with specs closer to the new X201, I'd be very interested ( which incidentally is more or less what the Dell Vostro 3300 is, which Dell UK say will come with Ubuntu in April but is still not available). So I'm generally annoyed at Dell UK for claiming they sell laptops with Ubuntu pre-installed but restricting the choice to about 2 entry-level models and in particular for not enabling me to choose Ubuntu on models where the spec explicitly says that Ubuntu is available. Bruno -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 11:24 +0100, Liam Proven wrote: > > Oh I'm sure there are no insoluble problems, it's just that I don't > > really feel like spending an inordinate amount of time getting it to > > work. If I am to buy a £1000+ laptop (top of the range as I said), I > > don't particularly want to find myself with a doorstop until I hunt down > > all the right drivers. Maybe a way to resolve that issue is to go to the > > Sony shop on Tottenham Court Road armed with a LiveCD and see what it > > says :-) > > Sounds viable. Also, look up the models you're interested in, Google > their specs & check the components for any known howlers. Apparently not plain sailing due to the Nouveau driver not supporting the graphics card (yet): http://www.uluga.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9395297 http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=9234321 Anyway, that's completely off-topic now. But at least Sony don't claim they have anything running Ubuntu. That's what I'm annoyed at Dell for: they claim on their UK web site that they do have Ubuntu available but the reality is that the choice of hardware with Ubuntu is dire and their sales and support don't seem to be clued up about it at all. Bruno -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Bruno Girin wrote: > If I am to buy a ?1000+ laptop (top of the range as I said), I > don't particularly want to find myself with a doorstop until I hunt > down all the right drivers. Bruno, have you really looked at all the machines Linux Emporium do? They supplied my machine and they really know their onions. They have three top-end Lenovo machines: Lenovo ThinkPad X200si 7466 - Core 2 Duo SU7300 £ 1,174.88 Lenovo ThinkPad X200 Tablet 7450 - Core 2 Duo £ 1,888.08 Lenovo ThinkPad X301 2776 - Core 2 Duo SU9600 £ 1,867.08 http://shop.linuxemporium.co.uk/hardware/hardware-laptops.html Rowan -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 11:01 AM, Bruno Girin wrote: > On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 10:38 +0100, Liam Proven wrote: >> On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Bruno Girin wrote: >> > On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 08:53 +0100, Barry Drake wrote: >> >> Hi there ... >> >> >> >> Just checked out the Dell UK site. A search for Ubuntu now throws up >> >> two netbooks and three laptops that actually are available with Ubuntu >> >> and if you follow the customization through, it says they come with >> >> 10.04. The site still shows the Mini 10 as an Ubuntu machine, but >> >> that's obviously a mistake. Pity they've dropped the Mini 10v. >> >> Barry Drake. >> > >> > Well, I've just tried most laptop models that the search returns and the >> > only ones I manage to configure with Ubuntu are the Latitude 2100 and >> > 2110 but they only come with 9.10, not 10.04. And the funny thing is >> > that there's a big banner in the OS section saying "Don't forget to >> > register for your Windows 7 upgrade after your purchase". >> > >> > That doesn't sound very committed to Ubuntu to me. >> > >> > Shame because I would be on the market for a top of the range Vostro >> > 3300 if the specs that say it comes with Ubuntu were actually true. It's >> > doubly frustrating because Dell seem to be one of the few vendors who >> > have a 13" laptop with decent specs (the other one I know of being Sony >> > but I have no hope in hell of running Ubuntu on a Sony, let alone >> > getting it Windows free). >> >> You don't? >> >> I ask merely because I've run Ubuntu on both Dells and Sonys - and >> IBMs and Toshibas - without any problems at all. > > Maybe it's worth a try then. But in that case, I'm back to the original > problem discussed in this thread: I don't think I have any hope of > getting a Sony without Windows pre-installed. No, probably not. Although on a machine of that sort of price, the portion of it that's accounted for by Windows is pretty small. If you feel strongly about it, go for the non-use/refund route. There are enough legal precedents now that some companies will cough up simply to avoid hassle. > Oh I'm sure there are no insoluble problems, it's just that I don't > really feel like spending an inordinate amount of time getting it to > work. If I am to buy a £1000+ laptop (top of the range as I said), I > don't particularly want to find myself with a doorstop until I hunt down > all the right drivers. Maybe a way to resolve that issue is to go to the > Sony shop on Tottenham Court Road armed with a LiveCD and see what it > says :-) Sounds viable. Also, look up the models you're interested in, Google their specs & check the components for any known howlers. -- Liam Proven • Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/liamproven Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk • GMail/GoogleTalk/Orkut: lpro...@gmail.com Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 • Cell: +44 7939-087884 • Fax: + 44 870-9151419 AOL/AIM/iChat/Yahoo/Skype: liamproven • LiveJournal/Twitter: lproven MSN: lpro...@hotmail.com • ICQ: 73187508 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 10:38 +0100, Liam Proven wrote: > On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Bruno Girin wrote: > > On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 08:53 +0100, Barry Drake wrote: > >> Hi there ... > >> > >> Just checked out the Dell UK site. A search for Ubuntu now throws up > >> two netbooks and three laptops that actually are available with Ubuntu > >> and if you follow the customization through, it says they come with > >> 10.04. The site still shows the Mini 10 as an Ubuntu machine, but > >> that's obviously a mistake. Pity they've dropped the Mini 10v. > >> Barry Drake. > > > > Well, I've just tried most laptop models that the search returns and the > > only ones I manage to configure with Ubuntu are the Latitude 2100 and > > 2110 but they only come with 9.10, not 10.04. And the funny thing is > > that there's a big banner in the OS section saying "Don't forget to > > register for your Windows 7 upgrade after your purchase". > > > > That doesn't sound very committed to Ubuntu to me. > > > > Shame because I would be on the market for a top of the range Vostro > > 3300 if the specs that say it comes with Ubuntu were actually true. It's > > doubly frustrating because Dell seem to be one of the few vendors who > > have a 13" laptop with decent specs (the other one I know of being Sony > > but I have no hope in hell of running Ubuntu on a Sony, let alone > > getting it Windows free). > > You don't? > > I ask merely because I've run Ubuntu on both Dells and Sonys - and > IBMs and Toshibas - without any problems at all. Maybe it's worth a try then. But in that case, I'm back to the original problem discussed in this thread: I don't think I have any hope of getting a Sony without Windows pre-installed. > > A friend of mine spent /two days/ trying to upgrade Vista on a Sony to > Windows 7, because he'd been misinformed about it being a special Sony > edition of some kind and that normal Windows wouldn't work. > > I've been wiping Sonys and putting standard Windows & Linux installs > on them for years. Sure, sometimes you have to hunt down some drivers, > but you get that on all makes and models of PC. I've never had an > insoluble problem. Oh I'm sure there are no insoluble problems, it's just that I don't really feel like spending an inordinate amount of time getting it to work. If I am to buy a £1000+ laptop (top of the range as I said), I don't particularly want to find myself with a doorstop until I hunt down all the right drivers. Maybe a way to resolve that issue is to go to the Sony shop on Tottenham Court Road armed with a LiveCD and see what it says :-) > > I think that the hype over the intractability of Sonys is mostly FUD. Possibly. Bruno -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 09:58 +0100, Matthew Bassett wrote: > On 16 June 2010 09:47, Bruno Girin wrote: > > [...] the only ones I manage to configure with Ubuntu are the Latitude > > 2100 and 2110 but they only come with 9.10, not 10.04. [...] > > > > That doesn't sound very committed to Ubuntu to me. > > > > Shame because I would be on the market for a top of the range Vostro > > 3300 if the specs that say it comes with Ubuntu were actually true. It's > > doubly frustrating because Dell seem to be one of the few vendors who > > have a 13" laptop with decent specs (the other one I know of being Sony > > but I have no hope in hell of running Ubuntu on a Sony, let alone > > getting it Windows free). > > Try the Latitiude V13; I searched for Ubuntu, starting at the > http://www.dell.co.uk page, and this was one of the hits. If you ask > to personalise the cheapest version, it is offered with Ubuntu 09.10 > (I seem to remember). Not as cheap as a mini, but it looks pretty > slick... Well that's my issue really: I am not on the market for a cheap laptop, I am actually looking for a business laptop with serious oomph and am ready to pay the price for it. But I don't want Windows on it. No wonder they say that their Ubuntu offering is not finding many takers if they only offer it on the low spec machines. > > The wierd thing is depending on which web page you start at (for > instance starting with http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu) seems to get you > different search results (searching from the aforementioned > http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu did not lead me to any ubuntu machines at > all). > > It appears that Dell UK are actually aiming their Ubuntu offerings at > businesses rather than individuals. I'm fine with this as I need it for business. But even then, it looks like the options you have are very limited and definitely not consistent with what their specs say. Bruno -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 9:47 AM, Bruno Girin wrote: > On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 08:53 +0100, Barry Drake wrote: >> Hi there ... >> >> Just checked out the Dell UK site. A search for Ubuntu now throws up >> two netbooks and three laptops that actually are available with Ubuntu >> and if you follow the customization through, it says they come with >> 10.04. The site still shows the Mini 10 as an Ubuntu machine, but >> that's obviously a mistake. Pity they've dropped the Mini 10v. >> Barry Drake. > > Well, I've just tried most laptop models that the search returns and the > only ones I manage to configure with Ubuntu are the Latitude 2100 and > 2110 but they only come with 9.10, not 10.04. And the funny thing is > that there's a big banner in the OS section saying "Don't forget to > register for your Windows 7 upgrade after your purchase". > > That doesn't sound very committed to Ubuntu to me. > > Shame because I would be on the market for a top of the range Vostro > 3300 if the specs that say it comes with Ubuntu were actually true. It's > doubly frustrating because Dell seem to be one of the few vendors who > have a 13" laptop with decent specs (the other one I know of being Sony > but I have no hope in hell of running Ubuntu on a Sony, let alone > getting it Windows free). You don't? I ask merely because I've run Ubuntu on both Dells and Sonys - and IBMs and Toshibas - without any problems at all. A friend of mine spent /two days/ trying to upgrade Vista on a Sony to Windows 7, because he'd been misinformed about it being a special Sony edition of some kind and that normal Windows wouldn't work. I've been wiping Sonys and putting standard Windows & Linux installs on them for years. Sure, sometimes you have to hunt down some drivers, but you get that on all makes and models of PC. I've never had an insoluble problem. I think that the hype over the intractability of Sonys is mostly FUD. Saying that, I don't personally like the hardware much, but that's just my 2¢. -- Liam Proven • Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/liamproven Email: lpro...@cix.co.uk • GMail/GoogleTalk/Orkut: lpro...@gmail.com Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 • Cell: +44 7939-087884 • Fax: + 44 870-9151419 AOL/AIM/iChat/Yahoo/Skype: liamproven • LiveJournal/Twitter: lproven MSN: lpro...@hotmail.com • ICQ: 73187508 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
> > [snip] > > Shame because I would be on the market for a top of the range Vostro > 3300 if the specs that say it comes with Ubuntu were actually true. It's > doubly frustrating because Dell seem to be one of the few vendors who > have a 13" laptop with decent specs (the other one I know of being Sony > but I have no hope in hell of running Ubuntu on a Sony, let alone > getting it Windows free). > > Bruno > > Hi Bruno, What issues do you have with running Lucid on a Sony, running it fine here on a 13" Sony. Only issue I had was the webcam and Biometrics, webcam was a firmware file and not bothered with the biometrics. Andy -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On 16 June 2010 09:47, Bruno Girin wrote: > [...] the only ones I manage to configure with Ubuntu are the Latitude > 2100 and 2110 but they only come with 9.10, not 10.04. [...] > > That doesn't sound very committed to Ubuntu to me. > > Shame because I would be on the market for a top of the range Vostro > 3300 if the specs that say it comes with Ubuntu were actually true. It's > doubly frustrating because Dell seem to be one of the few vendors who > have a 13" laptop with decent specs (the other one I know of being Sony > but I have no hope in hell of running Ubuntu on a Sony, let alone > getting it Windows free). Try the Latitiude V13; I searched for Ubuntu, starting at the http://www.dell.co.uk page, and this was one of the hits. If you ask to personalise the cheapest version, it is offered with Ubuntu 09.10 (I seem to remember). Not as cheap as a mini, but it looks pretty slick... The wierd thing is depending on which web page you start at (for instance starting with http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu) seems to get you different search results (searching from the aforementioned http://www.dell.co.uk/ubuntu did not lead me to any ubuntu machines at all). It appears that Dell UK are actually aiming their Ubuntu offerings at businesses rather than individuals. Might have to have a chat with the wife about whether I can be allowed to buy a Latitude rather than one of the cheaper netbooks (and it will surely be much more expensive if I can't resist the lure of a faster CPU, more memory and an SSD drive...) -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
On Wed, 2010-06-16 at 08:53 +0100, Barry Drake wrote: > Hi there ... > > Just checked out the Dell UK site. A search for Ubuntu now throws up > two netbooks and three laptops that actually are available with Ubuntu > and if you follow the customization through, it says they come with > 10.04. The site still shows the Mini 10 as an Ubuntu machine, but > that's obviously a mistake. Pity they've dropped the Mini 10v. > Barry Drake. Well, I've just tried most laptop models that the search returns and the only ones I manage to configure with Ubuntu are the Latitude 2100 and 2110 but they only come with 9.10, not 10.04. And the funny thing is that there's a big banner in the OS section saying "Don't forget to register for your Windows 7 upgrade after your purchase". That doesn't sound very committed to Ubuntu to me. Shame because I would be on the market for a top of the range Vostro 3300 if the specs that say it comes with Ubuntu were actually true. It's doubly frustrating because Dell seem to be one of the few vendors who have a 13" laptop with decent specs (the other one I know of being Sony but I have no hope in hell of running Ubuntu on a Sony, let alone getting it Windows free). Bruno -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
[ubuntu-uk] Dell UK now offers netbooks and laptops ...
Hi there ... Just checked out the Dell UK site. A search for Ubuntu now throws up two netbooks and three laptops that actually are available with Ubuntu and if you follow the customization through, it says they come with 10.04. The site still shows the Mini 10 as an Ubuntu machine, but that's obviously a mistake. Pity they've dropped the Mini 10v. Barry Drake. -- Sent from my Dell Netbook using Ubuntu - the Windows-free environment that gives me real fresh air. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
