Comments on: Dell offers an open-source PC

Dimension E510n1 is geared for customers who want to use open-source software such as Linux.
Photo: Dell's open-source PC

[macemoneta]

Clueless Dell

An ATI card for Linux? SATA drive? I hope it's on a supported controller for installation. $850 seems a little steep for this machine - I can get a similar configuration for about half that, and throw the copy of Windows in the trash.

Not the best choice of components, Dell. Isn't the point of the n-Series that the components should be selected to provide easy installation and good support for non-Windows operating systems?

well...

You've got a point with the ATI card. Linux distros do play nicer with Nvidia cards. As for the SATA, at this point any distro worth running will support it. I've been messing with dozens of distros over the past few months and haven't had a problem with any of them recognizing my sata drives.

Both of these issues (video cards and sata drives) have more to do with the individual manufacturers (ie: ATI, Nvidia, Highpoint, 3ware, etc) supporting the OS than it does with Dell providing a "blank" PC anyway...

don't hate the playa, hate the game!

[bluemist9999]

Actually it would work

ATI does have hardware-3D accelerator support for Linux (and Debian-based distros can use it as well), and SATA drives aren't a problem for modern distros.

I agree the overall package is a bit pricey, I'd rather build my own if I needed a new PC.

[digitallysick]

to expensive

for that much you have a very decked out linux box!! i wouldnt buy it, dell and linux dont mix as far as i see it

... and C|Net fell for it hook, line and sinker.

Well, the graphcis card is the worst possible
choice, of course, for anything outside of
Windows (where it's merely OK). How about an
NVidia card for which there are excellent
drivers available?

$849? You have to be kidding! You can get for
$10 less the same machine with twice as much
hard disk space, a 17" LCD monitor, a passable
video card, and a fully functional Windows Media
Center Edition coaster.

And one might ask, why FreeDOS? If the demand
for the machine is Linux, why not Linux? Toss
Kubuntu, Mandriva, or Linspire on there and
you'd have something that would be doubly
attractive as a business desktop or small
server. Hell, you could even install
Dell-inspired themes and logos all over the
place.

No, Dell's not serioualy interested in selling
the system, they're just trolling for press that
will pick up on the "open source" catch-phrase
and print their name in big print. C|Net fell
for it.

[DrakeLoneStar]

ATI cards are great

I love it how ATI cards 'suck' in the minds of Linux users, simply because Linux just has very poor driver for ATI cards (and other hardware that runs great under Windows).

I've got an ATI card running under XP and it works great. The same ATI card is somehow 'crap' or 'sucks' because ATI doesn't support Linux as well as they do Windows (probably because gaming on Linux is <1% of the market?)

Face it. Linux has poor hardware support for some hardware. The manufacturer simply supports Windows XP more than Linux (if at all).

If you use Linux, don't knock ATI. Simply admit that Linux needs better hardware support and take steps to fix it. Don't bash MS or Windows or the hardware, you'll just look stupid doing so.

[Dachi]

reply

First, I have a Dell/ATI PC that I have had no trouble with.

Second, they probably don't want to install Linux on it because they are not interested in doing tech support for desktop Linux insalls. (it would cost WAY more than a copy of Windows before you say it)

Most Linux users are going to install their own flavor anyway.

As it stands now, if you can't get your ATI card working in Gentoo it isn't Dell's problem. I am pretty sure they like it that way.

Well, at least it's a start...

Dell has been looking for other alternatives besides running
Microsoft® Windows© for quite some time. As stated in earlier
post, buy the system you want cheaper and toss whatever came
with the system. In order to install Linux, you have to be fairly
knowledgeable about what goes on with computers and
hardware installation.

I argue that just about everyone who either runs Linux now or
planning can build a system cheaper, and with better warranties
for no extra cost! If it?s going to be successful, Linux needs to
be up and running out of the box. Apple had a chance to get on
board with Gateway in 1995 by licensing the Mac OS to run on
their machines. Then CEO Michael Spindler backed out on the
deal (Apple Confidential 2.0, p.253). Dell CEO Michael Dell
stated himself earlier this summer (Originally reported by
Fortune Magazine) "If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to
others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers.? (http://
news.com.com/Dell+founder+thinks+different+about+Apple/
2100-1016_3-5749940.html)

So what does this do for Dell or it?s customers? If you want to
kick out Microsoft®, have some sort of an equal alternative,
mainly a pre-installed operating system.