On Fri, 2003-09-12 at 18:02, Joel Konkle-Parker wrote: > Quoting Magnus von Koeller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > well the one basic rule I've set up for my next purchase is this one: > > Do NOT buy from Dell. Dell does not support Linux and actually does > > everything to make it as difficult as possible to use. They mess with > > the BIOS in non-standard ways so that not even the official Windows > > drivers work anymore (only the drivers from Dell still work). > > > > So don't buy a Dell. If you're a Linux user, they don't care about > > your nees as a customer. Your simply 'not supported'. > > > Just for the record, I just bought a Dell 5150 and am running a dual-boot with > XP Pro and Woody. I only have one major complaint: the Dell TrueMobile 1300 > wireless card isn't supported in Linux, no way, no how (until someone reverse > engineers it). > > As for support, I haven't tried. There's plenty of help in the Dell-hosted > user > forums, though, and I'm sure there's more than a few linux-philes lurking > around > in there.
Magnus refers to a very specific, recent, and critical issue. Dell's new laptop BIOS is not Linux (or rather, XFree) compatible at all. They are also denying that there is a problem, and seem to be waffling between claims to fix it, and claims that they don't support Linux. Until this issue is dealt with, people wanting to run a free OS should *not* buy Dell systems. After this issue is dealt with, it will take Dell a long time to regain any kind of trust in many people's eyes (including mine). -- Joe Wreschnig <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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