Dell's Subnotebook To Ship With Ubuntu 251
k33l0r writes "Dell's entry into the sub-notebook market, the Inspiron 910, will ship with Ubuntu preinstalled. This was confirmed this morning when Gizmodo published (leaked) specifications for the Inspiron 910." I hope that's not the final form of the keyboard, though -- lots of wasted space on each side.
If it's a linux computer... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:That's not the only issue with that keyboard (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, because it's a full function computer that requires a full-sized keyboard, with all the function keys.
Apart from the ASD.. line being a bit too far to the left, the keyboard looks ideally suited for such a device. The alpha keys are larger to make typing easier, at the cost of the other keys.
Who uses caps lock apart from people who have remapped it to control?
MS ISV astroturf (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:That is great news! But.. (Score:4, Insightful)
While the community based support for Linux have always been enough to cover my needs; there are a number of people offering Linux support who is more than willing to take your money and give you all the additional help you would require.
With the Open Source community continuing to grow I am certain it is only a matter of time until Linux gets the recognition it is beginning to deserve.
Re:That is great news! But.. (Score:3, Insightful)
A gadget like this doesn't need support. You install Linux and then you leave it alone - don't fix it if it ain't broke. It will keep running for many years and keep working just like the day you bought it.
How often do you update the software in your refrigerator?
Re:That is great news! But.. (Score:2, Insightful)
How often do you update the software in your refrigerator?
My current refrigerator doesn't connect to the Internet, so it's not vunerable to new exploits.
You install Linux and then you leave it alone - don't fix it if it ain't broke. It will keep running for many years and keep working just like the day you bought it.
It should be fine for *three* years (if you apply the security updates regularly) - that's when the support is currently scheduled to end for Ubuntu 8.04. If you are still using it then, it *is* important that you upgrade to a supported release, unless you're happy to have it exploited and expose (e.g.) your banking details.
Yes, you're a lot safer than with Windows; you're 99.999% certain not to get a virus; but you are vunerable to browser based privacy-type exploits.
Anything that connects to the Internet needs regular security updates.
Re:MS ISV astroturf (Score:5, Insightful)
While I'm a Linux zealot, I am willing to deploy Windows and MAC when I need to and it makes since from a performance/cost perspective.
Then you are not, in fact, a Linux zealot. A zealot wouldn't care about those factors. No, you're a Linux supporter, and have the damn sense to recognize that Linux isn't always the proper choice. This isn't (ok, it is, but it shouldn't be) out of the ordinary.
Re:That's not the only issue with that keyboard (Score:5, Insightful)
I've been waiting for a chance to post this rant...
Will someone in charge of the tech sites please ban "Laptop" people from reviewing these Netbook thingies. Please god let the "PDA" people review them instead? I'm sick of reading the constant complaints about the size, travel and weighting of the keyboards compared to top of the range laptops and even desktops. Will someone therefore please review these for what they are - PDAs with keyboards - and compare the keyboard to, say, any Windows-Mobile stylus device or even the iPhone. Yes, those ones without keyboards at all.
And yes, we know you can't play doom 4 on them under vista, that's because WE DONT NEED THE Mhz to do that. 400MHz + 128MB RAM + a few gig storage is perfectly adequate for browsing ebay from the bathtub, cheers /rant
sorry about that