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Hardware

Buying Brandname Linux Desktops? 14

Posted by Cliff from the penguins-preinstalled dept.
bobstaff asks: "I work for a company producing a highly technical product for export of which a Linux network is a significant part. Usually we build the Linux computers from components using some of the higher end options available (Dual 1Ghz Pentium III, SCSI disk,CD-RW,tape, 512Mb Ram, High End Video card, etc...). Occasionally we have a customer, however, who insists on having a brand name computer (eg. Compaq, HP, etc..) with support in whichever country they are from, regardless of the extra cost and decreased performance. In the past this has always caused problems, from Linux incompatible components to having to fight to get the pre-installed Windows distribution overwritten with Linux. What experiences do Slashdot readers have with buying brand name computers with international support and running Linux on them? Also can anyone recommend companies with international support producing Linux computers?"
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Buying Brandname Linux Desktops? More

Buying Brandname Linux Desktops?

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  • IBM - Dell (Score:3, Informative)

    by Boba001 ( 458898 ) <lance@mcnearney.net> on Tuesday November 13, 2001 @04:40AM (#2557572) Homepage
    IBM is really pushing Linux for their servers. I'm guessing they probably have Linux desktops/workstations available as well. You'll end up paying a high mark-up on the hardware but you should receive or have the option to buy some nice warranty/service contracts.

    I'd also recommend Dell systems with no installed OS.

  • Dell has great Linux systems (Score:4, Informative)

    by PhaseBurn ( 44685 ) <PhaseBurn@PhaseBurn.net> on Tuesday November 13, 2001 @04:51AM (#2557591) Homepage
    I just bought a Dell Latitude C600 (Laptop) with Linux pre-loaded... I also know they push a lot of their PowerEdge servers out the door, and their support is top notch. The hardware is designed with Linux in mind, they provide drivers for everything (even if they didn't write 'em themself), and their hardware replacement services (should you need them, as well) are really fast. Their Linux software support probably is the best around, just short of Cisco's router support team... and that's "DreamLand" for people like me... I've never had a problem with anything of theirs... IBM is also a good friend, and they might better global support than Dell.. I've never used IBM due to compatability issues... I'm willing to bet their server lines don't have the same issues as their desktop/laptops though...
    • Does the sound work? I'm having problems getting the sound to work with SuSE 7.1/KDE2.2.1 using the ALSA drivers.

      Everything else works, apart from getting docking to work with X.
      • Yes, my sound works fine...

        Dell shipped with Red Hat 7.0... sound worked fine... 2 hours later, I formatted and installed Red Hat 7.2 with no flaws... Detected everything perfectly... XMMS works nicely... video works using GTV... If yours wasn't auto-detected, and you're using a Latitude series, try the ESS Technology Maestro-3i PCI Audio Accelerator... Hope that helps :-)
    • How did you get it? On their website they have only Windows options available. Do you have to call them up?
      • Heh... Getting it was the hardest part :-)

        I had to order through their corporate division, and call them up. I believe I put it under the name "Earthlink" since Earthlink employees get 10% off due to the employee purchase program, and I used to work for 'em... know several people down there who lent a hand making sure things got to me... If you work for somebody with a corporate account, try that route... I know you can do it through the small business division, as well... Just worked out cheaper for me to do it this way...

        Best bet is to call 'em, too... Tall with somebody, be up front and tell them you want a Linux laptop... They'll probably have problems finding it... Might want to check out http://www.dell.com/linux first, as they mention everything they can install Linux on... Some of which have been discontinued, too... For instance, I couldn't get an Inspiron with anything but WinXP on it... After you get the specs you want (it'll most likely be a Latitude, as well) be sure to ask for their "Spare Parts Team" extention, as well, as you'll find it ships with a lot of limitations... All Latitude series machines have a built-in ethernet and modem port, with wires that run to a MiniPCI type 3A card... They wouldn't put one in to my machine because it's a 3Com DSP WinModem built in... but since they couldn't ship a system with out a modem (for DellNet by MSN, of all things :-) they did make me pay for a PCMCIA modem, but the PCMCIA NIC they provided free... I ordered a MiniPCI card anyway, plan to install it myself, and while there aren't available LinModem drivers for the 3Com yet, I don't need a modem anyway (And in the rare instance that I might, I have a PCMCIA one that works well right now)...

        Other than that, everything else is nice... I'm rather happy, and the best thing about the small trouble I had with parts, is that I know they're compatible, I have the right drivers and specifications for everything, I know it's compatible, and if I ever call up Dell and say "I can't get this to work under Linux" they have to tell me something other than "tough crap, reinstall windows" and actually be proactive... but the level of support I've recieved has actually been very good... the one time I called 'em up to get those 'extra' buttons on my keyboard working, they helped greatly... gave me everything I needed, (they DID make me sign an NDA, which I laughed at... an NDA, for Tech Support... hehe :-) But after it was done, everything is bliss... Hope this info helps...

        Oh, as a side note... I found this the funniest of all... when I recieved my new toy, the first thing I noticed was the "Designed for Windows 2000" sticker on it :-) It has since been replaced by a "Powered by Red Hat" sticker, but I still find it amusing... so did the Dell guy who helped me with the keyboard thing :-)
  • fight to get the pre-installed Windows distribution overwritten with Linux

    This shouldn't be hard. Either choose fdisk during the install, do fdisk from vt2 or 3 during the install, or use a Tom's RTBT [toms.net] and do:

    d
    6 # You may not have this one, but it won't hurt.
    d
    5 # ditto.
    d
    1
    n
    1
    +15M
    n
    2
    +256M
    n
    3 # This is a pretty shoddy partitioning scheme, but should be fine for a desktop.
    [enter]
    t
    2
    82
    w

    That should do the trick every time.

  • Get a "Workstation" (Score:3, Informative)

    by InodoroPereyra ( 514794 ) on Tuesday November 13, 2001 @09:38AM (#2557892)
    I understand you need a desktop, not a server. Servers with Linux preinstalled are sold both by IBM and Dell.

    If you need to buy a desktop, get a workstation from Dell. If you go for instance to www.dell.com/linux [dell.com] you get redirected to their Linux web page. They usually offer Linux workstations there. They are doing it righ now.

    And I am sure you are aware that there are plenty of small companies selling pretty much anything with Linux preinstalled, but this is not what you are asking for here.

    -- Don Inodoro

  • Dell....excellent systems, excellent support...goes pretty much anywhere....
  • Since when is Dell not considered a major manufacturer? Granted, Dell isn't quite in the same league as HP and Compaq when it comes to workstations, but lacking any other more stringent requirements Dell hardware should be perfectly adequate for most jobs. I don't have direct experience with the service departments of HP ,Dell or Compaq, but I can't believe them to be so different as to be useless

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