Dell notebooks?

Gordie_h · 07-14-2007, 01:20 PM

Hey any american/canadian folks that would actually reccomend dell notebooks? They have an excellent sale on here in canada
http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topi...HS1&l=en&s=dhs
but all I've heard is negative feedback...any ideas?
by the way is there a big difference between 2 ghz and 2.2 ghz intel 2 dual core processors??

**TheMatt** · 07-15-2007, 10:28 AM

The major problem is that Dell is only offering Vista. Other than that, it is a decent deal. If Dell is offering XP drivers for that laptop, then I would promptly put XP on.

The two processors mentioned are really going to give the same performance in most daily tasks, but in intense calculations the 2.2 GHz CPU is better.

Gordie_h · 07-15-2007, 05:10 PM

Oh so that's why there's so many people angry with dell...cause I mean I was planning on triple booting vista, XP and kubuntu (if thats a fesible combination) I'm guessing that I won't really like vista though

**TheMatt** · 07-15-2007, 05:17 PM

I you can, but there really isn't anything Vista can do that XP can't. I am (was until my hard disk crashed) dual booting XP and Kubuntu on my laptop and it works fine. Take a look at the Dell laptops with Ubuntu preinstalled on them because you will get good driver support, which is often an issue with Linux.

Gordie_h · 07-15-2007, 07:25 PM

Ya...I was looking for the option for kubuntu but in the "custom" laptop offers kubuntu/ubuntu are not offered. Its not too big of a deal poking around fo linux drivers though is it?? I found some wifi ones for my hp zv5000 and then wifi worked...

**TheMatt** · 07-16-2007, 11:57 AM

Most of the time getting WiFi to work will require ndiswrapper, but it usually works. The main problem is getting hardware 3D acceleration on laptops, which is where Dell has the market. Mostly you can only get hardware 3D acceleration if you have a dedicated nVidia or ATI card.

Gordie_h · 07-16-2007, 06:15 PM

So if I get a dell and want to run kubuntu it might not display anything because the graphics card won't be recognized or it just won't be able to run graphic-intense stuff?

**TheMatt** · 07-16-2007, 06:52 PM

It will run with software acceleration called DRI, so your 3D screensavers will work, but intense 3D games will be slow. Many drivers like the one I have for my laptop's integrates graphics have hardware 2D rendering support, though, and usually the major display issues are with X not displaying the correct resolution. This can be fixed though. http://www.techsupportforum.com/705514-post8.html

ebackhus · 07-17-2007, 12:46 PM

I can't recommend Dells because I'm thoroughly sick of them. I have to use them all day and it makes me want to tear my hair out?

07-14-2007, 01:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gordie_h Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Dell notebooks? Hey any american/canadian folks that would actually reccomend dell notebooks? They have an excellent sale on here in canada http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/topi...HS1&l=en&s=dhs but all I've heard is negative feedback...any ideas? by the way is there a big difference between 2 ghz and 2.2 ghz intel 2 dual core processors??

07-15-2007, 10:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,702 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Dell notebooks? The major problem is that Dell is only offering Vista. Other than that, it is a decent deal. If Dell is offering XP drivers for that laptop, then I would promptly put XP on. The two processors mentioned are really going to give the same performance in most daily tasks, but in intense calculations the 2.2 GHz CPU is better. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

07-15-2007, 05:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gordie_h Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Dell notebooks? Oh so that's why there's so many people angry with dell...cause I mean I was planning on triple booting vista, XP and kubuntu (if thats a fesible combination) I'm guessing that I won't really like vista though

07-15-2007, 05:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,702 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Dell notebooks? I you can, but there really isn't anything Vista can do that XP can't. I am (was until my hard disk crashed) dual booting XP and Kubuntu on my laptop and it works fine. Take a look at the Dell laptops with Ubuntu preinstalled on them because you will get good driver support, which is often an issue with Linux. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

07-15-2007, 07:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gordie_h Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Dell notebooks? Ya...I was looking for the option for kubuntu but in the "custom" laptop offers kubuntu/ubuntu are not offered. Its not too big of a deal poking around fo linux drivers though is it?? I found some wifi ones for my hp zv5000 and then wifi worked...

07-16-2007, 11:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,702 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Dell notebooks? Most of the time getting WiFi to work will require ndiswrapper, but it usually works. The main problem is getting hardware 3D acceleration on laptops, which is where Dell has the market. Mostly you can only get hardware 3D acceleration if you have a dedicated nVidia or ATI card. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

07-16-2007, 06:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gordie_h Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Windows XP	Re: Dell notebooks? So if I get a dell and want to run kubuntu it might not display anything because the graphics card won't be recognized or it just won't be able to run graphic-intense stuff?

07-16-2007, 06:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,702 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Dell notebooks? It will run with software acceleration called DRI, so your 3D screensavers will work, but intense 3D games will be slow. Many drivers like the one I have for my laptop's integrates graphics have hardware 2D rendering support, though, and usually the major display issues are with X not displaying the correct resolution. This can be fixed though. http://www.techsupportforum.com/705514-post8.html __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

07-17-2007, 12:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 12,969 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 26	Re: Dell notebooks? I can't recommend Dells because I'm thoroughly sick of them. I have to use them all day and it makes me want to tear my hair out? __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.