Comments on: One Third of Dell Inspiron Mini 9s Sold Run Linux

By: Randyam

Randyam — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:14:05 +0000

I jpurchaced the Dell Mini 9 with ubuntu, 8gb drive 512 ram the lod the lower end video cardwer end model. I was actually excited about trying out Ubuntu ive heard great things from former MAC users about Linux’ ive always been a Windows person because of not knowing there were alternatives besides the very pricey MAC. So I recieved it in the mail plugged it in and saw a kinda windows looking desktop, messed around with it for a little while and pretty much figured out that you can upgrade all the software via one click and get this It scans all the software on the pc for upgrades automatically and upgrades when new releases , including games and other apps. The speed of this thing is amazing considering I have only 512mb ram installed. From what ive read XP is sluggish on the mini with under 1gb ram. Firefox worked great, everything worked great, all the drivers, all the addons for mozilla, all the java, flash, shockwave all preinstalled and upgraded via the autiomatic scan of your software. I have ran this mini for 12 days and have closed the book hybernated it etc.. and have not locked up or seen any blue screen of death garbage. I also did NOT order a webcam, so i plugged my Logitech Websphere in and the damn thing was recognized in a program called cheese and on justin.tv it integrated flawlessly. I am planning on dumping Windows 7 soon for Ubuntu on my main PC. I also must say the ubuntu forums are awesome people help you out within minutes usually, I only wish Rhapsody would work, thats about it. I definatly think Ubuntu Linux is ready to take down microsoft.

By: Justwatching

Justwatching — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:55:20 +0000

I run ubuntu on a Dell (DULL) inspiron 530 pc that had VISTA after VISTA crashed. Did not come with a restore disk and recovery was blocked by the crash. Way to go M.S. Got a ubuntu disk free and installed it with no problems at all.The only short coming ubuntu has is the shortage of application software but the linux developers are working on it and doing a fine job. Just give them time and tell them what you want and soon linux/ubuntu will pass M.S as the O.S. of choice.

By: Patrick Jenks

Patrick Jenks — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:13:01 +0000

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By: Pete Burden

Pete Burden — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:09:09 +0000

I bought an Acer netbook with Linux (and am pleased) and now want a bigger laptop also running Linux.

But I am puzzled as to why it is so hard to buy a laptop (not a netbook) with Linux pre-installed. I checked out Dell, HP, IBM – and failed to find one. I have good money to spend and no one seems to want it.

Any ideas why this? Thanks

By: Mike Mc.

Mike Mc. — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:13:13 +0000

I bought my Mini 9 loaded with Ubuntu because I’m not a fan of Windows and I thought I could give Linux a try on a safe platform (i.e. not my primary computer, so if I hated it, I wouldn’t have to deal with it all the time). So far, I think it’s great. It was easy to dive into, works without a hiccup, and has some great bundled software. I’m tempted to get a Dell desktop with Ubuntu for my parents to replace their aging, virus-infested machine.

By: d roberts

d roberts — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:24:52 +0000

why on earth would you want to change from a perfectly good operating system such as ‘Ubuntu Gnu/Linux’ for a virus prone windows xp system which slows down the more you use it and cannot be relied upon to boot up properly every time you start it.

By: charles liszcz

charles liszcz — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 07:24:56 +0000

To those who opted to do their own move from Ubuntu unix to XP, how did you do it? All sources I have checked have long detailed lists of why it can not be done on a dell mini. Would appreciate your process.

By: Dale

Dale — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:19:31 +0000

As Dvorak has been writing recently, the combination of very inexpensive hardware and free easy to use open source software such as Ubuntu 8.10 and OpenOffice is a potential game changer. Netbooks are a great opportunity for open source, and threat for Microsoft.

As a long-time DOS & Windows user, earlier I had concluded it wasn’t worth the hassle to figure out how to get Ubuntu to recognize Wi-Fi on my Acer Aspire One that was happily running Win XP. However, the price seemed right to try a Dell Mini-9 with Ubuntu pre-installed, and it works great out of the (little) box. I’d echo JNav: Ubuntu lets a netbook do what it really needs to do, flawlessly. I’m impressed.

By: Deb

Deb — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:39:02 +0000

I bought the mini-9 with Ubuntu as OS. It was working fine for Wi-Fi net surfing until I ran the updates. For some reason that wiped out my wireless connection and now I only have the wired and point to point choices for internet connection. I don’t have a problem with Ubuntu, but I have no experience working with it. I would do a system restore back to the date before the updates, but don’t seem to have that option. Any suggestions?

By: Kyin

Kyin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:57:08 +0000

You do have a point Bradford, and I had every intention of helping her install a dual boot if she liked the live cd. She surprised me by installing it herself, and it walked her through copying over all her files and such from windows. My point was merely this. That a lot of people still think of Linux as a completely CLI environment, very unfriendly toward newbs. Which is just not true. Some Linux distros are even more user friendly than Windows in some cases.

I have Ubuntu installed on my desktop, and my distro of choice is Debian. Just fyi.