On Sun, Feb 08, 2009 at 05:10:55PM -0500, [email protected] wrote: > I find myself imagining myself with a Dell Inspiron Mini 12 > (http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-12?c=ca&cs=cadhs1&l=en&s=dhs) > -- the Ubuntu versin, of course. > > The attractions on this device are > 1. It runs Linux > 2. It has a keyboard with standard key spacing. ( don't need a > number pad) > 3. It's lightweight (under 3 pounds) > 4. It isn't huge. In fact, it's about as small as it can be and > stull have a standard size keyboard. > > Does anyone have any experience with this device? Or with other Dell > Linux laptops? > > In particular, is it likely to run with *any* LInux distro, or does the > hardware require proprietary Ubuntu drivers?
I've found the bad news. http://www.happyassassin.net/2009/01/30/intel-gma-500-poulsbo-graphics-on-linux-a-precise-and-comprehensive-summary-as-to-why-youre-screwed/ It seems the GMA 500 chip requires graphics drivers that seem to be in a state of chaos. It almost seems that no one is trying to keep the drivers closed, its just that in the multicompany agglommeration that produced them there just doesn't seem to be eiough organisation to release the source code. It's not the "upstream" is hanging on to the source, it's that no one seems to be able to find the "upstream". So, it works with the particular Ubuntu it ships with, but don't even try upgrading to the next Ubuntu -- the driver won't work with newer kernels. Ugh. Showstopper, I suspect. Or will I be happy with that particular versio of Ubuntu forever? Now I need alternatives. -- hendrik _______________________________________________ mlug mailing list [email protected] https://listes.koumbit.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mlug-listserv.mlug.ca
