Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on March 13, 2007 by CyberNet.

I never thought that Dell would actually get serious about offering Linux PC’s for consumers. I figured the IdeaStorm site would have been another one of those feedback systems that are there to make consumers feel like they were being listened to, but I think Dell may really be getting serious about this.

Just a short while ago on the Direct2Dell blog they posted about a Linux survey that will take just a few minutes to complete. They are not able to offer every Linux distribution on their PC’s, so they are trying to figure out which ones would be the most important to you the consumer.

Not only that but they are also trying to figure out what you would do with the computer once you received it, such as browsing the web, listening to music, and editing videos. This is probably so that they can pre-install the software many of you would need to minimize what you have to install once you receive the computer.

Then the survey goes on to ask which distribution Dell should set as a high priority. The list consists of:

• Commercial: Novell/SuSE Linux Desktop
• Commercial: Red Hat Enterprise Desktop
• Community Supported: Fedora
• Community Supported: OpenSUSE
• Community Supported: Ubuntu

I prefer OpenSUSE myself, but I voted for Ubuntu simply because I think that is what users would have the best experience with. Ubuntu undoubtedly has the best support community out of all the Linux distributions, so new Linux users would easily be able to find the help that they need.

Yesterday, OpenOffice.org actually contacted Michael Dell, CEO of Dell, about being the second most requested option on the IdeaStorm site. The letter (PDF, JPG) they sent to Dell begins by praising Dell, then throws in why Dell should offer OpenOffice.org, and pretty much concludes saying “call me, we’ll do lunch.” Okay, maybe it isn’t exactly like that, but that was the initial impression that I got out of it.

One thing is for sure, and that is more people would benefit from Dell offering OpenOffice.org on computers because people buying a Windows PC would also be able to use it. I would love to see OpenOffice.org as an option when purchasing a PC because it does all the things that more than 95% of computer users need. Hopefully the OpenOffice.org team keeps us posted on any progress they make with Dell.

Having a Linux option would be cool, but I’m a little worried that it is going to be a waste of Dell’s time and resources. Do you think this is going to be as popular as the IdeaStorm site makes it seem like it will be?

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Dell’s still calling this a Mobile Internet Device, but you can call it by any of its codenames: Looking Glass, M02M, iPad eviscerator, they’re all in here. Yes, the FCC has spent a month of quality time with Dell’s still unofficial, but very much upcoming, tablet and has given the go-ahead for its integrated 3G (the listed UMTS bands II, IV and V indicate compatibility with both AT&T and T-Mobile), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and 802.11n WiFi radios. Labeling for the attached (and apparently not removable) door on the back of the device indicates an SD card slot, which will sit right alongside a SIM card port. The latter will presumably be used mostly to funnel data into the Dell tablet, but voice calls aren’t completely out of the question either — there’s a (inactive) proximity sensor thrown in as well. Either way, Dell’s almost sure to launch this device, expected to feature a 7-inch screen and Tegra 2 internals, at CES next week.

Dell’s Looking Glass tablet passes through FCC, shows off SD and SIM card slots originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This article was written on July 03, 2008 by CyberNet.

NVIDIA announced today that they will be taking a $150 million hit in order to repair faulty graphical processing units (GPU) and media communications processors (MCP). The problem is apparently only an issue in notebooks where the unusually large amounts of concentrated heat causes the chips to fail. Even though NVIDIA has come forward they have yet to say exactly what systems are affected by this issue. The only thing they said in their investor-focused announcement was that it’s their “previous generation” that has the abnormal failure rates:

NVIDIA plans to take a one-time charge from $150 million to $200 million against cost of revenue for the second quarter to cover anticipated warranty, repair, return, replacement and other costs and expenses, arising from a weak die/packaging material set in certain versions of its previous generation GPU and MCP products used in notebook systems. Certain notebook configurations with GPUs and MCPs manufactured with a certain die/packaging material set are failing in the field at higher than normal rates. To date, abnormal failure rates with systems other than certain notebook systems have not been seen.

A quick fix that they are apparently trying to employ on computers with the “defective” chips is to force the fans to turn on earlier by pushing out a driver update. Adrian Kingsley over at ZDNet has thrown out his guess that the Dell m1330′s and m1530′s are among those affected. They are powered by the GeForce 8400M GS, and some have had to get their motherboards replaced due to overheating issues. I actually know someone that purchased a Dell m1530 about two months ago, and after a week of owning the system they had to get their motherboard replaced because the laptop wouldn’t even turn on. Dell didn’t say what the issue was, but they were quick to replace the motherboard without running any diagnostics.

It would be nice if NVIDIA came forward with what chips are affected by the problem, but I don’t think they want to take any more of a loss than they already have. Their stock has already fallen 30% since this morning (now at $12.49), and so they are probably going to do anything they can to keep it from going any lower.

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Remember how Dell’s supposed to be introducing a 7-inch Tegra 2-powered Android tablet, like, right now, possibly followed by a 10-inch model in a few months? Well, we’re not saying that’s what’s going on here, but consider the facts: the original 5-inch Streak has a model code of M01M, and a new device with code M02M just popped up in the Wi-Fi Alliance’s certification database identified as a “Mobile Internet Device” in the Smartphone category. Yes, 7 inches is a bit large for a “smartphone,” but the Alliance doesn’t have a great category for these tweeners that support cellular data (and like the European Galaxy Tab, some of them really are smartphones anyway). PocketNow suggests that we could also be looking at the Streak 2, which is possible — but considering the groundswell of rumors we’ve been hearing about a slightly larger tablet in the pipeline, that’s where our money lies. That holds especially true considering how close we are to CES, which promises to be a veritable tablet-fest this year — but regardless, we bet the truth comes out within the next couple weeks.

Dell’s 7-inch (or 10-inch) Android tablet gets WiFi certification? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 12:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good news: Dell’s unlocked Streak has just plunged down the pricing charts with a neat $180 discount taking it to a palatable $400 level. Bad news: you won’t get yours shipped until the 10th of January, according to Round Rock’s web outlet. Android 2.2 won’t come preloaded, you’ll have to snag the OTA update, though you do get a wide palette of colors to choose from, including black, noir, nero, preto, and schwarz — pick wisely!

[Thanks, Xelaenil]

Dell lowers Streak price to $400, but will make you wait until January to get it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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