[wplug] Linux and laptops

[Tim Quinlan]

Hello All,
Over the past 3 years or so, we've over 900 Dell machines (probably 60% 
desktop 30% laptop and 10% workstations/servers) for work and I can't recall 
a single DOA.   The next day hardware support is really worth it too 
(especially for laptops and servers).  We call in, explain the problem and it 
is fixed by a contractor the next day.  Usually Unisys is the contractor in 
the Pittsburgh area.  

What a coincidence that your left mouse button fell off, mine fell off my 
CPXJ twice!  Each time I called it in, the tech said something along lines of 
"Gee, that's weird, never heard of that before...."  So it must be a really 
rare problem.  But they didn't give me any guff and sent someone out to fix 
it.  

>
> I have a Dell I8k.  Other than it having arrived DOA and the left mouse
> button breaking after a few months, it has been a solid laptop.
> Everything works on it and is supported in Linux (although I haven't
> actually tried the firewire, the driver seems to like it) - DVD, USB,
> modem, ethernet, pcmcia, external video, sound, and so on..
>
> However, it seems they change the hardware in their laptops somewhat
> frequently.  So be warned that not all I8ks are made the same.
>
> I don't believe Dell supports Linux at all on their laptops.  I was forced
> to have winME pre-installed (which I wiped immediately upon reception ;)
> But for the problems I did have, support was decent.  For the mere <$200
> for next business day service for three years, I think that was worth it
> even though both of my service calls were 'parts pending'.