Comments on: Dude, I Got A Dell Mini

By: Ubuntu Podcast Episode #10 | Ubuntu Podcast

Ubuntu Podcast Episode #10 | Ubuntu Podcast — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:12:34 +0000

[...] Chuck Frain from the Maryland LoCo: [...]

By: Matt Domsch

Matt Domsch — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:25:51 +0000

The unformatted drive space issue noted here has been fixed now for newly-built systems. Noted here on the IdeaStorm web site:

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/10093390

Thanks for buying a Dell!
Matt Domsch
Linux Technology Strategist, Dell Office of the CTO

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:23:06 +0000

I also just got my mini and so far I love it. I’ve had no problems with ssh so far and I was able to scp all the files I needed over from my primary computer.

I do think it was stupid on Dell’s part to leave most of the drive unformatted (I have the 16GB version). They clearly are trying to market Ubuntu to the mainstream audiences, but most users are not going to know how to create and mount a new partition, so their probably going to get a lot of complaints about people getting smaller drives than they paid for.

By: jim

jim — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:55:15 +0000

Thanks for the info. I have one on order too and am anxious to see what it’s like. I assume yours came with Ubuntu. As for the issues you observed, I have a feeling that is par for the course these days – at least with low end computers. I got an eee 901 a few months ago and the upgrade manager was broken for quite a while. I installed Ubuntu but when back and discovered it’s now fixed. Like ssh, I bet some things are not that important to average users so they ship with bugs and then fix at their leisure.

By: derrek cooper

derrek cooper — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:26:08 +0000

chuck.. i’m waiting patiently for my mini9. Ordered it this week and have wait a month for delivery. WHAT!? I have come to expect immediate service from Dell. I also ordered a mouse and external dvd/cd, which are expected to be delivered beginning of dec?? Buz must be insane at dell right now.

good to hear the good and bad of what to expect. Fairly new user of ubuntu. A bit of experience with Suse and OpenSuse in the past. Minimal though.

Not sure I understand why only a portion of the HD was formatted?

are you using any online storage systems? My motivation for the mini is to live in the clouds.

how about video (joost, hulu, streaming), how is it?

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:35:42 +0000

Glad to see more detailed likes and dislikes on this. I was considering a dell mini but instead got an eeepc 1000, and am currently waiting for it to be delivered. I think my bride is joyed I too will have something to keep me busy

By: Dave Mawdsley

Dave Mawdsley — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:54:02 +0000

Thanks for your article.

I got my Dell Inspiron Mini running Ubuntu 8.04 on Oct. 15th. So far so good. I really like the battery life because of the work environment it’s for.

I noticed the unformatted storage and created another Ext3 partition for it. Dell probably should have just made one large Ext3 partition when shipping Ubuntu installed.

I’ve also experienced the SSH problem you mentioned. I’ll look for the work-around you mentioned. Temporarily I’m moving files via a USB memory key–annoying but it works for now and updates the Mini with the files I need when out of my lab.

I need to use Grsync with my server and the Mini. (The rest of my network–Dell Inspiron E1505n, a white box server I assembled this year, a white box desktop tower I assembled a few years ago all work just fine with SSH.)

My Mini is my on-the-road, on-the-job extra helper showing customer diagrams, encrypted passwords, (manager running under Wine) and other things wireless.

Enjoy your Mini!

By: Peg

Peg — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:29:41 +0000

You’re so welcome sweetie. I’m so glad you love it. Finally you have something to keep you busy! Er … I mean … iloveyou.