Comments on: Dell D420 http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/ where we're going, we don't need roads... Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:45:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1-alpha-10188 hourly 1 By: Gabe http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-568 Gabe Sun, 17 Sep 2006 01:26:00 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-568 Hi Jeff - If you're using NetworkManager and ipw3945, you'll want to add MODULES="ipw3945" to your /etc/defaults/acpi-support.conf file if you want wireless to work after resuming from sleep or hibernation. Otherwise NM will not see networks when you wake up. I've had issues with S3 sleep being flaky, but hibernation works flawlessly. I have the D620. I recommend you pollute your disk with a copy of windows and register your fingerprint with the TPM - that way you have nice biometric authentication on startup, provided by the BIOS. You can then remove windows. Be sure to register all your fingers in case you cut or mangle one =) Look on the ThinkWiki for instructions on adding fingerprint auth to PAM, works great. No reason to disable the TPM either - it won't magically DRM anything, it's just a secure place to store private keys. Also, there've been a bunch of firmware updates; you'll need windows to update the bluetooth firmware, and I believe the system bios now stands around A04. Hi Jeff -

If you’re using NetworkManager and ipw3945, you’ll want to add MODULES=”ipw3945″ to your /etc/defaults/acpi-support.conf file if you want wireless to work after resuming from sleep or hibernation. Otherwise NM will not see networks when you wake up. I’ve had issues with S3 sleep being flaky, but hibernation works flawlessly.

I have the D620. I recommend you pollute your disk with a copy of windows and register your fingerprint with the TPM - that way you have nice biometric authentication on startup, provided by the BIOS. You can then remove windows. Be sure to register all your fingers in case you cut or mangle one =) Look on the ThinkWiki for instructions on adding fingerprint auth to PAM, works great.

No reason to disable the TPM either - it won’t magically DRM anything, it’s just a secure place to store private keys.

Also, there’ve been a bunch of firmware updates; you’ll need windows to update the bluetooth firmware, and I believe the system bios now stands around A04.

]]> By: jldugger http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-543 jldugger Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:24:00 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-543 The 900 series is "hardware accellerated" but not very strong. A lot of the more complex features are done in software on the main CPU. If you need openGL for something light, like Xgl or Aero, they'll do, but don't expect them to handle games well. I just bought a Tecra M7, and they were selling a service from LoJack, laptop theft recovery stuff. I'm guessing the software attempts to contact servers at wherever every so often and attempt to correlate the source with a particular region. Wouldn't be too hard, with ISP cooperation, to find out that a given IP translates into the local starbucks. I didn't buy it, partly because there's no linux version (there is a Mac), and partly because I don't nessecarily trust these people. The primary reason this all works seems to be that thieves don't do things like wipe the drives before booting off the main media, etc. I wonder how hard it would be to implement something like that. I suppose there's some considerations before it can stand up in court, but you'd think a tool who's source is openly disclosed to the courts would be one less obstacle. The 900 series is “hardware accellerated” but not very strong. A lot of the more complex features are done in software on the main CPU. If you need openGL for something light, like Xgl or Aero, they’ll do, but don’t expect them to handle games well.

I just bought a Tecra M7, and they were selling a service from LoJack, laptop theft recovery stuff. I’m guessing the software attempts to contact servers at wherever every so often and attempt to correlate the source with a particular region. Wouldn’t be too hard, with ISP cooperation, to find out that a given IP translates into the local starbucks. I didn’t buy it, partly because there’s no linux version (there is a Mac), and partly because I don’t nessecarily trust these people. The primary reason this all works seems to be that thieves don’t do things like wipe the drives before booting off the main media, etc.

I wonder how hard it would be to implement something like that. I suppose there’s some considerations before it can stand up in court, but you’d think a tool who’s source is openly disclosed to the courts would be one less obstacle.

]]> By: Jon Dowland http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-542 Jon Dowland Wed, 13 Sep 2006 09:35:52 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-542 Do update us on the state of the SD card slot. It might work with the sdhci driver... Re: ipw3945, just sell the card on ebay and buy in an ipw2200. Then you only have to worry about firmware. Do update us on the state of the SD card slot. It might work with the sdhci driver…

Re: ipw3945, just sell the card on ebay and buy in an ipw2200. Then you only have to worry about firmware.

]]> By: Shermozle http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-541 Shermozle Wed, 13 Sep 2006 07:30:54 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-541 Have to say, I'm deliriously happy with my Acer 2428. Everything except Bluetooth works out of the box under Dapper: wireless, suspend, hibernate, DVD drive, 3D, AA fonts. Pretty impressive wireless too. Have to say, I’m deliriously happy with my Acer 2428. Everything except Bluetooth works out of the box under Dapper: wireless, suspend, hibernate, DVD drive, 3D, AA fonts. Pretty impressive wireless too.

]]> By: chemaja http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-540 chemaja Wed, 13 Sep 2006 04:52:49 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-540 Thanks jdub. With regards to the monitor quality, I guess I'll have to just get off my butt and visit some laptop shops firsthand... :\ MacSlow, how cool would a "Free Software Compatible" hardware certification be?! *chemaja nudges Ubuntu* Thanks jdub.

With regards to the monitor quality, I guess I’ll have to just get off my butt and visit some laptop shops firsthand… :\

MacSlow, how cool would a “Free Software Compatible” hardware certification be?!

*chemaja nudges Ubuntu*

]]> By: Nigel Tao http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-539 Nigel Tao Wed, 13 Sep 2006 03:53:41 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-539 I have last year's Dell X1, and the SD card reader works a beaut. I have last year’s Dell X1, and the SD card reader works a beaut.

]]> By: jdub http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-538 jdub Wed, 13 Sep 2006 02:09:20 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-538 <ul> <li>Scott asked about the modem and SD slot, both of which I totally forgot about. I haven't tested either of these just yet.</li> </ul>
  • Scott asked about the modem and SD slot, both of which I totally forgot about. I haven’t tested either of these just yet.
    • ]]>         By: jdub http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-536 jdub Wed, 13 Sep 2006 01:32:50 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-536 <ul> <li>Yes, the ipw3945 binary daemon thing sucks, but it's a heck of a lot better than binary kernel modules, and there are efforts already underway to make it unnecessary.</li> <li>I haven't tested suspend or hibernate, I don't have a functional smart card to test the reader/writer (which requires some mucking about with libccid plist settings -- ugh, Apple), and I haven't fully exercised the MediaBase dock and DVI output. Everything else appears to work well.</li> <li>Some Dell models have an 'N' in their model number, which indicates that they are available without Windows -- they ship FreeDOS to fulfill contractural agreements. There doesn't appear to be a Windows-free version of the D420, at least on the Australian Dell site.</li> <li>The screen could be a bit better, though I may just have distorted memories of the X300, or inflated expectations from my 24" desk monitor. ;-)</li> <li>It does have a TPM chip, but you can disable that in the BIOS.</li> </ul>
  • Yes, the ipw3945 binary daemon thing sucks, but it’s a heck of a lot better than binary kernel modules, and there are efforts already underway to make it unnecessary.
  • I haven’t tested suspend or hibernate, I don’t have a functional smart card to test the reader/writer (which requires some mucking about with libccid plist settings — ugh, Apple), and I haven’t fully exercised the MediaBase dock and DVI output. Everything else appears to work well.
  • Some Dell models have an ‘N’ in their model number, which indicates that they are available without Windows — they ship FreeDOS to fulfill contractural agreements. There doesn’t appear to be a Windows-free version of the D420, at least on the Australian Dell site.
  • The screen could be a bit better, though I may just have distorted memories of the X300, or inflated expectations from my 24″ desk monitor. ;-)
  • It does have a TPM chip, but you can disable that in the BIOS.
    • ]]>         By: MacSlow http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-535 MacSlow Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:39:27 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-535 Super sweet! Being able to run ones hardware fully enabled while keeping everything FOSSy isn't something one sees often. Let's hope this is just the beginning of a new and welcomed trend, which will have many copycats ;-) I guess much kudos goes to intel for sticking to an OpenSource-scheme for their Linux-drivers to make this one possible. Best regards... MacSlow Super sweet! Being able to run ones hardware fully enabled while keeping everything FOSSy isn’t something one sees often. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a new and welcomed trend, which will have many copycats ;-)

    I guess much kudos goes to intel for sticking to an OpenSource-scheme for their Linux-drivers to make this one possible.

    Best regards…

    MacSlow

    ]]>         By: chemaja http://bethesignal.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-534 chemaja Tue, 12 Sep 2006 23:58:18 +0000 http://perkypants.org/blog/2006/09/13/dell-d420/#comment-534 Thanks for posting this Jeff, I'm in the (Australian) market for a new laptop myself. I'm seriously considering purchasing one of these for myself... would you mind indulging me by answering the below questions regarding this laptop? :) Questions: 1) Have you since found any hardware components that don't work under your GNU/Linux OS (I plan to run Fedora Core on it)? 2) Did you keep the bundled Microsoft Windows XP license, or did you manage to somehow get it refunded, excluded, etc.? I plan to attempt not paying for this, as I won't be using it. 3) How are you finding the performance of the bundled 4200RPM HDD? Thanks :D ps. feel free to email me wrt. this, else I'll periodically check this blog entry's comments (or see a related update in the Planet Gnome feed) -- cheers Thanks for posting this Jeff, I’m in the (Australian) market for a new laptop myself.

    I’m seriously considering purchasing one of these for myself… would you mind indulging me by answering the below questions regarding this laptop? :)

    Questions:
    1) Have you since found any hardware components that don’t work under your GNU/Linux OS (I plan to run Fedora Core on it)?

    2) Did you keep the bundled Microsoft Windows XP license, or did you manage to somehow get it refunded, excluded, etc.? I plan to attempt not paying for this, as I won’t be using it.

    3) How are you finding the performance of the bundled 4200RPM HDD?

    Thanks :D

    ps. feel free to email me wrt. this, else I’ll periodically check this blog entry’s comments (or see a related update in the Planet Gnome feed) — cheers

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