Dell and Canonical Have Fallen Asleep at the Wheel

[yakker.yak]

The Dell Mini 9 pre-installed with Ubuntu is to date the most readily available, mainstream PC that ships with Linux.

Ubuntu and Linux in general are known for excellent security both in terms of being less susceptible to viruses and in terms of fast security fixes and updates when issues do arise.

Why is it then that the Dell Ubuntu repository has not been updated since late October?

Many security updates have since been released for 8.04.1. I have yet to see a single update on my Mini 9.

Can someone please wake-up and see what's going on here.

For more details, see the launchpad page (https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini) for the Dell Mini 9. Or check out this bug (https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini/+bug/299706) and others like it.

[andreasis]

I figured it would be helpful to put a link to this thread

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1001519

I'm wondering, though, what the implications of installing a fresh copy of Ubuntu (even with netbook remix) would be? I have an Acer Aspire One on which I've installed Ubuntu myself (without remix) and I couldn't be happier.

[armandh]

I'm dual booting vanila 8.10 on my mini9 along with the installed dell 8.04

one line of code to get the sound working
slightly longer boot up with everything included
compiz works, wireless works,

8.10 is the default

[yakker.yak]

I'm dual booting vanila 8.10 on my mini9 along with the installed dell 8.04

one line of code to get the sound working
slightly longer boot up with everything included
compiz works, wireless works,

8.10 is the default

Happy to hear that you've got 8.10 going but I think you're missing the point here: one of the main purposes of selling Ubuntu pre-installed is so that users don't have to dual boot or try to get another version working.

For users that are completely new to Ubuntu and Linux, they will never know that they're not getting updates that they should be getting. As security related issues come up and users start becoming affected, this is all bad news for the Ubuntu and Linux communities.

[zenarcher]

I see your point and absolutely agree. I purchased two of the Mini 9's and received them about a week ago. While I planned to install 8.10 right away to work with the 2GB of RAM I had installed, I first attempted to check updates and install some extra applications. I was really confused by all the 404 errors.

As you point out, this is not going to be pleasant for people who purchase the Mini 9's and have no Linux/Ubuntu experience.

It seems to me this would be such a simple problem for Dell to fix. The Mini 9's offer a tremendous opportunity for people to try Linux, yet a simple problem like this is going to turn something positive into something negative quite quickly.

It seems to me that someone should be able to motivate Dell to bring everything up to date. Yet, as of now, I've seen no progress.

[Gausian]

just a question here...arent the regular update repositories included on the minis?

cant they be added?

I havent seen "Dellbuntu" yet so i dont know how it is.

[rek075]

I'm quite disappointed in this as well. I keep hoping that a pile of updates will arrive soon. Even if they update their repositories less often, hopefully we will still see the volume of updates that the regular 8.04 repository gets.

[ArKay]

just a question here...arent the regular update repositories included on the minis?

cant they be added?

I havent seen "Dellbuntu" yet so i dont know how it is.
The problem is the Dell Ubuntu version of 8.04 is specially compiled for the Atom processor - normal i386 compiled programs do not function without messing around with the packages or installing other software to circumvent this.

For folks only wanting to run 'out of the box' as it were the repositories are heavily controlled. So far there have been a couple of updates, one fixing a partitioning error and one fixing a single security error. But that is it.

Quite frankly I was excited as all get out to see the mini9, really happy to get mine and then rather disappointed to see that unless I get rid of the custom OS or modify the packages I can't install 99% of the programs out there. Never mind the fact that the lid of the mini9 doesn't go back far enough to provide a correct viewing angle... for me at least.

I still use it, but I am taking a hard look at upgrading to 8.10 - possibly on one of the HP mininote 1000's...

[snowpine]

I've been following this thread with interest, as I have of the Atom-based Asus eee pc's. As far as I know, most of the custom Linux projects for the eee are using 386, not lpia. Can anyone explain what is the advantage of using lpia repositories, and why has Dell chosen to do so for the Mini 9?

[yakker.yak]

I'm not sure of Dell's rationale for doing this, but other users who have compared the lpia Dell Ubuntu to a default non-Dell i386 Ubuntu have reported that the performance is better with the Dell Ubuntu.

[andreasis]

I wasn't able to find much information on the performance gains of lpia, but i did come across this: http://lists.us.dell.com/pipermail/linux-desktops/2008-October/002131.html

It would be interesting if someone could come up with a more straight-forward answer.

[yakker.yak]

I wasn't able to find much information on the performance gains of lpia, but i did come across this: http://lists.us.dell.com/pipermail/linux-desktops/2008-October/002131.html

It would be interesting if someone could come up with a more straight-forward answer.

Good find, thanks. I've posted a question about this to the list there.

The thread is here (http://lists.us.dell.com/pipermail/linux-desktops/2008-December/002325.html).

[yakker.yak]

Some good news. Someone from Canonical has just confirmed this issue and marked it with "High" priority and the following comment:

"A set of updates will be made available very soon. Sorry for the delay."

You can track/subscribe to the issue here (https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini/+bug/301489).

[yakker.yak]

More good news. A Canonical developer has just confirmed most of the bugs that have been reported to date with the Mini 9.

You can check out the details here (https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini/+bugs?search=Search&field.status=New&field.status=Incomplete&field.status=Confirmed&field.status=Triaged&field.status=In+Progress&field.status=Fix+Committed).

[yakker.yak]

This post is to mark the fact that not a single software update was made available for the Dell Ubuntu in 2008.

This covers the entire period from September, when the Mini 9 with Ubuntu was released to today, when I have yet to see a single auto-update.

This includes bugs (https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini) that don't appear to be receiving much attention and priority as well as security fixes that have been available in the standard Ubuntu repositories for some time.

[sirebral]

I've been following this thread with interest, as I have of the Atom-based Asus eee pc's. As far as I know, most of the custom Linux projects for the eee are using 386, not lpia. Can anyone explain what is the advantage of using lpia repositories, and why has Dell chosen to do so for the Mini 9?

LPIA is a relatively new tech and research program from Intel. It's main goal is to provide a new way to package the data so that it is easier on the battery.

The new Ubuntu Remix, this is the OS software installed on your DELL Mini 9, uses LPIA (Low Power on Intel Architecture). As I said before the LPIA restructures the way your computer sends and receives data packets. This includes the CPU and RAM. The advantage of using LPIA repositories is you get the data structure needed to preserve your LPIA environment.

I've studied up on it because after seeing that this LPIA OS is not very LP on SSD, I have decided I am going to look deep into Xubuntu. I will probably just go with it and feel I made the right decision anyways. XFCE has a 1.5GB HD requirement, LPIA has a 4GB + whatever else they add.

As for why has DELL chosen this. I think it was crammed on them and I am imploring them to use the XFCE environment. Intel made the LPIA design, Canonical remixed ubuntu with it, and I think DELL was handed the hill of beans based on word of mouth, or maybe a business deal.

[magicfab]

Anyone interested in following progress on this should look at and/org subscribe to this bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/dell-mini/+bug/301489

[yakker.yak]

The neglect appears to be over and this has finally been addressed. 170+ updates were made available yesterday.

Thank you Dell and Canonical maintainers and developers.

[armandh]

the good news is that by the time a linux noob [like me] figures out that the manufacturers customized version is not the latest and greatest we know enough to switch to the main stream. [if we wish]

[ugm6hr]

I've studied up on it because after seeing that this LPIA OS is not very LP on SSD, I have decided I am going to look deep into Xubuntu. I will probably just go with it and feel I made the right decision anyways. XFCE has a 1.5GB HD requirement, LPIA has a 4GB + whatever else they add.

Is it possible to install the lpia kernel as a minimal install? Or does it require Gnome to function properly?

I have noticed that xfce4 is available in the dell-mini repo, so why not have a custom XFCE distro with LPIA for Netbooks?

[anjilslaire]

at 177 all at once, is the 4gig default SSD big enough to install/download them without issue?

It might be a good idea to flush the downloaded files out of synaptic to conserve drive space.

[yakker.yak]

Since the short-lived celebration in January when a big batch of updates was made available, the update stream has been eerily quiet.

To see a list of neglected security bugs, all of which have long been fixed in the standard Hardy release, please see this post (https://answers.launchpad.net/dell-mini/+question/65562).

To repeat:

The Dell Mini 9 pre-installed with Ubuntu is to date the most readily available, mainstream PC that ships with Linux.

Ubuntu and Linux in general are known for excellent security both in terms of being less susceptible to viruses and in terms of fast security fixes and updates when issues do arise.

Why is it then that security fixes made available long ago continue to not be made available to Mini 9 owners (people who have paid to use Ubuntu)?

[yakker.yak]

Still waiting ...

[jordanp123]

Is their any updates on this ? I just bought a mini 9 with ubuntu and Im watching my hardy server get updates left and right and so far nithing for my new mini.

[Kareeser]

Christ... even I could run a better mirror than they could... all you need is a server and a cronned rsync job to retrieve the proper packages from canonical! Aaharhgh.

[Talon2]

Still waiting ...

I gave up on the wait and got rid of the Dell pre-installed 8.04. Mine is running 8.10 32 bit now. I've read the stories about the pre-installed version giving better performance and battery life but quite frankly I can't say that I notice it. What I did notice was numerous problems and a lack of updates. My advice is to consider trashing the pre-install for a later 32 bit version such as 8.10 or wait for 9.04.

Dell and Canonical absolutely have fallen asleep at the wheel.

[shiningkenmonster]

there was a major update a day or two ago.

just curious yak.yakker, did you do a vanilla install of Ubuntu iso? others are welcome to reply too

[shiningkenmonster]

at 177 all at once, is the 4gig default SSD big enough to install/download them without issue?

It might be a good idea to flush the downloaded files out of synaptic to conserve drive space.

I remember flashing my dell mini 9 with the dell's iso of ubuntu. I did the math and it seems like it takes 3.25 GB of space. after the 200 MB update which fixed the 883 MB of RAM (when it should of been 1000MB)
The 200 MB didn't take up the space.

After the recent last update. My ubuntu takes up 300 MB of space.

so I wonder how can the default 4GIG SSD can handle almost 3.6GB of Dell's custom Ubuntu. that leaves - what 200 MB of space?

before the recent update. they had 500 MB of free space.

what bloatware. They still haven't fixed the sound bugs and when you open a folder it turns all black

[anjilslaire]

sudo apt-get clean


should free up some space.

[booda_do]

System update this morning.

Ubuntu
Release 8.04 (hardy)
Kernel 2.6.24-22-lpia
Gnome 2.22.3

Just installed new Dell 1505 Wireless N card and it was recognized without issue.

Need to verify N connectivity - any thought on how to verify?

[duckfeet]

Mine's downloading 182 package files right now...

[feranick]

There are a lot more updates coming. If you enable the proposed repository, you will see another batch of updates. While it will be still based on 8.04, the new updates will sport Network-manager 0.7 (backported from intrepid) which allows for better connection time and most importantly 3G connectivity. If you want to give it a try, you just need to enable the proposed repositories:

https://lists.launchpad.net/oem-community-qa/msg00002.html

I have been very vocal in the past in criticizing Canonical/Dell for the poor support of the Mini. It seems Dell is pushing to have updates released only in big batches, for whatever reason. In any case, make your voice heard and report bugs. As Yakker very correctly said, we paid for this and we expect a full support.

[Brandon Williams]

The new updates will sport Network-manager 0.7 (backported from intrepid) which allows for better connection time and most importantly 3G connectivity. If you want to give it a try, you just need to enable the proposed repositories.

If aircraft-manager is important to you, be careful about upgrading to network-manager-0.7. It uses a method to disable wireless in network-manager that will not work after you upgrade to network-manager-0.7.

[yakker.yak]

Some potential good news. There was recently a (smaller) batch of security-only updates and a second (larger) batch of various updates.

Both arrived not too long ago after the updates in April, suggesting the possibility that we may receive updates more frequently than every 4 months (as before).

[snowpine]

Ubuntu 8.04 is the stable, long-term support release. It is not a good choice if you are looking for frequent updates or the latest, "bleeding edge" software.

[yakker.yak]

Thanks. If you actually read the thread, you'll note that the concern is over security updates that are available in vanilla Hardy but not available for a long time in Dell's LPIA Hardy for the Mini 9.

[snowpine]

Thanks. If you actually read the thread, you'll note that the concern is over security updates that are available in vanilla Hardy but not available for a long time in Dell's LPIA Hardy for the Mini 9.

I have been following this thread since post #9. :)

Ubuntu 8.04 is a Long Term Support release, and the Dell Mini has a Solid State Drive (SSD) with a limited number of write cycles, therefore infrequent updates are a Good Idea. However, since I personally like to live dangerously, Dellbuntu 8.04 was gone within 15 minutes of receiving my Dell Mini 9. I don't fault Dell for taking the conservative approach though.

[yakker.yak]

Your most recent reply will confuse people even more than your previous reply. Please stop while you're ahead :)

While minimizing unnecessary write cycles to an SSD drive is a good idea, doing so by reducing or eliminating system updates, let alone security updates, is ... foolish (to put it mildly and politely).

To learn more about the actual lifetime of an SSD drive and why you should have zero concerns about system updates, see here (http://www.storagesearch.com/ssdmyths-endurance.html).

[snowpine]

Your most recent reply will confuse people even more than your previous reply. Please stop while you're ahead :)

While minimizing unnecessary write cycles to an SSD drive is a good idea, doing so by reducing or eliminating system updates, let alone security updates, is ... foolish (to put it mildly and politely).

To learn more about the actual lifetime of an SSD drive and why you should have zero concerns about system updates, see here (http://www.storagesearch.com/ssdmyths-endurance.html).

What's foolish is to expect Dell (a hardware company) to provide you with the latest software updates. ;) There are literally hundreds of Linux distros available (for free, I might add), from the stablest of stable to the bleeding-most bleeding edge. After six months, you are still expecting Dellbuntu 8.04 to be something it isn't... give Arch or something a try if you want daily updates.

If you are looking for a good tutorial to get "vanilla" Ubuntu running on your Mini, I found this site very helpful: http://www.ubuntumini.com/

[yakker.yak]

Sigh. Ok, we can continue this as hopefully it will be helpful to others.

Please note that the Dell Ubuntu is put together and maintained by both Dell and Canonical. It is generally referred to as Dell Ubuntu to reflect this.

It's important to have it working well because this is the operating system that ships with the Mini 9. That is, users have paid for it and the software support and updates that come with it, especially security updates.

Although you or I can install another distribution, most people do not and will not go this route. They expect their purchase to work out of the box and to be updated as soon as vulnerabilities are discovered.

In fact, they'll be unaware that they're not receiving security updates that they should be receiving and will be using an insecure system online. Not good for the users, not good for Ubuntu, and not good for GNU/Linux.

[snowpine]

You make some good points and I agree with much of what you say. :) I suppose my experience is tainted because I was an Asus eee user prior to purchasing my Dell Mini. The Xandros distro pre-installed on the Asus eee is so terrible, it makes Dellbuntu shine in comparison. In my very limited (less than an hour) experience with Dellbuntu, I found it to be conservative (not the latest, but certainly no more than a year behind the curve) and reasonably speedy and stable. Just not for me.

I responded as I did because I get frustrated with "but think of all the poor users!!!" threads. Ultimately the wonderful thing about Linux is that we are each in charge of our own computing experience. I feel neither the responsibility nor desire to speak for "the masses." If a hypothetical Linux user is miserable using a particular distro, I would encourage them to educate themselves and install something suitable to their needs, rather than hoping some corporate entity is going to toss a particular update their way. Sorry if that viewpoint offends you. :)

[yakker.yak]

No offense taken. I do think you may still be missing the main point here:

We are not talking about users who are "miserable" with their Dell Ubuntu (they will hopefully find an alternative), but users who use it day-to-day, believe it to be up-to-date in terms of security updates, but in fact are using an insecure system without knowing it. Believe it or not, many people just use their PCs, do not read tech news, and certainly do not spend any time on these forums.

Yes, it's everyone's responsibility to be informed about what they're doing and using. But this is about reasonable expectations regarding software purchased with a computer.

[shiningkenmonster]

Well, Dell doesn't do anything about it. I believe back than you wrote an thread on launchpad about it. The guys at launchpad made more updates.

I am also an early adaptor of the dell mini 9. When it first came out.

I have used the Dell's pre-installed custom Ubuntu of 8.04.1 on it. LPIA version, not i386. I have used it for about 7 months.

I thought something was wrong with the Dell's custom Ubuntu. I had to format so many times. Than I realize it was the poor maintenances from Dell's end.

From trying to install Skype with the error that it does not support i386 architecture. (it is already fixed)

Updates to Firefox took way too long! I remember I was using version 3.0.5 and version 3.0.8 has already been out! Very unsecure!

and many others too.

I downloaded the iso from this website:

ftp://ftp.dell.com/OS/Inspiron_910_Ubuntu_A00.img

I would upload it to ImageWriter. than do the system restore.
The link doesn't work anymore.

When I had called Dell about what has happen to that website. They gave me a reply to the to this website:
http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Ubuntu_8.04

Which isn't even the same Ubuntu. I even called back and told them that this isn't the same version that came with the Ubuntu. They have ensure me that its an updated version.

I installed it. And what did you know. It was the i386 architecture not the LPIA version. Dell's Ubuntu customer service are very poorly trained. (remember i called twice to confirm) - The install took about 5.25 GB of space. Which is way more than LPIA version. Dell Mini 9 users have 4 or 8 GB of harddrive space on average.

Dell does a very poor job at supporting their Ubuntu. This is giving Ubuntu a bad reputation from Dell mini 9's Ubuntu.

I had to install Ubuntu 9.04 netbook remix. it works better than the preinstall Dell's custom LPIA Ubuntu. very nice interface and updates about every week.

[sirebral]

please stop blaming dell. lpia is an intel thing, updates need to come through or from them. just please, stop blaming dell.

[Brandon Williams]

please stop blaming dell. lpia is an intel thing, updates need to come through or from them. just please, stop blaming dell.

Sorry, but that comment doesn't make sense to me. You'll have to explain what you mean.

The post that you were apparently responding to was distinguishing between Ubuntu packages for the i386 architecture and those for the lpia architecture, and it made the very valid point that, simply based on the package architecture, it's obvious that the image he was pointed at by Dell support is _not_ the image that the Dell Mini 9 is installed with. This is another indication of the fact that Dell support apparently cannot be counted on to support Ubuntu on the Mini 9. The speed at which security updates are released to the Dell-specific repositories is another indication of this. Both of these things clearly appear to be Dell's fault (maybe Canonical's), and how you can suggest that either of them could possibly be blamed on Intel is a complete mystery.

The current state of things is fine for experienced Ubuntu users, who can support their machines themselves without any input from Dell and thus have the option to switch away from Dellbuntu in order to get more regular security updates. Someone completely new to Ubuntu who doesn't feel confident installing an OS on the machine does not have this option, and is stuck with Dell's poor support and slow security update channel. Because of this, I would not recommend Ubuntu on the Mini 9 to anyone who is not already familiar with Ubuntu. This disappoints me, because I would really like to be able to make such a recommendation.

[sirebral]

I am tired of people blaming DELL for the lack of LPIA support. It is only 'obviously' DELL's fault because they chose to bring LPIA to the consumer through their Mini 9. The fact is the LPIA architecture is an Intel design, an Intel study, and therefore an Intel branded OS architecture.

DELL is merely the middle man for their branded design. Intel created LPIA. It is only common sense that any changes or updates to the LPIA architecture must fall into the hands of Intel. LPIA is their study. Research it please.

But please STOP blaming DELL. LPIA belongs to Intel!

LPIA = Low Power on Intel Architecture. Intel is a trademark.

[tyroeternal]

As a user of a Mini 12 I've got a bit to add to the ways in which Dell has dropped the ball with their Ubuntu friendly lineup. The Mini 9 uses the Intel GMA 950. Although there are some regressions that made it into the latest kernels, it is being worked out quick enough. The Mini 10 and 12 use the Intel GMA 500 which is an absolute nightmare. Until about a week ago there were no working drivers for anything beyond Hardy. Intrepid simply does not work at all at this point (though it did for a bit), and Jaunty has a basic 2d driver implemented. All we have had to go on is the rumor of work being done.

Between an absolute lack of customer support, bad repository upkeep, and inability to select proper hardware they have definitely lost any future purchases or recommendations from me.

Dell needs to learn a lesson from System 76 on how to build a Linux pre-installed computer.

[sirebral]

Well i for one will defend DELL. And for a take on a new netbook, which I think stops the system 76's design, take a look at the Latitude 2100. That uses the 950 as well and it is smoking hot looking.

Now, just get the facts straight that you are all complaining about Intel material that is inside a DELL computer. Intel dropped the ball first, DELL is just the handler of a dropped ball.

Please direct your complaints about Intel support to Intel, since they manufactured the funky LPIA and the 500 blow chunks. Seriously, pin the tail on the correct donkey. And intel is being a ***.

EDIT: I should apologize. I am just tired of hearing people complain about Dell's lack of support for Intel material. Sorry.

[tyroeternal]

@sirebral You are right, in that it is Intel's fault, but if the Mini 12 was marketed as windows only (as the 10 currently is) this would be a non-issue. Unfortunately Intel did drop the ball and Dell tried to run with it making both companies look bad. Dell has some solid offerings, unfortunately there are some mistakes like the 12 mixed in.

As far as lpia is concerned; it is a new architecture, of course it will be undersupported right now. The only way that it is going to gain support for tons of packages is for it to be used enough to make package maintainers feel obligated to provide a bulid for it. I'm not all that privvy to the details of that arch, but maybe after it has some footing it can prove itself to be worth the effort.

[benj1]

@yakker.yak +1

most pc users probably arent the type to just install a new OS if they don't like the one installed(nor should they have to if they bought the OS from dell), i can understand them sticking with the LTS releases, but i think they should put more effort into maintaining it

[sirebral]

@sirebral You are right, in that it is Intel's fault, but if the Mini 12 was marketed as windows only (as the 10 currently is) this would be a non-issue. Unfortunately Intel did drop the ball and Dell tried to run with it making both companies look bad. Dell has some solid offerings, unfortunately there are some mistakes like the 12 mixed in.

As far as lpia is concerned; it is a new architecture, of course it will be undersupported right now. The only way that it is going to gain support for tons of packages is for it to be used enough to make package maintainers feel obligated to provide a bulid for it. I'm not all that privvy to the details of that arch, but maybe after it has some footing it can prove itself to be worth the effort.

Both good points tyroeternal. I concede to the fact that it is definitely both, if not all three, players that are dropping the ball. Another good point benj1, LPIA is new and will have support issues because of that.

Thanks for understanding my argument. I would just feel bad if DELL and Canonical took the brunt of the community frustration and Intel did not get their fair share of consumer sentiment. Kudos on a good debate!

[snowpine]

Interesting article on the topic: http://www.betanews.com/article/Dell-Most-Linux-users-dont-really-need-the-latest-version/1242843704

In addition to 8.04, we chose to control our updates (via our own update repository -- similar to MS update). We go the extra mile in double qualifying all updates (that one would see in stock 8.10 and 9.04) and only publish those that are rock-stable.

[sirebral]

Pretty interesting.

A later release of Ubuntu isn't in the best interests of "mainstream users," according to an e-mail from Dell to Betanews last night.


Last night? Lat 2100 was coming with 8.10 pre installed. And unless I am looking at the UK site today that is not UK specific. BTW, I am not looking at the UK site. I have the link to the Lat 2100 in another thread.

[yakker.yak]

Thanks snowpine for the link.

Note that the reference to "double qualifying all updates (that one would see in stock 8.10 and 9.04)" refers to actual feature enhancements that were released as part of 8.10 and 9.04 and which are then selectively back-ported to the 8.04 Dell Ubuntu. Network Manager is a good example. This sounds like a good policy and extra testing benefits everyone.

Also found the following interesting:

"A mainstream user does not care if it's [Ubuntu Linux] 8.04 or 8.10 or 9.04 (he/she does not know what those are) -- she just wants it to work right and be stable/safe...Most of the Linux enthusiasts would not like to be so far behind (i.e., 8.04 vs. 9.04), but they are not our primary target audience for the [operating system] image."

Hopefully the recent, more frequent security updates are an indication that work is being done on the "safe" side of things.

[shiningkenmonster]

i was very miserable with my dell mini 9 preinstalled Ubuntu 8.04.

Ubuntu 9.04 netbook remix is nice.
I am going to try out Moblin 2.0 beta now. the websites/youtube videos/ all the hype on the tech news makes me curious now.

I doubt Dell will make there dell mini 9 load within 5 seconds.

[snowpine]

i was very miserable with my dell mini 9 preinstalled Ubuntu 8.04.

Ubuntu 9.04 netbook remix is nice.
I am going to try out Moblin 2.0 beta now. the websites/youtube videos/ all the hype on the tech news makes me curious now.

I doubt Dell will make there dell mini 9 load within 5 seconds.

I do not recommend Moblin for the Dell Mini 9. In the 10 minutes I used it, I discovered the following issues: wireless, flash video, mp3, and downloading files using the web browser.

[tyroeternal]

I do not recommend Moblin for the Dell Mini 9. In the 10 minutes I used it, I discovered the following issues: wireless, flash video, mp3, and downloading files using the web browser.

Haha, that sounds miserable, I'm assuming that the mini 12 would be even worse!

[shiningkenmonster]

I dd command line the .img file. I couldn't get it to load via by USB flash drive on start up. That is odd.

And i didn't read the comments from other dell mini 9 users whom have installed Moblin, they couldn't get the wifi to work.

my netbook is my only source as a computer/internet play. looks like i won't be doing it.

[jaqrah]

I dd command line the .img file. I couldn't get it to load via by USB flash drive on start up. That is odd.

And i didn't read the comments from other dell mini 9 users whom have installed Moblin, they couldn't get the wifi to work.

my netbook is my only source as a computer/internet play. looks like i won't be doing it.

I couldn't even get dd to even work on my xp. But I did follow these instructions which worked like a charm:

There is a much simpler method on windows to install Moblin:

1. Download this program:
https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer/+download

2. unpack the zip file in a directory.

3. Run W32DiskImager.exe

4. Select your .img file.

5. Select your driver letter

6. Click Write.
I would also agree with Snowpine. It just isn't there yet. But it does have potential and I look forward to a final stable version.