[PLUG] Dell Inspiron Mini update...

[Michael C. Robinson]

Don't know why, but Dell can not or will not provide installation media
for Ubuntu.  To make matters worse, Dell somehow shipped the little
laptop without any operating system whatsoever.  If Ubuntu had been
installed, there is supposedly a way to create installation media.
Between being forced to have a hard drive and Dell forgetting to 
install Ubuntu Linux, I'm a bit shocked.  I really wanted to have 
Linux installed on an SSD, especially in something this small.  Asus
used to offer a version of Debian on the Eee PC installed to a 20G SSD,
but they discontinued that and went to a Windows 7 or Windows XP only
policy.  Dell offers the SSD for Windows XP, but not for Linux (lame).

I can't complain about Dell wanting to service the laptop.  The plastic
isn't even removed completely.  I think there is room in the market for
someone to do Linux based laptops better than this.  I was worried
talking with Dell that they didn't realize the laptop is supposed to
have Linux on it.  Maybe Dell will get it's act together.
Unfortunately, Dell appears to be the only Linux act in town with Asus 
bowing out.  Who else is offering Linux pre installed laptops?  I think
there really is room for someone to come to market focused on Linux and
not offering Windows at all.  Another thing, Ubuntu is popular but
Ubuntu isn't the only reasonable Linux choice.

If you can support cutting edge hardware and actually get it to perform
reasonably well under Linux, even if that means some proprietary
drivers, then there really is no need for Windows.  I see the gaming
industry starting to embrace Linux and with better graphics there is
more to use graphics for than just games.  I'm not satisfied with this
experience so far, though I could consider this an anomaly.  In general
though, a lot had to be given up to get Linux as the OS where I
shouldn't have had to give up SSD, multi core processor, etcetera.