How Ironic!

Dell are edging closer to offering Linux as a supported Desktop Operating System.

Choice in the market place is a good thing and having a fully supported hardware platform has always been a stumbling block.

As yet they haven’t told us which Linux Distribution they will choose. In my post about Dell and Linux on the Desktop in March 2006, i suggested Dell “Bake” their own distribution. They have the resources to do it. Copy the Apple model of tied down Hardware and Operating System.

As an IT pro I will seriously evaluate the platform, if the future of Small Business Applications are web hosted (ala Office Live or Google Apps) what operating system your PC is running on becomes less important. If the platform has good driver support (printers/scanners/Camera/etc) it becomes interesting.

That model reminds of the old WYSE terminals of the late eighties. It’s going to happen all over again, but this time in colour (only people of a certain age will get that joke).

Here is my pundit view of who a Dell Linux would be for.

Novice User=Yes
Tech Savvy User=Yes
Entertainment i.e. Gamers / or Media Center Family Users = No
Really Small Business (1 to 3 users)= Yes
Small Business (4 or More) = No
Large Business= No

So I think a market exists but its niche.

I am looking forward to getting my hands on this and if Dell has a Beta programme I would like to take part.

In parting I think Dell is sending a Clear Message to Redmond. If this is a success and the others PC makers follow it’s going to be hard to ignore.

Dell on Linux could be bigger that OSX on Apple a couple of years from now.

By then more of what you do on your PC will be done in an online application. The writing is on the wall 5 years from now the world is going to be a different place.

I really hope Microsoft has some killer web application to show us at Mix07. The rumour is they do and it’s a web collaboration thingy.

Now call me cynical but the “Dell Linux” story and the “Delay to the 10-K Filing” have nothing to do with each other, they appear in the same news cycle. HELLO

Yeah right, I mean Dell admitting “evidence of misconduct” SPIN, SPIN, SPIN. I’m never getting into that Beta now.

Dell Linux Link: http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/ideastorm/ideasinaction?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Dell’s Other News Story: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39286567,00.htm

Some of these are Dell specific but the general advice would apply to other PC makers.

If your Dell computer shipped with a Low cost upgrade to Windows Vista and you applied for it on www.dellvistaupgrade.com then the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista DVD’s are now shipping to customers.

Upgrading your Operating System can be potentially dangerous, so here are some tips to keep you safe.

1) Make sure you read the “Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Guide” in full prior to starting this process.

Link: Or Even better than the Printed guide is this Visual Guide for your the actual model.

2) Allow a good couple of hours for this upgrade.

3) Backup any data (documents, pictures, music, settings etc).

4) Research the Dell Support Forums for your Dell Model and see if anyone has encountered issues with the same setup as you. The Link for this is below

5) You dont have to rush into installing Windows Vista (kick back for a while until the dust settles).

Link: Check out this list of forum topics with users Downgrading Vista Back to Windows XP

Dell Provide a short video clip that you should check out prior to attempting the install with some good advice.

Click the Image to view the Dell Studio Site with the clip.

Links:

Dell Vista Upgade: http://www.dellvistaupgrade.com/default.aspx

Dell Support Forums: http://www.dellcommunity.com/

Dell Windows Vista Center: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/

If you have any questions about the Express Upgrade Process you can ask your questions in the comments section.

If you have successfully completed the upgrade why not share anything you have learned by leaving a comment.

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

I have a six CD changer in my car, but I have the attention span of a Fish. I love to have lots of things to choose from.

Podcasting has changed the way I listen to radio style content and almost daily there is a new episode to listen to. If I want to listen to it in my Car I have to burn a CD.

It got me thinking now that iPod FM Tuners are legal in the UK are there any good ones?

I chose the Belkin Tunebase FM.

This device plugs into the 12v lighter socket in your car. This is how the device and iPod are powered.

On the end of the cable is an iPod stand. It comes with adaptors to house all the various iPod models from Nano to iPod Video.

You plug it in, Tune your radio to one of the FM frequencies displayed on the iPod screen and that’s pretty much it.

Sound Quality: Pretty good actually, I can only compare this to an older Griffin product, but the reception is pretty solid.

Build Quality: Pretty rugged, it looks flimsy in the pictures but its feels sturdy and you don’t worry about your iPod going coming loose.

Overall I like it and it will make taking long journeys less of a bore with 5000 things to choose from.

Product Link: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=261370

These are starting to arrive, I got mine yesterday (from Fed Ex)

The Package consists of

1) Piece of Cardboard with a Certificate of Authenticity (Dont Lose this)
2) A 13 Page Guide
3) Dell Windows Vista Upgrade Asistant DVD
4) Your Xp Version to Vista Version Express Upgrade DVD.

If you have any questions about the Express Upgrade Process you can ask your questions in the comments section.

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

This screencast shows you the negative impact that iTunes 7 has on CPU and therefore system performance and responsiveness when exiting iTunes.

In the screencast the Dual Core 2.0ghz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU is maxed out at 100% for 13 seconds.

This screencast runs for 2m10s

Note to the Apple Developers: I open and close iTunes several times a day, those 13 seconds all add up. In the example below I didn’t even make a change that required the library to be saved. Could you not have some sort of check to see if it’s needed?

I would dearly love to know does it do the same thing on an intel based mac? Please leave a comment and tell me.

Dont get me wrong I really like Apple and their products, but this issue is painful and I am not the only one affected by it.

If you have been affected or annoyed by this issue please leave a comment.

Technical
Dell XPS M1210
Windows Vista Ultimate
2gig of Ram

Itunes 7.1.1.5
iTunes Music Library.xml is 11mb
Podcasts: 12 Subscriptions
Songs: Stored both locally (7200 rpm) and external hard disk (5400rpm)
iPod not connected during the below example.
Majority have ITMS Album Artwork.
Total Library Size is about 36gig.

Click the Screencast to Play.

This screencast requires the Flash plug in. You can get it here

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

Please feel free to link to this content, I update regularly.

My 2007 Screencast Links:
http://www.colindiponio.com/category/screencast/

Thanks

Colin